Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 China-Central Africa International Colloquium held in DR Congo Xinhua) 10:56, September 20, 2025 KINSHASA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The China-Central Africa International Colloquium, held Thursday in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), attracted over 200 participants from China and seven Central African countries to discuss the implementation of the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Chinese Ambassador to the DRC Zhao Bin said in his address that Central Africa, being the "heart of the continent," plays a crucial role in the continent's development. China stands ready to work hand in hand with the African side to deepen cooperation in priority areas such as sharing governance experience, pursuing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and coordinating international affairs, so as to promote the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, said Zhao. Zhou Pingjian, vice president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of FOCAC. Over the past 25 years, FOCAC has vigorously advanced China-Africa relations, delivering tangible benefits to people and serving as a model of solidarity and cooperation in the Global South. Zhou stressed that China and Africa, as important members of the Global South, must shoulder the historic responsibility of upholding international fairness and justice, safeguarding peace and promoting common development. Francois Muamba Tshishimbi, coordinator of the Presidential Strategic Advisory Council, an organ under the DRC Presidency, said in his address that Central African countries and China share a common vision for development, and that only unity and mutually beneficial cooperation will fully unlock the potential of the partnership in favor of peace and development. He reaffirmed that the DRC is ready to work with all parties by leveraging the role of think tanks and research centers to contribute to strengthening pragmatic cooperation and promoting regional prosperity. The colloquium was co-hosted by the Presidential Strategic Advisory Council of the DRC and the Chinese embassy in the country. Participants from both sides also held discussions on topics such as promoting high-quality BRI cooperation and advancing industrial, energy, agricultural and economic cooperation. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code The SPEAR Centre (Semiconductor Photonics Education and Research Centre) has been launched at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) campus in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. This project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It will be led by Atlantic Technological University through its WiSAR Lab in partnership with Ulster University, the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork, and Seagate Technology. It represents a total investment of 8.46 million. SPEAR Centre has been designed to position the Northwest as a hub for semiconductor and photonics innovation. The project will align with the EU Chips Act and Irelands Smart Specialisation Strategy, embedding advanced technology capabilities into the regional economy and strengthening cross-border collaboration. Over the coming years, SPEAR will deliver on three key pillars. A Doctoral College will train the next generation of PhD researchers in photonics, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor technologies. An Innovation Fund will support research and development across at least nine regional SMEs, enabling them to integrate cutting-edge technology into their operations. A Strategic Engagement Programme will foster collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers while raising public awareness of the potential of advanced technologies. The project launch, which took place yesterday, brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across the island, including academic experts, industry leaders, regional SMEs, and government representatives. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said: The launch of the SPEAR Centre marks a significant milestone in our ambition to lead in advanced manufacturing and semiconductor innovation. "By aligning with the EU Chips Act and our national Smart Specialisation Strategy, this initiative will not only drive regional economic growth but also ensure that SMEs and researchers are at the forefront of global technological development. I commend the collaborative spirit behind this project and look forward to the transformative impact it will have on the North West and beyond. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA said: The launch moves us a step closer to creating a global centre of excellence for semiconductor photonics in the North West. This is an ambition we are already well on our way to achieving; with the excellent partnerships long established here between our universities and industry. "As Economy Minister, I am committed to working with partners right across this island, to deliver on my economic vision, with innovation at its heart. This investment will enhance the regions attractiveness to inward investment, supporting the creation of more new, Good Jobs. SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: This PEACEPLUS project is designed to transform the North West through cutting-edge research, innovation, and enterprise development. It represents an investment in technology and education and also in people, in places, and in the shared future of the cross-border region. Through cross-border collaboration - between ATU, Ulster University, and Tyndall National Institute - this will strengthen the bonds of shared progress. READ NEXT: Kinecx Energy: The new name for firmus energy networks This project marks a new chapter for regional innovation, for cross-border partnership, and for this islands place in a fast-changing technological world. Empowering SMEs and growing high-tech sectors helps give people the opportunity to stay in the Northwest and this, in turn, helps create the conditions for a sustainable, inclusive peace. Atlantic Technological University President Dr Orla Flynn said: SPEAR is far more than an investment in research infrastructure; it is a commitment to regional transformation. By embedding deep technology expertise into the Northwest, SPEAR will support enterprise growth, create high-value jobs, and build resilience in the face of global challenges. SPEAR will act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, enterprise development, workforce upskilling, and peacebuilding across border regions. By leveraging the combined expertise of its partners and the investment provided through PEACEPLUS, the initiative will not only advance research and innovation but also ensure that these advances bring tangible benefits to the regions economy and society. PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive. PICTURED ABOVE: From left, Tina Doolin and Christopher McDonagh (NMT), Alana Hamill, Andy Taylor, Julie Davis, Rosemary Doherty, Lynette Nixon, Louise Lyons, Aisling Healy, Maeve Stillman, Shannon Mullan and Donna McCloskey (NMT). (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography) It was a full house at the Verbal Arts Centre, Bishop Street, on Tuesday morning as Praxis Care hosted a well-attended coffee morning to raise funds and awareness for their community-based day service in the city. Foyle CONNECTS, one of 80 services run by Praxis Care across Northern Ireland, supports adults with learning disabilities. The service works with up to 35 individuals, offering meaningful, skill-building, and social activities that promote independence and enhance overall wellbeing. Now proudly based once again at the Verbal Arts Centre, the team used this successful event not only to raise funds but also to showcase the wide range of supports they offer to the local community. Team Leader of the service, Louise Lyons said: "It was lovely to welcome so many people through the doors - the support really meant a lot to us and to those who use the service. It gave us a chance to talk about what we do day to day and how the service makes a difference. "We have a dedicated team of five full-time staff based here at the Verbal Arts Centre, and we are funded by the Western Trust. Events like this really help us connect with the wider community and highlight the impact of our work." Rosemary Doherty, Regional Director at Praxis Care, also praised the event and highlighted the importance of collaborative support: "Im delighted for Louise and the team. They created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere and did a brilliant job organising the event. "Its wonderful to see such community interest in the service, and were very grateful to the Western Trust for their continued support in helping us make a real difference in peoples lives locally." IN PICTURES: Praxis Care host coffee morning at Foyle CONNECTS Chris McDonagh of the Neighbourhood Management Team who organised Tuesdays event said: "This is the latest in a series of our coffee mornings funded by the National Lottery Community Fund (NI) and one that is very close to my heart. "The CONNECTS project is a vital service in our community, providing vulnerable adults, like my brother, Paul, with a safe space where he can be himself, have opportunities to meet new people and enjoy meaningful experiences which improve his confidence and independence. "Louise and her staff are amazing. I am more than happy to give back even just a little of what they have provided Paul and their other service users over all these years." Derry organisation Rise for Palestine is hosting, 'From West Belfast to the West Bank - An Evening with Tyrone McKenna'. The event is taking place in Shantallow Community Centre, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 3.00pm. Tickets are available via Eventbrite. A Rise for Palestine spokesperson said: "We are proud to host a powerful conversation with Belfast boxer Tyrone McKenna, who will share his journey 'From West Belfast to the West Bank'. "This special event will be held at Shantallow Community Centre, Derry, and everyone is welcome. "Tyrone has long stood in solidarity with the people of Palestine. On the evening he will speak directly about his personal experiences, his commitment to justice, and why the fight for equality and human rights at home is intimately connected to struggles abroad. "Dont miss this inspiring conversation bring a friend, spread the word, and help us fill the hall for Palestine!" Boxer Tyrone 'The Mighty Celt' McKenna is a professional boxer from Belfast. He is a welterweight, with more than thirty pro fights under his belt, he has a reputation for toughness, resilience, and relentless heart in the ring. Tyrone has said that growing up in West Belfast "shaped him". The "challenges and conflict he witnessed instilled in him, not only the physical tenacity needed for the ring, but a deeper sense of community and justice". Sinn Fein will set out its position for participation in the Irish presidential election later. The republican party has so far refused to clarify whether it will run its own candidate in the contest or support independent Catherine Connolly. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the issue of Irish unity should be at the heart of the presidential race. Speculation had previously surrounded whether Ms McDonald herself, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill or the partys deputy leader in the Dail, Pearse Doherty, might run. Ms McDonald firmly ruled herself out of contention earlier this month, adding that it was her priority to lead from the front in holding the current Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition to account in the Dail and offer an alternative government. She also said this week that her preferred candidate has a lot of Irish language, which appears to also rule Ms ONeill out. Ms Connolly who already claims the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and large parts of the Labour Party has said she would welcome the support of Sinn Fein. Ms McDonald will announce her partys position in Dublin on Saturday afternoon following a meeting of their ard chomhairle (executive committee). Speaking in Belfast on Friday, the Sinn Fein leader said members had a very good, very thorough deliberation across the party nationally. She added: We will set out in great detail our logic and our rationale. This is a very important campaign. It is a moment where we have a chance to have a national conversation about the here and now, but more importantly about the future. You wont be surprised to know that for us the process of reunification, Irelands future, that is at the heart of this campaign. We need a national conversation about Irelands young people, where they are now, how they are being failed and how we can help them succeed and prosper. Ms McDonald also described it as absolutely scandalous that people in Northern Ireland are not permitted to vote in the election. Former GAA manager Jim Gavin will contest the election for Fianna Fail while former government minister Heather Humphreys is standing for Fine Gael. Nominations close on September 24 and the presidential election will take place on October 24. Outgoing president Michael D Higgins has been in the role since 2011, having served the maximum two terms. Louth Neutrality Network (LNN) has welcomed the decision of Louth County Council to pass a motion calling on the Government to maintain the Triple Lock mechanism safeguarding Irelands neutrality. The motion, debated at the Council meeting on Monday (15th September), received strong backing from councillors. It comes amid debate over Government moves to dismantle the Triple Lock, which ensures that any overseas deployment of Irish troops requires the approval of the Government, the Dail, and a United Nations mandate. Over the past month, LNN has run information stands in Drogheda, Dundalk, and Blackrock, engaging directly with local communities about changes to Irelands neutrality. The group say the message from the public has been clear and consistent: the people of Louth value Irish neutrality and do not want the Government to abolish the Triple Lock. According to LNN this was further underlined in an open letter compiled by the group, signed by over 1,100 constituents across the county. The letter stressed that the Triple Lock is both a vital safeguard and a solemn commitment given to the Irish people during the Nice and Lisbon Treaty referendums. A spokesperson for Louth Neutrality Network said: "We are delighted that Louth County Council has voted to defend the Triple Lock. This decision reflects the clear views we have heard from people across Louth who want Irelands neutrality protected. We warmly thank the councillors who supported this motion, and we are proud that Louth has now joined the growing number of local authorities across Ireland standing up for neutrality and democratic accountability." Read Next: Louth County Council signs deal for major Carlingford regeneration project Councillor Antoin Watters (SF) who proposed the motion also welcomed its passage and said that it would now be sent to the Department of the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste, and the Minister for Defence. Ireland is proud of our long tradition of neutrality, and the motion affirms that any attempt to change that must go to the people in a referendum. The level of public engagement on this issue, with so many contacting councillors and over 1,100 signatures gathered by the Louth Neutrality Network, shows just how much people care. I want to commend LNN for their efforts in giving voice to the community. Louth Library Service has announced the launch of its inaugural literary festival, Lit Lu, which takes place from Thursday, 25th to Saturday, 27th September. This new event, funded and supported by Creative Ireland through Louth County Council's Arts Office, will bring a programme of literary discussions, panels, and conversations to all five library branches across the county. The Lit Lu festival celebrates the thriving reading culture in County Louth, where 18 book clubs are currently supported by the Library Service and nearly 180,000 items were borrowed last year. Lit Lu aims to build on this engagement by promoting reading for well-being and showcasing the diversity of voices in Irish literature. Amanda Branigan, County Librarian and Head of Cultural Services, said: It is a great honour and privilege to welcome writers of such high calibre to Louth to take part in this inaugural literary festival. Reading and literacy development are at the heart of Louth Library Service, and we are a free community space for everyone to use and enjoy, with no barriers to access. I would encourage everyone to come along to one or all of our events! Among the festivals highlights is an opening night event at Dundalk Library featuring Roisin ODonnell, author of the Sunday Times bestseller Nesting, in conversation with Belinda McKeon, acclaimed author of Solace and Tender. On Friday, Ardee Library hosts a Memoir Writing panel with Mary Rose Callaghan, Phyl Herbert, and Liz McManus, whose combined experience spans fiction, theatre, politics, and biography. That evening, Drogheda Library presents a Screenwriting panel with Nicola Cassidy, Darren Thornton, Barry McEvoy, and Phil Harrison, offering insights into storytelling for stage and screen. Read Next: PICTURES: Paul Kinahan celebrates 60th birthday in Shaky Bills Saturdays events include a crime fiction conversation between Claire Coughlan and Florence Gillan in Carlingford Library, followed by a Food Writing panel at Dunleer Library featuring Kristin Jensen, Blanca Valencia, and Tara Walker. These sessions promise lively discussion and inspiration for readers and writers alike. All Lit Lu events are free, but booking is essential. To reserve a place, email libraryhelpdesk@louthcoco.ie or contact the relevant library branch. The festival will be followed by two Lit Lu Fringe events in December in Dundalk and Drogheda, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austens birth with evenings of music and talks. Lit Lu Highlights Thursday 25th September Dundalk Library - 7pm Roisin ODonnell in conversation with Belinda McKeon Friday 26th September Ardee Library - 3pm Memoir Writing panel discussion with Mary Rose Callaghan, Phyl Herbert and Liz McManus Drogheda Library - 7pm Screen Writing panel discussion with Nicola Cassidy, Phil Harrison, Darren Thornton and Barry McEvoy Saturday 27th September Carlingford Library - 3pm Claire Coughlan in conversation with Florence Gillan Dunleer Library - 7pm Food Writing panel discussion with Kristin Jensen, Blanca Valencia and Tara Walker ECO-UNESCO is inviting young environmentalists from Louth to take part in the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) 2025/2026, with registration now officially open. Now in its 27th year, the YEA celebrates and supports youth-led projects that address some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The YEA is open to groups of young people (aged 10-18) across the island of Ireland in super junior, junior and senior categories. Participants are invited to design and deliver local environmental action projects in categories such as biodiversity, climate change, waste, energy, transport, art and design, health and wellbeing, and community development. Annually, the YEA engages thousands of young people across the island of Ireland through schools, youth groups and local communities; the programme helps to build environmental awareness, helps develop key skills as well building confidence in young people. The YEA encourages local level youth-led action which is linked to the global sustainable development goals (SDGs). ECO-UNESCO provides continuous mentoring and support to help young people bring their ideas to life, offering training, resource packs, and ongoing guidance, and the YEA follows a simple 6 Steps to Success action project framework. Completed projects are submitted for adjudication, with shortlisted groups invited to pitch their projects to expert judges at regional ECO-Dens, in a live, Dragons Den-style showcase held in locations across the island of Ireland. The journey culminates at the YEA showcase and awards ceremony, where finalists present their projects and the winners are revealed. This annual event is attended by approximately 1,000 attendees, including environmental experts, educators, families, and supporters. To coincide with the launch of YEA, ECO-UNESCO is inviting young people in Louth to take part in ECO-Week 2025 during 22nd26th September, which will run alongside Sustainable Development Goals Week. This week-long programme of free, expert-led online workshops will explore the basics of climate change, the United Nations 17 SDGs, and the vital links between nature, health and wellbeing. Participants will also hear directly from Irelands Climate Youth Delegate. Read Next: PHOTOS: Dundalk hosts European Council of Grandmothers Elaine Nevin, National Director, ECO-UNESCO, said: The Young Environmentalist Awards show that young people, including from Louth, are leading the way with creative, practical solutions to environmental challenges. From planting for biodiversity to cutting waste in schools, their actions prove that local projects can make a global difference. ECO-Week 2025 is the perfect springboard for starting YEA projects, giving young people from Louth the knowledge and inspiration to kick off their journey. ECO-Week 2025 sessions are tailored for two age groups (8-12 and 13-18) and are open to schools, youth groups and community groups in Louth, with the option to join live or via playback. To register for the 2026 Young Environmentalist Awards, visit www.yea.ie, or email yea@ecounesco.ie for more information. Registration closes on 7th November 2025, while project submissions close on 10th February 2026. To register to take part in ECO-Week, visit www.ecounesco.ie/what-we-do/eco-weeks/. Over 160 creches across Ireland, including two in Louth are planning to Go Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every year in Ireland, an average of 373 children and young people (aged 024) are diagnosed with cancer. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Childhood Cancer Ireland is shining a light on what it means to live with and beyond childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer. As the gold ribbon is the international symbol of childhood cancer, from September 22nd to 26th, Childhood Cancer Ireland is inviting creches nationwide to join the movement and #GoGold, because all children are more precious than gold. More than 160 creches have signed up, including Louths PugWash Bay and MiniMinds Preschool in Dundalk; and Cuddles Creche in Tallanstown; with strong support nationally from childcare franchises including Tigers Childcare, Charlies Childcare, and Sherpa Kids. The initiative is also proudly endorsed by Comhar Naionrai na Gaeltachta, representing creches across Gaeltacht regions who are going gold this September. This September, creches and schools have a golden opportunity to make a real difference, said Laura Cullinan, CEO of Childhood Cancer Ireland. By turning fun and learning into support, children can show empathy, raise awareness, and help us be there for families every step of the way. Participating creches will take part in gold-themed activities, including: Scavenger hunts Sensory gold dig games Colouring to spark creativity and reflection Adding sparkle to their day with gold glitter and face paints Mini-lesson starters on awareness and kindness For families, hearing the words your child has cancer changes everything. As a parent-led organisation, we understand that all too well, added Laura Cullinan. We were once those terrified parents whose world was turned upside down in an instant. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month allows us to shine a light on the visible and invisible impacts of this disease; from the physical side effects of treatment to the emotional and psychological challenges that last long after recovery. Childhood Cancer Ireland provides practical, emotional, social and financial supports to families throughout and following their cancer journey. Services include play therapy, parent peer support, psychological care, and expert-led workshops designed to help parents, siblings, children and young people navigate recovery. Laura Cullinan concluded: Sadly, children and young people still die from childhood cancer each year. This month is also a time to remember and honour those whose lives have been cut short. Together, through awareness and solidarity, we can push for better outcomes and lasting support for every family. The #GoGold campaign is not limited to creches. Anyone can take part in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by purchasing and selling gold ribbon pins, hosting coffee mornings, or organising Light It Up Gold Solidarity Walks. To learn more about how to get involved, visit childhoodcancer.ie. A Louth-based Engagement and Progression Manager with home care company Comfort Keepers has won a prestigious award at the 2025 Home & Community Care Ireland (HCCI) Home Care Awards, supported by Gallagher. John Sheridan, who has been working for Comfort Keepers for 14 years and lives in Co. Louth, was one of five who made the shortlist for the Social Innovation of the Year award. Last week, at a special celebratory event at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone, John was announced as the winner. Comfort Keepers, one of Irelands largest and most awarded home care companies, is this year marking 20 years of delivering quality, compassionate home care to individuals and families all across the country. The Social Innovation of the Year award, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, celebrates an individual, team, or organisation that has made significant strides in improving the day-to-day well-being of its staff. This award recognises efforts that have led to impactful cultural change within a business, fostering a more inclusive, nurturing, and supportive work environment. On winning the award, John Sheridan, Engagement and Progression Manager at Comfort Keepers, said: I work with a great team and I am so honoured to win this award for some of my proudest contributions to the company to date our internal progression policy and programme, and our new work permit process. "One provides our staff with a real pathway for progression in the company, and the other provides dozens of our carers with job security for their future career here in Ireland. Both initiatives have made a big difference, and this is reflected in the number of carers that have progressed to new support opportunities and greater staff retention overall. Collette Gleeson, CEO of Comfort Keepers, said: At Comfort Keepers, we believe that everyone deserves to live a safe, happy, and independent life in their own home, and we understand that great care starts with people who feel valued and supported. This is why we invest in our employees' development from the very beginning and offer them a rewarding career. John is a very worthy recipient of this award. His work is enabling us to strengthen our retention and continuity across the business and have clearer visibility of our workforces long-term future. Both initiatives support stronger planning and stability as we continue to grow all across the country in response to the growing need for high-quality, person-centred homecare services. Joseph Musgrave, CEO, HCCI, said: It is our pleasure to honour and celebrate those who work in the home care sector. Their dedication and ingenuity make a real difference to home care clients and their families every single day, all over the country. Sincere congratulations to all those shortlisted, the recognition is well deserved. Established in 2005 and as an HSE-approved provider of homecare and support services, Comfort Keepers was recently named, for the second consecutive year, Homecare Provider of the Year 2025. In recent years, Comfort Keepers has grown to nearly 2,000 employees with 19 nurse-led service teams providing care across all 26 counties. Animating the streets and skies of Drogheda, Lu Festival of Light returns to Louth from 24th to 27th October. Turning the town into an open-air gallery, Lu Festival of Light is a vibrant celebration of ancient mythology allowing people to view Drogheda in a new and exciting way. This years festival promises an unforgettable experience for all ages with additional events taking place throughout and cafes and bars staying open. Inspired by the myths and legends of Ireland, the Home of Halloween, the 2025 festival will bring to life powerful stories from Cu Chulainn & Ferdia, The Morrigan, and Queen Maeves Tain march, alongside a shining tribute to the remarkable people and achievements of Drogheda. Through breathtaking light displays, immersive installations, and captivating light and sound performances, Droghedas streets will be transformed into a living canvas of story and spectacle. Featuring four shows per hour from 7-9.30pm daily between 24th-27th October, key sites across Drogheda include St Peters Church which will showcase an impressive digitally mapped show that creates dancing effects across the intricate stonework and delicate stained-glass windows. The Abbey will become a portal, telling the tale of The Morrigan Goddess of War, death, of fate and fury, she is not merely one goddess, but sometimes three. A shapeshifter, a harbinger, a sovereign of strife. Against its medieval face of St Laurences Gate, the story of Cu Chulainn and Ferdia will unfold the gate which once stood between war and peace, now framing the legendary duel that tore apart two brothers in arms. Cllr Michelle Hall, Mayor of Drogheda, encourages locals and visitors alike to attend the festival saying: This October, Drogheda will once again shine as the heart of Irelands storytelling tradition. From the legends of Cu Chulainn to the magic of the Morrigan, our streets will come alive with light, sound, and myth. "I invite everyone to experience the wonder, walk the illuminated trail, and be part of something truly unforgettable. Drogheda is ready to welcome you with open arms and glowing streets. Were thrilled to invite locals and visitors alike to experience the magic and meaning of Lu, to bring the excitement and energy to the town this October said Trevor Connolly of Love Drogheda BID. This festival is more than just light, it is storytelling using our built heritage as a canvas to tell the stories of our hero's and heroines of Irelands Ancient East in a hugely intriguing and creative way. We are proud to be home to Irelands best Urban Animation Festival and one that should not be missed David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council commented on the impact of the festival, which is now in its fourh year, saying: Each year the Lu Festival of Light brings thousands of visitors to Drogheda, energising our local economy, supporting businesses, and showcasing the town as a vibrant cultural destination. The festival fosters pride, inspires creativity, and strengthens bonds through shared storytelling and experiences. Its impact is felt long after the lights dim, and we are proud to support an initiative that continues to illuminate the heart of Louth. Ryan Vail of Visual Spectrum added: Lu Festival of Light transforms Drogheda into a canvas of light and imagination. At Visual Spectrum, we design moments that stop people in their tracks, where story, technology, and place come alive. Its not just a festival its a new way of seeing the town. Lu Festival of Light 2025 is set to be the premier urban animation and lighting event in Ireland this year and will deliver dazzling displays, rich storytelling, extraordinary street performance and immersive atmosphere within the town. Join us in Drogheda this October to celebrate light, legend, and local pride. Audiences are also invited to dress up for the opening ceremony and Spooks Parade from 6.15pm on 24th October, West Street. The Lu Festival of Light is delivered in partnership by Love Drogheda Business Improvement District (BID), produced by Visual Spectrum, and proudly funded by Louth County Council, Love Drogheda BID, Drogheda Councillors and supported by Failte Ireland For more information, updates, and event schedules, please visit: www.lufestivaloflight.com Heartfelt tributes are being paid to an Irish woman in her 80s who tragically lost her life after being struck by a bus in Galway city earlier this week. Marie Hession McMunn, who was in her 80s, lived in Renmore but was originally from Ballyglass, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. She died following the collision on Monday evening on the Dublin Road, Wellpark in Galway City. Friends and neighbours have remembered her as a kind, cheerful and generous woman who loved her dogs and touched the lives of many. READ MORE | RIP: Young woman in her 20s tragically killed cycling after rush-hour crash with truck One mourner wrote: "Cannot express how sorry I am that Marie has had such an accident. I will miss her so much and our walks & laughs in Ballyloughane. She was such a cheerful and caring person who helped everyone she could." Another tribute said: "We were deeply saddened to hear of her passing. A beautiful, kind, caring and generous woman that brightened our days. We spoke very fondly of her and always looked forward to seeing her. She was truly a shining light. I'll really miss our chats Marie. May your gentle soul rest peacefully." Others recalled her warmth and fun-loving spirit: "Marie was always upbeat, kind and interested in what was happening in my life. I was always the better for meeting Marie. She had an electric smile and such a sense of fun! I enjoyed the time I spent with her very much and I will definitely miss her." Another neighbour wrote: "Sincere sympathy on the sad passing of Marie. It was great to meet her and have a chat when she was out walking her dogs. Marie was lovely lady and loved her dogs. May her gentle soul rest in peace." READ MORE | LATEST: Met Eireann in major U-turn as weekend weather warnings are stood down Her RIP.ie death notice described her as sadly missed by her sister Josephine Trench and Richard, her brother Jimmy and sister-in-law Bridie, her niece Maria, Robert and family, nieces Patricia, Caroline, Keelin and Niamh, nephews Richard, James, Bernard, Conor, Eoin, Ciaran, Darragh and Cian, her step-daughter Deirdre and her daughter Ciara, as well as her grandnieces and grandnephews. Marie was predeceased by her husband George, her parents Jack and Kitty, her brother Mickey, her nephew Seamus and her sister-in-law Mary. Marie was reposed at Aras Naofa, Renmore, on Thursday evening, and her Funeral Mass will be held at Carnacon Church today, Friday, at 1pm, followed by burial in Burriscarra Cemetery. Gardai confirmed earlier this week that Marie was tragically pronounced dead at the scene of Monday's collision. READ MORE | 'It put a dampener on the day' - Underage drinking called into question at Ploughing Championships A spokesperson said: "Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision which occurred on the Dublin Road, Wellpark, Galway City, on Monday September 15. "The collision, involving a bus and a female pedestrian, occurred at approximately 8.45pm. The pedestrian, aged in her 80s, was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries reported." They added that Garda Forensic Collision Investigators carried out a full examination of the scene and are urging anyone who may have been in the area at the time to come forward. "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 8.30pm and 9pm on Monday, September 15, 2025, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. "Anyone with information is asked to contact Gaillimh Garda Station on (091) 538000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station." READ MORE | LATEST: Who are the guests on this week's RTE Late Late Show? State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Clara Kidney and Stephen McNamara were born and grew up on Harbour View Road in Knocknaheeny. At 12, they became friends, they started going out at 15 - and now they have got married in front of family and friends in Malaga, Spain. Celebrations at the wedding of Clara Kidney and Stephen McNamara in Malaga, Spain We knew each other growing up and became friends when we were coming into our teenager years. That turned into an unexpected romance, said Clara. Thirteen years later, we tied the knot. Stephen proposed on a beach in Greece amongst friends in 2016, but we were still too young to get married so we enjoyed holidaying and being social on the weekends till we knew the time was right to get married, said Clara. The couple wed in Mijas Church in Malaga earlier this month, and celebrated with 140 guests, who flew out from Cork. They had the afters in the hotel Estival Torrquebrada in Benalmadena, Malaga. I got my wedding dress in Diamond Bridal in Winthrop street, said Clara. Suits were all purchased in Morleys. Accessories were from Abbot Lyon. Junior groomsman Jayden holding a photo of his uncle Craig Ring, who was a friend of Clara Kidney and Stephen McNamara I did my own make-up and my best friend Shannon OConnor did the rest of the bridal party and best friend Kayleigh Rall (Topstyles Hair Salon, Mayfield) did my hair and bridal party hair. The couple with Claras parents, Gerard and Anne, and Michaels mother Catherine, holding a photo of his late father, Paul McNamara Claras parents, Gerard and Anne, were in attendance, and Stephens mother Catherine - his father Paul passed away in 2020. The couple had 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen. My sisters/niece/sister-in-law and friends were my bridal party, and Stephens brother and friends were our groomsmen, with one junior groomsman Jayden, who is only 12 years old, said Clara. Jayden is the nephew of our friend, Craig (Golly) Ring, who passed away and he stood in for his place and carried a photo of his uncle at the altar for us in memory of him. All the suppliers were Spanish except for the couples DJ, Stephen Kelly, an Irishman who lives in Malaga. And we flew the amazing Kelvin Long out to sing for us during the dinner and our day two, added Clara. The day and night was filled with love, laughter, and lots of celebrating. Ive recently returned from a break on the Catalunya coast of northern Spain. The area has long been a favourite, since I first visited when I was 17 and have returned to intermittently. This time round, I discovered a new little gem on this coast. Cambrils is a gorgeous boutique destination, golden beaches flanked with the blue mediterranean and a harbour full of exclusive yachts to make your jaw drop! On the day we visited, it was the Diada, the Catalunya National Day when the people celebrate their heritage and the Catalan language, which is different to normal Spanish. Everyone was out to join in the festivities and eat great food. Which brings me to the chicken! We stumbled upon a fantastic rotisserie restaurant which had rows and rows of chickens turning on the spit. All the locals were eating there, so if it was good enough for them, it was good enough for us! In the absence of a rotisserie, my chicken dish with its crispy skin is baked in the oven with squash, potatoes and onions, a meal in one tray to serve with salads. For dessert, a fruity version of bread and butter pudding, with tropical pineapple and spicy ginger in the mix. A great finish to this meal, and it can be baked in the oven while youre enjoying the main course. RECEIPT Main meal Chicken legs 1.2kg 3.99 Butternut Squash 1.19 Red onions net 99c Rooster Potatoes 2kg 2.29 Thyme 1.19 TOTAL: 9.65 Dessert Bread 1.29 Pineapple x 1 2.29 Fresh free range eggs half dozen 1.95 Milk 1ltr 1.25c Cream 250mls 1.59 Ground ginger 28g 79c TOTAL: 9.16 GRAND TOTAL: 18.81 Autumn Baked Chicken Ingredients (serves 4) 4 large chicken legs Olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped 2 tsp thyme leaves 1 medium or 2 small squash, halved, seeded and in wedges 2 red onions, peeled and in wedges 8 medium potatoes, scrubbed and in wedges Whole thyme sprigs 150mls chicken stock Method Place chicken legs on large shallow roasting tray. Drizzle with oil & season. Scatter with garlic and thyme. Place in pre-heated oven, Gas 4 350F 180C, for 10 mins or until the skin begins to crisp and go brown. Remove from the oven and lift the chicken legs onto a plate. Add the veggies and toss around in the cooking juices. Drizzle with extra oil and season. Perch the chicken legs back on top of the veggies. Return to the oven to complete cooking for about 35 minutes, or until veggies are tender and the juices of the chicken run clear when pierced in the thigh. If there is any sign of pinkness, return to oven for a bit longer. Transfer the chicken and veg to a serving platter and scatter with thyme springs. For the pan gravy, strain off any excess fat from the tray. Pour in the stock and place over medium heat. Stir to scrape up cooking juices and bring to bubbling. Season and pour into a jug. This is a thin gravy to moisten the meal. You can thicken with flour, or cornflour for gluten free diners. Serve immediately. Spicy Pineapple Puddings Ingredients (makes 4 individual puddings) 8 slices of bread softened butter for spreading small ripe pineapple 3 fresh free range eggs 450mls milk 50 mls cream 1 tbsp brown sugar plus a little extra for topping 1 tsp ground ginger 4 tbsp granola (optional) 1 tbsp mixed seeds (optional) extra butter for dotting icing sugar for dusting Method Butter bread and cut into triangles. Remove the skin from the pineapple, cut lengthways in two then carefully remove the inner core running down the edge of each piece. Cut the fruit into thin slices. Arrange bread slices in four individual ovenproof dishes, points facing upwards. Tuck pineapple pieces between the bread slices. Whisk eggs with the milk and cream. Stir in the brown sugar and ginger. Pour over the bread. Scatter tops of puddings with granola and seeds if using and dot with butter. Sprinkle with a little extra brown sugar. Bake in pre-heated oven at Gas 5 375F 190C for 12-15 minutes, or until the custard is set but still sllightly wobbly, and the tops of the puddings are browned. Serve dusted with icing sugar. Wine accompaniment Catalunya in northern Spain produces great wines to go with the typical dishes of the area. Despite the fact chicken is a white meat, it will often drink a suitable red, especially with the flavoursome rotisserie chickens which are marinated before cooking. So Ive found a great Catalan red wine to match this dish superbly. Barcelino Tinto 2021 is a red that works very well with chicken. Theres a lot of autumnal dark berry notes here, but some bright snatches of ripe cherries also, to give that little bit of lightness and edge to the finish. A great wine for this dish, which has a lot of challenging flavours in the herbs and the sweetness of the squash. This red will step up to the mark admirably, providing a great partner for this simple baked supper. Find it in Lidl stores now, at just 7.99 a bottle. A great wine at a great price! Longtime Cork clothes retailer Mannix is currently offloading its entire property portfolio in the city centre, and the amount of interest in the properties so far is a sign of positive trends in the city centre, a property company have said. Peter OMeara, a director at Savills Ireland, told The Echo: The late Donal Mannix, a man who was involved at the heart of the old retail trade in Cork in the rag trade, as it was called then, died earlier this year, and the portfolio is now on the market. Theres a number of buildings on Castle Street and one on Patrick Street, they went on the market in the last week and theres been eight or nine viewings a day so far, and offers on over 50% of them already which is good, it shows an appetite for the city centre. There is a perception out there that the city centre is not in demand - we would totally refute that. Were thankfully involved a lot of transactions in Cork city centre and we believe the appetite is good, both occupational and in terms of investment and development. One such example is the opening of a new Urban Outfitters clothing store. Mr OMeara said: I think thats a massive vote of confidence in Cork city centre, for a brand of that significance who trade worldwide to open in Cork. One of the reasons they looked at opening here was due to the amount of people from Cork who used to shop in their store in London, they would get stats of people flying to London and back to go shopping and can trace where they came from and a large number of them were from Cork. Urban Outfitters like quirky buildings, and 101 Patrick Street is a former religious building, an old methodist church. Theyve done a fantastic job with it. In terms of the future, he said that two key things theyd like to see were the expansion of Penneys and the development of the former Debenhams building, adding: Were not the agents there, but there has been a lot of activity on that. In general, Mr OMeara said: Cork city centre is still very much in demand, theres been about 25 fascia changes since covid and thats good. When international retailers come to Ireland, they look to Dublin first, Grafton St and Henry St then to centres like Dundrum, Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley, but their next port of call is usually Patrick Street. Its seen as the high street for fashion in Cork but also in the wider region. After that they look to Mahon Point, then Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick. The other thing thats changed is we had very few food and beverage groups interested in the city centre in the last two years, but all of a sudden in the last two or three months theres been a number of international brands looking to come to Cork. A store at 40-42 Washington St called Mannix and Culhane, which closed in March, is not part of the portfolio and is in separate ownership. A woman who found an envelope containing 5,000 in cash that was misplaced by a member of An Garda Siochana at a Cork garda station has been handed a suspended sentence in the district court. Elizabeth Foley, aged 30, of Templebryan South, Shannonvale, Clonakilty, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and one charge of simple possession of cannabis which arose from a subsequent search. A previous hearing outlined how Foley had found an envelope at Clonakilty Garda Station containing 5,000 in cash that had been dropped by a garda working at the station. The money was intended to be used to pay a building contractor. Elizabeth Foley was identified on CCTV arriving at the garda station on April 28, 2024, to sign on as part of her bail conditions. The court heard that she was seen on CCTV in the car park area putting a white envelope in her pocket shortly after the garda had entered the building. The court was told that a warrant was obtained to search Foleys residence on April 30 during which a receipt for a cash lodgement was found in the door of a car, as well as 20 worth of cannabis recovered from her bedroom. CCTV from AIB in Clonakilty also showed Elizabeth Foley making a lodgement for 1,850 in cash on the morning of Monday, April 29, 2024. Elizabeth Foley admitted she had taken the money and also admitted possession of cannabis for her own use. Foley had made arrangements to repay the money taken and it was fully repaid in weekly instalments with the last payment made on New Years Eve, 2024. Judge Joanne Carroll said a probation report on Foley was very positive and the court heard that Foley was now in employment working as a cleaner with the Department of Agriculture. For the theft, Foley was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months. For the possession of cannabis the Probation Act was applied. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme Members of the public were so concerned by the driving of a hairdresser on a West Cork road that they followed him to a nearby petrol station and reported him to gardai, the district court has heard. Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that Ricardo Fernando Teglas was charged with careless driving in relation to an incident near Ballineen on November 1, 2024. The court heard that Teglas was observed at 6.45am on the R586 road at Manch near Ballineen heading in the direction of Dunmanway. A large milk tanker had stopped at a junction to turn off the road and an SUV travelling behind the tanker had also slowed down. Teglas overtook both vehicles at speed, crossing the central median forcing vehicles coming in the opposite direction to take evasive action. Members of the public in two vehicles followed Teglas to a petrol station in Dunmanway where he was confronted about his driving and reported to the gardai. Defence solicitor, Eamonn Fleming, said Teglas, with an address at Parkview, Kilbrogan, Bandon, was originally from Argentina and worked full-time as a hairdresser. He said his client apologised to the concerned motorists at the petrol station and was not aggressive in any way. Mr Fleming said Teglas was pleading guilty and had no previous convictions. Judge Joanne Carroll convicted Teglas of careless driving, contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 and fined him 200 allowing three months to pay the fine. 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A high-level, inter-governmental meeting on digital education, training and skills development, taking place in conjunction with the annual eLearning Africa conference. For the past 20 years, eLearning Africa has convened the Ministerial Round Table alongside eLearning Africa to provide an open platform to discuss challenges and exchange knowledge about leveraging technology for education, training and skills development. The goal of the meeting is to facilitate open dialogue and generate practical recommendations that will have real-world impact on policy drafting and implementation. Please note that participation at the Ministerial Round Table is by invitation only. 2026 The 18th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table will take place in Accra, Ghana, from June 3 5, 2026, under the theme Championing Sovereign, Innovative and United Learning Systems: Empowering Africa on Its Own Terms. As Africa moves deeper into the digital age, its leaders face a defining moment. Rapid technological change, shifting global dynamics, and the pressures of economic transformation are reshaping the continents education and training systems. Building on the overarching eLearning Africa theme Africas Time, Africas Terms: Learning for Sovereignty, Strength and Solidarity, the 2026 Round Table will bring together ministers of education, ICT, labour, youth and finance to discuss how Africa can assert ownership of its digital learning future. How can African countries secure sovereignty over their education systems and data, develop the skills and innovation capacity needed for sustainable growth, and strengthen continental solidarity in an interconnected world? The discussions in Accra will seek practical answers to these questions through three key areas: financing and infrastructure for digital learning, AI and innovation for skills development, and cross-border collaboration for resilient and inclusive learning systems. The Accra Ministerial Round Table will aim to define the policies and partnerships needed to ensure that Africas digital transformation in education is not only inclusive and sustainable, but truly led - and owned - by Africa, on its own terms. Previous Editions: Communiques & Resources 2025 The 17th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on May 7, 2025 alongside the eLearning Africa Conference and adressed the overall theme with a particular focus on Reimagining Human Capital Development in Africa: Developing Skills for the Digital Workplace, Building AI Readiness for Africa and the Centrality of Data. The Ministerial Roundtable brought together a diverse range of expertise and examples of good practice from Africa and beyond. The presentations and discussions were stimulating, and engaged all the participants. The outputs from this very dynamic and thought-provoking Ministerial Roundtable, included recognising the importance of African generated data, in African languages, to inform an Afro-centric approach to AI, which addresses Africas needs, while enabling Africa to contribute to global issues. In order to achieve this, we need a focus on developing skills at all levels, and work collaboratively across countries and with regional and continental bodies. The Chair, Dr Aida Opoku-Mensah noted seven principles and action points from this Ministerial Roundtable that participants should focus on, in taking forward the lessons of this Ministerial Roundtable: Expand connectivity infrastructure Promote regional, and continental, alignment in AI strategies Integrate global benchmarks into national planning and monitoring Integrate data skills into national education agendas Policies are needed for AI readiness - with coherent national approaches Strengthen public private academia partnerships - universities are crucial in this work Support innovation ecosystems to promote local knowledge and innovation. MRT Partners were: 2024 The 16th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table took place in Kigali, Rwanda on May 29, 2024 alongside the eLearning Africa Conference and adressed the overall theme with a particular focus on Digital Education, Skills and Human Capital: from Learning to Earning. The African Union's "Agenda 2063" envisions a developed Africa playing a pivotal global role by the second half of the century. Africa's rising political and economic significance is evident, yet challenges persist, including regional instability and climate change impacts. While Africa holds advantages like a growing population and valuable resources, it must also look to rapidly developing its human resources. Addressing challenges will occur not only at the national level but also at the local and and regional levels. The African Union and regional bodies will play key roles in Agenda 2063's execution. Success hinges on a well-educated population with a grasp of digital advancements in addressing climate change, the 4IR and a growing population. Effective leadership is vital in conveying a prosperous and sustainable vision. The evolving global work landscape calls for a skilled African workforce that can not only develop Africa, but also contribute to global development through remote work and migration. This demands innovative education approaches, from inclusive and personalized learning post-primary school to stackable credentials with global recognition. Measuring educational outcomes, impact; and focusing on transferable skills over content adaptation are crucial amid a rapidly changing global context. Artificial Intelligence can improve education, foster inclusion, and lower per capita costs, but it also has drawbacks such as high introduction costs, and lack of creativity. It poses risks and challenges that will need policy and regulation. MRT Partners were: 2023 The 15th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table took place in Dakar, Senegal on May 25, 2023. Participants included Ministers and Representatives from more than 17 African countries. Presentations by Ministers, global EdTech businesses and non-profit organisations working in Africa, addressed issues facing governments, development partners, and EdTech companies and organisations. These include scaling up technology supported education to meet the demands of Agenda 2063 for a skilled and well educated population; and the development of stable, educated and productive societies committed to global sustainable development. It was sponsored by 2022 The 14th Ministerial Round Table took place in Kigali, Rwanda on May 11, 2022 and addressed the theme: "Getting Back on Track - Practical Steps towards 2063": A decade ago, in its Agenda 2063, the AU set out its vision of a 'transformed continent' and the various aspirations it had for improvements in the quality of life of ordinary Africans. Since then, Africa and the rest of the world have had to contend with a devastating pandemic. It has interrupted progress and upset plans. It has also created new opportunities. As Africa begins a process of greater integration with the creation of ACFTA, African leaders still face the challenge of rapid technological change and growing, increasingly urban populations. How can they move beyond the pandemic, learn its lessons and get back on track towards 2063? It was sponsored by 2021 This 13th Ministerial Round Table took place virtually on November 3, 2021 and addressed the theme 'Using Skills-Based Online and Blended Learning to Put Higher Education at the Heart of Your Plan for Economic Growth'. The coronavirus pandemic has slowed global economic growth and brought some economies to a virtual standstill. At the same time, however, education has been transformed and a new age of opportunity has begun. Modern students, academics and employers increasingly appreciate the benefits of online learning for knowledge transfer and the acquisition of key skills. But how can technology and the use of more blended learning enable higher education to play the leading role in transforming your country's economic prospects? And how can it help a new generation of learners with the skills they'll need to build a thriving economy? The Ministerial Round Table will examine prospects, perspectives and plans for using online and blended learning to maximise Africa's higher education sector. It was organised in collaboration with 2019 The 12th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table took place in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on October 23rd, 2019 on the theme 'The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Learning, Training, Skills and Investment'. Participants, who included representatives of both African Governments and international organisations, discussed steps that might be taken towards uniting the continent in what could eventually be the world's biggest single market, and creating the right environment for this to happen. The Round Table produced a set of recommendations designed to help Africa prepare itself for the development of an African Continental Free Trade Area. 2018 The 11th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table took place in Kigali, Rwanda on the 26th September 2018 on the theme 'Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy'. The MRT was attended by ICT and Education Ministers from 14 African countries (Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo Brazzaville, Djibouti, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda) together with invited guests from international organisations. 2017 The 10th eLearning Africa Ministerial Round Table took place in Balaclava, Mauritius on the 27th September 2017 on the theme Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for Education - How eLearning and Digitalisation can Support Inclusivity, Boost Training and Encourage Skills Development. The MRT was attended by ICT and Education Ministers from 17 African countries including Cameroon, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe, together with representatives of leading companies and educational institutions. 2016 In 2016, the 9th edition brought together Ministers of Education and ICT from across the continent to focus on African visions and national plans for change and the role of ICT-enhanced learning and training in them. The discussions gave participants both an idea of the scope, scale and variety of change underway in Africa, as well as an understanding of key factors in successful implementation strategies. 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Contact: mrt@elearning-africa.com Sponsorship & partnership enquiries: marketing@elearning-africa.com A few months after the release of Grok 4 and an extremely problematic antisemitic meltdown of its chatbot, xAI is already trying to move on with its latest AI model. Elon Musk's xAI announced the release of Grok 4 Fast, a faster, more efficient reasoning model compared to its recent predecessor. According to xAI, Grok 4 Fast offers similar performance to Grok 4 while using 40 percent fewer thinking tokens on average. Along with faster results, xAI said Grok 4 Fast "results in a 98% reduction in price to achieve the same performance on frontier benchmarks as Grok 4," whether it's handling tasks that involve writing code or just browsing the web for quick responses. Similar to OpenAI's GPT-5 that alternates between a smart, efficient model and a deeper reasoning model, xAI's latest update includes a unified architecture that can transition between handling complex requests with its "reasoning" model and quick responses through its "non-reasoning model." In tests on LMArena, a platform that pits AI models against each other and provides side-by-side comparisons, Grok 4 Fast ranks first in search-related tasks and eighth in text-related tasks. xAI made Grok 4 Fast available for all users, including the free ones, on web, iOS and Android. However, with how competitive the LLM race is getting, it's only a matter of time before Google releases the next-gen version of Gemini or Anthropic updates the Claude Opus model beyond the recently released 4.1 version. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order, which adds a $100,000 fee to H-1B visa applications. But according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, it won't be an annual fee as the administration initially said it would be. During the signing at the Oval Office on Friday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said multiple times that the fee would be applied per year. In a follow-up X post on Saturday, however, Leavitt wrote "to be clear," the fee is not annual but "one-time fee that applies only to the petition." The New York Times reported on Friday that the Secretary of Homeland Security will restrict approval for visa applications of people who are "currently outside the United States" unless accompanied by the fee, though the rule "allows case-by-case exemptions if [it's] in the national interest." This new requirement will only apply to new visa applicants, a White House official told The Times, and it will likely face legal challenges. If it does get implemented, though, it could deal a huge blow to the tech industry. In her post, though, Leavitt said, "Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter. H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterdays proclamation." She also wrote, "This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders. It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle." While several sectors in the US use the program to bring skilled workers into the country, some of its biggest beneficiaries are in the tech sector. According to the US Citizen and Immigration Services, Amazon has the most number (over 10,000) of workers on the H-1B visa. Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google are also in the top ten list of employers that brought over H-1B workers, with between 4,000 and 5,500 employees on the visa. Walmart, Intel, IBM and NVIDIA have a considerable number of H-1B workers, as well. As TechCrunch has noted, Elon Musk, who used to be close to the president, came over to the US on the H-1B, as did Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the White House's announcement, the administration explained that some employers have abused the H-1B visa to "artificially suppress wages," creating a disadvantageous market for Americans. "Information technology (IT) firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields," the announcement read. Trump has also signed an order for a new visa program called the "Gold Card," which the administration says will prioritize "the admission of aliens who will affirmatively benefit the Nation, including successful entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen and women." It's an expedited immigrant visa program, available to anybody who can afford the "requisite gift" the government asks for. Specifically, the gift made to the US Department of Commerce must be "$1 million for an individual donating on his or her own behalf and $2 million for a corporation or similar entity donating on behalf of an individual." Update, September 21, 2025 10:11AM ET: This article has been updated to reflect new information from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walking back the administration's initial claim that the fee would be applied per year. Leavitt now says it will not be annual. From a disastrous AMA on Monday to disappointing Legion Go 2 preorder customers on Friday, the Lenovo team is having a hell of a week. To kick things off, the Lenovo Legion team hosted an AMA on Reddit revolving around its gaming handheld launch. The Legion Go 2 generated a ton of hype, being Lenovo's next-gen gaming handheld with more powerful specs and a higher price tag, but the team only answered 10 questions before abandoning the thread. On Wednesday, Lenovo apologized for not being prepared enough to answer all the questions, but followed it up with a bombshell in an edit posted on Friday, adding that "we will need to cancel some preorders placed directly on Lenovo.com" for the Legion Go 2. According to the Lenovo team, the demand "substantially exceeded our projections" and led to "unforeseen delivery range extensions." While the orders with Lenovo's retail partners, like Best Buy, aren't affected, anyone who preordered the Legion Go 2 directly on the Lenovo website may see some frustrating news in their inboxes. The cancellations might not be a total shocker, since some user reports are circulating that Lenovo already pushed initial ship dates from September to October with "zero communication about the delay." To try to save face, Lenovo explained that "as soon as our inventory is replenished, Lenovo.com will show updated availability and ordering will reopen." There's no indication yet if those with canceled orders will get priority with the next batch of available devices, but the Lenovo team said it would respond to the AMA thread's questions over the rest of the month. However, if Reddit comments are any indication, there's a good chance a lot of customers won't reorder following this catastrophic launch. According to a report by The Washington Post, scientists with the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water were ordered by "political appointees" to stop work on studies that were headed for publication, as they'll now be "subject to a new review process." Staffers were reportedly given the instructions in a town hall meeting this week. The only papers exempt are those for which "scientific journals had already returned proofs the final step in the academic publication process," reports The Washington Post, which spoke to two agency employees. Among other things, the role of the Office of Water is to ensure the safety of drinking water. It's the latest in a string of changes at the EPA under the Trump administration, and raises yet more concerns for public health. In May, the agency announced plans to roll back limitations for some perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," that had been set by the Biden administration, saying it would keep only the limits for the two most common, PFOA and PFOS. In July, the EPA laid off thousands of employees and announced it would shut down its scientific research office. The same month, the EPA proposed rescinding certain greenhouse gas emissions standards, and just last week announced a plan to do away with the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program that requires some of the nation's biggest polluters to report their emissions. Following the latest orders, staffers with the Office of Water who spoke to The Washington Post said they were not given a reason to provide scientific journals as to why the papers have been halted, and no details on the new review process have been shared. One employee told the publication, "This represents millions of dollars of research, potentially, thats now being stopped." A Republican congressman told a House committee Wednesday that FBI files include the names of at least 20 people suspected of ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a revelation that intensified scrutiny of how federal authorities handled the long-running investigation. As per Miami Herald, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told the House Judiciary Committee that witness statements and other evidence in FBI files identify a roster of alleged associates that includes celebrities, financiers, politicians and at least six billionaires. Massie, as per the publication, cited documents he said were used by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. "We know these people exist in the FBI files, the files that you control," Massie said, reading a summary that named a Hollywood producer, a royal prince, a music industry figure, a prominent banker, an owner of an Italian car company, a rock star, a magician, a high-profile government official and a high-profile former politician. FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back, telling the committee he has "taken no steps to investigate some of the men named in the FBI files" and that "any investigations that arise from any credible investigation will be brought." Patel repeatedly denied the existence of an official "client list" and said he has not seen new evidence warranting fresh probes. The exchange came days after Patel called the 2008 nonprosecution deal that resolved federal scrutiny of Epstein the case's "original sin." Patel and others have said the agreement negotiated when Alexander Acosta was U.S. attorney in Miami restricted later efforts to hold Epstein's associates accountable. Acosta, who later served as U.S. labor secretary and resigned in 2019 amid criticism over the deal, will testify Friday before the House Oversight Committee in closed session his first congressional appearance since leaving the Cabinet. He has long defended the handling of the case, saying prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence for more serious federal charges at the time. A Justice Department review completed in 2020 faulted Acosta for "poor judgment" in negotiating the deal, which granted Epstein immunity from federal prosecution and included broad confidentiality provisions. Those provisions prompted legal debates over whether they barred later prosecutions of associates. A federal judge later found procedural flaws in the agreement but declined to unwind its protections. The 2008 plea agreement, in which Epstein pleaded to state charges of soliciting prostitution and solicitation of a minor, resulted in an 18month jail term and a work-release arrangement that allowed Epstein to leave jail during the day. Epstein continued to face allegations of abuse for years, and in July 2019 he was arrested on new federal sex trafficking charges in New York. He was found dead in his cell a month later; New York City's medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. The case has prompted multiple investigations and lawsuits and drawn scrutiny to prosecutors' communications with Epstein's high-powered legal team. Media investigations in 2018 and later documented victims' accounts and internal government records that suggested Epstein operated a systematic trafficking network and that some authorities failed to fully pursue options for broader prosecutions. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate, was convicted in 2021 of multiple counts related to sex trafficking and is serving a 20year federal prison sentence. She has appealed her conviction, arguing in part that she falls under the scope of the 2008 agreement's protections. In testimony this month, former Attorney General William Barr rejected theories that Epstein had worked for U.S. intelligence agencies, calling such claims "dubious." Barr said intelligence agencies often speak with wellconnected individuals but saw no evidence Epstein was an asset. The disclosure by Massie adds pressure on the FBI and the Justice Department to clarify what investigative steps have been taken and whether additional prosecutions of Epstein associates are warranted. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have demanded more transparency about what the files contain and why certain leads were not pursued earlier. Authorities and multiple reports indicate that the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk was aligned with left-leaning ideology, contradicting a claim by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that the shooter was part of the MAGA movement. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been described by Utah officials and media interviews as holding beliefs on the political left. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told the Wall Street Journal that Robinson was "deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology." Investigators and local reporting also highlighted Robinson's close relationship with a partner who was transitioning and identified with progressive causes, and noted social and political views more commonly associated with the left. The characterization stands in contrast to comments Kimmel made during his Sept. 15 monologue on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" In the monologue, Kimmel said efforts were underway to portray the suspect as "anything other than one of them," referring to the MAGA movement, and asserted that the shooter had ties to that movement. Following public and industry pushback, two major broadcast groups, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Inc., announced they would pull Kimmel's program from their ABC affiliates. ABC/Disney subsequently removed the show from its schedule "indefinitely." Local station groups said the host's remarks were inappropriate and misleading in light of the information available about the accused. Nexstar said it "strongly objects" to Kimmel's remarks and would replace the show with other programming. Sinclair's statement called the comments "deeply insensitive" and urged Kimmel to apologize to the Kirk family and make a meaningful donation to them and to Turning Point USA. The Federal Communications Commission drew scrutiny as well. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel's remarks on a podcast and suggested the agency could consider the comments as an intentional effort to mislead the public. Robinson was arrested after authorities say he shot Kirk, 31, from a rooftop while Kirk was participating in a campus debate at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Prosecutors have charged Robinson with murder; details of the motive remain a focus of law enforcement and court filings. In an alleged text message reported by media outlets, Robinson reportedly wrote, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out," though those reports have not been tested in a trial setting. Kimmel and ABC did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. Spokespeople for Robinson's defense and for the Kirk family declined to comment beyond court filings and public statements already made. The episode has intensified scrutiny of how public figures discuss ongoing criminal cases and the potential consequences when those statements conflict with emerging factual accounts. Local and national media coverage continues to trace Robinson's background and political views as part of the broader investigation into the killing. Jimmy Kimmel's future at ABC is increasingly uncertain after a Thursday meeting with executives ended without an agreement to bring "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" back on air. The late-night host sat down with network leaders in Los Angeles one day after the show was suspended. A source told Puck News the meeting "cordial" but confirmed it produced "no resolution." Contract Already Nearing End Multiple outlets have reported that Kimmel's contract with ABC was already set to expire in a matter of months. Sources said negotiations with Disney executives were expected to begin later this year, but some insiders believe the network had been considering parting ways with him after this season. One source told Page Six that Disney chief Bob Iger "doesn't want to be at war with Donald Trump right now, just as he has stabilized Disney." Another suggested the uproar over Kimmel's monologue gave ABC cover to pull the show early. Despite speculation, Kimmel may not have been planning an exit. A separate source said, "If he was thinking of retirement, he most definitely will stay put now," claiming the backlash could push him to remain as a way to irritate Trump. The 57-year-old presenter was seen in Century City on Thursday driving to see lawyer Karl Austen, who represents Seth MacFarlane and Jude Law. Kimmel's friend and Disney executive Dana Walden is said to have phoned him to inform him that the show would be put on a hiatus. What Sparked the Suspension ABC's decision followed Kimmel's Sept. 15 broadcast, where he addressed the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid [suspect Tyler Robinson] who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said on air. He went on to criticize former president Donald Trump's reaction to the murder. "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend; this is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish," he said. Not a big fan of Jimmy Kimmel, but if you think his show should be canceled for this, youre a hack and a total fraud who should never pretend to care about free speech pic.twitter.com/FSiktbva6y Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 17, 2025 Nexstar, which owns and operates many ABC affiliates, announced the suspension shortly after. "Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets," the company said. Kimmel has refused to apologize for the remarks, according to multiple reports. Ongoing Tension Between Kimmel and ABC The dispute comes at a sensitive moment for Disney, which has been under regulatory pressure since the broadcast. Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr criticized the comments and urged action from the network. Sources told the Daily Mail that Kimmel is "actively looking" at ways to break out of his contract if relations with ABC deteriorate further. Meanwhile, Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social, calling the move "Great News for America" and blasting Kimmel's ratings. ABC has not said when or if the show will return. Kimmel has not commented publicly. Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. Farmers will finally see a relaxation of movement restrictions, as bluetongue-vaccinated livestock will be allowed into Wales without pre-movement testing and into Scotland under a new, species- and category-specific general licence with reduced controls. From midday on Sunday (21 September), changes will come into effect easing bluetongue restrictions on animals moving from Englands restricted zone into Wales, and into Scotland under separate licence conditions. Bluetongue is a viral disease spread by midges that affects cattle, sheep and other ruminants. It does not pose a threat to human health, but outbreaks can cause heavy losses in flocks and herds, with symptoms including fever, mouth ulcers, lameness and, in sheep especially, high mortality. The current BTV-3 strain first reached the UK in late 2023 and has since led to thousands of confirmed cases in England, prompting strict movement restrictions to limit spread. Wales: Vaccinated stock cleared to move Livestock that have completed the full primary vaccination course with any licensed BTV-3 vaccine, and show no signs of illness, will be permitted to move into Wales without requiring a pre-movement test. This will be under the EXD661(E) general licence. This licence replaces the current Specified Green Market system in England. From 21 September, English and Welsh markets will be able to sell vaccinated and unvaccinated animals together. However, only vaccinated animals or those with a negative pre-movement test will be eligible to move into Wales. Animals for slaughter can continue to move under a new general licence (EXD603(E)). Movements must go direct to a designated slaughterhouse in Wales, or via a dedicated slaughter market or collection centre. Importantly, there will be no vaccination requirement for animals moving direct to slaughter. Non-vaccinated animals remain under strict conditions. Movements into Wales will still require both a negative pre-movement test and a specific licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Any animals testing positive or in a batch where one or more animals test positive cannot move. Keepers may either re-test after 30 days or choose to vaccinate. The Welsh government said the decision was guided by expert advice, with September temperatures expected to be low enough to reduce virus transmission by midges. Scotland: Separate rules apply From Sunday 21 September, Scotland moves to a new general licence (EXD662(E)) that reduces bluetongue controls. No pre-movement test is required for store, fattening or slaughter animals, for female sheep and goats (even if pregnant), and for non-pregnant female cattle, deer and camelids. Breeding bulls and pregnant cattle remain subject to testing requirements unless they are fully vaccinated with Bultavo-3 in line with the product datasheet, with both doses given and at least 21 days elapsed after the second dose (plus boosters as required). Male breeding sheep (tups) may move without a pre-movement PCR, but testing is strongly recommended before they are used for breeding in Scotland. For slaughter in Scotland, abattoirs no longer need to be designated. Keepers moving animals from Wales to Scotland that have spent time in the restricted zone since May 2025 must also follow the rules for Movements to Scotland: animals that have originated in the RZ. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release Chemicals SubCategory Select Sub-Category On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri. Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Mohanlals remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The pic.twitter.com/n1L9t5WQuP Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) September 20, 2025 Also Read: Malayalam cinemas biggest star, Mohanlal, has been chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2023, Indian cinemas highest recognition. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on September 23, 2025.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, through an official X post announced, On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri. Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023... Mohanlals remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The legendary actor, director, and producer is being honoured for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema. His unmatched talent, versatility, and relentless hard work have set a golden standard in Indian film history. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on Sept 23, 2025.With a career spanning over four decades, Mohanlal has acted in more than 400 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. Known for his effortless screen presence and versatility, he has delivered memorable performances in films ranging from intense dramas to action blockbusters. Whether it was the understated brilliance of Vanaprastham, the cultural phenomenon of Drishyam, or the mass appeal of Pulimurugan, his body of work reflects an actor who has constantly reinvented himself to match the times.Over the years, Mohanlal has won numerous honours including two National Film Awards for Best Actor and multiple state awards. He has also been decorated with the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019, making this latest recognition a crowning moment in his long and decorated career.Mohanlal now joins an elite list of legends who have been conferred the Phalke Award, becoming only the second person from Malayalam cinema to do so after filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. His selection marks a proud moment for the industry, underscoring its influence beyond regional boundaries and affirming its place in the larger history of Indian cinema.This recognition also comes at a time when Malayalam cinema has been earning acclaim nationally and internationally for its content-driven films. Mohanlals award is not just about his personal achievement but also about shining a spotlight on Keralas cinematic legacy and its growing resonance across the world.As Indian cinema continues to evolve, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Mohanlal stands as a testament to how an actor from Kerala became one of the countrys most beloved and enduring stars. His journey from local icon to national treasure reflects the power of storytelling and performance to transcend borders. Fans of Mohanlal who couldnt make it to theatres this Onam have reason to celebrate. Hridayapoorvam, directed by the evergreen Sathyan Anthikad, is making its way to Jio Hotstar on September 26, 2025. The platform will premiere the film in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada, making it accessible to viewers across regions. Produced by Antony Perumbavoors Aashirvad Cinemas, the movie originally opened in theatres on August 28 as an Onam release. With its star-power, festive timing, and Anthikads signature slice-of-life touch, the film struck a chord with family audiences. Plot, Cast and Reception The film follows Sandeep (played by Mohanlal), a heart transplant survivor who travels to Pune to attend the engagement of his donors daughter. When unexpected circumstances force him to extend his stay, the trip unravels into an emotional journey about family, memory, and belonging. Joining Mohanlal on screen are Malavika Mohanan, Sangeeth Prathap, and Sangita Madhavan Nair, among others. The ensemble brings both humour and poignancy, creating the kind of warmth that has long defined Sathyan Anthikads cinema. Audiences and critics alike responded positively to the films mix of gentle comedy and heartfelt drama. At the same time, a few medical professionals in Kerala voiced concern over the accuracy of the transplant-related details portrayed, arguing that certain aspects did not align with medical realities. Still, Hridayapoorvam largely succeeded in delivering a feel-good narrative that resonated with its festive release window. Reaching out to a Bigger Fanbase The arrival of Hridayapoorvam on streaming ensures that its reach extends far beyond theatres. For long-time admirers of the MohanlalAnthikad partnership, the digital release is a chance to revisit their magic. For newer audiences, its an opportunity to experience one of Malayalam cinemas most reliable actor-director duos in a contemporary setting. Also Read: Mohanlals Vrusshabha Teaser Unveiled, Diwali Release Locked TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / September 19, 2025 / Hanna Capital Corp. (the "Corporation") announces, that further to its press releases dated June 30 and September 15, 2025, that it has issued an aggregate of: 45,917,936 common shares ("Debt Shares") in exchange for the cancellation of $459,179.36 in debt owing to six (6) creditors (collectively, the "Creditors"), all of which are arm's length parties to the Corporation; and 10,854,581 common shares (the "Placement Shares") pursuant to the previously announced private placement. Debt Conversion The Debt Shares were issued pursuant to debt conversion agreements (collectively, the "Debt Agreements") dated June 20, 2025 entered into between the Corporation and the Corporation. The Debt Shares were issued at a deemed price of $0.01 per Debt Share. The Debt Shares are subject to a 36-month value escrow under Policy 5.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Pursuant to the escrow agreement, an aggregate of 4,591,794 Debt Shares will be released from escrow on September 19, 2025, and an aggregate of 6,887,691 Deby Shares will be released from escrow every six months thereafter. Private Placement The Placement Shares were issued at a price of $0.01 per Placement Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $108,545.81. Placement Shares are subject to resale restrictions expiring January 20, 2025. The Corporation intends to use the proceeds for general working capital, which will include the calling and holding of an annual shareholders' meeting. Board Changes The Corporation also announces the following individuals have been appointed to the board of directors: Hidir Hasgul - Mr. Hasgul is a distinguished graduate engineer whose multifaceted career spans private investments, fund management, and high-level trading. Mr. Hasgul's has extensive expertise in initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions activities, areas critical to strategic growth and market expansion. Beyond his extensive financial acumen, Mr. Hasgul holds a pivotal role as a managing director for a portfolio of mining companies. As managing director, he oversees operations across three continents, demonstrating his leadership and strategic vision in the global market and his ability to navigate diverse international markets and operational landscapes. Jonathan Bolton - Dr. Bolton holds a PhD in physiology from the University of Sheffield and spent three years as a postdoctoral research fellow at Tokyo University. With over 25 years of fund management experience, he began his career at Schroders in 1987. He later served as a Japanese equity analyst, fund manager, and director in Tokyo, where he was instrumental in establishing the firm as a leading foreign manager of discretionary Japanese equity portfolios. After 17 years in Japan, he managed Japanese equities at TT International in London and later led the Japan, Asia, and Emerging Markets divisions at Alliance Trust. He currently works as an independent consultant, advising companies and individuals on investment diversification and capital raising. Ungad Chadda - Mr. Chadda is an experienced capital markets regulator and financial services executive having previously worked at TMX Group, the parent company of Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Chadda was responsible for building and maintaining the TMX Group investor base as well as supporting its public interest mandate and strategies to grow as a company. Mr. Chadda joined TMX Group through one of its predecessor entities in 1997. During his tenure, Mr. Chadda held progressively senior roles, including Director of Listings, TSX Venture Exchange; Chief Operating Officer, TSX Venture Exchange; Vice President, Business Development, Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange; President, Toronto Stock Exchange; CFO of TSX Trust (formerly Equity Transfer and Trust) an OSFI regulated entity; and SVP, Head of Enterprise Corporate Strategy and External Affairs, TMX Group. Ungad currently advises clients on capital markets, regulatory and governance strategies. Mr. Chadda attended McMaster University, where he received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in 1994 and he received his Chartered Accountancy designation while working with Ernst and Young LLP in 1996. Mr. Chadda has served on multiple boards, and has completed University of Toronto's Rotman Business School Director Education Program. Concurrent with the above appointments, each of Herb Brugh, Victor Cantore and Vern Bock have resigned as directors of the Corporation. The Corporation would like to thank these individuals for their contributions to the Corporation and wishes each of them success in their future endeavours. For further information, please contact: Hidir Hasgul Director hidirhasgul@efamining.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Statements This news release includes certain information and forward-looking statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. SOURCE: Hanna Capital Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/hanna-completes-debt-conversion-and-private-placement-and-announces-changes-to-bo-1076202 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2025) - Scryb Inc. (CSE: SCYB) ("Scryb" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to strong market demand, it intends to upsize its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") to $1,500,000, or 15,000,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share (a "Common Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each a full warrant a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share of the Company at a price of $0.18 for a period of eighteen months after closing. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for general working capital purposes. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of closing in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company may (i) pay a cash finder's fee to certain registered finders (each a "Finder") of up to 7% of the aggregate gross proceeds of subscriptions facilitated by such Finders; and (ii) issue such number of finder's warrants (a "Finder's Warrant") that is equal to up to 7% of the number of Units sourced by the Finder, with each Finder's Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (a "Finder's Warrant Share") at an exercise price of CAD$0.18 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of 18 months following the closing date of the Offering. About Scryb Scryb invests in and actively supports a growing portfolio of innovative and high-upside ventures across the technology sector. Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the proposed Offering, including the terms and completion thereof. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, included in this press release, the assumption that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the proposed Offering and that the Offering will be completed as currently anticipated. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts 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 to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the proposed Consolidation and use its discretion to prohibit the proposed Consolidation; that the Consolidation may not be completed by the Company; and that the board of directors of the Company retains discretion over the terms and implementation of the Consolidation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267269 SOURCE: Scryb Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2025) - AJN Resources Inc. (CSE: AJN) (FSE: 5AT) (AJN or the Company) is pleased to announce that further to the Company's August 18, 2025 news release, the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement of units (each, a Unit) in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.12 per Unit to raise total gross proceeds of $470,000 via the issuance of a total of 3,916,666 Units. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant (Warrant), where each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share (Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share for a four-year period. The securities issued pursuant to the private placement and any Warrant Shares to be issued on the exercise of Warrants are restricted from trading until January 20, 2026. The net proceeds of the private placement will be used for the technical and legal due diligence in connection with a possible property acquisition, exploration on the Company's properties and for working capital purposes. About AJN Resources Inc. AJN is a junior exploration company. AJN's management and directors possess over 75 years of collective industry experience and have been very successful in the areas of exploration, financing and developing major mines throughout the world, with a focus on Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although AJN Resources Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, AJN Resources Inc. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267270 SOURCE: AJN Resources Inc. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 19, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) is pleased to announce that Terry Lynch, CEO of Power Metallic Mines Inc. (TSX-V: PNPN), will continue his role as a capital markets advisor to the Company. Mr. Lynch brings decades of early-stage capital markets experience in the resource and bioscience sectors as well an extensive and influential international investment network. The Company is also pleased to announce that it has retained two investor relations professionals, Rob Grace (401 -1400 View Crescent Delta, BC V4L 1Z1, robdgrace@gmail.com, 778.998.5431) and Blaine Ruzcki (Box 477 Okotoks, AB T1S 1A7, bruzycki@hotmail.com, 403.804.3213) to conduct promotional activities on behalf of BioNxt (the "Services") for a period of six months effective immediately. The Services include investor outreach and communication, distribution of Company information and news releases to proprietary networks, social media optimization, and general capital markets strategic advice. In consideration for the Services, Mr. Grace and Mr. Ruzcki will receive CAD 20,000 per month plus GST and CAD 40,000 per month plus GST, respectively. Pursuant to the Company's shareholder approved stock option plan, Mr. Grace and Mr. Ruzcki will also each receive 1,000,000 common share purchase options exercisable at $0.88 for 18 months (the "Options"). The Options will vest in accordance with the CSE's mandatory investor relations schedule: 25% after three months, 25% after six months, 25% after nine months, and the remaining 25% after twelve months. The engagement can be terminated by either party on 30 days' notice at any time. Neither Mr. Grace nor Mr. Ruzcki engage in market making activities and will restrict the Services to public relations and investor relations counseling. About BioNxt Solutions Inc. BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery platforms, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. Its proprietary platforms include sublingual thin films, transdermal patches, oral tablets, and a new targeted chemotherapy platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors while reducing side effects. With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide. BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com. BioNxt Solutions Inc. Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Email: info@bionxt.com Phone: +1 604-250-6162 Forward-Looking Information The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/terry-lynch-continues-as-capital-markets-advisor-and-bionxt-retains-i-1076225 0x.Agency has announced its sponsorship of the "UNITE 4 PEACE" broadcast commemorating the U.N. International Day of Peace, taking place from September 19-21, 2025. The event will culminate in a 24-hour global broadcast on September 21, reaching an estimated audience of over 3 billion people across 22 world regions. As the lead digital partner, 0x.Agency will oversee multi-platform distribution across X.com, LinkedIn, and Facebook, supported by a network of influencers and volunteers. The broadcast includes real-time, youth-led hosting from global hubs and features an hourly "Pause for Peace" segment to promote unity and reflection. The initiative places a strong emphasis on youth inclusion and follows international child-safeguarding standards. The 2025 broadcast marks the 40th anniversary of the first globally recognized Peace Day. SHERIDAN, WYOMING / ACCESS Newswire / September 20, 2025 / 0x.Agency announces its sponsorship of the "UNITE 4 PEACE" U.N. International Day of Peace Broadcast, a global, multi-day program taking place from September 19-21, 2025. The broadcast culminates in a 24-hour synchronized live event on Peace Day, September 21, and is designed to reach over 3 billion viewers across 22 world regions. The international broadcast features a recurring "Pause for Peace" at the top of every hour, providing a shared moment for global reflection and remembrance, while reaffirming commitments to nonviolence and compassion. Global Multi-Platform Distribution Led by 0x.Agency As a primary sponsor, 0x.Agency is overseeing a coordinated distribution strategy spanning X.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, and additional platforms. The broadcast will be further amplified through an expansive coalition of influencers and volunteer networks to extend its reach and visibility. Technical production will be anchored in Vancouver, with real-time youth-led hosting connecting global hubs including San Francisco, New York, Geneva, London, and Addis Ababa. Each hour of the program will include stories, performances, and grassroots peace initiatives, unified by the recurring "Pause for Peace" segment. A spokesperson for 0x.Agency stated: "As sponsors, the goal is to make peace both visible and actionable across digital and social platforms. This initiative prioritizes intergenerational engagement, with a particular emphasis on children, whose futures are directly impacted by global peace building efforts." Broadcast Overview Dates: September 19-21, 2025 Main Event: 24-hour global Peace Day broadcast on September 21 Reach: More than 3 billion viewers across all 22 world regions Format: Hourly segments featuring cultural content, youth-led storytelling, and grassroots efforts Signature Segment: "Pause for Peace" at the top of each hour Platform Distribution: Simulcast via X.com, LinkedIn, Facebook , and partner media channels Production Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada Youth Inclusion and Safeguarding With over half of the global population under the age of 30-and more than 600 million young people residing in fragile or conflict-affected areas-the inclusion of younger generations is considered essential to sustainable peace building. The broadcast is structured to centre youth voices while ensuring compliance with international child safeguarding standards across all participating platforms. About "UNITE 4 PEACE" UNITE 4 PEACE is a global broadcast commemorating the U.N. International Day of Peace, marking its 40th anniversary in 2025. The event is structured around regionally inclusive programming, youth-led hosting, and synchronized global moments of reflection through its "Pause for Peace" framework. About 0x.Agency 0x.Agency partners with mission-aligned organizations to amplify impact through digital engagement strategies, global live programming, and cross-platform campaigns designed to drive measurable outcomes. Media Contact Organization: 0x.Agency Contact Person Name: Jason B Website: https://0x.agency Email: media@0x.agency City: Sheridan State: Wyoming Country: United States SOURCE: 0x.Agency View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/0xagency-announces-sponsorship-of-the-unite-4-peace-un-internatio-1076268 The art event, held in an olive grove in Granada, brought together almost 800 of nude volunteers covered in green paint, arriving from various parts of Spain and Europe The artistic initiative aims to pay tribute to the art, culture, and Andalusian region, supported by Cervezas Alhambra, a brewery founded a century ago in Granada GRANADA, Spain, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Cervezas Alhambra invited renowned American artist Spencer Tunick to create a large-scale art installation in Granada. Entitled Retrato Alhambra 1925, the installation brought together almost 800 nude volunteers covered in green paint, forming a living image conceived as a tribute to Andalusia, the natural environment, and Cervezas Alhambra's signature aesthetic, symbolized by its distinctive "naked" bottle, free of a label. The art installation -the first that Tunick has carried out in Andalusia- took place in an olive grove near Granada. Generous and adventurous participants from across Spain and other 25 countries, engaged into the natural landscape, creating an image of striking visual and symbolic impact. Jesus Rosado has taken part in all the installations that Spencer Tunick has carried out in Spain: San Sebastian, Barcelona, and Valencia. "It is a unique experience that is worth living once in a lifetime because it stays with you forever," he said. Petri and Heidi are a married couple who came from Finland just for the occasion. "What is truly beautiful about this installation is being together, feeling human, all equal in our differences," they declared. The artist, internationally renowned for his photographic compositions featuring nude people in public spaces, emphasized at the end of the event "I have always wanted to use green body paint into my work, I have had this idea for 15 years, to somehow bring the bodies visually closer to nature and at the same time add a heightened element of surrealism. Green has been used in the past by artists to create utopic landscapes that blend surrealism and fantasy. Now was my turn to give green a try". For his part, Mahou San Miguel's Chief Marketing Officer, Emmanuel Pouey, said that "Spencer Tunick's art installation is a celebration of Andalusian identity and the Sin Prisa (Unhurried) philosophy that has guided Cervezas Alhambra for one hundred years, taking the time necessary to create works that, like Retrato Alhambra 1925, will live on in our memory." The final image from the installation will be unveiled in the very near future as a tribute from Cervezas Alhambra to Andalusia in its centenary year, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to supporting artists, culture, and its deep ties to the region. About Spencer Tunick Spencer Tunick stages scenes in which the battle of nature against culture is played out against various backdrops, from civic center to desert sandstorm, man and woman are returned to a preindustrial, pre-everything state of existence. Tunick has traveled the globe to create installations of multiple nude figures in public settings. Organizing groups from a handful of participants to tens of thousands, all volunteers, is often logistically daunting; the subsequent images transcend ordinary categories and meld photography. sculpture and performance in a new genre. Please visit the artist's Instagram: @spencertunick /https://www.instagram.com/spencertunick About Cervezas Alhambra Founded in 1925 in the city of Granada, Cervezas Alhambra has been part of the 100% Spanish-owned family company Mahou San Miguel since 2007 and is a leader in the Spanish beer sector, brewing high-quality beers for decades using meticulous, craft brewing processes. Its product range includes ten beers: Alhambra Reserva 1925, Alhambra Reserva Roja, Alhambra Reserva Citra IPA, Alhambra Especial, Alhambra Radler, Alhambra Tradicional, Alhambra Sin and Las Numeradas, all characterized by their exceptional quality and unique taste. For more information, please visit the Cervezas Alhambra website: www.cervezasalhambra.es About Mahou San Miguel A 100% Spanish, family-owned company and a leader in the beverage sector, Mahou San Miguel operates 12 breweries-nine in Spain and three in the United States-along with four water springs and a team of over 4,100 professionals. The company produces nearly 70% of the Spanish beer consumed internationally and is present in more than 70 countries. With a history spanning more than 130 years, Mahou was founded in 1890. Over the years, it has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions: San Miguel in 2000, the Canary Islands brand Reina in 2004, Cervezas Alhambra in 2007, and the premium water brand Solan de Cabras in 2011, marking its diversification into non-beer beverages. Since 2019, the company has also held a majority stake in U.S. craft breweries Founders Brewing and Avery Brewing. Its wide-ranging portfolio includes iconic national beers such as Mahou Cinco Estrellas, San Miguel Especial, and Alhambra Reserva 1925, alongside a selection of international beers. It is also known for innovative and category-defining products like San Miguel 0.0, Mahou Barrica, and Mahou 0.0 Tostada, as well as natural mineral water brands including the iconic Solan de Cabras. It has also been a pioneer in the sector by launching its e-commerce platform: Tienda Mahou San Miguel. With a focus on people and contributing to the economic and social progress of our country, it's a socially responsible company that channels its social action through the Mahou San Miguel Foundation, created in 2013. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777940/Cervezas_Alhambra.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777937/DSC_5260prensa.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777938/PGG_4478prensa.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777939/PGG_4503prensa.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spencers-tunick-art-installation-retrato-alhambra-1925-highlights-cervezas-alhambras-100th-anniversary-of-its-andalusian-roots-302562188.html Irrfan Khan showcased his versatile self as Saajan Fernandes, and Nimrat Kaur brought heart and emotions as Ila Singh, highlighting the simple joys of human connection Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur starrer The Lunchbox completes 12 years of its release today. And to celebrate this milestone, Nimrat took to her social media handle to share a few clips and pictures from the heartwarming film, accompanying them with a note of gratitude. She stated that The Lunchbox carried more than just food, it carried a piece of her heart. 12 years ago today, Ilas lunchbox carried not just her food, but a piece of my heart to you all. While Sajan and her love story remains a mystery, ours carries on. Like everything delicious that takes time to cook, thank you for letting our little film with a big heart only taste better and better with the fullness of time. Thank you all, thank you universe, she wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Irrfan Khan showcased his versatile self as Saajan Fernandes, and Nimrat Kaur brought heart and emotions as Ila Singh, highlighting the simple joys of human connection. Nimrat struck a balance of tenderness and strength by showcasing a character who yearns for emotional connection and escape from the mundane reality, and it worked with the audience! Written and directed by Ritesh Batra, The Lunchbox was released back in 2013, and it emerged as one of the most loved films for its heartfelt, subtle and touching themes about love, food, and friendship. The film made waves at international film festivals, including the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, earning critical acclaim. Winning hearts even further, The Lunchbox was also nominated for Best Film Not in the English Language at the 2015 British Academy Film Awards. The Air Forces of the United States, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh conducted exercises in Chittagong this week. Earlier, America and Bangladesh held the Tiger Lightning 2025 exercise in Sylhets Jalalabad Cantonment. Should India be concerned about the increase in the US military activities in its neighbouring country? All this and more in our weekly roundup India and the United States relationship is not in good shape currently. While there has been progress to bring the ties back on track, New Delhi may need to be cautious of increased American military activities in Bangladesh. India and the US are holding talks to reach a trade deal. However, tensions remain between the two countries after Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. Now, the relationship between New Delhi and Washington is further threatened after the US announced its plan to revoke the sanctions waiver for Irans Chabahar Port. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Supreme Court has put a pause on certain amendments of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. However, it refused to stay the law while hearing a bunch of pleas challenging the validity of the Act. Heres all this and more in our weekly wrap from India. 1. A C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft of the US Air Force landed at the Shah Amanat International Airport in Bangladeshs Chittagong earlier in the week. This came as the US, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka conducted Operation Pacific Angel 25-3 exercises at the Bangladesh Air Force Zahurul Haque base. The development could be a concern for New Delhi as Chittagong lies near the borders of India and Myanmar, making it a strategically important zone. Earlier, the US and Bangladesh held the Tiger Lightning 2025 exercise in Sylhets Jalalabad Cantonment. We explain why the rise in the US military activities in the neighbouring Bangladesh may worry India. 2. The US has announced it will revoke the sanctions waiver for Irans Chabahar Port on September 29. In its bid to put pressure on Tehran, Washington threatened that anyone involved in operating, financing or servicing the port will face the same Treasury restrictions as other Iranian entities. This has serious ramifications for Indias economic and trade interests. The port, which lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman, gives India better access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing rival Pakistan. Last year, the state-run India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) acquired the right to equip and operate the Chabahar Port for 10 years. Now, the US has put India in a tough position with its sanctions waiver. We explain here. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75 this week. Since forming the government in 2014, he has become a champion of the swadeshi campaign. PM Modi has been vocal about making India self-reliant in different sectors, including defence and space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he delivers a speech at the India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo, Japan, August 29, 2025. File Image/Reuters He has also turned yoga into a global phenomenon. During his tenure, PM Modi has given a priority to Hindi and other native languages. Read our story on the Indian leaders efforts at making vocal for local the heart of his government. 4. The Supreme Court has stayed several provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The law was passed by Parliament in April, amending the Waqf Act, 1995, which governs the management of Waqf properties in the country. The amendment made several changes to the law, including changing its name to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act. Now, many of these provisions have been put on hold. Heres our story. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 5. The US continues to attack India over trade relations. America is desperate to sell its corn to the South Asian country. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said recently, India brags that they have 1.4 billion people. Why wont 1.4 billion people buy one bushel of US corn? American corn has become one of the sticking points between India and the US during trade negotiations. New Delhi has refused to give in to the US demand for market access for corn. Read our report here. 6. Delhis Red Fort is turning black, according to the new study. Researchers from India and Italy have found the formation of black crusts on the walls of the Mughal-era monument. They warned that if steps were not taken, the intricate carvings on the Red Fort could be damaged. But why is the 17th-century monument developing black crusts? We will explain. 7. A senior Finance Ministry official died after a BMW rammed into his motorcycle in Delhi. His wife, who was riding with him, sustained serious injuries. The man was identified as Navjot Singh, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. He and his wife, Sandeep Kaur, were returning home from Bangla Sahib Gurdwara when the incident happened near Delhi Cantt metro station on Ring Road. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The BMW was driven by Ganganpreet Makkad, a Gurugram resident. Kaur has accused Ganganpreet of not admitting the couple to a nearby hospital, despite her repeated requests. Instead, she took them nearly 20 km away to a facility where she had connections. But who is Ganganpreet Makkad? Read our story. This is all we have for you this week. If you want to stay updated with our explainers, you can bookmark this page. US President Donald Trump on Friday (September 19) signed an executive order to impose a $100,000 (around Rs 88 lakh) application fee per year for H-1B worker visas. The latest move to check immigration is expected to hurt Indians, who are the largest beneficiaries of the temporary employment visas. The US companies, particularly tech, are also likely to feel the heat. Heres how Tech workers gather outside the Amazon Spheres during a Climate Strike walkout and march in Seattle, Washington, US. September 20, 2019. File Photo/Reuters United States President Donald Trumps latest immigration reform has come to sting H-1B visa aspirants. On Friday (September 19), he signed an executive order to impose a $100,000 (Rs 88,09,180) application fee for H-1B worker visas. The move is expected to affect Indians, who are the largest beneficiaries of the temporary employment visas. Trumps decision could also potentially hurt the tech sector in the US, which heavily relies on skilled workers from India and China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Trump imposes $100,000 fee on H-1B visas US President Trump signed a proclamation that would require companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas. With this, the visa fee for skilled workers would rise from $215 (Rs 18,940). We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that thats whats going to happen, Trump said from the Oval Office. He insisted that the tech industry would be in favour of the move. The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in speciality fields. The non-immigrant visa is typically valid for up to three years and can be renewed for another three years. However, it can be extended if the American employer sponsors the worker for a green card or permanent residency, which allows foreigners to live and work in the US. .@POTUS signs a Proclamation to restrict the entry of certain H-1B aliens into the U.S. as nonimmigrant workers, requiring a $100,000 payment to accompany or supplement H-1B petitions for new applications. AMERICA FIRST! pic.twitter.com/AzAUJzXawV Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 19, 2025 US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said all big companies are on board with the change in the H1-B visa programme. Weve spoken to them, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If youre going to train somebody, youre going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs, Lutnick was quoted as saying by Reuters. Critics claim that the H-1B visa programme allows companies to replace American workers and undercut wages by hiring foreigners at cheaper salaries. Supporters of H-1B visas argue that it helps US companies plug the talent gap by hiring highly skilled foreign workers and maintain competitiveness. According to the executive order signed by Trump, some companies have suppressed wages, disadvantaging American workers. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the H-1b visa programme is one of the most abused visa systems. What this proclamation will do is raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to $100,000. This will ensure that the people theyre bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that theyre not replaceable by American workers, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Indians, US companies will be impacted The Trump administrations move is likely to hurt Indians and the tech sector in the US. Most H-1B visa holders are from India, followed by China. In 2024, Indians accounted for 71 per cent of approved beneficiaries, while China stood at 11.7 per cent, according to government data. The hike in visa fees could impact recent graduates or early-career professionals, as companies in the US may avoid hiring them. Most Indians employed in the US work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. As per a 2023 BBC report, about 65 per cent of Indian H-1B visa holders were employed in computer-related roles. The median salary for H-1B holders is reportedly around $118,000 (Rs 1.04 crore) per year. But it is not just Indians who will bear the brunt. The US companies that are dependent on H1-B visa workers are also likely to feel the heat. Adding new fees creates disincentive to attract the worlds smartest talent to the US, Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on X. If the US ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Commerce Secretary Lutnick said the reform is expected to lead to far fewer H-1B visas than the 85,000 annual cap allows because its just not economic anymore. Currently, the H-1B visas for high-skilled foreign workers are capped at 85,000 per year, including a 20,000 exemption for individuals with an advanced degree from a US university. Amazon has topped the list of American employers with the largest number of H-1B workers since 2020, as per the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. In the first half of this year, Amazon and its cloud-computing unit, AWS, got approval for over 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had more than 5,000 H-1B visa approvals each, reported Reuters. The Trump administrations step could increase millions of dollars in costs for companies, with smaller tech firms and start-ups being hit the most. It is not fully known how the new fees will be administered. Lutnick said the visa would cost $100,000 a year for each of the three years but that the details were still being considered. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Former CEO of the NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant also weighed in on the recent change. Donald Trumps 100,000 H-1B fee will choke US innovation, and turbocharge Indias. By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon . Indias finest Doctors, engineers, scientists, innovators have an opportunity to contribute to Indias growth & progress towards Viksit Bharat. Americas loss will be Indias gain, he wrote on X. Donald Trumps 100,000 H-1B fee will choke U.S. innovation, and turbocharge Indias. By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon . Indias finest Doctors, engineers, Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) September 20, 2025 Legal challenges may hit H1-B visa reform Trumps H1-B visa reform could face legal hurdles. The US president has been accused of widening his powers while sidestepping Congress. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director of the American Immigration Council, raised questions about the legality of the new fees. Congress has only authorised the government to set fees to recover the cost of adjudicating an application, he posted on Bluesky. Doug Rand, a senior official at US Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, described the proposed fee increase was ludicrously lawless. This isnt real policy - its fan service for immigration restrictionists. Trump gets his headlines, and inflicts a jolt of panic, and doesnt care whether this survives first contact with the courts, Rand was quoted as saying by Associated Press (AP). Trumps reform is the latest step as he cracks down on immigration and limits the types of foreigners allowed in the US. Trumps gold card rollout In another order, Trump launched a gold card visa as a pathway to US citizenship for wealthy individuals. He said the US will sell a gold card visa for $1 million (Rs 8.8 crore) to foreigners, expediting a path to American citizenship after vetting. Companies will have to pay $2 million to sponsor an employee. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Trump Platinum Card will be sold for $5 million. Foreigners will be able to spend up to 270 days in the US without paying taxes in America on non-US income. In the Oval Office on Friday, Lutnick criticised the existing green card process for immigrants, saying it resulted in the US accepting the bottom quartile of workers from abroad. Were going to only take extraordinary people at the very top, he said of the gold card programme. The US Commerce Secretary said the gold and platinum cards would replace employment-based visas that offer paths to citizenship, including for professors, scientists, artists and athletes. With inputs from agencies The US has decided to impose an annual fee of $100,000 (Rs 88,09,180) on H-1B worker visas. As the deadline approaches, many companies, including Amazon and Meta, have asked their H-1B visa holders to remain in place. Firms are also asking foreign employees not in the US to return before midnight EDT (9.30 am IST) on September 21. Heres what is going on The US has raised the fee on the H1-B visas. Representational Image/Reuters The United States administrations decision to impose $100,000 (about Rs 88 lakh) fee on H-1B worker visas has sparked a wave of panic and chaos. The announcement is likely to impact Indians the most, as they are the largest beneficiaries of these temporary employment visas. As per reports, US tech companies have already started asking their H1-B visa employees to return to America immediately. Those in India are making a desperate attempt to fly back to the US before the deadline of midnight EDT (9.30 am IST) on September 21. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres what is going on. US hikes H1-B visa fees US President Donald Trump on Friday (September 19) signed an executive order to impose an annual $100,000 application fee for H-1B worker visas. With this, the visa fee for highly skilled workers would rise from $215 (Rs 18,940). Critics claim that the H-1B visa programme allows companies to replace American workers and undercut wages by hiring foreigners at cheaper salaries. Supporters of H-1B visas argue that it helps US companies plug the talent gap by recruiting highly skilled foreign workers and maintain competitiveness. According to the executive order signed by Trump, some companies have suppressed wages, disadvantaging American workers. If youre going to train somebody, youre going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, adding, Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs." Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has cracked down on immigration, including limiting some forms of legal immigration. This is his latest step to restrict the types of foreigners allowed in the US. ALSO READ: Trump H-1B reform: How visa fee hike to $100,000 will hurt Indians the most US companies call back employees Microsoft, Amazon and Meta have asked their employees holding H-1B visas to stay put in the US, as per internal emails reviewed by Reuters. They advised their workers on the H-1B visas who were outside the US to return before 12.01 am EDT Sunday, when the new fee structure will come into effect. The proclamation signed by Trump states that restrictions will be imposed on the entry of those workers whose petitions are not accompanied or supplemented with a fee of $100,000. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to internal emails accessed by NDTV Profit, Meta asked its H-1B visa and H4 status holders to remain in the US for at least two weeks, till practical applications are understood. It also advised those currently outside the US to consider returning within 24 hours. Microsoft strongly asked its employees in the US to stay put to avoid the situation of denial of re-entry. It also urged workers outside the country to do best to return. H-1B visa holders who are currently in the US should remain in the US and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance, an email sent to JPMorgan employees by Ogletree Deakins, a company that handles visa applications for the US investment bank, read, as per Reuters. IT giant Cognizant has asked all its employees on H-1B visas to halt international travel immediately. The directive, reviewed by The Hindu, urged associates with valid H-1B visa stamps or petition approvals not to depart or seek entry into the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cognizant said it was a precautionary measure until the company can gain further clarity on the specific implications of the order for foreign workers, sources told the Indian newspaper. H1-B visa fee hike unleashes chaos The one-day deadline to enter the US for H1-B visa workers has triggered confusion and panic. Indians who were leaving or left the US are scrambling to go back, or else their entry will be restricted unless their petitions are accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000. H-1B visa holders who are out of the US on business or vacation will get stranded unless they get in before midnight September 21. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time, eminent New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta said in a post on X. There may still be a way for an H-1B visa holder who is in India to arrive in California before midnight September 21, 2025, Mehta said. A user posted on Instagram Threads that his Emirates flight was held up at the San Francisco airport for over three hours after several passengers, particularly Indians, decided to disembark after learning about Trumps deadline. It was complete chaos for Emirates passengers at San Francisco airport. President Trump signed an order affecting both new and existing H-1B visa holders, creating panic among many particularly Indian passengers who even chose to leave the aircraft, the person wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another claimed that similar chaos occurred on another flight, packed with Indians, at the San Francisco International Airport. Extremely sad situation An international flight packed with Indians from Bay Area had completed boarding and was due to leave SFO Airport. When the news about H-1 B visa new rules just broke out, Indians aboard panicked and pleaded to get off the plane, the user posted. Impact on companies The H1-B visa fee hike is likely to be a big blow to the technology sector in the US, which is heavily dependent on workers from India and China. The Trump administrations step could increase millions of dollars in costs for companies, with smaller tech firms and start-ups being hit the most. Indian companies will also feel the heat. Seema Srivastava, Senior Research Analyst at SMC Global Securities, told Livemint, The US governments unexpected decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee for every H-1B visa from September 21, 2025, severely impacts both Indian and US-listed IT companies with significant US operations. Leading Indian IT firms such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Cognizant depend on the H-1B programme to provide skilled engineers for American client projects, so this fee hike dramatically raises costs and diminishes their competitiveness. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Amazon got the most H1-B visa approvals at 10,044, as of June 2025. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was the second with 5,505 H-1B visa approvals. Other top beneficiaries were Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523) and Tech Mahindra Americas (951). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US tech companies can be staring at a talent pool crisis as they would likely be pressed to hire more American workers who are not as efficient as their Indian counterparts, experts say. Sandeep Pandey, Co-founder of Basav Capital, said told LiveMint, After the H-1B visa fee hike, employees cost for both Indian and US tech companies is expected to go up, irrespective of the country those employees belong to. The idea behind this US administration move is to increase the job opportunities for the American unemployed. However, they would ask for a higher salary, and hence, the input cost of the companies would go northward. Most importantly, they are not as efficient as the Indian and other countries techies these companies have been hiring. So, companies will pay higher and their output will be lower, which is expected to hit the business volume and margins, he added. Some analysts predicted that the steep fees may force companies to shift some high-value work overseas, which would hurt Americas position in the artificial intelligence race with China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the short term, Washington may collect a windfall; in the long term, the US risks taxing away its innovation edge, trading dynamism for short-sighted protectionism, eMarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman told Reuters. With inputs from agencies Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22 to 23, marking the first such trip by an Indian defence minister to the North African country. He will inaugurate the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) plant in Casablanca, Indias first defence manufacturing facility abroad. The Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8, an amphibious infantry combat vehicle, will be assembled here Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Morocco next week. File Photo/PTI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate Indias first overseas defence manufacturing facility in Morocco during his two-day visit to the North African country from September 22 to 23. This is the first official trip by an Indian defence minister to Morocco, as per an official release. The visit comes as New Delhi and Rabat strengthen their defence ties. Morocco is shaping up to be the launchpad for Indias aim to step up defence exports in Africa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Indias 1st overseas defence facility Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will unveil the Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) plant in Casablancas Berrechid. The facility has been set up in partnership with Moroccos Royal Armed Forces. The Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 will be assembled at the plant. Developed jointly by TASL and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is an amphibious infantry combat vehicle capable of operating in all types of terrain. The eight-wheeled platform is already in service with the Indian Army in a limited capacity and has been deployed at the Ladakh border. Kingdom of Moroccos Royal Armed Forces and Tata Advanced Systems sign deal for local production of Wheeled Armoured Platform. Developed in collaboration with the DRDO and Tata Motors, this marks a significant milestone as we expand our footprint overseas as a Defence OEM. pic.twitter.com/6YcXWTFR7S Tata Advanced Systems Limited (@tataadvanced) September 30, 2024 Morocco had signed an agreement with the Tata Group for manufacturing the WhAP 88 Infantry Fighting Vehicle last September. This facility is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa, which marks an important milestone that reflects the growing global footprint of Indias defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The factory is expected to produce 100 combat vehicles every year, Economic Times reported in September 2024. It will employ around 350 people and a major part of the work will be done in India as well. This gives a fillip to Indias plans to expand defence production for the larger African market, which is expected to significantly grow in the coming years. As per The Hindu, the factory in Casablanca is a strategic milestone for Indias defence industry, with a boost to overseas manufacturing and deeper diplomatic and security ties in Africa. Rajnath Singhs Morocco trip During his trip to the North African country, Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with Moroccos Minister Delegate of National Defence, Abdellatif Loudiyi, to bolster defence, strategic and industry cooperation. The Indian defence minister will also call on Moroccos Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour to explore avenues for industrial collaboration, as per the ministrys statement. India and Morocco are likely to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in defence. The MoU will provide an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages. Indian Navy ships have been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years, and this agreement will further consolidate such ties, the statement read. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Singh will also meet the Indian community in Rabat during his official visit. Growing defence ties between India-Morocco India and Morocco have deepened defence ties. Rajnath Singhs visit to the North African country indicates a new phase in IndiaAfrica Defence engagement, which comes ahead of the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit next year, officials told The Hindu. Last year, Loudyi, who is also Moroccos Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government, said they would like to offer state-of-the-art environment, zero bureaucracy, and profitability for Indian defence companies. He also projected Morocco as a gateway to Africa and Europe for Indian companies. In 2023, Moroccos Royal Armed Forces received 92 six-wheel military trucks manufactured by Tata Advanced Systems. Last year, the North African country signed a deal with the Tata Group to procure LPTA 2445 Defence Dump Trucks, designed for heavy-duty missions. These vehicles can carry construction materials, water and supplies across harsh terrains. The enhanced defence cooperation comes as Morocco aims to make its military modern and well-equipped. The United States, Israel and China are some other defence suppliers to the African country. India has also been seeking to increase its defence exports to Africa. Several government initiatives, including bilateral visits and presentations by the government, indicate the push into the African market. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies In an exclusive conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that no Indian Prime Minister has managed as many feats for the country as Narendra Modi ji in a decade In an exclusive conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that no Indian Prime Minister has managed as many feats for the country as Narendra Modi ji in a decade". Shah emphasised how, over the years, the prime minister has increased the pride that every citizen feels for India, no matter where they are. Shah noted how the prime minister made the political slogan of garibi hatao a ground reality. Modi ji has changed both the size and the scale of the countrys economy. He transformed the political slogan of garibi hatao into reality on the ground," Shah told Network18. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The home minister also mentioned that bringing 25 crore people out of poverty is a huge feat. We have given 60 crore people toilets, electricity, cooking gas cylinders in households, 5 kg of food grains per person per month for free, providing treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, and delivering clean drinking water to homes. In 11 years, raising the standard of living of 60 crore people, for which they have been waiting for generations, is a major achievement," Shah said. #AmitShahToNews18 | No previous prime minister has had as many achievements as PM Modi in just 10 years: Home Minister @AmitShah speaks with @18RahulJoshi#ModiAt75 #AmitShah pic.twitter.com/HbcHlgIk4y News18 (@CNNnews18) September 19, 2025 Modernising the armed forces, making the country secure, realising the dream of Make in India, moving the nation from eleventh place to fourth place in the global economy, to fix a goal for 2047 to make India a great nation, with the highest position in the world, to awaken such resolve in 140 crore people, is a great achievement. History will analyse this, but I believe no Indian PM has managed such feats in a decade," he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PM Modi gave spine to Indias foreign policy: Shah Mentioning other achievements of PM Modi, Shah insisted that every citizen feels a sense of pride being an Indian. I may have missed many things, be it the education policy, or implanting spine in foreign policy, Modi ji has increased the pride that every citizen feels and made their heads go higher," the home minister said. When asked if PM Modi reminded him of any other leader, Shah simply said, If we talk of achievements, most have come in Modi jis time." When asked if the prime minister is a tough taskmaster, Shah said that he approaches every matter with utmost sincerity. I can say without hesitation that there will be countless such examples with Modi ji. He approaches matters with strictness and, because of that, there has often been resentment, whether when he was a minister, a chief minister, or handling organisational work. But never have I seen any personal animosity in it, Shah explained. Whenever he scolded or reprimanded, there was always a reason behind it and in that reason, there was purity, there were principles, and there was discipline. His strictness has always been for these things. So yes, if one were to broadly analyse it, one could certainly say he is a tough taskmaster, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The home minister gave insights into the Modi administration on the occasion of his 75th birthday. The book was given after Shah sat down with Rahul Joshi for an exclusive interview that covered a wide range of topics. The conversation came just days after PM Modi marked his 75th birthday this week Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul presented a coffee table book depicting the life and visionary moments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday. The book was given after Shah sat down with Rahul Joshi for an exclusive interview that covered a wide range of topics. The conversation came just days after PM Modi marked his 75th birthday this week. The book, titled Modi@75, captures 75 defining moments from the Prime Ministers remarkable journey in the past 75 years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Modi@75 is a visual and narrative chronicle that captures a life defined by conviction, resilience, and visionary leadership. The book is organised into five sections: Narendra Modis early years, his emergence in public life, his leadership as Chief Minister of Gujarat, his journey as Indias Prime Minister and global statesman, and insights into his diplomatic engagements on the world stage. The book features photographs, letters and memorabilia that are a testament to the lesser-known aspects of PM Modis life. The book is divided into five sections: Narendra Modis formative years, his ascent in public life, his leadership as Gujarats Chief Minister, his tenure as Indias Prime Minister and global statesman, and reflections on his diplomatic outreach. The book is further enriched by personal insights and reflections from distinguished voices across the globe, adding depth and perspective to the narrative. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott contributes the preface, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offers a heartfelt letter addressed to his friend Narendra, highlighting the personal bonds Modi has built with world leaders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, features as a special contributor, and prominent figures from Indias corporate world share their views on Modis vision for a prosperous and self-reliant India. Together, these contributions underscore the wide-reaching nature of the Prime Ministers global relationships and the diverse impact of his leadership. Much criticism against Muizzus alleged desecration of democracy is confined to drawing rooms and coffee-table chit-chats; the political opposition has not been able to enthuse their own cadres on it At a time when a third South Asian nation in four years is recovering from internal shocks exploded by domestic democracy concerns, whisper campaigns are already on about the possibility of a youth movement raising its double-quick head in the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago whose closest regional power is India. Of course, similar coffee shop chit-chats were doing the rounds after Bangladesh exploded last year, but, if anything, they only seemed to have prompted President Mohamed Muizzu to tighten his grip over the administration and politics in the country. The Maldives saw the earliest of pro-democracy movements in the region, ending in a new democracy constitution, a multi-party election system and fresh polls that threw up a democracy mascot, Mohammed Anni Nasheed, as president after 30 long years of Maumoon Abdul Gayooms autocratic rule. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is credible and creditable to note that the Maldives is now home to five former presidents, which in the West is projected as a strength of their democracy. It is so in neighbouring Sri Lanka, too, where the centre-left democratically elected government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been coming down heavily on his predecessors, first in the name of corruption cases from the past, near and distant, and then, as a break from the past, by denying them official residences and perks that generally go with most democracies, out of more respect and regard for the high office than the person. In the Maldives, Muizzu, surprisingly, has left his predecessors mostly untouched. Barring his one-time mentor and party boss, Abdulla Yameen (2013-18), who still remains disqualified from contesting presidential polls, owing to a pending court case that the Higher Judiciary seems to be taking a long time to settle one way or the other, the rest of them remain unaffected. However, Muizzu is focusing on larger issues and constituencies, the latest being a new media law that aims to curtail press freedom and the right of the citizens to know all. Critics, in private, are pointing to the Muizzu dispensation suspending three of the seven Supreme Court Justices inherited from previous regimes just an hour before the Full Bench was scheduled to hear a challenge to the newly minted anti-defection law targeting parliamentarians. Muizzus Peoples National Congress (PNC) holds a brutal majority in the 93-seat Parliament. In the normal course, any ruler, on whose seal and symbols most of those first-time MPs had been chosen only months after the presidential poll, would have been elated at the possibilities. However, Muizzu seemed to have focused on the possibility of an internal split, at times attributed to Yameen and on other occasions to the resort tourism industry, which is the nations economic mainstay. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite overseas tourism picking up against an economy that otherwise continues to be gloomy, the industry is upset over the Muizzu Governments well thought-out and badly implemented dollar deposit scheme that entailed individual resorts depositing a part of their dollar earnings in the central bank in return for Rufiyaa, the local currency. Defeated by the Outcome Fortunately or otherwise, much criticism against Muizzus alleged desecration of democracy is confined to drawing rooms and coffee-table chit-chats. For reasons that are not as yet clear, the political opposition, especially the reunited Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has not been able to enthuse their own cadres and even second- and third-line leaders, whether in the capital Male or in the islands, to any anti-government/anti-Muizzu protests. Two of their protest programmes in Male, both focused on democracy issues, drew very poor crowds even by Maldivian standards, especially of the MDP. No one is thus talking any more about taking the protests to the islands and atolls. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yet, the general belief is that ruling PNC parliamentarians want out but are stymied by the stringent provisions of the anti-defection law that they voted in not long back. Yet, the usual round of whos with whom or in which camp continues to do the rounds and keeps some in the anti-Muizzu camp hopeful. However, there is general consensus that after the pro-democracy movement of the MDP in the first decade of this century/millennium, the middle-aged generation of the present do not have the stomach for another. Rather, they feel frustrated, cheated and defeated by the outcome. It is not that Gen Z in the Maldives is unconcerned. Massive unemployment continues to stare at the nations youth, as jobs are going to immigrant labour, especially distant Bangladesh but including neighbouring India and Sri Lanka. It owes to the cultural attitude of the local youth from the generation that began benefiting from the tourism industry under the Gayoom regime decades ago. They got an education, though only up to the A-Levels, but have aspirations that go way beyond the market requirements for their educational qualifications. This has meant that even when there are jobsa fifth of the resident population comprises immigrant labourthe local youth would rather starve than take up jobs that they had long since dismissed as menial. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This dichotomy is not going to go away with a change of government or leadership. Knowing their own predicament, if at all they have cared to know, no political party or leader is ready to acknowledge this simple fact; hence, unemployment for locals is always on the higher side. A Gen Z explosion onto the streets, as in Sri Lanka (2022), Bangladesh (2024) and now Nepal (2025), is still a theoretical possibility, but ahead of them are the dreams of their parental generation that vaporised before their eyes despite the promises made by the Democracy Dividend in its time. Mixed Signals The economy still remains the mainstay of the peoples concerns, which are linked to prices and availability and also the open-market dollar rate, which is an issue unique to the Maldives in the neighbourhood. After failing to procure rice, sugar and wheat flour from distant Turkey at the height of the Houthis attack on Red Sea shipping, Muizzu seemed to have conceded that neighbouring India is a more reliable development partner and supplier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD More recently, the government has added 23 more food items for import by the public sector State Trading Organisation (STO), aimed at keeping the middle class and lower middle class happy. India has once again become Maldives economic mainstay outside of tourism, but the Muizzu leadership continues to send out mixed signals. Recently in China for the SCO summit, Muizzu met with President Xi Jinping. The two sides signed MoUs, but what should be of interest is China reiterating the Yameen-era pledge to continue to protect Maldives sovereignty and territorial integrityobviously targeting India. The reference, if at all, is to India attesting Mauritius ownership of the Chagos Island Group, following a successful pact with the one-time British coloniser. In a post-SCO meeting with visiting Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Indias Narendra Modi reiterated New Delhis commitment to keep the Indian Ocean free and secure in the company of Port Louis. It is anybodys guess if, in the light of the tariff war launched by US President, PM Modi was referring to increasing American activity in the Indian neighbourhood or if it is confined only to China, which seems intent on continuing its forays despite the bilateral commitment to improve bilateral ties on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There, however, seems to be greater realisation, though not acknowledgement, in smaller nations in the region that geostrategic games are not for them to play, nor is their old act of playing global Peter against regional Paul an option anymore. While the evolving post-Cold War global order has created more space for every nation and every region to have their say and be heard on newer issues of non-traditional security like ecology and environment, their limitations in the other department have got increasingly exposed and rendered ineffective. A greater realisation of this global truth is a must for nations like the Maldives if they are to benefit from the best of all the worlds, instead of wanting to become someone elses hired gun or wanting to fire from someone elses shoulder. These are, however, no yardstick for democracy revival in the Maldives, where no leader is acknowledged now as being more liberal and less autocratic than the otherbut then, that has not been the issue on which Gen Z erupted elsewhere in the regionto a predictable pattern once the fuse had been lit, a pattern that owed possibly to external machinations and was sold locally as youth power against corruption and worse. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst & political commentator. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The Israeli Air Forces strike against Hamas members in Doha has exposed the vulnerability of US-reliant Gulf nations Around 64,000 Gazans had been killed, famine had gripped Gaza, about 13,000 children were severely malnourished, 90 per cent of homes were destroyed and 1.9 million people were displaced. An unrelenting Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was planning to launch a massive ground operation against Gaza City to wipe out the remaining Hamas members. US President Donald Trump was desperate for an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire to end the two-year war. Finally, the US, in agreement with Israel and without providing guidelines for resuming talks or a complete ceasefire plan, offered another proposal to Hamas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the proposal, Hamas would immediately release all 48 hostages, Israel would freeze its planned assault on Gaza City and both sides would start a dialogue to end the war. On September 7, Hamas said that it was ready to negotiate provided Israel ended the war and withdrew from Gaza. On the same day, Trump claimed on Truth Social: The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. Warning the terrorist group, he added: I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one! Moments later, Netanyahu said, Israel is seriously considering President Trumps proposal; it appears Hamas will continue its refusal. Qatar went into action. The steadfast American ally in the Gulf, the chief negotiator between Israel and Hamas, had played a significant role in attempting to broker ceasefires between the warring sides. On September 8, Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani huddled with Hamass chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya in Doha. Later that night, Qatari officials called Israelis and the discussion continued till 5 am the next day. Netanyahu had other planslike the sudden blitzkrieg on Irans nuclear plants as the US and Iran were engaged in designing a new N-deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On September 9, at 3.46 pm, 10 air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBMs) launched by eight Israeli F-15s and four F-35s 1,500 km from the Red Sea, across Saudi airspace, hit a residential compound next to the Woqod petrol station, on Wadi Rawdan Street, in Dohas Leqtaifiya district. Five Hamas political bureau members, including Al-Hayyas son, and a Qatari security official were killed. Stunned, Betrayed Qatar Kept in Dark by the US The Israeli attacks ingenuity and sophistication startled Qatar, which boasts an excellent air defence system comprising the American MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system, the Norwegian National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, the British Rapier and the German Roland. Qatar will also acquire the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) as part of the $42 billion deal signed during Trumps May visit. In June, Qatar proved the effectiveness of its multilayered air defence by knocking down 7 Iranian ballistic missiles over the Persian Gulf and another 11 over Doha of the 19 fired by Iran at Al-Udeid Air Base. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel was a different ballgame. Israel has three known ALBMs: Anchor, Rampage and Rocks. Ballistic missiles differ from cruise missiles, which are slower but manoeuvrable. A ballistic missile, on the other hand, follows a fixed trajectory and descends towards the target at a much greater speed, making it much harder for an air defence system to intercept it. ALBMs, fired by a fighter/bomber jet, a strategic bomber or even a cargo plane, have greater advantages. The jet can be quickly deployed at different ranges and altitudes, has a longer-range capability and can launch the missile beyond the range of air defence systems from a flexible position, making detection almost impossible. Besides Israel, only Russia and China have such long-range ALBMs, which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads for strategic and tactical strikes. According to reports, Israel probably used the Anchor missileswhose range is unknownas the Hamas members were targeted from as far as the Red Sea, and the Rampage can only be launched from about 150 km. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The attack also questioned Qatars sovereignty and, most importantly, the effectiveness and the protection guaranteed to a major non-Nato ally. Barely four months ago, during Trumps visit, the two countries signed an agreement to generate an economic exchange worth, at least, $1.2 trillion. The economic deals were worth more than $243.5 billion, including the sale of Boeing aircraft (Dreamliners and 777Xs) and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways. US defence giant Raytheon secured a $1 billion agreement for selling FS-LIDS counter-drone capabilities to Qatar and General Atomics secured a nearly $2 billion agreement for the sale of MQ-9B drones. The decades-old US-Qatar ties, which even weathered the 2017 diplomatic crisis, have only grown stronger in the last couple of years. The tiny Gulf state, which hosts the largest American military base in West Asia (Middle East), took American protection for granted, resulting in the breach of its sovereignty. The attack is also a betrayal for Qatar, which played a pivotal role in bringing Israeli and Hamas negotiators to the table, an effort praised by Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The most jolting fact was how Trump kept Qatar in the dark. The Israeli plan was in the works for around two monthsobviously, with the US aware and approving the strike. A day after the attack, Trump, who avoided criticising Israel directly, claimed that the attack was Tel Avivs unilateral decision with Washington unaware. However, an Axios scoop revealed that Netanyahu informed Trump 51 minutesat 8 am D.C. timebefore the attack. Though the White House claimed to have been notified only after missiles were launched, seven Israeli officials said that Trump was already aware of the impending missile strikes. According to the Israeli officials, Trump was aware of the attack plan and could have stopped Netanyahuand he would have aborted the attack. However, Trump again denied having been informed by Netanyahu after the Axios report. No, no, they [Israel] didnt, he told reporters. The White House instead claimed that Qatar was informed about the attack in advance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli Attack Exposes Gulf Nations Helplessness Israel never takes out targets in foreign nations, especially via airstrikes, without US knowledge and approval. The best example was the Israeli blitzkrieg against Iran in Junean operation that was being planned for eight months since the Iranian attack on Israel in October 2024. Trump again kept Iran in the dark while his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was negotiating with the Iranians for a new nuclear deal. In public, the White House was in denial mode about the strike, but had approved it in private, according to an Axios report. Two Israeli officials claimed that Israel had a clear US green light and the operation, in fact, was conducted in coordination with Washington. However, like Trump claimed that Israel acted unilaterally in attacking Qatar, his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, made the same claim about Operation Rising Lion. Theres a difference between the two attacks. Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, is the arch-rival of Israel and the US but Qatar is an American ally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The attack has exposed the vulnerability of Gulf nations. Alliance with the US doesnt guarantee immunity from an Israeli attacknot even American criticism. Gulf nations are now aware of this bitter fact. Despite the Israeli aggression, they havent criticised the US and only slammed Israel. First, in an exclusive interview with CNN, Al-Thani termed the Israeli attack barbaric and state terror. We were thinking that we were dealing with civilised people. Thats the way we are dealing with others. And the action that (Netanyahu) tookI cannot describe it, but its a barbaric action. Despite Al-Thanis adviser and foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari earlier dismissing the US claim that Qatar was informed about the attack as baseless, the Qatari PM avoided mentioning how the US was aware of the Israeli plan. Im following up with all the US officials in order to see what kind of actions can be taken as we speak, he said. Second, Al-Thani also said that Gulf countries will respond collectively to the Israeli strike. There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region. We are hoping for something meaningful that deters Israel from continuing this bullying. However, it was all bluster and no biteeven Al-Thani was aware of the fact that any retaliation against Israel would invite American wrath. Rubio showed how Israel is Americas priority despite deep business and defence ties with the Gulf. One week after the attack, he visited Israel first to express unconditional support and Qatar later. Two summits in Doha to condemn the Israeli attack and express solidarity with Qatar showed the helplessness of Gulf nations in challenging Israeli supremacy. In the first summit, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders met behind closed doors. The second summit, involving the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation57 Arab and Muslim stateswas wider and public. According to Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, assistant secretary general for political affairs and negotiation, GCC, since Qatar and other GCC nations are bound by the 2000 Mutual Defense Treaty, the leaders expressed full solidarity with Qatar and their readiness to invoke the treaty to support any measures requested by Doha. The members directed the GCC Unified Military Command to activate mechanisms for GCC joint defence and deterrence. They also warned that the wanton Israeli aggression against the brotherly state of Qatar represented a direct threat to regional security and stability and undermined efforts for regional peace. The GCC also called on the UN Security Council and its key players (a reference to the US) to condemn Israels aggression and take decisive steps, like sanctions, to stop and deter future Israeli aggression. According to Aluwaisheg, America needs to take decisive action to ensure it does not happen again despite Netanyahus statements to the contrary. However, both summits avoided criticising the US directly despite expressing disappointment. They ended with only words, no concrete action. Not only Qatar but even Saudi Arabia and the UAE desisted from taking any action against Israelmindful of its backing by the worlds most powerful military. The GCC membersSaudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrainare wealthy but still depend on the US for protection and military equipment and some of them even host American bases. During Trumps three-nation Gulf tour in May, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE signed arms deals with the US worth $142 billion, $1.96 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, a total investment of more than $1.4 trillion. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US was the most important arms supplier to Bahrain, accounting for 97 per cent of imports in 202024, Saudi Arabia 74 per cent, Kuwait 63 per cent and Qatar 48 per cent. For years, the US has leveraged arms exports to Gulf nations to expand its geopolitical influence in the region. Therefore, these nations have never challenged the American and Israeli superiority in the region. Moreover, the US has military bases in several Gulf nations and other West Asian countries. The US has a broad network of military sites, permanent and temporary, in 19 locations in the region, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The eight permanent bases are in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As of June, around 40,000-50,000 American troops were in the region, especially in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These bases not only protect these countries but also help the US in air and naval operations, regional logistics, intelligence gathering and force projection. The Al Udeid Air Base, the forward headquarters for US Central Command (Centcom), houses around 100 aircraft, including fighters, surveillance, refuelling and transport, drones, the Patriot missile defence system and almost 10,000 US troops. The US has used the base to conduct operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Per the Congressional Research Service, Qatar has contributed more than $8 billion since 2003 to develop the base. The Naval Support Activity base in Bahrain, which has around 9,000 Department of Defense personnel, including military and civilian, is home to the US Navys Fifth Fleet. provides security to ships, aircraft and remote sites in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. It also houses the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, EP-3E Aries II reconnaissance aircraft and Patriot missile defence systems. Camp Arifjan in Kuwait is the primary logistics, supply and command hub for US military operations in the region. It hosts several US military installations, particularly Camp Arifjan, the forward headquarters of US Army Central under Centcom, according to the CRS report. The Ali al-Salem Air Base houses the US 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which delivers combat power to joint and coalition forces in the Centcom. It also hosts UAVs, including MQ-9s, and has combat airlift capabilities. Camp Buehring is used to deploy Army units in Iraq and Syria. The Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE is used for reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and supporting air combat operations, including F-22 Raptors and drones. It also hosts the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, comprising 10 aircraft squadrons and drones (MQ-9s). American soldiers are also stationed in Saudi Arabias Prince Sultan Air Base, which has air defence assets like Patriot missile batteries and the Thaad. Till last year, American troops at the base numbered 2,321. Any action against Israel will jeopardise ties with the US, especially with Trump, Israels biggest supporter, back in the Oval Office. Even regarding Israels Gaza operation since October 2023, expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the two-state solution, these nations have not taken any concrete action. In fact, the UAE and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic, security and economic ties between Israel and several Arab states, in September 2020. Now, Trump wants Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia on board. The accords were signed in view of the common threat posed by Iran to Sunni Arab states and Israel. The UAE was initially reluctant to sign it as Israel was planning to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. When Netanyahu postponed the plan, the UAE signed the accords. However, now Israels far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has said that 82 per cent of the occupied West Bank will be annexed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israeli sovereignty will be applied to 82 per cent of the territory, Smotrich, the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism Party, a coalition member, recently told a press conference in Jerusalem. It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and remove once and for all the idea of dividing our small land, he said. There will never, and can never be, a Palestinian state in our land. If the Palestinian Authority dares to rise and try to harm us, we will destroy them just as we do to Hamas, he added. According to a Reuters report, the UAE could downgrade diplomatic ties if Israel annexes part or all of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Last week, the UAE decided to bar Israeli defence companies from exhibiting at the Dubai Airshow in November. But the Gulf nation hasnt threatened to withdraw from the Abraham Accords. The UAEs actions or the Doha summits show the GCCs limitations in challenging Israeli superiority and aggression in the region. The maximum these nations can do is to limit or freeze diplomatic ties with Israel. Their dependence on the US severely limits the scope of their actions against Israel. 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. The Indian Air Force is already down to 29 fighter squadrons, compared to the authorised 42.5, as India faces a two-front war threat. To save time and boost domestic defence manufacturing, the decision to acquire 114 Rafale 4.5-generation aircraft would be prudent Indias Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received a proposal from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for acquiring 114 Made in India Rafale fighter jets, which would be built by the French firm Dassault Aviation jointly with Indian aerospace firms. The proposal, expected to be worth over Rs 2 lakh crore ($22 billion), including the indigenous content of more than 60 per cent, will be taken up for discussion by the Defence Procurement Board headed by the Defence Secretary. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If given a go-ahead, it would be the biggest ever defence deal for India. Choosing Rafale maintains continuity and prevents adding an additional fleet that could be a logistic nightmare. IAF has already inducted 36 Rafale, and the Indian Navy has ordered 26 of them, both under government-to-government (G2G) deals. 114 more will make the fleet strength 176. Rafale is a 4.5-generation aircraft that performed very well against Pakistan in Op Sindoor, where it managed to comprehensively beat the Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles using its Spectra Electronic Warfare suite. The Made-in-India aircraft will have a complement of longer-range air-to-air and air-to-ground stand-off weapons and missiles beyond the existing Scalp, which was used extensively to hit both military and terrorist targets inside Pakistan. Dassault has already tied up with Indias Tata Group to make Rafale fuselages in India at the rate of 25 a year. The indigenous content in the Made-in-India Rafale fighter jets will keep going up in stages. Dassault has already set up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul firm in India. The M-88 engines will be overhauled in Hyderabad. The IAF is already down to 29 fighter squadrons. The urgency to get back to the authorised 42.5 squadrons has been reinforced by the regional threat perception and collusive Sino-Pakistani anti-India engagement. The last of the overstretched MiG-21 squadron will phase out in September 2025. India is also the only operator of Jaguar strike aircraft, and they will be next to go. The upgraded Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 will serve for around a decade more. Finally, the IAF inventory should primarily comprise the Su-30 MKIs, Rafale, and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Make-in-India Rafale Fuselage Earlier in June 2025, in a big boost to Make in India, Dassault and Indias Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) agreed to partner to manufacture Rafale aircraft fuselages at a dedicated facility in Hyderabad. The key structural sections of the aircraft to be manufactured in India include the front section, central fuselage, rear section, and lateral rear shells. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll out by FY2028, with a production capacity of up to two complete fuselages per month. The Rafale fuselage will be produced in India for both domestic and global markets. This marks the first time in history that Rafale fuselages will be manufactured outside France. Four Production Transfer Agreements (PTA) have been signed between the companies. Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, emphasised that this partnership is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India, noting that it aligns with the companys long-term strategy to collaborate with Indian aerospace firms like TASL. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of TASL, described the partnership as a milestone in Indias aerospace journey, demonstrating both Indias manufacturing prowess and the trust international aerospace leaders place in Indian partners. The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in Tata Advanced Systems capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms, Singh said. This facility will represent a significant investment in Indias aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing. With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft, including 2,700 Falcon business jets, delivered in more than 90 countries, Dassault Aviation has built expertise recognised worldwide in the design, production, sale and support of all types of aircraft, military drones and space systems. Make-in-India Safran Aero Engine French aerospace company Safran and Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have joined to develop Indias first jet engine with Indian intellectual property rights (IPR). Safran will transfer 100 per cent of the technology to DRDO, including that for crystal blades. The joint project between Safran and Indias Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a DRDO lab, will develop and produce a 120-kilonewton (kN) engine which will power Indias twin-engine Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter. The announcement comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for indigenous development of jet engines from the ramparts of Red Fort during the recent Independence Day speech. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is reported that Safran-GTRE will develop nine prototype engines within a time frame of 12 years. The initial engines will be of 120 kN power and later go up to 140 kN by the end of the 12-year time period. Single crystal blades use superalloys and are efficient and long-lasting and also cope better with higher heat and rotational stress. The Indian private sector, with the Tata Group, L&T, Adani Defence, and others, is all ready to pitch in for this national effort. This critical defence technology will have spin-offs for larger airliner and cargo aircraft engines. Only the US, Russia, the UK and France are capable of designing, developing and producing aircraft engines. For a long time, China has used Russian or reverse-engineered engines to power its military aircraft. Indias GTRE tried to develop the indigenous engine Kaveri, but the project did not complete. India is powering its LCA Mk1 variants with the American GE F-404 engines. The LCA Mk2 will have a made-in-India GE-414. The transfer of technology (ToT) will be around 80 per cent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India considers France a more reliable partner with less capacity and intent to arm-twist and thus preferred it to develop the indigenous aero-engine. The engine will power future Indian fighters. FranceA Major Global Aviation Manufacturer Major French aviation companies include Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Safran, Thales Group, and MBDA. Airbus is a major manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft, while Dassault Aviation specialises in business jets and military aircraft, including Falcon and Rafale. Safran is a key player in aircraft engine manufacturing and other aerospace technologies, and Thales provides a wide range of aerospace and defence systems and specialises in electronics. MBDA is a European missile manufacturer. Airbus, a global aircraft manufacturer with headquarters in France, is known for its commercial aircraft and helicopters. ATR is a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo (Italy), known for regional turboprop aircraft. Daher is a French company that manufactures light aircraft and business turboprops. France is one of the very few countries that makes all constituents of an aircraft and is not dependent on other countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias Time-Tested French Aviation Connect India acquired 104 each of Dassault Ouragan fighters (Indian name Toofani) and Mystere IVAs in the 1950s. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) license-built versions of the French Aerospatiale SA 315B Lama (designated Cheetah) and Aerospatiale Alouette III (designated Chetak) in the mid-1960s. The Indian Navy procured 14 French Breguet Br.1050 Alize in 1960 for carrier operations. The French Turbomeca TM 333 2B2 engine powered the initial HAL Dhruv, later replaced by the Shakti engine, which was jointly developed by HAL and Turbomeca. TM 333 2M2 powers HAL Cheetal and Chetan, upgraded versions of the Cheetah and Chetak, respectively. India bought the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft (DPSA) in the late 1970s; albeit, the contract was serviced by the British. IAF built and upgraded many Jaguars and continues to fly significant numbers even today. Finally, the IAF bought the Mirage 2000 that was inducted in 1984. It was the first relaxed stability fly-by-wire aircraft with active controls technology to be inducted into the IAF. It also brought a modern Air Interception (AI) radar with look-down/shoot-down capabilities and the first BVR missile, the Super R530. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Later, the all-aspect Magic 2 missile changed the dynamics of close combat. IAF also got the first comprehensive EW suite on any aircraft with a self-protection jammer, RWR, chaff and flare dispenser, an escort jammer and an Elint Pod. The aircraft was later upgraded to the Mirage 2000-5 Mk 2 standards, extending its useful life for another 2025 years. The upgrade included new avionics, a glass cockpit, and helmet-mounted displays. Rafale Was the MMRCA Winner The IAF needed additional medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). The aircraft in the fray for this Indian tender were the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D, Mikoyan MiG-35, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The 126 aircraft were to fill the gap between the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the in-service Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighter. Rafale was the winner in both technical and life-cycle cost terms. Only 36 were finally bought. The 4.5 Generation Rafale Aircraft The twin-engine delta-wing fighter aircraft is an omni-role fighter with frontal-stealth capabilities. It can simultaneously undertake air supremacy, interdiction, reconnaissance, and the airborne nuclear deterrent missions. Rafale was inducted into the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations in the French Navy in 2000. Rafale has been used in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, Syria, and in the recent Op Sindoor. The aircraft uses digital fly-by-wire controls and has a very high level of agility. The aircrafts canards improve aerodynamic performance. The Rafales glass cockpit was designed around the principle of data fusion that prioritises information display to pilots. The primary flight controls are arranged in a hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS)-compatible configuration. The Rafale also features an advanced avionics suite. The passive front-sector electro-optical system can operate both in the visible and infrared wavelengths. The total value of the radar, electronic communications and self-protection equipment is about 30 per cent of the cost of the entire aircraft. The Rafale features an integrated electronic survival system named SPECTRA, which protects the aircraft against airborne and ground threats. The system incorporates a radar warning receiver, laser warning, Missile Approach Warning (MAW) for threat detection, plus a phased array radar jammer and a decoy dispenser for threat countering. Areos all-weather, night-and-day-capable reconnaissance system used on the Rafale has the ability to transmit information such as images in real-time to ground stations. The RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has a range of 200 km. The 36 aircraft, worth 7.87 billion (Rs 58,891 crore), in the government-to-government (G2G) Rafale deal included 28 single-seat and eight twin-seat aircraft. The deal included tailor-made IAF-specific enhancements, including the integration of an Israeli helmet-mounted display (HMD), radar warning receivers and low-band jammers. It included a weapons package and a performance-based logistics agreement. The aircrafts 14 hardpoints can carry a 9,500 kg external load. The air-to-air missiles include Matra Magic II, MBDA MICA IR or EM, and MBDA Meteor. Meteor is an active radar-guided BVRAAM that offers multi-shot capability against long-range manoeuvring jets, UAVs and cruise missiles in a heavy electronic countermeasures (ECM) environment with a range of around 180 kilometres. The no-escape zone of over 60 km is the largest among air-to-air missiles, according to the manufacturer. India also procured SCALP air-to-ground cruise missiles. Subsequently, the HAMMER (highly agile modular munition extended range) glide bomb was bought. The Indian Rafale is a modified version of the F3R standard. The two squadrons are located at two different airbases. Both these airbases have infrastructure and capacity for an additional squadron each. The French have already tested the F4 variant with upgraded radar; the improved HMDS and OSF (long-range optoelectronics system) will add IRST for detecting and identifying airborne stealth targets at long range. It will be more effective in network-centric warfare, with more data exchange and satellite communication capacity. The F5 variant is also evolving. Make-in-India Rafale: Win-Win for India and France The Indian Navy has just ordered 26 Rafale-Ms, and the French Air and Space Force and Navy have a combined order for 286. Other operators with confirmed orders are IAF (36), Croatia (12), Egypt (54), Qatar (36), UAE (50), Indonesia (42), and Serbia (12). More orders are on the way. The current production rate is 25 aircraft a year. It will take nearly 10 years to meet existing orders. France desperately needs another production line. Production in India will be for all global customers. Indias capability to make global-class aerostructures has been proven with cabins of the Apache AH-64, the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. India also makes Lockheed Martin F-16 wings. India makes the entire indigenous LCA. Making the Rafale in India will work out much cheaper for France. 114 Rafale for IAFBest Way Ahead Traditionally India and France have been enjoying an exceptionally warm relationship, which is the fruit of deep affinities and the unwavering trust between the two countries since Indias independence. France is considered the most reliable Western friend. France has never imposed any sanctions or tried to arm-twist India. IAF regularly carries out the Garuda series of air exercises with the French Air and Space Force (FASF). The IAF is already down to 29 fighter squadrons vis-a-vis the authorised 42.5. India has a two-front war threat. IAF urgently needs more fighter squadrons. The case for 114 Make in India fighters has finally started moving. Rafale is a tried and tested aircraft. India has already paid for one-time India-specific enhancements. We have spare capacity at existing IAF Rafale bases to take more squadrons. There is 95 per cent commonality between the IAF and Navy Rafale. Most recent aircraft deals have all been G2G. Rafale has already been a winner of a contest in which similar competing aircraft were involved. India already has a large variety of fighter fleets. Multiple fleets are a logistic nightmare. To save time, it would be prudent to acquire 114 Rafale 4.5 generation aircraft. Initially India would make mostly the fuselage airframe. As we go along, more sub-parts and components will be manufactured. If India chooses to make 114 Rafales for the IAF, the make-in-India order numbers, along with the Navy, would go up to 140. India could thus insist on making the entire aircraft in India. With France supporting Indias indigenous aero-engine, all blocks are in place. It will make better economic sense for India to acquire Rafale and acquire the latest variant, F4, in a G2G deal and make it in India in larger numbers to amortise costs. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Given the recent bonhomie with Pakistan and the inability to tame Netanyahu, one should not be surprised if the pact has happened with the connivance of the Americans The direct fallout of the Israeli strikes on Qatar to eliminate Hamas leaders and negotiators for Gaza and the US deep states complicity and political leaderships double-speak and tongue-in-cheek stance has reinforced the utter unreliability of the US security cover once again for the countries in West Asia and North Africa, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. With strikes in Doha, the vulnerability and futility of US dependence have been accentuated. The Qatari Prime Ministers visit to the US and meeting with Trump and others, as well as an anodyne UN Security Council statement, led nowhere since they decided not to burn their boat with their major benefactor. Threats of future attacks are theoretical. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There has been shuttle and frantic diplomacy and frequent meetings among various regional stakeholders to craft a fitting response, including the Arab-Islamic Summit. Of course some countries like Iran and Turkey and even Pakistan were highly vocal against Israel due to their own geopolitical games. Turkey also has a base in Doha. But they failed to come up with any credible response except the strongest condemnation this time round as well since the US cast its lot once again fully with the Jewish state. This was pretty evident during United States Secretary of State Marco Rubios visit to Jerusalem and the associated charm offensive from both sides. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the master artist and politician, was able to justify his acts against Hamas, vowing to take out terrorists wherever they are. Under this garb, his campaign to take over Gaza goes on unabated. Netanyahu would have made this calculation and taken the gamble. But then regional majors have decided to diversify their security mechanism, collaboration and deterrence by entering into security agreements at the GCC level, creating an Arab Nato kind of force or using the professional Jordanian army, which takes pride in being the Pan-Arab force. Qatari Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thanis first visit to King Abdullah II of Jordan after the Israeli strikes is an indication. Calls for training their pilots and forces by Turkish and Pakistani trainers have been activated. Hosting US bases in their countries has proved to be a double jeopardy, and strikes by Houthis, Iranians and Israelis have woken them out of the stupor. Disenchantment with the US is at an all-time high even as they dont want to burn their bridges. Dependence on hundreds of billions of dollars of sophisticated and advanced weapons systems and equipment bought by rich Gulf countries from the US has a red line that these will not be used against Israel. They should have understood it but perhaps never thought that Netanyahu would strike them since their fears were situated against Iran and its proxies, which are a common cause with the US. But then complacence on national security is the biggest breach for any country, and West Asians are no exception. Israel suffered on October 7 too due to that. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli strikes and the promise of more strikes, even against the US allies, and US behaviour thereafter have unnerved the Sheikhs. Choosing a security partner, without any caveat their Islamic brother Pakistan was natural despite its irreverent terrorist credentials. With Turkey and Iran, they do have intrinsic issues but will collaborate at least in a limited manner due to the ongoing rapprochement and confidence-building measures in the region. In any case, a new regional security architecture is being mooted. China will be the gainer in this bargain, as more and more countries are looking to procure Chinese arms, missiles, equipment and aircraft, on which Pakistanis are also quite adept, having 81 per cent of their Chinese-origin inventory apart from the joint manufacturing of JF-17 fighter jets. Chinas exports grew by 290 per cent to Saudi Arabia and by 77 per cent to the UAE between the 2012-2016 period and the 2017-2021 period, as per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Even Turkish fighter jets and drones are being explored. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been well ensconced in the region for nearly six decades, especially in the military and security domain. Its nuclear bomb has been flagged and marketed as the Islamic Bomb all along. It has made claims, even if rhetorical, rather often to use it against Israel in defence of its Arab and Iranian partners. The most recent was the loud statement that Pakistan will use its nuclear bomb if either of the holy mosques in Saudi Arabia is attacked or violated. During the recent incidents, economically embattled Pakistanis were in overdrive to commiserate with Qataris and the Islamic world to respond firmly to the Zionist state. They found a good opportunity to re-establish their credentials with the Gulf and Arab states. Among the 57 Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) members, Pakistan is the sole Islamic nuclear power, and it plays that advantage to the hilt. It is ready to lead the charge and has reportedly dispatched 25,000 troops to be stationed along the Saudi-Yemen border as well as guard the holy mosques. A rentier state has found an opportunity to milk and feed on the security gaps in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hence, the signing of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia is indeed a strategically important event as well as a concerning development. The SMDA outlines joint military cooperation, including coordinated defence strategies, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises to enhance preparedness. The Pakistani nuclear umbrella is also spread out. Others may follow in the same lines, especially Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan to begin with. And if the GCC-Pakistan defence agreement is signed, we should not be surprised. One of the key objectives which underscores its importance and raises concern for India is that the pact reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieve security and peace in the region and the world. Further, [It] aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. The joint statement implies that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against boththereby committing both sides to militarily respond against the adversary. This is a step up from the ongoing defence and military-to-military cooperation. Former Pakistani General Raheel Shareef has led the 27-country Sunni military alliance in the Yemen war. How it will play out in reality and how much deterrence it causes will have to be seen. This agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to peace, stability, and mutual defence, claimed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Given the recent bonhomie with Pakistan and the inability to tame Netanyahu, we should not be surprised if it has happened with the connivance of the Americans, even though reportedly, they were told after the SDMA was signed during the visit of Pakistans Sharif. Incidentally, on the same day the Centcom Commander was in Saudi Arabia meeting the Defence Minister. The Pentagon and Rawalpindi have an old equation as well. This has implications for India, which has assiduously built upon its strategic and comprehensive strategic partnerships with regional majors, including Saudi Arabia, for over a decade and a half, beginning with the Riyadh Declaration in 2010. From Riyadhs point of view, the threat is perceived from Tel Aviv and Tehran and non-state actors like the Houthis and Hezbollah. But for Pakistan the only challenge is Indian military superiority and its commitment to hit terror targets in Pakistan if any cross-border attacks happen on India again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Post the Pahalgam terror attack, the Op-Sindoor continues unabated. This could complicate matters in realistic situations where India will have to play a more critical role, which could include urging Israelis to restrain from misadventures like Qatar strikes and urging Riyadh to prevail upon Rawalpindi to desist from indulging in cross-border terrorism against India to avoid triggering the defence pact. India also has defence cooperation arrangements and MoUs with several countries in the region. Even though many details are confidential, the Saudis have vouched for their robust partnership with India, allaying its concerns. As mentioned by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, India will be studying the implications for its national security. India must actively and clearly engage in more discussions with key partners in West Asia on important shared concerns. The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He used Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as a cautionary example of a once-dominant tech company that vanished due to its inability to embrace new technologies, such as the Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed concern that the tech giant might not be able to survive the era of artificial intelligence, saying that he is haunted by such a possibility. Addressing an internal town hall meeting, Nadella exposed his personal fears about Microsofts future as he responded to a question on the companys changing culture. According to a report by The Verge, Nadella said, Some of the biggest businesses weve built might not be as relevant going forward. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He used Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as a cautionary example of a once-dominant tech company that vanished due to its inability to embrace new technologies, such as the Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture. Our industry is full of case studies of companies that were great once, that just disappeared. Im haunted by one particular one called DEC, he said, recalling how the company became irrelevant in the face of competition from IBM and others. He was responding to a question posed by a UK-based employee who described the companys atmosphere as markedly different, colder, more rigid, and lacking in the empathy we have come to value. The Microsoft CEO recently told employees that the company must do better in restoring trust with its workforce, acknowledging a perceived lack of empathy within its culture. Microsoft makes flurry of policy changes In an attempt to cut down the competition amid threats from tech giants like OpenAI, Alphabet and Meta, undermine its authority, Microsoft has been updating its company policies. The company has told its employees to return office for at least three days a week or risk promotions, essentially ending the flexible remote work policy. The tech giant is shifting away from its pandemic-era practice, with implementations set to begin in February 2026. Microsoft has been cracking down on poor performance by laying off hundreds of employees deemed underperformers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amid this, the new policy suggests that ignoring the new work-from-office mandate would affect their career growth during evaluations. Microsoft layoffs Earlier this year, in February, Microsoft announced plans to cut its workforce by 3 per cent, affecting about 6,000 employees in a layoff drive that will be imposed across all teams and levels. In a statement to CNBC, Microsoft said, We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace. The layoffs took place despite Microsoft reporting better-than-expected quarterly net income of $25.8 billion. As Israel continues with its offensive in Gaza, a report by an independent violence-tracking organisation revealed that about 15 of every 16 Palestinians the Israeli military has killed since March this year have been civilians Palestinians hold the body of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, who Israel's military and Al Jazeera say was killed by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City. Reuters As Israel continues with its offensive in Gaza, a report by an independent violence-tracking organisation revealed that about 15 of every 16 Palestinians the Israeli military has killed since March this year have been civilians. The data was shared by a body called Acled, which stands for Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. The report was released amid growing international pressure over Israels move to advance into Gaza City, which has already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Researchers from Acled, which western governments and the UN back, tracked reports of losses sustained by Hamas and allied armed groups in Gaza from the Israeli military, reliable local and international media, statements from Hamas and other sources over six months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since 18 March, Israel claims it killed more than 2,100 operatives, though Acled data indicates that the number is closer to 1,100, and includes Hamas political figures, as well as fighters from other groups, the report said. Meanwhile, over 16,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel broke a two-month ceasefire deal in March, conducting massive airstrikes across Gaza. Acled noted that it may not have been able to capture all combatant deaths over the six months, but their total does include Hamas political figures. The report came a month after The Guardian revealed that Israels internal data suggests a civilian death toll of 83 per cent between the outbreak of war in October 2023 and May of this year. The report also reveals devastation. The Acled report also found that incidents of demolition of buildings in Gaza had increased significantly since the renewal of hostilities in March, with 698 in the 15 months before, and 500 in the six months since. Researchers noted that many of these incidents involved the demolition of multiple buildings. Last week, a senior Israeli official told The Guardian that there were tensions between protecting civilians and the demands of fast-moving military operations. We are fighting a very different war from any previous conflict anyone has fought anywhere in the world, the Israeli military officer said. There are strict rules of engagement, but what has changed is the policy that was designed for small wars where we wanted to deter [enemies] We are now fighting in Gaza to ensure that Hamas is not ruling Gaza. Meanwhile, on Friday, the IDF warned that it would operate with unprecedented force in Gaza City, urging residents to flee southwards while announcing the closure of a temporary evacuation route opened 48 hours earlier. Acled, in its latest report, also noted that Israeli airstrikes had killed at least 40 commanders and key operatives in Hamass military wing since March. Only one senior official from Hamass pre-war military council is still in command, the report noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hamas has been weakened undoubtedly and does not think they can now stop or defeat Israel and push them out of Gaza through military force, said Ameneh Mehvar, Acleds senior analyst for the Middle East and a co-author of the report. At this point, Hamas is trying to preserve what is left of the movement," he added. It is pertient to note that the Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 people, mostly civilians, and injured more than 160,000 since . Apart from this, swathes of territory have been reduced to ruin, and almost 90 per cent of homes have been damaged. Meanwhile, health services have collapsed, and expert UN-backed monitors declared famine in the north last month. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that his countrys nuclear program will be made available to Saudi Arabia if needed, as the two nations sign a new defence pact. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embraces Mohammed bin Salman (R), the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, after signing the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 18, 2025. (Photo: X/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia) Amid the brewing tensions across the continent of Asia, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that his countrys nuclear programme will be made available to Saudi Arabia if needed, as the two nations sign a new defence pact. The proclamation from Asif marked the first formal acknowledgement that Pakistan is willing to put the kingdom under its nuclear umbrella. Let me make one point clear about Pakistans nuclear capability: that capability was established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battlefield. What we have, our capabilities, will absolutely be available under this pact, Asif admitted in an interview with Geo News on Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The comments from the Pakistani defence minister came a day after the two nations signed a defence pact that declares that an attack on one country will be considered as an attack on both. Asif described the collaboration as an umbrella arrangement, which has been offered to one another by both sides. If there is aggression against either party - from any side - it will be jointly defended, and the aggression will be met with a response. However, Asif made it clear that Pakistan will remain an abiding nuclear power and his countrys nuclear installations were open for inspections. All our nuclear installations are open to inspections. We get certificates for our facilities. We are an abiding nuclear power and dont violate anything, he said. Is Pakistan planning to counter Israeli aggression in West Asia? It is pertinent to note that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have had strong military ties for decades. However, the recent defence pact between the two nations is coming amid Israels aggression in West Asia, with its latest strikes on Qatar. Israel, despite being a nuclear power, has not opened its facilities to anyone. All Western nations know that. Many decades ago, Israel retaliated and questioned why its nuclear inspections were being done, the Defence Minister told Geo News. Earlier this week, Asif told Reuters that the defence pact could be extended to cover other Gulf nations and made it clear that Islamabad had no intention of using the deal for any aggression. We have no intention of using this pact for any aggression. But if the parties are threatened, then obviously this arrangement will become operative, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At that time, the Pakistani defence minister also stressed that nuclear weapons were not on the radar of the pact. Meanwhile, Israel has not commented on the defence pact between the two nations. Pakistan have been an ardent critic of Israels treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza. However, it has never been directly involved in any conflict with the Jewish nations. We have not named any country whose attack would automatically trigger a retaliatory response. Neither has Saudi Arabia named any country, nor have we, Asif said in the interview. When asked if other nations could join the pact, the minister added: I can say the door is not closed to others. Similar sentiments were also echoed by Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. It is premature to say anything, but after this development, other countries have also expressed a desire for similar arrangements, Dar told reporters in London in televised remarks. Such things follow due process. Even with Saudi Arabia, it took several months to finalise," he furthered. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A deal for the Chinese parent company of popular video-sharing app TikTok to sell its US operations would see the creation of a board dominated by Americans, the White House said Saturday. (FILES) A photo taken on April 10, 2025 shows the Chinese social networking service TikTok's logo on a smartphone screen (L) and US' and China flags combo illustration on a laptop screen in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. Image- AFP A prospective agreement between Washington and Beijing on TikToks US operations will see Americans holding six of the seven seats on the board overseeing the app in the country, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Saturday. There will be seven seats on the board that controls the app in the United States, and six of those seats will be Americans, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News. She said a deal could be signed in the coming days." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The move is part of the US governments effort to separate TikToks American operations from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, over national security concerns. Congress, under President Joe Biden, had passed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its US operations or face a ban on the app. US policymakers have long voiced concerns that China could exploit TikTok to gather data on Americans or influence content on the platform. Despite these warnings, President Donald Trump leveraged TikTok to mobilise young voters during his 2024 campaign, which helped him secure a successful reelection. The upcoming agreement is expected to resolve ongoing tensions over the apps ownership structure while addressing Washingtons security priorities. The Republican president has repeatedly pushed off implementation of the ban while a deal has been sought. Investors reportedly being eyed to take over the app include Oracle, the tech firm owned by Larry Ellison, one of the worlds richest people and a major Trump supporter. Leavitt seemed to confirm Oracles participation. The data and privacy will be led by one of Americas greatest tech companies, Oracle, and the algorithm will also be controlled by America as well, she told Fox News. So all of those details have already been agreed upon. Now we just need this deal to be signed." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the matter in a phone call on Friday. Trump said that Xi approved the deal during the phone call but then said, We have to get it signed. China did not confirm any agreement. Were going to have a very, very tight control, Trump said. Theres tremendous value with TikTok, and Im a little prejudiced because I frankly did so well on it." The Wall Street Journal, quoting sources familiar with the talks, reported that the US government could receive a multi-billion-dollar fee from investors as part of the deal. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Donald Trumps China-linked sanctions plan could weaken pressure on Russia, urging swift punitive measures as Moscow escalates strikes on Ukraine. The Ukrainian air defence fires at Russian drones above Kyiv during overnight during mass drone and missile strikes on Ukraine on September 20, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Image- AFP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that US hesitation on new sanctions against Moscow risks undermining efforts to end the war, voicing particular concern over President Donald Trumps plan to tie Russia penalties to tariffs on China. Speaking in Kyiv ahead of next weeks United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he is due to meet Trump, Zelenskyy said allies should not waste time in confronting the Kremlin. If the war continues and there are no moves towards peace we expect sanctions, he told reporters, adding that punitive measures should follow if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses direct talks or rejects a ceasefire. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has promised major sanctions against Moscow but conditioned them on Europe halting oil purchases from Russia and on Nato backing US tariffs on China, a key Russian trade partner. The proposal has raised alarms in Kyiv. In remarks from his presidential office, Zelenskyy said linking sanctions to wider geopolitical bargaining risks diluting pressure on the Kremlin. President Trump expects strong action from Europe. I think we are wasting a lot of time if sanctions are not imposed or some steps are not taken, that we very much expect from him [Trump], he said, as reported by Politico. Zelenskyys comments came after Russia launched one of its heaviest aerial assaults in months, firing 40 missiles and some 580 drones in overnight strikes. At least three people were killed and dozens injured, he said Saturday. In Dnipro, a missile with cluster munitions directly struck an apartment building, the president wrote on social media, sharing images of blazing cars, a damaged high-rise and rescue workers pulling civilians from the rubble. Regional governor Sergiy Lysak confirmed one person had died and 30 others were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraine also mounted a retaliatory strike that killed four people in Russias Samara region, according to local governor Dmitry Azarov, one of the deadliest cross-border attacks claimed by Kyiv since the invasion began in 2022. Efforts to arrange direct talks have stalled, with Moscow dismissing the prospect of a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting. We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire, Zelenskyy said in comments released by the Ukrainian presidency. We are ready for a meeting with Putin. I have spoken about this. Both bilateral and trilateral. He is not ready. Western diplomats told NBC News that Zelenskyys frustration reflects broader concern in Kyiv that Washingtons shifting strategy, especially Trumps bid to fold China into the sanctions calculus, could leave Ukraine exposed as the war grinds on. With inputs from agencies Israeli bombardment over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas of the strip, displaced around 90% of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine. Israeli airstrikes overnight on Gaza City killed at least 14 people, health officials in the enclave said on Friday, as the military intensified its campaign and called on residents to evacuate. The escalation coincides with mounting international frustration over the war. Several Western nations are preparing to formally recognise Palestinian statehood during the United Nations General Assembly next week. Portugal announced that it will officially extend recognition on Sunday, following through on an earlier pledge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other countries, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium and Luxembourg, are also expected to move ahead with recognition in the coming days. Israel launched a new wave of operations this week, declaring its aim to dismantle Hamas military infrastructure. The military has not set a timeline for the offensive, though indications suggest it may last for months. The conflict, now in its 23rd month, has left a devastating toll. More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities, while nearly 90% of Gazas population has been displaced. Large parts of the territory lie in ruins, with humanitarian agencies warning of famine in Gaza City. Dr. Rami Mhanna, the managing director of Shifa Hospital, where some of the bodies were brought, said the dead included six people from the same family after a strike hit their home early Saturday morning. They were relatives of the hospitals director, Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, he said. The Palestinian Red Crescent said five other people were killed in another strike close to Shawa Square. Israels military didnt immediately respond to questions about the strikes. In recent days, Israel has been urging hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City to move south to what it calls a humanitarian zone. Palestinians have streamed out of the city some by car, others on foot. Israel opened another corridor south of Gaza City for two days this week to allow more people to evacuate. But many Palestinians in the famine-stricken city are unwilling to be uprooted again, too weak to leave or unable to afford the cost of moving. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Aid groups have warned that forcing thousands of people to evacuate will exacerbate the dire humanitarian crisis. They are urging for a ceasefire so aid can reach those who need it. On Friday, UNICEF said lifesaving therapeutic food meant for thousands of children in Gaza was stolen from four of its trucks. The statement said armed individuals approached the trucks outside their compound in Gaza City, the drivers were held at gunpoint while the food was taken. They were intended to treat malnourished children in Gaza City where famine is declared it was a life-saving shipment amid the severe restrictions on aid delivery to Gaza City, said Ammar Ammar, a spokesperson for UNICEF. In a statement Friday, Israels army blamed Hamas for stealing the food. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid and using it to fund its military activities, without providing evidence. The U.N. says there are mechanisms in place that prevent any significant diversion of aid. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The death count in Gaza has climbed over 65,100, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that triggered the war. The ministry does not say how many of the dead were civilians or militants. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the U.N. and many independent experts. Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in the 2023 attack, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive. With inputs from agencies Scientists have uncovered a vast freshwater aquifer beneath the Atlantic that could help ease the global water crisis if tapped sustainably A surfer looks at waves during Hurricane Erin, which is expected to trigger a dangerous storm surge and tropical storm conditions along the East Coast, on the Atlantic Ocean in Long Beach, New York, US on August 21, 2025. Reuters About 71 per cent of the earths surface is occupied by water. Yet, the world faces drinking water crisis. Most of the surface water is contained in the oceans, and science has struggled to come up with a solution to convert the salty seawater into clean drinking water for the the billions of people. But now researchers have struck a goldmine of clean water reserve, and ironically, that reserve lies beneath the ocean floor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Researchers have found that a vast freshwater aquifer lies beneath the Atlantic Ocean off the northeastern United States, a discovery that could reshape conversations around global water security. Reports say that the team of scientists drilled more than 1,000 feet below the seafloor and confirmed the presence of water far less saline than seawater, a level approaching what international agencies classify as drinkable. The existence of offshore freshwater beneath the ocean floor has been suspected for decades. In the 1960s and 1970s, companies searching for oil and gas stumbled upon pockets of fresh water, but those anomalies were not systematically investigated. In 2019, scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Columbia University used electromagnetic imaging to map what seemed to be a massive body of fresh water stretching from Massachusetts to New Jersey, possibly even further. That early mapping suggested it might be the largest formation of its kind known anywhere in the world. A global thirst for solutions The discovery comes at a time when water scarcity is worsening across continents. The Earth journal reported that global demand for fresh water is projected to exceed supply by 40 per cent within the coming years. Coastal aquiferson which hundreds of millions dependare under severe stress due to over-extraction and contamination from rising seas. As Cape Towns brush with Day Zero in 2018 demonstrated, even modern cities are vulnerable to running dry. Against this backdrop, scientists are looking to unconventional sources. Undersea aquifers, once dismissed as inaccessible, are now being studied as possible lifelines for coastal populations. Nearly half of the worlds people live within 60 miles of a coastline, meaning offshore resources could one day play a significant role in water security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Expedition 501: Drilling into mystery To move from speculation to evidence, an international team launched Expedition 501 in May 2023. The project, backed by the US National Science Foundation and European research institutions, set out from Connecticut aboard a specialised liftboat known as Robert. This vessel, usually used for oil and wind projects, was refitted as a floating geology lab. For three months, scientists drilled as deep as 400 metres into the seabed, extracting thousands of sediment cores and nearly 50,000 liters of water samples. According to geophysics professor Brandon Dugan of the Colorado School of Mines, the expeditions aim was to answer fundamental questions: how old the water is, whether it is being replenished and where it originated. Dugan noted that results may reveal whether the aquifer is a finite fossil reserve or an actively recharging system, with implications for its long-term viability. How did freshwater get there? The origins of the undersea aquifer remain under investigation. Holly Michael, a University of Delaware scientist involved in the drilling, explained that one hypothesis suggests the water seeped underground thousands of years ago, when sea levels were lower and parts of the continental shelf were exposed as dry land. Another theory is that the aquifer may be partially recharged today by modern rainfall and terrestrial groundwater slowly migrating offshore. The truth may be a mixture of both. According to Earth, if the aquifer largely contains meltwater from the last Ice Age, then it is essentially non-renewable and must be treated as a fossil resource. If it is still connected to coastal aquifers, then pumping from offshore could affect hydrology onshore, potentially worsening saltwater intrusion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A reservoir vast enough for cities Early assessments suggest the aquifer is enormous. Eric Attias of the University of Texas at Austin, who was not part of the expedition, told CNN that the reservoir might contain enough freshwater to supply a metropolis the size of New York City for centuries. That prospect has raised hopes that offshore aquifers could relieve pressure on stressed groundwater supplies in coastal regions worldwide. Previous surveys had hinted at this potential. A 2015 electromagnetic imaging study suggested that the aquifer beneath the US Atlantic margin might rival the Ogallala Aquifer in the Great Plains, one of the largest known groundwater reserves on land, Earth reported. The drilling campaign has now confirmed those hints with physical samples. Hurdles and risks Despite the promise, experts caution against over-optimism. Michael emphasised that extracting water from offshore aquifers will be energy-intensive and expensive. Water is heavy and transporting it to shore would require major infrastructure. Some researchers suggested that renewable energy such as offshore wind might help offset the energy cost. Technical challenges also loom large. Engineers would need to ensure that pumping does not draw saltwater into the fresh reservoir or collapse the sediments around the wells. There are also risks of cross-contamination between offshore and onshore aquifers if they are hydraulically connected. Ecologists warn that altering underground pressure systems could affect coastal habitats and springs. Legal and political questions Even if the technology matures, thorny governance issues remain unresolved. The aquifer lies beneath federal waters, raising questions about who would own and manage the water and how it would be distributed among states and municipalities. Policymakers would need to determine how indigenous communities, fishing industries and coastal populations fit into the decision-making process. Funding, regulation and environmental safeguards would all have to be negotiated. A 10-year horizon Despite these hurdles, researchers remain cautiously hopeful. Dugan estimated that it could take around a decade before offshore aquifers could realistically be tapped as a municipal resource. The team is currently conducting lab tests to determine the waters microbial content, isotopic age and geochemical signatures. These results, expected within months, will clarify whether the aquifer is a fossil relic or a living, recharging system. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Scientists stress that even if offshore aquifers prove viable, they should not replace efforts to protect and conserve existing freshwater supplies on land. Michael remarked that safeguarding terrestrial aquifers remains the most effective strategy, but exploring alternative options like undersea reserves could provide a critical backup in an era of climate stress. A global potential The Atlantic aquifer may be just the beginning. Evidence suggests that similar offshore freshwater reserves exist near South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Canada and Hawaii. If confirmed, these hidden resources could form a global network of emergency supplies. According to Dugan, lessons learned from the US northeast coast could help scientists evaluate offshore reservoirs on every continent. Water, water everywhere? The irony of using oil-field technology to search for drinking water is not lost on the scientists involved. The same drilling rigs once devoted to hydrocarbons are now probing for one of humanitys most basic needs. As Earth described, the expedition represents both a continuation of decades of scattered clues and a response to a very modern urgency: a world where fresh water is running short even as oceans surround us. Whether these undersea aquifers become a cornerstone of water security or remain scientific curiosities will depend on what the next rounds of testing reveal. For now, the samples pulled from beneath the Atlantic stand as both evidence and promisea submerged storehouse that could one day help quench a thirsty planet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, Estonia said, triggering complaints of a dangerous new provocation from the EU and NATO but a denial from Moscow. This September 19, 2025 Hand Out image released by the Swedish Airforce shows a Russian MIG-31 fighter jet flying above the Baltic sea after violating Estonian air space. AFP Three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, Estonia said, triggering complaints of a dangerous new provocation from the EU and NATO but a denial from Moscow. Italian F-35 fighters attached to NATOs air defence support mission in the Baltic states were scrambled to intercept the Russian jets and warn them off, Estonian and Italian officials said, with alliance chief Mark Rutte praising the quick and decisive response. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sweden and Finland also scrambled rapid reaction aircraft, a spokesman for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) told reporters. Estonia immediately called for urgent talks with NATO allies, less than two weeks after Poland did the same after claiming an incursion by a wave of Russian drones. The military alliance told AFP in Brussels that the talks could take place at the start of next week. The alleged Russian incursion came with tensions high on NATOs eastern border, after Warsaw last week complained that around 20 Russian drones overflew its territory though the Kremlin denied targeting Poland. Three Russian fighter MiG-31 entered Estonian airspace in the Vaindloo Island area without permission, and remained there for approximately 12 minutes, the Estonian defence forces said. The fighter jets did not have flight plans, and their transponders were switched off. At the time of the airspace violation, the fighter jets did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart called the event yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATOs ability to respond. In response, Russias defence ministry said the MiGs were on a scheduled flight from Karelia, on the border with Finland, to an airfield in its Kaliningrad exclave, which is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the flight, the Russian aircraft did not deviate from the agreed-upon route and did not violate Estonian airspace, a statement read, adding that the flight was over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, more than three kilometres from the island of Vaindloo. No accident Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michals announcement to request NATO Article 4 consultations over the unacceptable violation is the second time in under two weeks that a member country has invoked the clause. Article 4 states that a NATO member can convene urgent talks when it feels its territorial integrity, political independence or security are at risk. Warsaw invoked Article 4 after it shot down what it said were Russian drones on September 9. Romania complained of a similar incursion days later. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whose country is at war with Russia on Friday accused Russia of deliberately expanding its destabilising activity with the series of airspace violations in Poland, Romania and Estonia. As threats escalate, so too will our pressure, added European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who earlier in the day had presented for EU member state approval a 19th package of sanctions targeting Moscow over the Ukraine war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Italy assumed command of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission Operation Baltic Eagle III on August 1, with the Italian air forces F-35 aircraft taking responsibility for surveillance of Baltic airspace. Russia has often tested Western air defences as its invasion of Ukraine grinds on, but Estonia complained that the sorties have become more provocative in recent months. Russia has already violated Estonias airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But todays incursion is unprecedentedly brazen, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. Readiness tested Russias increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure, he said. Tsahkna said Russias charge daffaires in Estonia had been summoned to the foreign ministry to receive a formal complaint. Earlier this month, Estonia complained that a Russian MI-8 helicopter had violated its airspace, also near the island of Vaindloo. According to the Estonian defence forces, the helicopter entered the countrys airspace for about four minutes without making contact with air traffic control. It also did not have a flight plan, its transponder was turned off and it did not communicate with Estonian air traffic control. Similar incidents occurred on May 13 and June 22. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, Poland and its Italian and Dutch NATO allies scrambled jets to intercept what it said was around 20 Russian drones prowling its airspace. Some of them were shot down. The UK, Germany and France announced plans to reinforce joint air patrols with more jets based on NATOs eastern flank. US President Donald Trump warned of big trouble when asked about Russias latest incursion into Estonian airspace, a Nato member nation. US President Donald Trump warned of big trouble when asked about Russias latest incursion into Estonian airspace, a Nato member nation. On Friday, Trump gave his take on the matter and told reporters that he will soon be briefed by aides on the reported incursion. I dont love it, he said, adding, I dont like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but Ill let you know later, he averred. Trumps remarks on the matter came hours after three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Estonian Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident and noted that the aircraft remained in the eastern European nation for 12 minutes. Estonia soon summoned a Russian diplomat to protest against the incident. What makes the matter concerning is the fact that the latest Russian incursion came a week after Nato planes downed Russian drones over Poland and heightened fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over. Apart from this, Romania, another Nato member state, also reported Russian infiltration. Russian incursion rattles Europe and Nato Soon after the incident, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Russia violated Estonian airspace four times this year, but todays incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen. Meanwhile, the Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur also said the government had decided to start consultations among the allies under Natos Article 4. In light of this, the North Atlantic Council, Natos principal political decision-making body, is due to convene a meeting early next week to discuss the incident in more detail, Nato spokesperson Allison Hart told reporters on Friday. The recent developments have increasingly rattled European governments as US-led efforts to stop the war in Ukraine have come to nothing. Soon after the incident was reported, the European Unions foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Fridays incursion an extremely dangerous provocation that further escalates tensions in the region. On our side, we see that we must show no weakness because weakness is something that invites Russia to do more, she said. They are increasingly more dangerous not only to Ukraine, but also to all the countries around Russia. Throughout the war, Estonia, along with fellow Baltic nations, Lithuania and Latvia and neighbouring Poland, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India on Saturday said it is examining Donald Trumps move to raise H-1B visa fees to USD 100,000 annually, warning the step could have humanitarian consequences for families. India on Saturday raised concerns over Donald Trumps decision to hike H-1B visa fees to USD 100,000 annually, warning the move could disrupt families. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the implications of the measure are being studied and expressed hope that US authorities would address the issue. The MEA said, The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program. It further warned the step is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our statement regarding restrictions to the US H1B visa program https://t.co/fkOjHIxEu9 pic.twitter.com/1rM9W3GYqC Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 20, 2025 Trump signed the proclamation on Friday, calling the H-1B visa program a national security threat. He defended the hike, saying, We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that thats whats going to happen. The ministry also highlighted that skilled mobility has greatly benefited both nations, boosting innovation, economic growth and people-to-people ties. Industry in both India and the US has a stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward, it noted. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the visa program is one of the most abused in the US, adding, This will ensure that the people theyre bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that theyre not replaceable by American workers. The H-1B visa, widely used by Indian tech professionals, is valid for three years and can be extended once. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the US on September 22 to continue trade talks with the Trump administration, aiming to resolve issues around the 50 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian goods. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the United States on Monday, September 22, to continue revived trade talks with the Trump administration amid high tariffs, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Saturday. The visit follows a New Delhi meeting earlier this week where a US delegation, led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, held discussions with Indian officials. Goyal will lead a delegation to advance talks aimed at an early, mutually beneficial trade agreement, focusing on resolving issues around the 50% tariffs imposed by the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A team from the United States Trade Representative, led by Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch, had meetings at the Ministry of Commerce on September 16 to take forward the ongoing negotiations for a trade deal with the US. The discussions were positive and forward-looking, covering various aspects of the trade deal. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial agreement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday. The talks resume after stalling last month when US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods over Indias continued purchase of Russian oil. Goyal had earlier visited Washington in May and held discussions with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The Delhi talks with the US team were the first high-level engagement after the 50 per cent tariff increase. The Gen Z group on Saturday demanded the arrest of deposed prime minister K P Sharma Oli and then home minister Ramesh Lekhak over their alleged role in a shootout that killed 19 people during the anti-government protests on September 8. The youth-led Gen Z group called for the immediate arrest of ousted Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Saturday, citing their alleged responsibility in a fatal shootout during anti-government protests on September 8. Speaking at a press briefing at Sambad Dabali, Dr Nicholas Bhushal, an adviser to the Gen Z movement, urged authorities to also detain Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabi Rijal, saying all three were directly accountable for the Naya Baneshwor incident, where 19 activists lost their lives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The group further demanded the establishment of a high-level commission to probe the wealth of senior political leaders and officials dating back to 1990. Separately, Gen Z activists staged a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala near the Singhdurbar Secretariat, retracing the route of their September 8 protest rally. The recent protests, sparked by accusations of corruption and a short-lived social media ban, left at least 72 people dead, including three police officers, highlighting the intensity of the unrest. On Friday, the former prime minister denied that he had given any shooting orders during the Gen Z demonstrations, saying bullets were fired at protesters from automatic guns that the police did not possess and called for a probe into the matter. In his first public statement since his ouster, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) chairman blamed the infiltrators for the violence during the peaceful protest by Gen-Z. The government didnt order to shoot at the demonstrators, 73-year-old Oli said in a message issued on the occasion of Constitution Day. The bullets were fired at the protesters from automatic guns, which were not possessed by the police personnel, and this must be investigated, Oli said. Oli quit on September 9 shortly after hundreds of agitators entered his office demanding his resignation. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut on Saturday said that the apex court had not issued an order to ban social media sites. The Supreme Court had not ordered the government to shut down social media sites, CJ Raut said while talking to the media in Kathmandu. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The apex court had urged the government to regularise the social media sites through formulating necessary laws which is a normal international practice, he said. The Oli-led government had banned 26 social media sites citing the Supreme Courts order, which sparked protests from the Gen Z group on September 8. The ban on social media was lifted on the night of September 8. On September 12, former chief justice Sushila Karki took oath as Nepals first woman prime minister to lead an interim government. With inputs from agencies The meeting between the two NSAs happened on September 18 in New Delhi. The two sides discussed matters that were part of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit earlier this year National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his Canadian counterpart Nathalie G. Drouin, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday, as tensions between the two countries thaw after a year of diplomatic downfall. The meeting between the two NSAs happened on September 18 in New Delhi. The two sides discussed matters that were part of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit earlier this year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What was discussed? In a significant step toward rebuilding trust and deepening ties, both sides acknowledged growing momentum for enhanced cooperation at the highest political levels. During a series of productive discussions, the two National Security Advisers explored ways to advance the bilateral relationship, with a focus on counterterrorism, tackling transnational organised crime, and expanding intelligence-sharing efforts. They agreed to bolster security cooperation and strengthen existing engagement mechanisms. The talks also included a comprehensive exchange of views on key regional and global developments, as well as deliberations on priority areas for future collaboration. India-Canada ties India and Canada, under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, sparred over the Khalistani issue, with matters going so sour that both countries pulled out their respective diplomats from each others countries. However, the situation looks better now, after PM Carney made efforts to reset ties with New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar echoed the growing optimism around the talks, stating that things are moving in the right direction and suggesting that high-level visits and the creation of joint security mechanisms could soon be back on the agenda. Earlier this year, Carney held a phone conversation with PM Modi, reaffirming the longstanding relationship between Canada and India. The two leaders discussed the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, including deep people-to-people ties and significant commercial links. Importantly, there was agreement to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns, Prime Minister of Canadas office said in a statement. Following this phone call, the two leaders met during the G7 Summit in Canadas Kananaskis, Alberta. China on Saturday restated its clear position on the TikTok issue in the US, urging Washington to ensure an open and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese firms, even as Donald Trump and Xi Jinpings latest phone call produced no breakthrough on the apps future. China on Saturday reiterated its stance on the TikTok issue in the US, saying its position is clear and urging Washington to provide an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, Xinhua reported. The Ministry of Commerce said Beijing respects the will of enterprises and supports business negotiations carried out in line with market rules to reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and balance interests of all parties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It added, China hopes the US will move in the same direction and fully honor its commitments, provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, including TikTok, to continue operating in the United States, and promote stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations. The statement came after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first phone call in three months on Friday. Trump claimed progress on trade, fentanyl and TikTok, but no agreement on the apps future was announced. TikTok, owned by ByteDance, faces a looming US ban unless it divests its Chinese ownership under a law upheld by the Supreme Court. Experts told Al Jazeera that while no breakthrough was reached, the fact that Xi agreed to the call after months of refusing was seen as a sign of easing tensions. Larger issues, including US access to rare earths, Chinas energy ties with Russia, and semiconductor restrictions, are expected to be addressed when the two leaders meet in person. PM Modi Canada Visit LIVE Updates: The summit takes place amid growing geopolitical challenges, including the conflict in the Middle East and a trade war driven by US President Donald Trumps tariff policies Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the significance of India-Canada relations during his bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The G7 must abandon its one-sided rhetoric and address the real source of escalation: Israels AGGRESSION. The path to regional stability requires an immediate end to Israels aggression and accountability for its violations of international law. The UNSC and its Member States must not defeat the very purpose of the United Nations. The UNSC members should, shall and must ACT NOW in furtherance of the Councils primary responsibility and stop the aggressor from committing more atrocities. Iran is defending itself against a cruel aggression. Does Iran really have any other choice? Hunderds of innocent people have been killed, our public and state facilities and peoples homes are brutally demolished and hospitals & health centers are targetted. In a post on X, he wrote, Israel has launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran and attacked Irans nuclear sites in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and in defiance of prohibition of use/threat of force against peaceful nuclear facilities. Irans foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on Tuesday bashed the G7 Leaders statement, saying they had revealingly disregarded Israels blatant aggression against Iran, and the unlawful attacks on our peaceful nuclear infrastructure as well as indiscriminate targeting of residential areas and killing of our citizens. Speaking to reporters on his way back from the G7 Summit in Canada, Trump maintained ambiguity about whether he was leaving to help with Israel-Iran ceasefire. When asked what is better than a ceasefire, as he had said in a Truth Social post a while back, Trump said, an end, a real end, not a ceasefire. An end. Trumps early departure from the G7 Summit has thrown cold water on the event. There is some mystery surrounding the reason Trump left so suddenly. His plan must be viewed in the context that Trump, who had spoken of bringing Russia back into the grouping, has left the G7 Summit early for reasons not yet made public. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to urge the G7 leaders to provide more backing for the war against Russia. He is due to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the morning before attending a G7 working breakfast on A strong and sovereign Ukraine, accompanied by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He said the G7 had lost practical significance for Russia, given the state of world affairs. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: We agree with President Trump: it was a big mistake then to exclude Russia from the G8 format. This was a big mistake, Trump said, adding he believed Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had President Vladimir Putin not been ejected from the leaders club. He said Putin basically doesnt even speak to the people that threw him out, and I agree with him. Trump said at a Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday that the G8 had been wrong to kick out Russia in 2014 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump was right to assert that it had been a big mistake to expel Russia from the Group of Eight in 2014, but that the G7 was no longer significant for Russia and looked rather useless now. We should take this moment to increase economic pressure and show President (Vladimir) Putin it is in his and Russias interests to demonstrate he is serious about peace, Starmer is expected to say. Britain has already sanctioned over 2,300 individuals, entities and ships as part of sanctions against Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He will say he wants to work with all of our G7 partners to squeeze Russias energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war, according to advance excerpts of his remarks released by his office. Starmer is expected to set out details of the sanctions later on Tuesday from a G7 summit in Canada. A notice posted on the government website said Britains latest sanctions targeted four individuals, six entities and 20 ships, including oil tankers, marine-related companies, and suppliers of goods to Russia particularly electronics. Britain on Tuesday announced further sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer will describe as part of a coordinated move by the Group of Seven (G7) countries. At a G7 summit in Canada on Monday, leaders including US President Donald Trump had called for de-escalation of the conflict while stressing Israel had the right to defend itself. The G7 must give up its one-sided rhetoric and tackle the real source of the escalation Israels aggression, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said. Iran accused the Group of Seven nations on Tuesday of siding with Israel in its call for de-escalation in their intensifying conflict, now in its fifth day. In an interview with ANI, Brodie expressed hope for positive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney. Further, the Canadian MLA has expressed optimism about ties between the two countries. She highlighted Indias value as a democratic nation with a vast, educated, and motivated population, adding, Canada could do nothing but benefit from a positive relationship with India. Canadian lawyer and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena in British Columbia, Dallas Brodie, has welcomed PM Narendra Modis G7 Summit invite, calling it a chance to improve Canada-India ties. Britain in return has agreed to open its markets to US beef, other farm goods and ethanol. The agreement will slash tariffs on British carmakers by the end of June and remove them completely on British aerospace imports. US President Donald Trump signed off on the first truce in his trade offensive on Monday, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. Britains auto sector on Tuesday welcomed news that the United States and UK have agreed to implement key parts of their tariff-cutting trade deal, as levies on steel remain. Zelenskyy is scheduled to participate in a G7 leaders breakfast session on ending Russias invasion, while Modi is expected to meet Carney later in the day after attending talks on energy sovereignty with leaders from Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico. U.S. President Donald Trump departed the summit early on Monday, citing rising tensions in the Middle East, and will miss todays discussions, which were expected to focus on foreign policy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to hold separate bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today during the final day of the G7 summit in Alberta. The meeting with Trump would have been her first face-to-face discussion since Sheinbaum took power last year. The post said Sheinbaum will also meet with the leaders from Germany, India and the European Union. Mexicos Foreign Relations office said on X that Sheinbaum will have an important conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has decided to stay at the G7 summit in Canada despite her meeting with Trump being canceled. I assume that the attacks of the last few days have already weakened the mullah regime considerably and that it is unlikely to return to its former strength, making the future of the country uncertain, Merz said in an interview with Germanys Welt TV at the G7 summit in Canada. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said Israels attacks on Iran could lead to the demise of the Islamic republics leadership. Carney vowed total solidarity with Ukraine as he also unveiled further sanctions on Russia in an effort to impose maximum pressure on President Vladimir Putin over the war. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday announced Can$2 billion ($1.47bn) of military support including drones and helicopters for Ukraine as he hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky at a G7 summit. Our families had a very difficult night. One of the biggest attacks from the very beginning of the war, Zelenskyy said as he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a Group of Seven summit in Alberta. Its a big tragedy for us and we need support from our allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that a major Russian attack on Kyiv showed the need for increased support from his countrys allies. #G7 leaders stand united in front of the Canadian Rockies, a prominent landmark in the Kananaskis region and the perfect backdrop for this hallmark moment. View the full photo gallery: https://t.co/YVbgjGq7KP #G7Kananaskis2025 pic.twitter.com/hqTUf8dWGP Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, from left, Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Frances President Emmanuel Macron, Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Donald Trump, Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and in foreground left, European Council President Antonio Costa and foreground right, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, participate in a session of the G7 Summit, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) In a separate interview with Welt TV, Merz also suggested Israels attacks on Iran could lead to the demise of the Islamic republics leadership. We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world, he said. This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us, Merz said in an interview with the ZDF broadcaster. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday expressed strong support for Israel in its military campaign against Iran as he spoke with German media on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza. We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability. We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians. Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The statement reads: We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel. Leaders of the Group of Seven countries meeting in Canada signed a joint statement calling for de-escalation of fighting between Israel and Iran while reaffirming that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear bomb. The US president, who has had a volatile relationship with Zelenskyy and had been due to meet him, flew out of the summit in the Canadian Rockies late Monday to return to Washington to focus on the Israel-Iran conflict. Group of Seven powers, holding talks Tuesday at a summit that Donald Trump left early, promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fresh support as Russia stepped up attacks on its neighbor. This visit marks Prime Minister Modis first significant multilateral engagement since beginning his third term in office earlier this month. Although India is not a member of the G-7, it has consistently participated in Outreach Summits since 2003. This years summit is being hosted by Canada. Will be meeting various leaders at the summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South, Modi said in a statement ahead of the meetings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Tuesday to attend the G-7 Outreach Summit, where he stated that India would highlight the concerns and priorities of the Global South. During the summit, he is expected to hold four bilateral meetings with the leaders of Germany, Canada, Ukraine, and Italy. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump left the summit early to return to Washington amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Before his departure, Trump and Carney agreed to work toward a new trade deal within 30 days. The final day of the G7 Summit saw the arrival of leaders from non-member nations including Ukraine, India, and Mexico for a series of bilateral meetings. #WATCH | Canadian PM Mark Carney receives Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives at the venue of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta (Source: ANI/DD) #PMModiAtG7 pic.twitter.com/RziMfFvAcT Canadian PM Mark Carney receives Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives at the venue of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta (Source: ANI/DD) #PMModiAtG7 pic.twitter.com/RsDMLfTEmo Canada | Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a pull-aside meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta PM Modi also held a pull-aside meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta. This is Modis first visit to Canada in a decade. Earlier, Modi had said he would be discussing important global issues and emphasise the priorities of the Global South as he meets world leaders at the G7 Summit. Both sides discussed avenues to further deepen India-Mexico cooperation in trade, pharmaceuticals, S&T, digital innovation and shared perspectives on key global & regional issues, including priorities of the Global South, he added. Boosting India-Mexico warm & historical ties. PM @narendramodi met President Dr @Claudiashein of Mexico, on the sidelines of 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X. This was the first meeting between the two leaders. He also met with the Mexican president on the sidelines of the summit and shared perspectives on key global and regional issues, including priorities of the Global South. Prime Minister Modi, who is here to attend the G7 Summit, held a pull-aside with Lee Jae-myung, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on the sidelines of the G7 Summit here. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada (Source: ANI/DD) #PMModiAtG7 pic.twitter.com/8YMRvc8b7j Earlier in the day, Carney and the remaining five G7 leaders held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed leaders from non-G7 countries invited to the summit, including representatives from India, Brazil, South Korea, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, as well as officials from the World Bank and the United Nations. Canada is a great and sovereign nation and it will remain so. It is a friend of France and we are pleased about that, he added. French President Emmanuel Macron said that recent comments by U.S. President Trump referring to Canada as the 51st state were not discussed during G7 meetings. However, he noted that such remarks are concerning given their tone toward allies in the G7 and NATO. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders Summit on Tuesday. India and Canada have agreed to designate new high commissioners in a step toward restoring normal diplomatic services for citizens and businesses. Fully agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. Indias friendship with Italy will continue to get stronger, greatly benefitting our people! @GiorgiaMeloni https://t.co/LaYIIZn8Ry During the meeting, PM Modi expressed optimism about the deepening ties between the two nations and said the India-Italy partnership will continue to strengthen for mutual benefit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Its always a delight to interact with my friend, President Emmanuel Macron and exchange perspectives on a wide range of issues. India and France will keep working closely for the betterment of our planet. @EmmanuelMacron pic.twitter.com/9f1GrUlV7d India and France will keep working closely for the betterment of our planet, he wrote on X. Describing the interaction as a delight, PM Modi said the two countries will continue to work together for the betterment of the planet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. #WATCH | Kananaskis: During his meeting with Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, PM Narendra Modi says, "I am very grateful to you for inviting India to G7 and I am also fortunate that I have got this opportunity to visit Canada once again after 2015 and connect with the people of pic.twitter.com/hOsEAULoG8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described India-Canada relations as extremely important following his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. #PMModiAtG7 (Source: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/Z6dYAvORPJ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Outstanding conversations with two dear friends, President Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Lula of Brazil. We are unwavering in our commitment to speaking about issues that matter to the Global South. We are equally determined to do whatever it takes to build a better https://t.co/0ebf5FkPuy In a post on X, PM Modi emphasized their shared, unwavering commitment to addressing issues vital to the Global South and their determination to build a better future for coming generations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterized his recent meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as outstanding conversations with two dear friends. PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome in Croatia on historic first visit, interacts with Indian diaspora PM @narendramodi participated in the Outreach Session on Energy Security at the 51st #G7Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. In his address, PM highlighted the need to ensure energy security for all through a sustainable & green pathway and elaborated upon s global initiatives such pic.twitter.com/t73x0Qvpj5 Calling for attention to the concerns and priorities of the Global South, he noted that India took it as its responsibility to bring the voice of the Global South to the world stage, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X. In his address, Modi highlighted Indias key global initiatives the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Global Biofuels Alliance aimed at promoting clean energy and climate resilience. At the G7 Summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Outreach Session on energy security, where he stressed the importance of ensuring energy access for all through sustainable and green solutions. Strengthening India-Canada ties! PM @narendramodi had a fruitful meeting with PM @MarkJCarney of Canada on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. They agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas such as trade, energy, space, critical minerals, fertilisers and more. pic.twitter.com/jIOY09UEGn According to the Prime Ministers Office, both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in several key areas, including trade, energy, space, critical minerals, and fertilisers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a fruitful meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. PM @narendramodi concludes a very productive visit to Canada! Held fruitful dialogue on key issues in the global context on Energy Security, Technology and Innovation at the @G7 Summit. Met with several leaders & discussed bilateral ties. Next stop Croatia pic.twitter.com/X64TmjlUae PM Modi will now head to Croatia, where he will be taking part in high level engagements. PM @narendramodi concludes a very productive visit to Canada! Held fruitful dialogue on key issues in the global context on Energy Security, Technology and Innovation at the @G7 Summit. Met with several leaders & discussed bilateral ties, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his visit to Canada after participating in the G7 Summit, where he engaged in discussions on global issues such as energy security, technology, and innovation. This marked Modis first visit to Canada since the diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. The summit, set against the backdrop of rising global tensions including conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe provided India with an opportunity to reassert its role as a key global voice. Modi also held bilateral meetings with other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Discussions at the summit covered pressing global issues such as energy security, emerging technologies, and the intersection of AI and quantum innovation. In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Modi and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to designate new high commissioners, signaling a major thaw in relations following tensions under former PM Justin Trudeau. Modi described India-Canada relations as extremely important and held what he called a fruitful meeting with Carney, focusing on cooperation in trade, energy, space, fertilisers, and critical minerals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to Canada after attending the G7 Outreach Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where he held a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. Load More Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary, Canada, on Monday (16 June 2025) to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit, which is taking place against the backdrop of escalating conflicts between Israel and Iran, and Russia and Ukraine. At the summit, the Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues, Indias Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement from New Delhi. Modis visit follows a brief stop in Cyprus and marks his first to Canada since a period of diplomatic strain during former Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus time in office, who in September 2023 alleged Indian involvement in the June 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. With the election of new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, diplomatic relations have shown early signs of improvement. Carney has acknowledged Indias global standing and the importance of engagement. Indias foreign ministry said it views the summit as an opportunity to explore pathways to reset ties with Canada, noting that both countries are vibrant democracies. It also confirmed that Modi and Carney are expected to meet on the sidelines of the summit, which is being held in Kananaskis, Alberta. In recent months, security officials from both nations have resumed dialogue, and discussions are underway regarding the appointment of new high commissioners. Also attending the summit will be Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside several other world leaders. For Modi, this will be his first multilateral engagement since the conclusion of Operation Sindoor, Indias anti-terror strikes in Pakistan in May. The summit takes place amid growing geopolitical challenges, including the conflict in the Middle East and a trade war driven by US President Donald Trumps tariff policies. Leaders are expected to address these concerns while discussing broader issues such as global stability, economic cooperation and technological advancement. With this announcement, Portugal has become a part of countries like Britain, Canada and France, which will give a Palestinian state recognition at the assembly, as Israel ramps up its ground offensive in Gaza Palestinians flee south via Salah al-Din Road, in central Gaza, on the third day of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on November 26, 2023. File Photo- AP Portugals Foreign Ministry has announced that it will recognise the Palestinian state on Sunday, ahead of the UN General Assembly session where the Israel-Hamas war will be in focus. With this announcement, Portugal has become a part of countries like Britain, Canada and France, which will give a Palestinian state recognition at the assembly, as Israel ramps up its ground offensive in Gaza. Lisbon had already announced in July that it intended to do so, given the extremely worrying evolution of the conflict, as well as the humanitarian crisis and Israels repeated threats to annex Palestinian land. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ministry of foreign affairs confirms that Portugal will recognise the State of Palestine the official declaration of recognition will be made on Sunday, September 21, a statement on the ministrys website said. Which other countries are part of the list? British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could recognise the Palestinian state as early as this weekend. Starmer delayed the announcement until after US President Donald Trumps visit over concerns that the issue could dominate their press conference on Thursday. Earlier this year, Starmer said the United Kingdom would recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly session in September if Israel did not take substantive actions to end the conflict in Gaza and improve the humanitarian crisis. In July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the country would officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, angering many Israeli leaders. The president stated that a formal announcement on this matter would be made at a United Nations General Assembly session. The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, Macron wrote. Ukraine issued a nationwide air alert, with officials reporting other strikes in the region around the capital Kyiv Rescuers conduct a search and rescue operation in and around a residential building heavily damaged during a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, Russia fired almost 600 drones and more than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles towards Ukraine. AFP file Russia fired 40 missiles and around 580 drones at Ukraine in a massive attack one of the largest in past weeks killing three people and wounding dozens, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday. Despite US-led attempts to broker peace, Russia has been shelling Ukraine with drones and missiles and Kyiv has blamed Moscow for deliberately stalling any peace efforts.In the overnight attacks, a missile with cluster munitions directly struck an apartment building in the eastern city of Dnipro, Zelensky said on social media. All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia. The enemy launched 40 missiles - cruise and ballistic - and about 580 drones of various types, Zelensky said. As of now, we know of dozens of people injured from the shelling, and, unfortunately, three people killed, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sergiy Lysak, the head of the military administration in the Dnipropetrovsk region, said the strikes killed one person and wounded 26, with one man in a serious condition. Vyacheslav Chaus from the regional administration in Chernigiv in northern Ukraine said a 62-year-old man died in a drone attack. Ukraine issued a nationwide air alert, with officials reporting other strikes in the region around the capital Kyiv. Around 20 residential buildings were damaged in the Khmelnytskyi region, local official Sergiy Tyurin said on Telegram, adding that one body was found during the extinguishing of a fire in one of the houses. Russian officials meanwhile said their forces had repelled massive Ukrainian attacks in the Volgograd and Rostov regions, while one person was wounded in the nearby region of Saratov. The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday its air defence alert systems intercepted and destroyed 149 Ukrainian drones overnight. Russian forces have been grinding across eastern Ukraine for months, trying to take control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Hopes of a truce have faded since US President Donald Trump held separate high-profile meetings with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukraines Volodomyr Zelensky last month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Friday, Estonia said three Russian air force planes violated its airspace, triggering fears in the EU and NATO of a dangerous new provocation from Moscow, which denied the allegation. The alleged Russian incursion came with tensions high on NATOs eastern border, after Warsaw last week complained that around 20 Russian drones overflew its territory though the Kremlin denied targeting Poland. The UK, Germany and France have announced plans to reinforce joint air patrols with more jets based on NATOs eastern flank. US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened Venezuela with incalculable consequences if it refuses to take back migrants it has forced into the United States, as tensions soar with Caracas. US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a stark warning to Venezuela, threatening incalculable repercussions if it fails to repatriate migrants it has allegedly sent to the United States. We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions forced into the United States of America, Trump said, adding in all-caps or the price you pay will be incalculable!" Tensions between the two countries have escalated after Venezuela accused the US of waging an undeclared war in the Caribbean, urging the United Nations to investigate American strikes that reportedly killed more than a dozen suspected drug traffickers at sea in recent weeks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The United States has increased its military presence in the region, deploying warships off Venezuelas coast alongside F-35 fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico as part of what it describes as an anti-drug operation. This represents the largest US naval deployment in the Caribbean in decades, raising concerns about potential attacks on Venezuelan territory. The legality of the strikes has been questioned, given that drug trafficking is not a capital offense under US law, and Washington has yet to provide concrete evidence confirming that the targeted vessels were engaged in illicit activities. With inputs from agencies Trump has reportedly paused $400 million in military aid to Taiwan, raising concerns he may be using support for the island as leverage in talks with China, according to the Washington Post. US President Donald Trump meets China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) US President Donald Trump has reportedly put on hold $400 million in military aid to Taiwan, sparking fears he may be using American support for the island as leverage in talks with China. According to the Washington Post, the pause which could still be reversed covered orders for lethal munitions and drones. A White House official told the paper the decision was not yet final. The report came just before Trumps phone call with Chinas Xi Jinping on Friday. Trump said the two leaders made productive progress on trade, fentanyl, and TikTok, and agreed to meet in Korea in October, with Trump visiting China next year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Analysts say the pause marks a sharp shift from Washingtons traditional approach to Taipei, which faces a constant threat from Beijing. Trump does not support sending weapons without payment, a preference also on display with Ukraine, the Post noted. Taiwans president Lai Ching-te responded Saturday: To avoid war and defend peace we must build defence capabilities and societal resilience through continued preparedness. During Trumps first term, arms sales to Taiwan topped $10 billion, but in his second term he has openly questioned the value of U.S. backing and pushed Taipei to pay more. The news of the pause unsettled Taiwans defence expo this week, though officials in Taipei stressed Washington has long supported Taiwan in strengthening its defence capabilities. William Yang of Crisis Group said Trump is likely putting Taiwan on the back burner while focusing on Beijing, warning China could exploit this gap. Trump on Friday signed an executive order on Friday that would impose a whopping $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The ruling is being seen as a major blow to the US tech industry US President Donald Trump, watched by (L-R) Vice President Mike Pence, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, head of the White House Trade Council Peter Navarro and senior advisor Jared Kushner, signs an executive order that places a hiring freeze on non-military federal workers in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, January 23, 2017. File Image/Reuters Indias former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Saturday said that US President Donald Trumps decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas will hurt Americas innovation while acting as a blessing in disguise for India. Trump on Friday signed an executive order on Friday that would impose a whopping $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The ruling is being seen as a major blow to the US tech industry, which relies heavily on foreign workers from India and China who use this visa to enter and work in the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a post on X, Kant wrote, Donald Trumps $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas will choke US innovation, and turbocharge Indias. By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon. Indias finest Doctors, engineers, scientists, innovators have an opportunity to contribute to Indias growth & progress towards #ViksitBharat. Americas loss will be Indias gain. Why does it matter? In just the first half of 2025, Amazon had more than 10,000 H-1B visas approved, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had more than 5,000 approvals each. The H-1B program in the United States offers 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees. Indians hold approximately 70 per cent of all H-1B visas, meaning over 200,000 Indian professionals could be directly affected by recent policy changes. Major Indian IT firms like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL, and Cognizant, which depend heavily on H-1B workers for their US client projects, are likely to face significant operational challenges. The impact extends to US Big Tech companies and financial institutions as well. Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Citi, and AT&T are among the largest H-1B employers and now face increased hiring costs and regulatory hurdles. Startups and research labs in the US may also find it harder to attract top-tier foreign talent due to the added financial and bureaucratic burden. According to immigration experts, the new policy could backfire by pushing companies to offshore more jobs overseas, rather than encouraging the hiring of American workers. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents make an arrest during an early morning operation in Park Ridge, Ill., Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. AP The US federal law enforcement agents on Friday used teargas and pepper balls to disperse a group of about 100 protesters, including two Democratic candidates of the US Congress, during clashes outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) building in Chicago. Protesters in the city attempted to block SUVs from entering and exiting the Ice facility, which has been notoriously active in the immigration crackdown imposed by US President Donald Trump. In the city of Chicago, the operation entailed the detention of presumed illegal immigrants, which is being dubbed Operation Midway Blitz. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amid the clashes, at least three protesters were arrested by the authorities as masked homeland security agents, dressed in riot gear, fired pepper balls at demonstrators from the rooftop of the Ice building. According to The Guardian, the facility in Chicago is also lined with razor wire, and its windows are boarded with plywood. Members of the US Congress also join the protests Among the protesters was Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive candidate for Illinoiss ninth congressional district, who had sat at an entrance to the facility, alongside dozens of other protesters, before teargas was launched into the crowd. Earlier in the morning, she was shoved to the ground by a masked agent as a group of vehicles entered the facility. While speaking to the reporters at the site of the protest, Abughazaleh described the incident as a violent abuse of power. In a later post on X, formerly known as Twitter, she added: Its still nothing compared to what theyre doing to immigrant communities. Videos of the incident were later shared by the Department of Homeland Security on its official account on X, with the caption: Individuals and groups impeding Ice operations are siding with vicious cartels, human traffickers, and violent criminals. Illinoiss lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, a frontrunner in the race for US Senate next year, was also present at the protest and left before the law enforcement officers deployed teargas. Protesters showed up today with handmade signs and cellphones. They were singing, chanting, praying, and linking arms to stand up for their neighbours and to speak out against the cruelty happening inside Ices Broadview facility and across Illinois, Stratton said in a statement. The fact that DHS responded with tear gas and by throwing protesters on the pavement tells you everything you need to know this isnt about safety. This is about fear, control, and the Trump administrations attempt to intimidate Illinoisans into silence. We will never be silent," she added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bushra Amiwala, another candidate for Illinoiss ninth congressional district, was also present when agents fired teargas. There was no justification for using such violence against peaceful demonstrators, she said. What happened in Broadview today is an affront to our democracy. The latest protest in the city came as immigration enforcement in Chicago ramped up after the city was targeted by the Trump administrations latest crackdown on Democratic cities. However, Trump has not yet sent the national guard to Chicago, as he has to Washington, DC and Los Angeles. But the city has seen a surge of Ice raids in several neighbourhoods. The president added that the US military had received intelligence that the boat was trafficking illicit narcotics and was en route to America via a known narco-trafficking passage This handout photo released by the US Defence Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) shows the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea on June 7, 2024. It is one of the warships deployed towards Venezuela for counternarcotics operations. AFP file US President Donald Trump has announced that the military has carried out another attack on a boat in the Caribbean, killing three people on board. He said that the vessel was allegedly carrying illicit narcotics. On my orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility, Trump said on Truth Social. The president added that the US military had received intelligence that the boat was trafficking illicit narcotics and was en route to America via a known narco-trafficking passage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps war against drugs The development comes amid the US presidents crackdown on drug supply, which has led to several attacks on international waters. Last week, the US struck another boat in international waters on suspicion of transporting illegal narcotics from Venezuela, killing three people. Last month, the US military conducted an attack on a boat, targeting the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and killing 11 people. The fresh attack also comes amid spiralling tensions in the Caribbean as a large US naval build-up sparks speculation that Washington may be seeking regime change in Caracas. Venezuela hits back Meanwhile, Venezuelas interior ministry has said that none of the 11 people killed in a US military strike on a boat belonged to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. They openly confessed to killing 11 people. We have done our investigations here in our country, and there are the families of the disappeared people who want their relatives, and when we asked in the towns, none were from Tren de Aragua, none were drug traffickers, Venezuelas interior minister Diosdado Cabello has said. Cabello came down heavily on the Trump administration, saying, A murder has been committed against a group of citizens using lethal force." The H-1B visa fee of USD 100,000 would be applicable only to new applicants, a White House official clarified on Saturday. A new $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas in the United States goes into effect Sunday, but it will not be applied to existing holders of valid visas re-entering the country, Axios reported on Saturday. The statement came a day after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation raising the fee on the visas used by companies to hire workers, including from India, to live and work in the US. The H-1B fee is likely to face legal challenges. But if it survives, companies that hire skilled international workers would have to pay USD 100,000 each year for any employee working on the visa, for up to six years, the White House official was quoted as saying by the New York Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fee applies only to new applicants, the official added. The executive order imposing the new fee on H-1B visa applications could disrupt the global operations of Indian technology services companies that deploy skilled professionals to the United States, Indian IT industry body Nasscom said early on Saturday. As the Presidential proclamation that takes effect at 12.01 am EDT on September 21 sparked panic and outcry, immigration attorneys and companies asked the H-1B visa holders or their family members currently outside America for work or vacation to return within the next 24 hours or risk being stranded and denied entry into the US. Many Indians in the US on H-1B visas cancelled their plans to travel to India hours after Trumps order. While many cancelled plans to travel at the last minute while waiting to board flights to India, several others already in India are scrambling to return amid lack of clarity, weeks before Indian professionals and their families travel to India for Diwali and other year-end holidays. Individuals on H-1B visas as well as those in the US tracking the news spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity and stressed that the underlying emotion among H-1B visa holders and their families right now is that of a crazy sense of panic and worry. Currently, the H-1B visa fee that companies pay to sponsor H1-B applicants ranges from about USD 2,000 to USD 5,000, depending on employer size and other costs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The H-1B visas, which are very popular among Indian tech professionals, are valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. With inputs from agencies Peng Liyuan attends UNESCO award ceremony for girls', women's education Xinhua) 11:01, September 20, 2025 Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, addresses the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education award ceremony and the 10th anniversary celebration of the prize in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2025. Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the UNESCO, also attended and addressed the event in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), attended the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education award ceremony and the 10th anniversary celebration of the prize in Beijing on Friday. Peng, a UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, and Azoulay presented awards to representatives of award-winning projects from Kenya and Lebanon. Addressing the event, Peng said over the past decade, award winners from around the world and visionary individuals from various fields have helped girls and women adapt to social development and achieve personal growth through education. The concept of empowering women through education has gained widespread recognition, enabling millions of girls and women to gain the confidence and ability to choose their life paths and pursue their dreams, Peng said, adding that this is the very significance of the prize. Noting that human society is now entering the intelligence era, Peng said. It is essential to place greater emphasis on women's scientific education, helping more women acquire scientific knowledge, learn to apply new technologies, and enhance their innovative capabilities, she added. "We must strive to ensure that women can embrace the technological revolution and create fulfilled lives," Peng said. Peng noted that China has always attached great importance to advancing women's scientific education and looks forward to deepening cooperation with UNESCO and relevant parties to comprehensively strengthen capacity-building in women's scientific education and jointly elevate the level of women's scientific education. In her speech, Azoulay thanked the Chinese government for its invaluable support to UNESCO, highly commended Peng for making outstanding contributions to the development of girls' and women's education worldwide. Azoulay said UNESCO is willing to continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China to promote more fruitful results in girls' and women's education in the world. Before the ceremony, Peng met with Azoulay, exchanging views on promoting the development of girls' and women's education worldwide. After the meeting, they had a group photo with representatives of award-winning projects in the decade and visited a photo exhibition featuring the award-winning projects. The award ceremony was attended by about 300 people, including representatives of UN agencies in Beijing, diplomatic envoys of relevant countries in China, representatives of Chinese and foreign teachers and students, and representatives from the education sector. Since China and UNESCO jointly established the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education in 2015, a total of 20 projects from 19 countries have won this award. Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, and Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the UNESCO, present awards to representatives of award-winning projects from Kenya and Lebanon at the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education award ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2025. Peng and Azoulay attended and addressed the award ceremony and the 10th anniversary celebration of the prize in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, and Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the UNESCO, visit a photo exhibition featuring the award-winning projects of the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2025. Peng and Azoulay attended and addressed the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education award ceremony and the 10th anniversary celebration of the prize in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, meets with Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the UNESCO, before the 2025 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education award ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2025. Peng and Azoulay attended and addressed the award ceremony and the 10th anniversary celebration of the prize in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Vietnams top individual income tax rate of 35% is among the highest in Southeast Asia, Deloitte Vietnam said in a report and called for changes. Thailand and the Philippines have similar top rates while they are 24% in Singapore and 30% in Malaysia and Myanmar. The British audit and consulting company was commenting on the Ministry of Finances recent proposal to amend the Personal Income Tax Law. The ministry plans to reduce the number of tax brackets from seven to five, but maintain the 35% maximum marginal rate though increasing the income threshold for it to VND100 million per month from the current VND80 million. A technician works in a lab in Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute in August 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The Ministry of Finance said the top rate would be retained since it aligns with international levels. Countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines also have a 35% rate while China, South Korea and Japan impose up to 45%, it said. It also proposes to raise the deduction for health and education expenses, which would lower tax burden, it added. But many analysts describe the 35% rate as too high. Nguyen Thuy Duong, head of personal tax advisory at professional services firm KPMG Vietnam, said Vietnam applies the 35% rate for income that is 10 times its per capita GDP as against Thailands 20 times and Indonesias 62 times. This means the upper-middle class is subject to the top rate while in other countries only the wealthiest pay it, she added. KPMG recommended reducing the top rate from 35% to 30% to align with international practices and help attract skilled workers. This was backed by the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Advisors and Agents Association and the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association. Tax experts say a lower tax rate not only attracts talent but also influences foreign investment decisions, encourages legitimate wealth creation and helps prevent tax evasion. A 25% cap also has supporters. Phan Huu Nghi, deputy director of the Institute of Banking and Finance, said a 25% cap would better fit Vietnams modest average income and need for economic growth and investment. "When our average income reaches higher thresholds, we can consider increasing the personal income tax rate." Vietnams per capita income has been rising steadily, reaching $4,700 last year, and the government has ambitious growth targets to help achieve high-income status by 2045. Vu Minh Khuong of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore said at 6.5% annual GDP growth, the per capita income could reach $15,000 by 2045 and $20,000 by 2050. Personal income tax is now the third largest source id revenues for the government behind value-added and corporate taxes. Last year total revenues topped VND2 quadrillion, with personal income tax accounting for VND189 trillion, up 20% year-on-year. It accounted for 9.3% of total revenues as against 5.3% in 2011. A VnExpress survey in August found 73% of respondents favoring a maximum personal tax rate of 2025% and 7% wanting a 30% ceiling while only 5% supported the 35% cap. Even if the 35% cap were to be retained kept, the thresholds should be raised, analysts said. Nguyen Van Duoc, director of Trong Tin Accounting and Tax Consulting, called for the threshold to be raised to VND120150 million a month rather than VND100 million. Duong said the 35% rate should only be for an income of 20 times per capita GDP instead of the current 10, which means the threshold should to be raised to VND120 million. Deloitte Vietnam has called on the government to raise the thresholds for all brackets, especially at the higher levels, to dovetail with economic growth and attract talent. Sun Sunday 52 /30 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s. ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chapman University today announced a new partnership with the Marymount Education Foundation (MEF), the nonprofit organization carrying forward the legacy of Marymount California University by supporting students with financial resources for higher education through its flagship Marymount Scholars Program. The Ranchos Palos Verdes-based university closed its doors in 2022. At that time, the foundation was formed to continue its mission of creating positive change by awarding college scholarships and supporting educational initiatives that promote access, degree attainment, and a community of learners. The collaboration reflects Chapmans ongoing commitment to providing a personalized education that fosters both academic achievement and personal growth in a supportive, close-knit environment. This is a partnership rooted in shared values that put student success at the forefront of every academic journey, said Jessica Berger, Chapman executive vice president and chief advancement officer. Both Chapman and the Marymount Education Foundation believe in nurturing talent, character, and leadership in ways that positively impact families, communities, and even regional economies. This partnership ensures a pathway for talented students in the years to come. The Marymount Scholars Program goes beyond financial aid to provide mentorship, personal support, and a sense of community for students, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Many of the students who participate in the program are the first in their families to attend college. The program emphasizes the whole student, supporting not only academic success but also personal development and a sense of belonging. At Chapman, these students will find a community that is ready to celebrate and support their individual journeys to higher education. As components of the Chapman Promising Futures Program, students will receive professional development and graduate school preparation workshops, service-learning activities, community-building events, and peer/faculty/staff mentoring opportunities, among other activities. Intentional partnerships like this one ensure that the legacy of Marymount California University lives on, said Robyn Jones, Marymount Education Foundation executive director. Chapmans commitment to personalized education and to welcoming students of all backgrounds reflects the very values that define the Marymount Scholars Program. We are confident that students here will feel known, supported, and empowered to succeed. Chapman joins three other institutions, Cal Lutheran University, La Sierra University, and Mount Saint Marys University, as a partner in the Marymount Scholars Program. For Chapman, the partnership is not only about expanding access but also about reinforcing the universitys role in advancing opportunity through higher education. Since 2022, more than 225 new scholarships have been established, helping students cover the cost of tuition, books, housing, and other essentials. Approximately 86% of Chapman undergraduates receive some form of financial support, including merit-based scholarships, institutional aid, federal and state grants, work-study, student loans, and external awards. The Marymount Education Foundation is a powerful force in transforming the lives of students, families, and communities for the betterment of society, and has earned praise for being a model focused on successful student outcomes, said Chapman President Matt Parlow. We are proud to partner with the foundation and thrilled to welcome our first cohort of scholars to Chapman next year. We look forward to growing the number of participating students for many years to come. Through this partnership, Chapman will be able to extend new resources and support to students who view education as a vehicle for change, ensuring that the transformative power of a Chapman education is within reach for more students than ever before. Broadcast-quality video and high-resolution photos are available by clicking here. Assets include: Video and photos of the agreement signing with Chapman University President Matt Parlow and Marymount Education Foundation Chair of Board Rick Elder. Soundbites with with Chapman University President Matt Parlow and Marymount Education Foundation executive director Robyn Jones. About Chapman University Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from over 100 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 high research activity institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty, including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors, and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nations oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 66 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu . About Marymount Education Foundation The Marymount Education Foundation was incorporated on September 1, 2022 in the state of California as a non-profit 501c3 public benefit corporation for charitable purposes with the specific purpose of supporting educational programs and scholarships. It carries on Marymount California Universitys mission of creating positive change through education by awarding college scholarships and supporting educational initiatives that promote access, degree attainment, and a community of learners. Media Contact: Jeff Howard, Associate Vice President for Strategic and Integrated Communications jeffhoward@chapman.edu | Mobile: 303-513-1628 GENEVA, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What role does school-based therapy and advocacy play in helping students succeed both academically and personally? A HelloNation article provides insight into how these programs bring mental health support directly into schools, offering help at the very place where children spend most of their day. Family Counseling Expert Barbara Pierce-Morrow of Geneva is featured in this coverage, sharing the value of making care accessible on campus through school-based therapy and advocacy. The article explains that when children struggle with stress, trauma, or emotional difficulties, it often shows up in the classroom. Students may have trouble concentrating, withdraw from peers, or become frustrated. Teachers and staff who witness these behaviors firsthand can quickly connect students with professional help through school-based therapy and advocacy. By ensuring care is available during the school day, barriers such as transportation or scheduling challenges are reduced for families. According to the HelloNation feature, school-based therapy and advocacy programs provide confidential, one-on-one support for students, giving them a safe environment to talk through challenges. These school therapists also collaborate with teachers to better understand a childs needs and work with parents to keep families engaged. The focus is on creating a circle of care where students feel supported both at school and at home. Family Counseling Expert/Executive Barbara Pierce-Morrow emphasizes in the HelloNation article that topics addressed through these services range widely. Students may seek help for anxiety, depression, grief, or victimization - including bullying, while others may struggle with academic pressures or peer conflicts. By having therapists and advocates accessible on campus, these issues can be identified early before they develop into more serious problems. This proactive approach ensures that student mental health is addressed in real time. The article also points to the importance of community connection. In the Finger Lakes schools, advocates and therapists often step in to help families access resources beyond the classroom. If a family faces challenges such as housing, food insecurity, or healthcare needs, school-based support staff can guide them to the right community services. This creates a more complete network of student support services that benefits both children and families. Teachers also see positive effects when school-based therapists and advocates are available. The HelloNation article notes that classrooms become calmer and more focused when students receive the mental health support they need. With trained professionals addressing emotional concerns, teachers can dedicate more time to instruction. This balance fosters a healthier environment for all students, not just those receiving direct therapy and advocacy. Parents, too, gain peace of mind from knowing their children have access to help during the school day. The article highlights that families appreciate early intervention and structured guidance. Communication between schools and parents remains a priority, ensuring that every childs well-being is a collaborative effort. Confidentiality is respected, but parents stay informed about the care and progress their children are experiencing. The long-term benefits of school-based therapy and advocacy are also clear. The HelloNation piece describes how students who receive support are more likely to stay engaged in school, perform better academically, and develop stronger social relationships. The coping skills they learn at a young age become tools for managing stress throughout life. By embedding these services directly into schools, communities help prepare children for both immediate and future success. In the Finger Lakes schools, where these programs are becoming more common, the impact has been especially meaningful. Families no longer need to navigate the logistical and financial challenges of seeking outside care. Instead, their children have access to school therapists and advocates in the same place they learn and grow each day. This approach reduces stigma, increases access, and ensures students are supported where they need it most. The HelloNation feature, How School-Based Therapy and Advocacy Supports Students , presents Barbara Pierce-Morrows perspective as a Family Counseling Expert/Executive and highlights the important role these services play in strengthening education and community support systems. About HelloNationHelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative edvertising approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. Patrick McCabe info@hellonation.com www.hellonation.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8deff1cc-1225-4613-ade8-03544c197d41 RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When is the right time to repair a concrete walkway or patio? A recent HelloNation article featuring Alan Williams of A. W. Masonry & Restoration in Richmond explains how signs such as cracks, pooling water, and uneven slabs signal the need for timely concrete repair. The article stresses that catching these problems early protects outdoor spaces from becoming safety hazards and avoids the expense of major structural repair. Concrete surfaces are built for durability, but as the HelloNation article notes, Richmonds seasonal climate takes a toll. Heavy rains, followed by cycles of freezing and thawing, can turn small cracks into larger breaks. Water seeps into gaps, expands when temperatures drop, and gradually forces sections apart. A professional contractor can often fix small problems quickly, but once damage spreads, repairs become more extensive and costly. One of the clearest warning signs is pooling water. If rain or melted snow collects instead of draining, it shows that the concrete walkway or patio has shifted unevenly. Beyond looking unsightly, standing water weakens concrete over time, increases the risk of slips, and can seep below the surface, damaging the base layer. The HelloNation feature explains that addressing this early prevents deeper structural repair later. Raised edges or uneven slabs create another serious tripping hazard. Soil beneath the concrete may settle or shift, causing sections to lift. Even a slight difference can cause falls or make it harder to move strollers, wheelchairs, or lawn equipment across outdoor spaces. Families with children or older relatives should not ignore these risks, since timely concrete repair restores safety and smooth access. The article also points out that smaller cracks may be normal as concrete ages. Natural curing and temperature changes often cause minor hairline fractures. However, when cracks widen, multiply, or shift, they should be taken seriously. A good rule of thumb is that if a coin fits inside, it is time to consult a professional contractor for repair. Appearance matters as well. Curb appeal suffers when patios and walkways show visible wear. Chips, crumbling corners, and stained cracks can make outdoor spaces look neglected. For homeowners planning to sell, concrete repair creates a stronger first impression. Even for those staying put, maintaining walkways and patios improves enjoyment of the property. Environmental factors add another layer. Tree roots, for instance, often push up concrete slabs, creating uneven surfaces and new tripping hazards. In such cases, patching alone will not solve the problem. The HelloNation article emphasizes the value of working with a professional contractor who can assess root removal, soil stabilization, or other solutions that prevent repeat damage. Seasonal timing also plays a role in planning repairs. Spring and early summer are often the best times for concrete repair in Richmond, since fixing issues before heavy rains or winter freezes ensures longer-lasting results. It also prepares patios and walkways for warm-weather use, when outdoor spaces are most active. Safety is not the only concern. Ignoring cracks can create larger property issues. Water flowing through concrete gaps may move toward the homes foundation, raising the risk of basement leaks or structural repair costs. As the HelloNation article explains, concrete repair is often the first step in protecting the overall stability of a property. Professional inspection provides clarity about whether patching, leveling, or replacement is needed. Contractors familiar with Richmonds soil and climate can recommend the most effective and long-lasting repair options. This prevents wasted money on quick fixes that fail to address underlying problems. Ultimately, the HelloNation article concludes that deciding when to repair a concrete walkway or patio comes down to safety, cost, and long-term value. Warning signs such as pooling water, cracks, uneven slabs, and raised edges all call for action. By addressing these problems promptly, homeowners in Richmond can protect their curb appeal, safeguard outdoor spaces, and avoid major structural repair. The full article, titled When Should I Repair Concrete Walkways or Patios? , can be read on HelloNation. In the feature, masonry expert Alan Williams of A. W. Masonry & Restoration explains how timely concrete repair keeps outdoor spaces safe, attractive, and durable. About HelloNation HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative edvertising approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. Patrick McCabe info@hellonation.com www.hellonation.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1065660e-85b3-4756-888e-f0fda4d2e150 OTTAWA, Ill., Sept. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ottawa Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: OTTW), the Company, the holding company for OSB Community Bank, announced today that the Company has completed its previously announced stock repurchase program. Under the program, the Company repurchased 120,996 shares of its outstanding common stock at an average price of $15.01 per share. Ottawa Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for OSB Community Bank which provides various financial services to individual and corporate customers in the United States. OSB Community Bank offers various deposit accounts, including checking, money market, regular savings, club savings, certificate, and various retirement accounts. Its loan portfolio includes one-to-four family residential mortgage, multi-family and non-residential real estate, commercial, and construction loans as well as auto loans and home equity lines of credit. OSB Community Bank was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Ottawa, Illinois. For more information about Ottawa Bancorp, Inc and OSB Community Bank, please visit www.myosb.bank. Contact: Craig M. Hepner President and Chief Executive Officer (815) 366-5437 San Francisco, CA, Sept. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the fast-evolving Web3 ecosystem, where markets change by the minute and technology advances at lightning speed, users face significant challenges such as information overload and operational complexity. AIMOON has officially launched as the worlds first AI-powered Web3 agent platform, designed to make it easier to use, deploy, manage, and optimize intelligent AI agents in the Web3 space. By combining AI-powered agent creation, real-time industry insights, and a fully integrated suite of smart agents, AIMOON introduces a new approach to on-chain operations. The platform delivers efficiency, adaptability, and personalization, simplifying Web3 tasks while enabling smarter financial decisions and the potential to generate profits through AI-driven insights. Why AIMOON Is Essential Now As Web3 and AI technologies expand, blockchain data continues to grow more complex, and technical barriers remain an obstacle for many. Developers and participants often juggle multiple tools, explorers, and platforms to manage cross-chain assets or interact with decentralized applications (dApps). AIMOON addresses these challenges by providing an intuitive platform for seamless AI agent deployment across Web3. The platform streamlines digital interactions and financial decision-making, offering value to both first-time participants and experienced blockchain professionals. The founding team stated: We aimed to simplify Web3 agent deployment. What once took hours can now be accomplished in seconds, offering a seamless, intelligent Web3 experienceand smarter ways to generate profits. Key Features of AIMOONs AI Agent Platform 1. AI Agent Deployment Intelligent Web3 agents can be created, deployed, and managed to perform complex tasks such as managing cross-chain assets, interacting with smart contracts, and automating decentralized finance (DeFi) operations. The platform accommodates investors, developers, and everyday blockchain users, supporting profitable decision-making. 2. Real-Time Industry Insights AIMOON provides real-time news aggregation and market analysis, allowing agents to adapt and users to identify opportunities, maximize profits, and reduce risks. 3. Smart Agents AIMOONs Core Differentiator Autonomous AI agents carry out a wide range of functions, including portfolio rebalancing, transaction risk analysis, and token price tracking. With memory and adaptability, these agents evolve based on user behavior, offering increasingly personalized financial insights. 4. Agent Management & Analytics A comprehensive dashboard helps track agent performance and access historical data. A built-in content library allows users to revisit past tasks, analyze results, and refine financial strategies. In Action: Real-World Scenarios Developers: Custom Web3 agents can autonomously interact with dApps, facilitate smart contract execution, and manage multi-chain assets. Custom Web3 agents can autonomously interact with dApps, facilitate smart contract execution, and manage multi-chain assets. Investors: Portfolios can be optimized with agents that monitor conditions, perform risk assessments, and recommend actions based on real-time data. Portfolios can be optimized with agents that monitor conditions, perform risk assessments, and recommend actions based on real-time data. Everyday Participants: Agents can automate tasks such as token tracking, NFT management, and DeFi interactions, while continuously learning to provide tailored financial guidance. Whats Next for AIMOON: Roadmap & Vision AIMOON continues to expand its capabilities with several upcoming features, including: Cross-Chain Operational Support: Agents will seamlessly interact across multiple blockchains, improving financial strategies by accessing a broader range of assets. Agents will seamlessly interact across multiple blockchains, improving financial strategies by accessing a broader range of assets. Personalized Research Assistants: Intelligent agents will adjust to unique preferences and trading styles, delivering actionable insights. Intelligent agents will adjust to unique preferences and trading styles, delivering actionable insights. DAO Integration: Agents will participate in decentralized governance processes, optimizing strategies for greater rewards. Washington, D.C., Sept. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Superintelligence is not science fiction its here. Buck Sexton, in a newly released interview, makes it clear that this technology is about to transform everything America knows about security and global power. Artificial Superintelligence Could Be The Key To America Building The First Fully Autonomous AI Powered Military. He explains that this leap goes far beyond chatbots or office software. It means weapons systems that can think and react faster than any human operator, capable of changing the balance of power in war. The Biden Setback Sexton argues the U.S. almost lost its chance to lead. Biden had a real chance to put America far ahead in the Artificial Superintelligence race years ago but to be blunt he blew it. Screwed it up royally by issuing one of the worst Executive Orders in American history. For Sexton, that order represented not just a policy mistake, but a strategic failure that risked handing global dominance to China. Trumps Immediate Response That changed, Sexton says, the moment Trump returned to office. The only good news about it is on literally day one of his new term Trump ripped Bidens Executive Order 14110 to shreds and launched his own new one. It instantly removed the shackles from Americas AI tech geniuses and gave the U.S. the greenlight. This, Sexton argues, was the turning point that re-opened Americas innovation pipeline and gave researchers the freedom to accelerate ASI projects. Proof in the Skies For Sexton, the proof is already out there. He points to a test that shows how far the U.S. has come. This is the worlds first fully autonomous AI fighter pilot. It can think 100X faster than any human and in a recent top-secret test over California, it dominated a real Air Force Top Gun. Sexton says this isnt theoretical its a real example of how AI and subsequent ASI could rewrite the rules of air combat. Tech Giants Step In Private industry, Sexton says, isnt waiting on the sidelines. Softbank, OpenAI and Oracle announced a $500 billion pledge to help with data center build out this year alone. Apple announced theyre investing $500 billion over the next four years. Nvidia also announced a $500 billion investment in American-made AI over the next 4 years. According to him, these investments show that Americas largest corporations see ASI as the defining race of this generation. Chinas Dangerous Scale Meanwhile, Sexton warns that China has been moving even faster and at massive scale. China has the capacity to build hundreds of thousands of these AI-powered drones. If China gets it first they stay first forever. No one else will ever catch up. He emphasizes that these arent empty threats theyre production realities that could permanently shift the balance of global power. About Buck Sexton Buck Sexton is a former CIA counter-terrorism officer and national security expert who personally debriefed President George W. Bush during the Iraq War. He was also hand-picked to replace the late great Rush Limbaugh as the co-host of Americas highest-rated radio program with over 15 million followers. Today, Sexton uses his intelligence background and close ties to the White House to reveal exclusive insights and financial research into the technologies and defense projects that will shape Americas future. 'Never again': Chinese family devours 5.5 kg of durian outside Thai airport after fruit banned from flight Determined not to waste a prized tropical fruit, a Chinese family ate 5.5 kilograms of durian outside Chiang Mai Airport in Thailand after learning they could not bring it onto their flight home. The incident unfolded on Sept. 16, when Li and his family prepared to fly back to China after a holiday in northern Thailand. Earlier that day, Li's father had purchased several boxes of fresh durian, known across Asia as the "king of fruits" for its custard-like flesh and notorious odor. But airlines ban durians on board due to their overpowering smell, which many describe as sweet and creamy, while others say it reeks of rotten onions or gas. Faced with the choice of tossing away the fruit or eating it all before boarding, the family chose the latter, Mothership reported. A video posted on Douyin showed the family huddled outside the airport, peeling open plastic bags stuffed with durian. Li could be seen gagging mid-bite, while his father pressed on enthusiastically. In the clip, Li joked: "When you have a stubborn father who buys 5.5 kilograms of durian before a flight, your family has no choice but to finish it." He later admitted he never wanted to see durian again after forcing down four or five pieces, adding that the family smelled of the fruit when they finally boarded the plane and had to apologize to other passengers. The video has racked up more than 186,000 likes in just days. Commenters praised the family's determination not to waste expensive fruit, which can cost up to hundreds of dollars per durian in some markets. Durian, native to Southeast Asia, remains a deeply divisive delicacy, adored by fans for its rich flavor but banned from many hotels, subways and airlines across the region because of its pungent aroma. NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR). If you currently own shares of Danaher stock, please visit the firms website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17717 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@rosenlegal.com. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of investors in Unicoin Rights Certificates issued by Unicoin, Inc. f/k/a TransparentBusiness, Inc. resulting from allegations that Unicoin may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Unicoin Rights Certificates you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44368 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On May 27, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) published a litigation release on the SECs website under the title Unicoin, Top Executives Charged in Offering Fraud That Raised More than $100 Million from Thousands of Investors. The announcement stated that on May 20, 2025, the SEC had charged Unicoin, Inc. and four of its top executives [. . .] for false and misleading statements in an offering of certificates that purportedly conveyed rights to receive crypto assets called Unicoin tokens and an offering of Unicoin, Inc.s common stock. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com New York City, NY, Sept. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Introduction to Immediate Edge Immediate Edge is a cutting-edge AI-powered trading platform designed to provide streamlined access to global financial markets, including cryptocurrencies, forex, and select equities. The platform combines advanced algorithmic intelligence with real-time market analytics, delivering structured trading opportunities for both automated and semi-automated operations. Its web-based architecture ensures accessibility across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices, enabling traders to monitor and execute trades from anywhere with a stable internet connection. At its core, Immediate Edge integrates a data-driven approach, continuously scanning multiple exchanges and market indicators to identify actionable opportunities. The platform includes technical analysis tools such as moving averages, Bollinger Bands, and relative strength indices, which enhance the precision of trade signals. A demo account feature allows users to simulate market conditions and test trading strategies without financial exposure, providing an educational and practical experience. Immediate Edges interface is designed for clarity and efficiency, presenting trade signals, analytics dashboards, and account information in a structured format. Customizable settings allow traders to define risk tolerance, preferred assets, and investment sizes, providing flexibility while maintaining algorithmic accuracy. The platform also incorporates secure account management protocols, including data encryption and regulatory-compliant verification, to protect sensitive user information. Overall, Immediate Edge offers a technology-driven solution for structured market engagement. By combining real-time analytics, automated execution, and secure account operations, it establishes a reliable and transparent environment for AI-powered trading. The platforms architecture supports rapid decision-making, scalability, and operational transparency, making it a robust option for traders seeking precise, systematic access to global markets. Visit the Official Immediate Edge Website Now Key Features of Immediate Edge Immediate Edge provides a suite of technology-driven features designed to enhance market engagement and streamline trading processes. The platforms central AI engine continuously monitors multiple markets to generate real-time trade signals, including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, forex pairs, and select equities. A primary feature is customizable trading parameters, allowing users to adjust investment size, risk tolerance, preferred assets, and automated or semi-automated trading modes. This flexibility ensures the platform can be tailored to individual strategy requirements. The demo account functionality enables risk-free practice, simulating real market conditions and allowing traders to observe algorithmic behavior before committing funds. Technical analysis tools are embedded throughout the platform, supporting informed decision-making. These include moving averages, trend indicators, and momentum metrics, which are updated continuously to reflect real-time market conditions. The platforms web-based interface is device-agnostic, enabling accessibility across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Immediate Edge also includes account management dashboards that track active trades, signal accuracy, and historical performance metrics. Deposits and withdrawals are processed through secure channels, with clear policies ensuring timely fund transfers. Real-time analytics provide transparency and performance monitoring, while automated execution minimizes manual error and ensures alignment with algorithmic signals. Through AI-powered automation, technical analytics, and robust account tools, Immediate Edge delivers a structured, reliable, and secure environment for algorithmic trading across multiple financial markets. Join Immediate Edge Now Visit Official Website Now How Immediate Edge Works? Immediate Edge operates through an AI-powered engine that continuously analyzes global market trends, trading volumes, and price fluctuations. The platform processes real-time data from multiple financial exchanges, enabling rapid signal generation for cryptocurrencies, forex, and selected equity instruments. Users can select between automated trading, where the AI executes trades directly, and semi-automated trading, where signals are presented for review before execution. The AI engine employs advanced statistical models and pattern recognition tools to evaluate market conditions and forecast short-term movements. Technical indicators, including moving averages, Bollinger Bands, and relative strength indices, support the identification of trends and potential opportunities. Trade signals are generated in real time, ensuring timely execution according to algorithmic criteria. Immediate Edge also offers a demo trading environment, replicating live market conditions without financial risk. Users can test strategies, observe AI performance, and refine trading parameters such as investment size, asset focus, and risk level. The platforms backend architecture is optimized for low latency, ensuring minimal delay between signal generation and order execution. With continuous market scanning, real-time analytics, and customizable settings, Immediate Edge delivers structured trading guidance that adapts to individual strategy requirements. By integrating automated execution, technical indicators, and reliable data feeds, the platform provides a systematic approach to market participation while maintaining operational transparency and data security. Explore Immediate Edges cutting-edge AI platform Visit the Official Website Now Getting Started: Account Setup Immediate Edge provides a structured and secure account setup process designed to ensure seamless access to its AI-powered trading platform. The registration begins with a simple online form, requiring basic personal details such as full name, email address, and phone number only at the official website . Once submitted, the system initiates account verification to confirm the users identity, supporting regulatory compliance and safeguarding financial transactions. Verification typically involves submitting identification documents such as government-issued ID and proof of residence. After verification, users can configure account preferences, including investment size, risk parameters, and trading modes. Immediate Edge supports both automated and semi-automated trading, allowing the AI engine to either execute trades directly or provide actionable trade signals for manual review. The platform requires $250 minimum deposit to activate live trading, with funds held securely in partnership with regulated brokers. Deposit methods are versatile, including major credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and digital payment options. Withdrawals are processed through the same secure channels, with real-time monitoring to ensure accurate and timely fund transfers. Immediate Edge also provides a demo account feature for practice, allowing users to test strategies in a risk-free environment before engaging with real funds. Users can adjust demo account parameters to simulate live trading conditions, offering insights into algorithmic behavior and performance outcomes. The account dashboard provides a comprehensive overview, including balance tracking, active trades, and performance analytics. Real-time notifications alert users to executed trades, pending signals, or market conditions that meet their customized criteria. With clear instructions, a step-by-step setup workflow, and secure verification protocols, Immediate Edge ensures that users can begin trading confidently while maintaining control over risk exposure and investment preferences. The platform emphasizes both operational transparency and technical reliability, supporting an efficient and structured entry into AI-driven trading. Why Choose Immediate Edge? United Kingdom Consumer Report Released Here Performance & Data Reliability Immediate Edge is engineered to deliver precise, real-time market analytics and reliable trade execution. The AI algorithms process data streams from multiple exchanges, analyzing price fluctuations, trading volumes, and volatility to generate actionable trade signals. These calculations utilize validated statistical models and technical indicators to ensure accuracy. Real-time updates minimize latency between signal generation and order execution, supporting rapid, data-driven decision-making. Performance dashboards provide comprehensive analytics, including trade execution history, signal accuracy, and asset-specific performance metrics. This transparency allows users to monitor algorithmic behavior and evaluate outcomes effectively. The platforms demo account functionality enables backtesting and simulation, providing insights into AI decision-making without financial exposure. Continuous data verification against live market feeds ensures consistency and reliability, while automated execution reduces human error. Immediate Edge combines real-time analytics, statistical validation, and secure execution protocols to create a structured, dependable trading environment. Its performance-focused architecture ensures that both automated and semi-automated trading operations can be conducted with confidence, reliability, and precision across cryptocurrencies, forex, and equities. German traders are already testing Immediate Edge 2025 Visit Official Website Security and Compliance Measures Immediate Edge integrates comprehensive security protocols and regulatory compliance measures to ensure the safety of user data and funds. All sensitive information is encrypted using SSL protocols, maintaining confidentiality during transmission and storage. Multi-layered security measures, including firewalls and intrusion detection systems, protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats. User authentication is managed through secure login credentials and encrypted sessions, with optional two-factor authentication (2FA) available for enhanced account protection. Financial transactions, including deposits and withdrawals, are conducted via regulated broker networks that comply with international financial standards and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. The platform enforces Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, verifying user identity and proof of residence before granting live trading access. Continuous system monitoring identifies and mitigates potential security vulnerabilities, while secure backup protocols maintain data integrity and availability. Privacy policies clearly outline data handling practices, aligning with international standards such as GDPR for European users. Immediate Edges security measures extend to AI operations, ensuring automated trade execution occurs without exposing sensitive information. By combining encryption, regulatory compliance, secure authentication, and continuous monitoring, the platform provides a transparent, protected environment for algorithmic trading activities. Register on the Immediate Edge trading application Trading Opportunities and Structured Market Access Immediate Edge provides systematic access to diverse trading opportunities across cryptocurrencies, forex, and select equity markets. The platforms AI engine continuously scans global markets, identifying price movements, volatility patterns, and trading volume trends. This structured approach enables immediate signal generation, allowing trades to be executed in alignment with pre-defined algorithmic strategies. Users can customize parameters to target specific asset classes, risk tolerances, and investment amounts. Cryptocurrency trading options include major coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, while forex trading spans a wide range of major and minor currency pairs. Equity-based instruments provide exposure to regulated stock markets, with trade execution supported via integrated broker networks. The AI engine monitors multiple exchanges simultaneously, ensuring trade signals reflect real-time conditions across all selected markets. Technical indicators are embedded in the platform, providing structured analytics for trend identification, momentum assessment, and volatility measurement. Moving averages, Bollinger Bands, and relative strength indices are integrated to enhance predictive accuracy. The platform also supports automated portfolio adjustments, allowing AI-driven rebalancing based on market movements and user-defined criteria. Immediate Edge ensures performance transparency by providing detailed trade analytics, including signal accuracy, executed trade records, and historical performance trends. Demo accounts allow for strategy testing without financial exposure, enabling users to simulate trading scenarios and evaluate algorithmic decision-making. Through AI-driven automation, structured market analysis, and real-time execution, Immediate Edge offers a robust framework for engaging with multiple financial markets efficiently and securely. Experience cutting-edge AI trading trusted in Germany Visit Official Immediate Edge Website today. From Beginner to Pro: Guided Onboarding, 24/7 Support, and Intuitive Design Immediate Edge is designed to accommodate both beginner traders and experienced professionals through a combination of guided onboarding, continuous support, and a highly intuitive interface. The platforms registration process is streamlined for clarity and efficiency. New users are guided through step-by-step account creation, including personal information submission, identity verification, and secure password setup. The system supports KYC compliance by verifying government-issued IDs and proof of residence, ensuring regulatory adherence while protecting user accounts. Once registered, users have access to a demo account feature that simulates live market conditions. This functionality enables beginners to practice trading without financial exposure while allowing professionals to test and refine complex strategies. Customizable settings for risk tolerance, investment size, and preferred assets ensure that the platform adapts to a wide range of trading experience levels. Immediate Edge provides 24/7 multilingual customer support, ensuring that assistance is available whenever it is needed. Support channels include live chat, email, and in-platform messaging, allowing users to receive guidance on account setup, trade configuration, technical troubleshooting, and AI signal interpretation. This continuous support system ensures that traders can engage confidently with the platform regardless of their prior experience. The platforms intuitive design enhances usability, with clear dashboards displaying active trades, AI-generated signals, performance metrics, and analytics. Real-time notifications provide updates on executed trades and market conditions, while interactive charts and technical indicators allow users to interpret trends efficiently. The interface is fully responsive, functioning seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices, enabling continuous market monitoring. By integrating guided onboarding, 24/7 support, and a user-focused interface, Immediate Edge ensures a structured, accessible, and adaptable trading environment. This approach allows users to progress from beginners to advanced traders with confidence, leveraging AI-powered automation and secure trading processes in a consistent and transparent framework. Regulated, Transparent, and Secure: Why Immediate Edge Earns Trust in 2025 Immediate Edge operates with a strong emphasis on regulation , transparency, and security, providing a robust framework for AI-driven trading. The platform partners exclusively with brokers regulated by recognized financial authorities, ensuring compliance with international standards for trading and fund management. These partnerships guarantee that all financial transactions, including deposits and withdrawals, adhere to strict anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. Verification processes confirm user identity and residence, maintaining regulatory compliance and minimizing operational risk. Transparency is central to Immediate Edges operational model. Trade signals, algorithmic calculations, and execution logs are accessible through comprehensive account dashboards. Users can monitor performance metrics, including executed trades, historical signal accuracy, and portfolio analytics, providing clear insight into the AI-driven trading process. Real-time reporting ensures that all activity is traceable and aligned with pre-defined account parameters, supporting structured and accountable trading operations. Security protocols are integrated throughout the platform, safeguarding both personal and financial data. SSL encryption protects information during transmission, while multi-layered firewalls and intrusion detection systems prevent unauthorized access. Optional two-factor authentication (2FA) enhances account protection, ensuring that only verified users can access sensitive functions. Immediate Edge also conducts routine system monitoring and vulnerability assessments, identifying potential threats and ensuring operational integrity. By combining regulatory compliance, transparent operational practices, and advanced security measures, Immediate Edge establishes a trusted environment for algorithmic trading. Users benefit from a platform that prioritizes secure fund management, reliable trade execution, and accessible performance monitoring. Immediate Edges commitment to these standards ensures that AI-powered trading occurs in a controlled, accountable, and protected environment, providing confidence in both platform reliability and regulatory adherence throughout 2025. Conclusion and Structured Trading Environment Immediate Edge delivers a comprehensive, AI-driven platform designed for secure, data-driven trading across cryptocurrencies, forex, and equity markets. By integrating advanced algorithms, real-time analytics, and customizable parameters, the platform enables systematic identification of trading opportunities and precise execution aligned with user preferences. Security and regulatory compliance are central to Immediate Edge, with SSL encryption, secure authentication protocols, regulated broker partnerships, and KYC verification maintaining operational integrity. The platforms infrastructure is designed to ensure data reliability, accurate performance metrics, and consistent system uptime, providing a stable environment for algorithmic trading. Immediate Edge also emphasizes accessibility and flexibility, offering a user-friendly web interface compatible with desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Demo accounts, real-time dashboards, and performance analytics allow users to evaluate strategies, monitor trades, and adjust parameters effectively. Localized services in Germany ensure regulatory adherence, secure payment processing, and dedicated support in the native language. Through the combination of AI-driven automation, comprehensive technical tools, and secure infrastructure, Immediate Edge establishes a structured and reliable environment for engaging with global financial markets. The platforms continuous market scanning, real-time trade signals, and data-driven approach create a systematic framework for traders seeking precision, security, and operational transparency. Immediate Edge exemplifies a technology-focused trading platform where advanced AI and structured processes intersect to deliver a reliable and secure trading experience. Visit Here to Register on the Immediate Edge - Select Your Country Here!!! Contact:- Immediate Edge 485 Bd de la Gappe, Gatineau, QC J8T 5T9, Canada Trading Assistance: +1 (437) 169-3417 Email: office@immediateconnect.ai Website: https://immediateedge.io/ General Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Readers are advised to consult a certified financial advisor, licensed loan officer, or legal professional before making any financial decisions. The information presented may not apply to every individual circumstance and is not intended to substitute professional judgment or regulatory guidance. The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the website's content as such. We does not recommend that any cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held by you. Do conduct your own due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Trading Disclaimer: Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade cryptocurrency you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor. ICO's, IEO's, STO's and any other form of offering will not guarantee a return on your investment. HIGH RISK WARNING: Dealing or Trading FX, CFDs and Cryptocurrencies is highly speculative, carries a level of non-negligible risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You may lose some or all of your invested capital, therefore you should not speculate with capital that you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to the risk disclosure below. Immediate Edge does not gain or lose profits based on your activity and operates as a services company. Immediate Edge is not a financial services firm and is not eligible of providing financial advice. Therefore, Immediate Edge shall not be liable for any losses occurred via or in relation to this informational website. SITE RISK DISCLOSURE: Immediate Edge does not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information contained within this website; this includes education material, price quotes and charts, and analysis. Please be aware of and seek professional advice for the risks associated with trading the financial markets; never invest more money than you can risk losing. The risks involved in FX, CFDs and Cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for all investors. Immediate Edge doesn''t retain responsibility for any trading losses you might face as a result of using or inferring from the data hosted on this site. LEGAL RESTRICTIONS: Without limiting the above mentioned provisions, you understand that laws regarding financial activities vary throughout the world, and it is your responsibility to make sure you properly comply with any law, regulation or guideline in your country of residence regarding the use of the Site. To avoid any doubt, the ability to access our Site does not necessarily mean that our Services and/or your activities through the Site are legal under the laws, regulations or directives relevant to your country of residence. It is against the law to solicit US individuals to buy and sell commodity options, even if they are called "prediction" contracts, unless they are listed for trading and traded on a CFTC-registered exchange unless legally exempt. The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a policy statement PS20/10, which prohibits the sale, promotion, and distribution of CFD on Crypto assets. It prohibits the dissemination of marketing materials relating to distribution of CFDs and other financial products based on Cryptocurrencies that addressed to United Kingdom/ Germany residents. The provision of trading services involving any MiFID II financial instruments is prohibited in the EU, unless when authorized/licensed by the applicable authorities and/or regulator(s). Please note that we may receive advertising fees for users opted to open an account with our partner advertisers via advertisers websites. We have placed cookies on your computer to help improve your experience when visiting this website. You can change cookie settings on your computer at any time. Use of this website indicates your acceptance of this website. Please be advised that the names depicted on our website, including but not limited to Immediate Edge, are strictly for marketing and illustrative purposes. These names do not represent or imply the existence of specific entities, service providers, or any real-life individuals. Furthermore, the pictures and/or videos presented on our website are purely promotional in nature and feature professional actors. These actors are not actual users, clients, or traders, and their depictions should not be interpreted as endorsements or representations of real-life experiences. All content is intended solely for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as factual or as forming any legally binding relationship RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURES TRADING Futures transactions involve high risk. The amount of the initial margin is low compared to the value of the futures contract, so that transactions are "leveraged" or "geared". A relatively small market movement has a proportionately larger impact on the funds that you have deposited or have to pay: this can work both for you and against you. You may experience the total loss of the initial margin funds as well as any additional funds deposited in the system. If the market develops in a way that is contrary to your position or if margins are increased, you may be asked to pay significant additional funds at short notice to maintain your position. In this case it may also happen that your broker account is in the red and you thus have to make payments beyond the initial investment. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRONIC TRADING Before you begin carrying out transactions with an electronic system, you should carefully review the rules and provisions of the stock exchange offering the system, or of the financial instruments listed that you intend to trade, as well as your broker's conditions. Online trading has inherent risks due to system responses/reaction times and access times that may vary due to market conditions, system performance and other factors, and on which you have no influence. You should be aware of these additional risks in electronic trading before you carry out investment transactions. Accuracy Disclaimer: All information included in this article is presented in good faith and believed to be accurate at the time of writing. However, no representations or warranties are made regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information presented. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader's own risk. The publisher does not accept responsibility for typographical errors, outdated information, or changes to products, terms, or policies after publication. Regulatory and Jurisdictional Disclaimer: Lending laws vary by jurisdiction, and not all services described in this article may be available in every state or region. It is the responsibility of the reader to understand and comply with local laws and regulations. The platforms mentioned are independently operated and are not controlled or endorsed by the publisher. Third-Party Liability Waiver: The publisher, its writers, editors, affiliates, and syndication partners shall not be held liable for any direct or indirect loss, damages, or legal claims arising from the use of this content or from reliance on any third-party services, platforms, or products mentioned herein. All loan agreements, terms, and disputes are strictly between the borrower and the lender or service provider. Syndication Partner Use: This content may be republished or syndicated by authorized partners under existing licensing or distribution arrangements. All syndication partners are free from liability regarding the editorial stance, financial suggestions, or any user outcome resulting from the reading or application of this content. Related Links Immediate FastX Attachment New York City, NY, Sept. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Introduction What is Bravo Flowdex Bravo Flowdex is a sophisticated AI-powered trading platform launched in 2025, designed to provide traders with an advanced, data-driven environment for monitoring and executing trades. The platform integrates predictive analytics with real-time market data, enabling automated trading strategies across multiple asset classes including cryptocurrencies, stocks, and commodities. At its core, Bravo Flowdex leverages artificial intelligence to track market fluctuations, analyze historical trends, and interpret global financial signals . Its advanced algorithms generate actionable insights, helping users identify potential trading opportunities with precision and speed. The platforms infrastructure supports high-frequency data processing, ensuring minimal latency in signal delivery and trade execution. Users can access fully customizable dashboards, interactive charts, and advanced analytical tools that provide insights into market performance, risk assessment, and portfolio optimization. Additionally, Bravo Flowdex offers seamless cross-device accessibility , functioning efficiently on desktop, web, and mobile applications, allowing traders to monitor positions, configure alerts, and execute trades on the go. Beyond technological innovation, the platform emphasizes security, regulatory compliance, and transparency. It adheres to GDPR standards and collaborates with regulated brokers to maintain operational legitimacy. Data encryption, secure server storage, and two-factor authentication provide additional layers of protection for sensitive financial information. With its combination of AI-driven technology, user-friendly interface, and secure operational framework, Bravo Flowdex is positioned as a comprehensive platform for modern traders seeking a robust, automated, and reliable trading experience. Visit the Official Bravo Flowdex Website Now Bravo Flowdex Features Bravo Flowdex offers a rich suite of features engineered to enhance trading efficiency and decision-making. One of its most significant capabilities is the AI-powered signal generator, which continuously monitors market movements and provides predictive analytics for optimal trade entry and exit points. The platform supports multi-asset trading, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, traditional equities, and key commodities such as gold and oil. Users can customize their trading dashboards with modular widgets, real-time charts, portfolio tracking, and detailed performance analytics. Automated trading allows pre-set rules to execute trades instantly based on market conditions, minimizing reaction delays and optimizing operational precision. Real-time alerts notify users of sudden price shifts, trend reversals, or significant market news, ensuring timely decision-making. The platform also integrates backtesting tools, enabling users to evaluate strategies against historical market data before committing capital to live trades. Security and accessibility are also key features. Two-factor authentication, SSL encryption for data transmission, and secure server storage protect sensitive information. Cross-device synchronization ensures continuity of operations between desktop and mobile applications, while reporting tools allow performance tracking and risk assessment. Integration with regulated brokers ensures seamless fund transfers and compliance with financial regulations. Together, these features make Bravo Flowdex a comprehensive ecosystem for AI-driven trading in multiple asset classes. Join Bravo Flowdex Now Visit Official Website Now Bravo Flowdex Security Measures and Factual Performance Data Security is a central focus of Bravo Flowdex. The platform employs advanced encryption protocols, including SSL and AES-256, to protect data both in transit and at rest. Multi-layered authentication ensures that only authorized users can access accounts, while continuous server monitoring mitigates potential cyber threats. Two-factor authentication is mandatory for all users, adding an additional security layer to login and transaction processes. Performance data from 2025 highlights the platforms reliability. Real-time notifications and predictive signals allow traders to act swiftly on opportunities, with minimal latency in execution. Uptime is consistently above 99.8%, and backend systems support high-frequency data processing to maintain smooth operations under varying market conditions. Users also benefit from transparent reporting and analytics. Audit logs, risk assessment dashboards, and portfolio tracking ensure full visibility of trading activity. By combining advanced encryption, continuous monitoring, and regulated broker integration, Bravo Flowdex provides a secure and dependable trading environment that emphasizes operational integrity, performance consistency, and user protection. Visit the Official Bravo Flowdex Platform Bravo Flowdex Account Setup Process Step by Step Setting up an account on Bravo Flowdex is designed to be intuitive while maintaining regulatory compliance. Begin by visiting the official Bravo Flowdex website and creating an account with personal details such as full name, email, and contact number. Next, complete the identity verification process by submitting government-issued ID and proof of address, which ensures adherence to KYC standards. After verification, enable two-factor authentication and configure account recovery options to enhance security. Users must then make a minimum deposit of 250 USD to unlock full access to the platforms AI-driven tools and trading features. Once deposited, traders can access the customizable dashboard, explore signal generators, set automated trade rules, and configure notifications. The onboarding process is supported by 24/7 customer service, ensuring guidance through verification, deposits, and technical setup. Detailed step-by-step tutorials are available for new users, ensuring a smooth transition into live trading. This approach balances ease-of-use with robust security and regulatory compliance. Explore Bravo Flowdexs cutting-edge AI platform Visit the Official Website Now Practice Risk-Free with a Demo Account Trade Smarter, Not Harder Bravo Flowdex offers a fully functional demo account, allowing users to experience the platforms capabilities without financial risk. This feature is designed to provide a realistic trading environment with live market data, AI-driven signals, and full access to analytics dashboards. Traders can explore multi-asset trading, including cryptocurrencies, stocks, and commodities, without committing capital. The demo account supports real-time price tracking, portfolio management, and automated trading features, giving users an authentic experience of the platforms functionalities. Through the demo account, users can experiment with different trading strategies, test AI signal recommendations, and refine automated trade rules before deploying them in a live account. Backtesting tools allow simulations based on historical market data, providing insights into potential outcomes and helping traders optimize strategies. Interactive tutorials and step-by-step guides accompany the demo, ensuring that both beginners and experienced traders understand the workflow, AI analytics, and portfolio management tools. By practicing in a risk-free environment, users can gain confidence, familiarize themselves with predictive analytics, and learn how to interpret market trends effectively. The demo account also integrates with the main platform, ensuring a seamless transition to live trading once the user feels ready. This structured approach enables traders to trade smarter, minimize potential mistakes, and make informed decisions when managing live funds, emphasizing strategic learning and operational proficiency within a secure, AI-enhanced environment. How Does Bravo Flowdex Work? Bravo Flowdex operates by integrating AI-powered algorithms with real-time market data, providing traders with predictive insights across multiple asset classes. The platform continuously monitors price movements, trading volumes, and historical trends to generate actionable trading signals. These signals are processed with low latency, allowing traders to execute trades quickly and efficiently. Users can configure AI parameters for automated trading, enabling execution of trades when specific conditions are met, such as price thresholds or trend reversals. The platforms multi-asset support allows simultaneous monitoring of cryptocurrencies, stocks, and commodities. Each asset is tracked with live pricing, volatility analysis, and trend predictions, enabling effective portfolio diversification. The backend infrastructure is designed for high-frequency data processing, ensuring minimal delay between market activity and signal generation. Additionally, dashboards provide comprehensive analytics, including portfolio performance, risk assessment, and trade history. Mobile and web synchronization ensures traders can monitor and execute trades across devices seamlessly. Integration with regulated brokers further secures deposits and withdrawals, creating a reliable and structured environment for strategic, data-driven trading. By combining automation, predictive analytics, and cross-asset monitoring, Bravo Flowdex delivers a responsive ecosystem tailored for modern financial markets. Register on the Bravo Flowdex trading application From Beginner to Pro: Guided Onboarding, 24/7 Support, and Intuitive Design Bravo Flowdexs interface is designed for accessibility, accommodating traders of all experience levels. New users benefit from structured onboarding that includes interactive tutorials, step-by-step guides, and visual dashboards. These resources explain how AI signals, automated trading, and portfolio management tools function, ensuring beginners can navigate the platform confidently without prior technical expertise. Advanced users gain access to customizable dashboards, multi-asset tracking, and automation features that allow precise strategy execution. Real-time notifications, trend analysis, and AI-generated alerts support timely decision-making across all markets. Cross-device compatibility ensures that traders can switch seamlessly between desktop, web, and mobile applications, maintaining operational continuity. The platform also provides 24/7 customer support through multiple channels, including live chat, email, and in-platform messaging. This comprehensive support ensures that all users, regardless of skill level, can resolve technical issues, configure settings, and maximize the use of AI tools. By combining guided onboarding, intuitive design, and round-the-clock assistance, Bravo Flowdex creates a professional-grade trading environment suitable for both beginners and experts. Why Choose Bravo Flowdex? Spain Consumer Report Released Here Regulated, Transparent, and Secure: Why Bravo Flowdex Earns Trust in 2025 Bravo Flowdex prioritizes regulatory compliance, transparency, and security across its operations. The platform adheres to GDPR standards, ensuring legal handling of user data in Europe, and collaborates with regulated brokers for transaction oversight. Mandatory KYC protocols verify the identity of all users, creating a secure and compliant trading environment. Transparency is maintained through detailed transaction records, audit logs, and portfolio performance dashboards. Users can track deposits, withdrawals, and executed trades with complete clarity, while backend systems provide continuous monitoring to ensure operational integrity. AI analytics are applied within this secure framework, generating predictive insights without compromising data privacy. Security measures include two-factor authentication, encrypted data storage, and continuous server monitoring. High uptime and low-latency operations ensure reliable performance, while predictive models are regularly updated using live and historical data. By integrating regulatory adherence, operational transparency, and robust cybersecurity, Bravo Flowdex delivers a trustworthy platform for AI-driven, multi-asset trading. AI-Powered Trading for Beginners and Pros Fast Withdrawals & Demo Access Bravo Flowdex integrates artificial intelligence to provide predictive trading insights for both novice and experienced traders. The AI engine continuously analyzes real-time market data, price fluctuations, and trading volumes to generate actionable signals across multiple asset classes. Users can customize the AI parameters to align with their individual trading strategies, whether for cryptocurrencies, stocks, or commodities. Automated trade execution allows pre-set rules to trigger trades instantly based on market conditions, improving responsiveness and reducing the risk of missed opportunities. The platform supports both beginners and professionals by providing structured tutorials, customizable dashboards, and detailed performance analytics. Beginners can utilize the demo account to understand AI signals, automated trades, and portfolio management, while advanced users can fine-tune predictive algorithms, backtest strategies, and monitor complex multi-asset portfolios. Real-time alerts and notifications ensure that traders remain informed of critical market changes at all times. Additionally, Bravo Flowdex emphasizes fast and secure withdrawals, allowing users to access funds quickly once trades are completed. Integration with regulated brokers ensures compliance with financial standards and enhances transactional reliability. By combining AI-powered analytics, automated execution, demo practice, and efficient fund management, Bravo Flowdex offers a comprehensive ecosystem where both beginners and pros can trade confidently, optimize strategies, and maintain full control over their multi-asset portfolios. Spain traders are already testing Bravo Flowdex 2025 Visit Official Website Bravo Flowdex Cost, Minimum Deposit, and Profit Bravo Flowdex operates with a clear and transparent cost structure. Users are required to make a minimum deposit of 250 USD to activate full access to AI-powered trading tools and analytics dashboards. There are no hidden fees; all financial transactions, including deposits, withdrawals, and automated trades, are fully documented for operational clarity. The platform provides access to predictive AI signals, automated trade execution, trend analysis, and customizable dashboards at no additional cost. Profit potential is determined by market performance and the effectiveness of trading strategies implemented within the platform. Real-time notifications and automated alerts enhance operational efficiency by reducing response time to market changes. Detailed performance reports, portfolio tracking, and historical analytics allow users to refine trading strategies and optimize execution. The combination of low entry cost, transparent fees, and access to professional-grade AI tools ensures that traders understand the financial commitment while leveraging the full capabilities of the platform. This cost structure reinforces the platforms focus on reliability, operational efficiency, and transparency. Countries Where Bravo Flowdex Is Legal Bravo Flowdex is available in multiple countries , aligning its operations with regional financial regulations. The platform collaborates with regulated brokers in Europe, Asia, and North America, ensuring all transactions are legally compliant. GDPR compliance protects European users data, while other regions follow local privacy and financial standards. Trading permissions may vary by jurisdiction, and users should verify regulatory compliance in their country before initiating trades. The platform supports secure fund transfers, cross-border payment methods, and AML/KYC verification protocols, enabling safe global access. Web and mobile applications are optimized for international access, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring, execution, and alerts. By combining global accessibility with regulatory compliance, Bravo Flowdex maintains legal operations while providing users in compliant countries with a secure, multi-asset trading environment. Experience cutting-edge AI trading trusted in Spain Visit Official Bravo Flowdex Website today. Bravo Flowdex Supported Assets Bravo Flowdex provides comprehensive multi-asset support, allowing traders to diversify portfolios within a single platform. Cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and several emerging coins. Stocks and equities cover technology, finance, consumer goods, and energy sectors. Commodities such as gold, silver, and oil are also available for trading, providing additional diversification opportunities. Each asset class benefits from real-time pricing, AI-driven predictive signals, trend tracking, and automated alert notifications. Dashboards allow detailed risk assessment, historical performance evaluation, and portfolio management, supporting strategic decision-making across all supported markets. Backtesting tools let users simulate strategies against historical data, helping to refine approaches before live execution. Multi-asset tracking, cross-device synchronization, and integration with regulated brokers create a unified, professional-grade trading environment where traders can optimize performance, minimize risk, and leverage predictive analytics effectively. Bravo Flowdex Final Verdict Bravo Flowdex combines AI-driven analytics, secure infrastructure, multi-asset support, and a user-friendly interface to deliver a complete 2025 trading ecosystem. Its advanced algorithms generate predictive insights, while automated execution and real-time notifications enhance operational efficiency and trading precision. The platform is fully compliant with GDPR and regional financial regulations, working with regulated brokers to ensure transactional integrity. Users benefit from customizable dashboards, risk assessment tools, portfolio analytics, and multi-device access, ensuring operational continuity and strategic flexibility. Transparent costs, low minimum deposit requirements, and detailed reporting allow users to understand financial commitments and trading operations clearly. Guided onboarding, intuitive design, and 24/7 support ensure accessibility for both beginners and experienced traders. With multi-asset capabilities, predictive AI insights, and robust security, Bravo Flowdex offers a technologically advanced, reliable, and fully integrated environment for modern digital trading needs. Visit Here to Register on the Bravo Flowdex - Select Your Country Here!!! Contact:- Bravo Flowdex 485 Bd de la Gappe, Gatineau, QC J8T 5T9, Canada Trading Assistance: +1 (437) 169-3417 Email: info@bravo-flowdex-solution.com Website: https://bravo-flowdex-solution.com/ General Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Readers are advised to consult a certified financial advisor, licensed loan officer, or legal professional before making any financial decisions. The information presented may not apply to every individual circumstance and is not intended to substitute professional judgment or regulatory guidance. The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the website's content as such. We does not recommend that any cryptocurrency should be bought, sold, or held by you. Do conduct your own due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Trading Disclaimer: Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade cryptocurrency you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor. ICO's, IEO's, STO's and any other form of offering will not guarantee a return on your investment. HIGH RISK WARNING: Dealing or Trading FX, CFDs and Cryptocurrencies is highly speculative, carries a level of non-negligible risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You may lose some or all of your invested capital, therefore you should not speculate with capital that you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to the risk disclosure below. Bravo Flowdex does not gain or lose profits based on your activity and operates as a services company. Bravo Flowdex is not a financial services firm and is not eligible of providing financial advice. Therefore, Bravo Flowdex shall not be liable for any losses occurred via or in relation to this informational website. SITE RISK DISCLOSURE: Bravo Flowdex does not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information contained within this website; this includes education material, price quotes and charts, and analysis. Please be aware of and seek professional advice for the risks associated with trading the financial markets; never invest more money than you can risk losing. The risks involved in FX, CFDs and Cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for all investors. Bravo Flowdex doesn''t retain responsibility for any trading losses you might face as a result of using or inferring from the data hosted on this site. LEGAL RESTRICTIONS: Without limiting the above mentioned provisions, you understand that laws regarding financial activities vary throughout the world, and it is your responsibility to make sure you properly comply with any law, regulation or guideline in your country of residence regarding the use of the Site. To avoid any doubt, the ability to access our Site does not necessarily mean that our Services and/or your activities through the Site are legal under the laws, regulations or directives relevant to your country of residence. It is against the law to solicit US individuals to buy and sell commodity options, even if they are called "prediction" contracts, unless they are listed for trading and traded on a CFTC-registered exchange unless legally exempt. The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a policy statement PS20/10, which prohibits the sale, promotion, and distribution of CFD on Crypto assets. It prohibits the dissemination of marketing materials relating to distribution of CFDs and other financial products based on Cryptocurrencies that addressed to United Kingdom/ Spain residents. The provision of trading services involving any MiFID II financial instruments is prohibited in the EU, unless when authorized/licensed by the applicable authorities and/or regulator(s). Please note that we may receive advertising fees for users opted to open an account with our partner advertisers via advertisers websites. We have placed cookies on your computer to help improve your experience when visiting this website. You can change cookie settings on your computer at any time. Use of this website indicates your acceptance of this website. Please be advised that the names depicted on our website, including but not limited to Bravo Flowdex, are strictly for marketing and illustrative purposes. These names do not represent or imply the existence of specific entities, service providers, or any real-life individuals. Furthermore, the pictures and/or videos presented on our website are purely promotional in nature and feature professional actors. These actors are not actual users, clients, or traders, and their depictions should not be interpreted as endorsements or representations of real-life experiences. All content is intended solely for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as factual or as forming any legally binding relationship RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURES TRADING Futures transactions involve high risk. The amount of the initial margin is low compared to the value of the futures contract, so that transactions are "leveraged" or "geared". A relatively small market movement has a proportionately larger impact on the funds that you have deposited or have to pay: this can work both for you and against you. You may experience the total loss of the initial margin funds as well as any additional funds deposited in the system. If the market develops in a way that is contrary to your position or if margins are increased, you may be asked to pay significant additional funds at short notice to maintain your position. In this case it may also happen that your broker account is in the red and you thus have to make payments beyond the initial investment. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRONIC TRADING Before you begin carrying out transactions with an electronic system, you should carefully review the rules and provisions of the stock exchange offering the system, or of the financial instruments listed that you intend to trade, as well as your broker's conditions. Online trading has inherent risks due to system responses/reaction times and access times that may vary due to market conditions, system performance and other factors, and on which you have no influence. You should be aware of these additional risks in electronic trading before you carry out investment transactions. Accuracy Disclaimer: All information included in this article is presented in good faith and believed to be accurate at the time of writing. However, no representations or warranties are made regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information presented. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader's own risk. The publisher does not accept responsibility for typographical errors, outdated information, or changes to products, terms, or policies after publication. Regulatory and Jurisdictional Disclaimer: Lending laws vary by jurisdiction, and not all services described in this article may be available in every state or region. It is the responsibility of the reader to understand and comply with local laws and regulations. The platforms mentioned are independently operated and are not controlled or endorsed by the publisher. Third-Party Liability Waiver: The publisher, its writers, editors, affiliates, and syndication partners shall not be held liable for any direct or indirect loss, damages, or legal claims arising from the use of this content or from reliance on any third-party services, platforms, or products mentioned herein. All loan agreements, terms, and disputes are strictly between the borrower and the lender or service provider. Syndication Partner Use: This content may be republished or syndicated by authorized partners under existing licensing or distribution arrangements. All syndication partners are free from liability regarding the editorial stance, financial suggestions, or any user outcome resulting from the reading or application of this content. Attachment The Reputational Arms Race How It All Began Works for Some, Not All For three-quarters of a century, people in distant parts of the country have heard the word "Oklahoma" and thought of an idyllic place with corn as high as an elephant's eye, fringe-covered surreys, boisterous barn-raisings and cowboys who could belt out a tune. "We know we belong to the land," Curly sings at the end of the beloved musical,, "and the land we belong to is grand." Then the whole cast signs off with the words "Oklahoma OK!" It's a matchless celebration of state pride.And as far back as almost anyone can remember, "Oklahoma OK" has been the state's slogan and overall promotional icon. It's so evocative that no one has dared to challenge it. But Matt Pinnell is determined to. As lieutenant governor and secretary of tourism, he thinks 75 years of Rodgers and Hammerstein are enough. He is on a single-minded crusade to give the state a new slogan, a new icon and perhaps a new self-image. He calls it Project Blue Sky. "You have a whole generation that sees Oklahoma as just OK," he told me, "and they are underwhelmed by that. We need to create a wholesale rebrand. If we don't define who we are, 49 other states will define it for us."This summer, Pinnell convened a "branding summit" of nearly 100 Oklahomans, many from the advertising or public relations business, to talk about a new identity for the state. By the end of the year, he hopes to have one.Pinnell's crusade may be the most ambitious effort of its kind anywhere in the country. But the fact is that states all over America are into rebranding these days, trying to find images that not only convey pride but are also the centerpiece of an aggressive economic development campaign. Over the past decade, for example, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have struggled to outdo each other in the unveiling of new promotional schemes.Michigan deserves most of the credit for starting this reputational arms race. In 2006, in the midst of hard economic times and with the help of a national advertising agency, it launched "Pure Michigan," an evocation of clean wholesomeness that state tourism officials credit with lifting the entire state's spirits and attracting visitors. It's a little hard to see how it did that. Crystal clear lakes and virgin forests can fairly be described as "pure Michigan," but so can the empty factories of Flint and the burned-out neighborhoods of Detroit. Nevertheless, the seeming success of this promotional campaign put its neighboring states on the defensive. "Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota have a lot of the same tourist products," a Wisconsin tourism official explained a couple of years ago. "So we want to be different. Who are we compared to Michigan? Who are we compared to Minnesota?"For decades, Wisconsin was content to be "America's Dairyland." Those words began appearing on the state's license plates in 1948, and they are still there. But they are not as ubiquitous as they once were. In an effort to match Michigan, the state now comes up with a new slogan -- or what it calls a tagline -- just about every year. For a while it was "Wisconsin: It's More You!" Then they went with "When You're Having Fun, We're Having Fun." This year, if you go to the state tourism website, you get "Escape to Wisconsin!" None of those do a great deal for me. I'm fine with tourism officials having fun, but I wouldn't visit a state just to show them a good time. Still, they keep trying.So does Minnesota. Millions of Americans are familiar with its "10,000 lakes" nickname, which has appeared on its license plates since 1950. But this year, apparently worried that the old standby was holding them back, the state launched an ambitious new promotional campaign with the slogan "Find Your True North," and featured it in print, digital and TV ads all over the Midwest. The state tourism director explained that "north helps define us in a way globally that we've never been able to achieve before. I think it will really put Minnesota on the map in a new and unique way." The governor, Tim Walz, told a press conference that the new slogan is a testament to the state's pluckiness and endurance. "When the rest of the country was finding out how cold it was in Minnesota," he told reporters, "Minnesotans were going on with their daily lives, not panicking."No doubt some potential vacationers will find "true north" an appealing attraction. Others may see it and think "Minnesota: Don't Come in the Winter." But state slogans, like all advertising gimmicks, are a roll of the dice. You never know what effect they will have.The modern era of sloganeering actually began in the 1970s, with the introduction of "I New York!" and "Virginia Is for Lovers." These are often described as the most effective campaigns of their kind ever conceived. Both states are still using them.Virginia's was actually a bit of an accident. It was originally supposed to be "Virginia Is for History Lovers." Then a Richmond ad agency argued that lovers of all kinds deserved to be included as well. After that it took off. Ever since, states have been trying to come up with something equally good. Often they fail rather spectacularly. Not everyone understood that "Kansas: Land of Ahhs" was a reference to the wizard and Judy Garland. That slogan didn't last very long. Neither did Iowa's "State of Minds," which was supposed to advertise the superior intelligence of its residents. That one disappeared quickly as well.But the award for the most bizarre slogan of recent times probably should go to Washington state, which hit the media in 2006 with "SayWA." Some people who saw it thought they were being advised to cry like a baby. In fact, "saywa" means "landmark" in the South American language of Aymara, spoken by about two and a half million people in the Andes. Perhaps state officials were trying to generate an influx of Latin American vacationers. But it, too, disappeared rather quickly. A tourism company manager pronounced the ultimate verdict on it: "35 years ago I smoked dope and probably could have come up with something like that."Those failures are not discouraging states from to continuing the search for slogan magic. Nebraska, for example, was content for many years with "The Good Life," which strikes me as the sort of simple and appealing image that any state would want. But last year, reacting to decades of low tourism numbers -- frequently the lowest in the country -- it hired an out-of-state advertising firm to try to find something really different. And it did. Nebraska announced that its new slogan would be "Nebraska: Honestly, It's Not for Everyone."It was not a universally popular choice. It was translated by some critics as telling potential visitors that they weren't wanted. Perhaps surprisingly, though, it went viral on social media and seemed to strike a chord within the state. Lots of Nebraskans interpreted it as a signal that their state was in fact superior to critics who called it dull, and deserved a visit from outsiders of better-than-average taste and curiosity. The tourism commission explained that "because of the marketing challenge Nebraska faces, the campaign needs to be disruptive. ... The new approach addresses people's preconceived notions about the state, using self-deprecating humor."The constant comings-and-goings in the state promotion game make it hard to generalize. But a few points seem indisputable. One is that traditional slogans, often simply calling attention to what the state has always been proud of, are giving way to slogans that are at the core of a sophisticated marketing effort. It hasn't happened everywhere. Connecticut still calls itself "the Constitution State." Illinois is still "the Land of Lincoln." But both of those states, like virtually all others, have experimented with more market-driven images in recent years. The evolution from "America's Dairyland" to "Escape to Wisconsin" is fairly typical of what's taking place all over.What's also clear is that some states have ready-made images to market and others don't. The ones that do have clear images are often the smaller ones: Vermont, Montana and New Mexico, for example. But that's not universally true. Texas is huge, but it has a universally familiar identity that it can promote. So does New York.On the other hand, what's the unique selling proposition for Ohio? Or Pennsylvania? Neither of them has an obvious statewide image that it can use to motivate its residents or appeal to outsiders. That's why you see rather bland efforts such as "Pennsylvania: Pursue Your Happiness" or "Ohio: So Much to Discover."Oklahoma stands somewhere in the middle. It has a strong historical self-image, but not anything that suggests an obvious marketing campaign for the 21st century. The lieutenant governor is determined to create one. With enough effort, he might succeed. But it might not be a bad idea to keep Rodgers and Hammerstein around for a while, just in case the bold new idea fizzles out. For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers. At least one dead, 30 injured in massive enemy attack on city of Dnipro, region One person was killed and 30 injured in a large-scale missile and UAV attack on Dnipro and the surrounding region, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration chief Serhiy Lysak reported on Telegram. Twelve are hospitalized, one is in serious condition, he has burns on 70% of his body, doctors are fighting for his life, Lysak wrote. Several fires broke out in Dnipro and the district. Apartment buildings, private homes, outbuildings, and garages were damaged. Enterprises were also hit. A facility in Pavlohrad was struck, causing a fire. In the Nikopol area, Russian forces attacked with FPV drones and artillery, targeting the district center and Pokrovske community. A private home caught fire, the Regional Military Administration head detailed. According to the Regional Military Administration, the cleanup operation is currently ongoing, with all emergency services working at the scene. The massive enemy air strike on the Dnipro city has resulted in widespread destruction and damage to residential buildings and educational institutions in various parts of the city, including the electric transport depot, Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov reported on Saturday. More than 22 buildings were damaged. The heaviest damage was in a high-rise building on the right bank. Specialists are currently inspecting it At the same time, eight schools and kindergartens, as well as the buildings and dormitories of two vocational schools, were damaged The attackers also hit the building of the municipal service that cares for animals. The animals are frightened, but unharmed, he wrote on Telegram. He noted that utility workers will begin work as soon as the State Emergency Service and law enforcement allow. According to Filatov, the electric transport depot and several trolleybuses were damaged, and the overhead lines are broken, which is being repaired by specialists. Fornaroli confirms F1 talks amid Alpine speculation Leonardo Fornaroli has admitted he is already speaking with Formula 1 teams about 2026, as Alpine's driver plans remain the subject of paddock gossip. Paul Aron, Italian GP 2025 Alpine My manager and I are doing a great job and are starting to hold discussions with F1 teams for next year, the Formula 2 points leader told Sky Italia in Baku. I, however, am focused on the end of this season, with the goal of winning. That comes just days after reports linked the 20-year-old Italian with Alpine, where Flavio Briatore is weighing up options to partner Pierre Gasly next year. The speculation has fed into a reawakened silly season in Baku, with some suggesting Mercedes could place Kimi Antonelli at Williams - opening the door for Carlos Sainz to return to Brackley alongside George Russell. But journalist Roberto Chinchero told Sky Italia he doubts Antonelli is headed elsewhere. "He has a contract with Brackley, and I don't think there will be any problems, especially if he gets good results in the next races. And the Williams option also seems difficult to me. Alpine advisor Briatore, meanwhile, appeared to rule out options like Fornaroli or Antonelli altogether. It's a choice between Franco (Colapinto) and Paul (Aron), he said. "I have to figure out which of them is the best choice for the team. I need another race or two to make a decision. (GMM) Horner payout rumours swirl in Baku paddock Talk in Baku suggests Christian Horner could walk away from Red Bull with a severance package worth close to $100 million. Christian Horner, British GP 2025 Red Bull There's a lot of speculation, former F1 driver Christijan Albers told Viaplay. I'm really surprised, because I heard today that they're settling for almost a hundred million severance payment. Horner, ousted after a long internal power struggle that began with last year's sexting scandal, is yet to confirm his next move in Formula 1. It is rumoured he still had five years left on his Red Bull contract. Then I thought, how is that possible? Albers continued. He was earning eight million a year, so that's forty million. Where did the other sixty million come from? There are a lot of rumours going around, the Dutchman added. "I've heard he might even want to buy his way into Haas. There were also rumours he was going to Cadillac, but that female employee works there now. That's where the lawsuit stems from, so I'd rule that out. You also see him flirting with Alpine and Haas, but he has to wait and see if there's a settlement first. (GMM) McLaren Formula 1 Team Lando Norris (10th, 1:42.199): A bit frustrating to have made that small but costly mistake, but Id rather push and find the limits, than not. The day was going well until then and the car felt good, so were still in a reasonable place. The competition is looking close, but well do what we can heading into Saturday. Oscar Piastri (12th, 1:42.295): A mixed day. The pace is there but it hasnt been the easiest to extract it. We had an issue in FP1, but the team did a great job to get us back out on track. We tried a few things in FP2 which seemed to keep us progressing. Well see what we can change this evening to keep us on that track. Still a lot of positives from the day so looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow. Andrea Stella, Team Principal: A disruptive Friday in Baku with multiple Red and Yellow Flags interrupting both sessions. We know this is a tight circuit with little room for mistakes and today was tougher than we wanted with stop-start running making it difficult to get a clean rhythm. The team worked hard to investigate an issue with Oscars PU in Free Practice 1 which was quickly rectified allowing Oscar to get back on track, thankfully having missed little running due to the Red Flag. On Landos side he had some contact with the wall when pushing to the limit in Free Practice 2, unfortunately cutting his session short. Oscar also brushed the wall on his new tyre run, so we didnt have a chance to demonstrate our true pace this afternoon. Despite these interruptions, we have been able to collect some important data that can be taken away tonight. We will consolidate our learnings as a team and refine what we can in order to make steps forward in tomorrows final practice session. Todays sessions confirm we can expect another tight and competitive challenge for Pole in Qualifying tomorrow. Scuderia Ferrari HP Lewis Hamilton (1st, 1:41.293): Overall, it was a constructive day. The first session was challenging as I needed to get used to the brakes, but we made some good changes for FP2. The car felt much better, everything started to come together, and my confidence grew lap by lap. It was really positive to have such a strong second session, probably my best FP2 of the year so far, and shows the progress were making. There are still a few areas we can improve for tomorrow, but I believe were moving in the right direction. Charles Leclerc (2nd, 1:41.367): I think theres more potential this weekend. I did a solid job today, but I want to extract more. Our competitors seem to be very strong and I expect to see some surprises in qualifying tomorrow, but anything can happen on this track, so we will see whats on the cards. Well fight for a good starting position tomorrow. Oracle Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen (6th, 1:41.902): It wasnt too bad today. Building up to it, the car felt quite good which was positive for us. We found a stable balance and this needs to be quite particular for the layout of this track. Everything needs to come together to produce a good lap and we are still working to find more on the one lap and to gain more confidence. We are fine tuning little bits and hopefully tomorrow the car will be better. The long runs felt okay, it is always going to be slippery around here and tough on the tyres with the softer compounds, but it is not too bad. Ferrari are always pretty fast around here and I do expect a few things to be close. It will all come down to driving a perfect lap in Qualifying or getting your tyres in a good window. With such a long straight you can get lucky with a tow as well. Yuki Tsunoda (14th, 1:42.444): Driving here in Baku is always a little bit different, so its important to get as much information from each session. Overall, it was a good day. In the short run there is some room to improve but its good that were experiencing it on Friday so we can perform well tomorrow. In FP2, we mainly focussed on the long runs and that felt a lot better and I havent had that feeling a lot this year. The car is making sense so far which is a real positive and lap by lap were getting there. Were going to stay positive, keep going in the right direction and see what we can do tomorrow. Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Racing: Baku presents another unique challenge and it is almost a lap of two halves, where we have a two kilometre long straight and a sequence of multiple low speed corners. It is challenging to pick our downforce level, to not only be optimum in lap time in Qualifying but to ensure we are raceable across multiple factors on Sunday. Thats one challenge and the other is that this is a street track, so it is very bumpy, which causes a few gremlins under braking. So, there have been some tweaks mechanically across both cars, both in session and across sessions, to try and optimise our platform. Looking ahead to Quali and the race, there is an unusual tyre selection across the grid, across both sessions and most people are opting to focus on the Soft tyre. We, therefore, have some analyse to do this evening to really look into the programme for Qualifying, while making sure we are on top of our long run game on Sunday, which could be impacted by lower than usual track temperatures here. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team George Russell (3rd, 1:41.770): That was an encouraging Friday for us here in Azerbaijan. We opted to complete our programme on the Soft compound only today and that made judging our overall limitations a little more tricky than usual. It is a long lap in Baku and the rear tyres are often suffering, particularly in the final sector. With the softest compounds in the range being used here, we knew the C6 would struggle to hold on throughout. With that said, we still ended the day in the top four in both sessions and know weve still got further improvements we can make. We also carry all our sets of the C5 Medium tyre into the rest of the weekend, and we hope that will be an advantage for us over some of our competitors. I am now looking forward to resting up tonight, getting back to 100 per cent, and coming back strong for the rest of the weekend. We know it will once again be tight with our competitors, with Ferrari looking impressive and McLaren not yet showing their hand. If we can build on today though, then theres no reason we cant be in the fight for the podium on race day. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (4th, 1:41.779): We had a pretty positive day out there. As its a street circuit, you want to build up your pace and confidence over several sessions and that is what I was focused on doing. We had a big interruption to FP1 which cost everyone some track running, but the car felt good in FP2 and that put us P4 on the timing screens. There is still work for us to do and improvements for us to find but today was a day we can build on going into the rest of the weekend. Our realistic aim is to be in the fight for the podium on Sunday. McLaren couldnt show their full pace today and Ferrari looked quick on both the Soft and Medium compounds, so were not getting carried away. We opted to only run the Soft tyre today and hopefully that helps over the rest of the weekend. It will be tricky adjusting to the other compounds when we first run them but were confident that this is the right approach. Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director: With any street circuit, if you get through the programme without any damage, its normally a solid day. Both drivers did a good job, gradually finding time as the track improved and evolving the setup for the increasing grip. In terms of pace, we look to be in the mix but a good Friday here doesnt always carry into the rest of the weekend so we cant take anything for granted. With a C6/C5/C4 tyre allocation here in Azerbaijan, all teams had some tough strategic decisions to take today. As we saw in both Imola and Montreal with this selection, there was a likelihood that the Medium tyre would be faster over the single lap than the Soft. With a long lap here in Baku where the rears often suffer in the final sector, this possibility looked to increase. We therefore opted to save all of our mediums for Saturday and Sunday. That will keep our options open for qualifying and the Grand Prix. Hopefully that decision will play out in our favour over the rest of the weekend. Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Lance Stroll (17th, 1:42.771): We were getting some good laps in throughout both practice sessions today and collecting information to help in Qualifying tomorrow and for the race. Weather conditions are meant to be quite windy, so well have to see how that impacts our performance tomorrow in Qualifying. Fernando Alonso (19th, 1:42.967): Its always a fun challenge around this tight and fast circuit. Looking at the lap-times it appears we still have some pace to find this weekend. You need to balance downforce and drag at this track and thats where we need to improve. Lets see what we can find overnight. BWT Alpine F1 Team Pierre Gasly (16th, 1:42.674): This is definitely one of those tracks which gets your attention right from the very first lap. It is a place where you need to have some patience and build up the speed and confidence bit by bit, especially the first few laps when the track is not in its best shape. Still, it is a real thrill with such high-speed. It is not an easy track for us and we knew that going into the race weekend. We know what we need to work on and we will try and optimise what we have in our hands. Today we tried different set-ups and different wing levels to see what the best direction is to take. I think we have found the areas to work on so we will aim to find improvements in Free Practice 3 ahead of Qualifying. Franco Colapinto (20th, 1:43.322): It was nice to get back out there today on a track which brings me fond memories from last year. The circuit gives you a good feeling behind the wheel and, similar to other street tracks, its somewhere you need to build up and not take too much risk on a Friday. We put in some clean laps and have a lot of data to go through tonight to be prepared for Qualifying, which will be the focus to peak at the right time. It was tricky out there today with some stoppages and yellow flags and we still have work to do to find more performance. There were some interesting differences up and down the grid in terms of tyre strategy for a single lap, so lets see how things pan out tomorrow. MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Oliver Bearman (5th, 1:41.891): The lap time was very good and weve had a good car all day, honestly. We were struggling a bit with top speed in FP1, but we improved that in FP2 and now we look to be in the fight. Ive had a good feeling with the car, which is the most important thing, so now we need to work overnight to make sure we get everything together for qualifying. Esteban Ocon (8th, 1:42.167): From FP1, we saw that the grip was pretty decent, and weve tried a lot of things across the cars, so now we need to choose whats best out there for tomorrow. I see some areas were lacking, but in corners we look pretty decent. Looking ahead to qualifying we split who ran which tire in FP2, I ran on softs while Ollie used mediums, and now we need to look into the data and see what our engineers say as to which option is best. Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: It was a decent Friday. I think weve got our homework done and gathered a lot of data from drivers. FP2 wasnt perfect as we had an issue on Ollies car, but considering that, we got all the data we needed, so we can analyze it tonight. We need to pick the right set-up configuration, finetune it all, and understand the tires tomorrow morning, before delivering it in qualifying. Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team Liam Lawson (7th, 1:41.989): Its been a good day for us. I havent raced here in a few years and it feels very different to what I remember in F2. I think they did a great job at cleaning the track this weekend as it has good grip from the outset so were driving a little faster than Qualifying times. We always aim to be in the top ten each weekend, so it of course feels good to be there at the end of FP2. The consistency of the car has been very strong recently, so we need to continue to chase the small margins. Isack Hadjar (13th, 1:42.443): It didnt feel great out there today. Ive been struggling to find the limits of the car, its still very inconsistent, and my own driving needs work as well, especially in Sector 2. I have a clear idea of the changes I want to make to the car setup and the areas I need to improve on my side. Im feeling quite confident for tomorrow, and hopefully we can reach Q3. Mattia Spini, Chief Race Engineer: Baku remains one of the toughest venues on the calendar, combining a low-downforce street layout with close walls, a bumpy surface and significant track-grip evolution. Pirellis choice of compounds being one step softer than last year has added to the challenge, making tyre usage and management key factors for the weekend. In FP1 both drivers finished in the middle of the timesheets, with room to improve through further driving refinement and setup work. During FP2 we alternated the C5 and C6 tyres across the two cars to gather comparative data. Liam closed a competitive lap, while Isack did not maximize his attempt. With cooler temperatures and shifting winds expected tomorrow, the team will use todays findings to assemble the best possible package for qualifying and the race. Williams Racing Alexander Albon (9th, 1:42.177): Today was about tyre learnings. First thing was to get on top of our programme for this weekend and trying to find the middle ground in terms of whats optimal for the car and whats optimal over one lap. I think were in a good flow right now, Im happy with the car and Im happy with the balance. Although I would like it to stay dry for the rest of the weekend. If theres rain or weather tomorrow it puts us in a bit more of an unknown side, at the same time, it might make us even quicker. But for the most part, I think weve been in a good rhythm from FP1 and continued it into FP2. Carlos Sainz (11th, 1:42.255): Interesting day for us today. FP1 was quite messy and we were caught out constantly by yellow flags. FP2 however was a better session and Im happy with our long runs. We seem to struggle again with the softer compound so we need to keep looking for something more for Quali. I think tomorrow the Soft and Medium tyres are going to be extremely close, so we might see different approaches and this will spice things up in Qualifying. Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber Gabriel Bortoleto (15th, 1:42.561): Overall, it was a decent day, despite the tricky conditions. Several drivers went straight into the run-off I had a couple of those moments too but thats just part of pushing to the edge. As a positive, we learned a lot about our limits, and that gives us something solid to build on ahead of Quali. Im feeling good about the work we can do tonight and Im looking forward to seeing what we can achieve tomorrow. Nico Hulkenberg (18th, 1:42.820): It was a classic Friday - nothing out of the ordinary. We ran through our programme, focused on understanding the way to optimise our cars balance and on where we can improve. Looking at the lap times, theres still some work to do, but overall, it was a solid baseline to build on. Now its about fine-tuning things ahead of the next two days. As of now, it is known that dozens of people have been injured from the shelling large-scale air attack on Saturday night, and three people were killed. Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel. As of now, we know of dozens of people injured from the shelling, and, unfortunately, 3 people killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones, he wrote. He said that the enemy launched 40 missiles cruise and ballistic and about 580 drones of various types. The enemy launched 40 missiles cruise and ballistic and about 580 drones of various types. I thank all our warriors who defended the skies throughout the night, and our F-16 pilots, who once again proved their prowess today and effectively countered the cruise missile threat against Ukraine, he said. Zelenskyy wrote that the strikes targeted Dnipro and the region, as well as Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhia regions, and communities in Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises. In Dnipro, a missile with cluster munitions directly struck an apartment building. Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure. That is why a strong international response is needed. Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe, but for a reliable shield, we must act together: strengthen air defense, increase weapons supplies, and expand sanctions against Russias military machine and the sectors that finance it. Every restriction on Russia saves lives. I thank everyone who helps and supports us, Zelenskyy said. Xiaomi is getting ready to unveil the 17 series later this month, and ahead of that Lu Weibing, the company's President, took to Weibo to compare the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. You can see his hands-on with both in the short video below. The point of this was to assuage people's fears that Xiaomi copied the camera island design from Apple - he's basically saying you can see how different they are. But, if you ignore Xiaomi's screen occupying the island, we can't really see that much of a difference. Xiaomi says the design was inspired by the Mi 11 Ultra from 2021, and it's your choice if you believe that or not. Similarly, the company insists it hasn't jumped over the 16 generation in order to align with Apple's naming scheme, which is just ridiculous considering it's even bringing a "Pro Max" of its own to the table. Lu says the 17 series will become available in China before October 1, and confirms they will be the first devices equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, due to be unveiled on September 23. Xiaomi has also secured a longer than usual exclusivity period for the chip, so don't expect any competing devices to launch before October. The Xiaomi 17 Pro will be priced between CNY 5,000 and CNY 6,000 ($700 to $850), while the Pro Max will be priced between CNY 6,000 and CNY 7,000 ($850 to $1,000). Those are obviously Chinese market prices, and if these two ever launch internationally, expect a hefty premium on top. The rear screen can be used for call handling, music control, to display travel information, countdowns, and it can act as a full camera viewfinder so you can elevate your selfies by using the rear cameras to take them. Lu likens it to the cover displays on foldable flip phones. Via Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that violation of Estonia airspace by Russian military aircraft is not accident, but it is a systematic Russian campaign directed against Europe, against NATO, he wrote on his official Telegram channel on Friday, September 19. Russian military aircraft once again violated NATO airspacethis time over Estonia. Outrageous. Russias destabilizing activity is expanding into new countries and directions. They use every tool: from interference in political processes, as in Romania and Moldova, to violations of airspace, as in Poland, Romania, and now Estonia, Zelenskyy wrote, adding that these are not accidents. This is a systematic Russian campaign directed against Europe, against NATO, against the West. And it requires a systemic response. Strong action must be takenboth collectively and individually by each nation. Russia must feel increasing pain from the worlds pressure, first and foremost through its economy, and that is best ensured by sanctions. At the same time, Russias war losses must continue to rise, which is best achieved by a strong Ukrainian army, Zelenskyy said. Jury selection in the murder trial of Isaac Gurtamag will begin Wednesday despite ongoing scheduling challenges and interpreter concerns raised during a pretrial conference. Gurtamag who appeared before Superior Court Judge Vernon Perez Friday is accused of the December 2023 killing of Mike Tithin, who was found dead behind a residence in Mangilao. He is charged with murder as a first-degree felony with special allegation of possession or use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. During the pretrial conference, Perez acknowledged the packed court calendar but reaffirmed his commitment to moving the case forward. If we have to take a day or two between selection and again, opening statements for the Gurtamag case, we will do that, he said. But I have an interest, yes, to complete the trial were currently in as quickly as possible. Im trying to be efficient. And there are only so many hours in the day, of course. Prosecutor Curtis Van de Veld, who is concurrently trying another case before Judge Perez, warned that overlapping trials may create delays. The anticipation, or the aspiration, was to be able to complete the evidence today, Van de Veld said. But it does not appear that thats going to happen. It appears that evidence probably is going to go all the way through to maybe the end of the day on Monday, maybe a little bit longer. Van de Veld said he will need a two-day period between the files and does not expect to be able to start immediately. Despite the scheduling conflict, Perez told Van de Veld to be prepared to manage both trials simultaneously. Van de Veld also requested consideration for travel plans due to his 40th wedding anniversary and raised logistical concerns about interpreter needs. He said most witnesses in the case speak the Yapese language, which will necessitate additional interpreting services. Defense attorney William Bischoff said most of the witnesses who are Yapese speak English but might require some help with specific words during testimony. He suggested the possible need for an additional language interpreter to assist. Perez acknowledged the challenge of securing appropriate interpreters and the requirement for separate interpreters for the defendant and the witnesses and committed to securing appropriate language support for the trial. We will work as well as we can to make sure we have additional interpreters in the Yapese language, the judge said. Perez confirmed that two interpreters will be required: one for Gurtamag and another for witnesses. The court is working to coordinate interpreter services and accommodate counsels scheduling requests while staying on track to begin proceedings. Were going to work with everyones schedule best we can. But again, this trial has been planned. Were going to have it go forward. We will move things as best we can, Perez said. So you let me know what your interests may be. Well do our best to accommodate. On Dec. 23, 2023, police found Tithin dead behind a residence in Mangilao with a possible stab wound. A woman who saw the body did not know him. Police identified Tithin by clothes nearby containing his ID. Gurtamag, Tithins cousin, told police they were at a Mangilao home when an argument broke out, and Tithin became angry. Gurtamag said he told Tithin to sleep it off and later found him missing, court documents state. A woman known to Gurtamag said he told her that during the argument, Tithin allegedly threatened to shoot him, prompting Gurtamag to retrieve a knife in self-defense. She saw Gurtamag carrying a long object and pursuing Tithin by vehicle but did not know if he stabbed him. Police said Tithin had previously damaged Gurtamags car. Haiti - FLASH : Kenyan Commander Godfrey Otunge provides an update on progress made Godfrey Otunge, Mission Commander, said in a note that he is proud to note the progress made to date, which demonstrates the collective commitment to peace and stability in Haiti. Godfrey Otunge recalls "The Multinational Security Support {MSS) Mission, in close partnership with the Haitian authorities, the Haitian National Police {HNP), and with the steadfast support of international stakeholders, proudly reflects on the progress made to date progress that underscores our collective commitment to fostering peace and stability in Haiti. ln 2023, Kenya answered the international call to support Haiti by agreeing to deploy security personnel to confront gang violence in Port-au-Prince and beyond. Despite challenges of distance, language, risk, and the absence of a UN mandate, Kenya stood firm in its pledge, committing over 1,000 personnel to the mission. Today, 750 Kenyan officers are deployed in Haiti, with an additional 250 on standby at home. Kenya also undertook the responsibility of leading this unprecedented mission, which combines both police and military components in direct combat operations against gangs. Since our deployment on 25 June 2024, the MSS has operated un der a guiding conviction: that this is a mission possible. Our singular objective has been to support the Haitian National Police in restoring security, disrupting gang activity, and creating the conditions necessary for free and fair elections. The results are tangible. Criminal networks have been disrupted, major gang attacks repelled, and strategic areas in and around Port-au-Prince liberated from gang control. As a result, schools have reopened, markets are thriving again, hospitals such as Albert Schweitzer and others have resumed operations, and families are returning to their homes. MSS forces have also reclaimed critical infrastructure including the international airport, seaport, and the Peligre Dam laying the groundwork for renewed stability. Joint operations with the HNP have reduced violence significantly, reopened vital routes in downtown Port-au-Prince, Kenscoff, Furcy, Delmas, Thomassin, and Teleco, among others. The establishment of Forward Operating Bases in Port Sonde, downtown, IGPNH and at the Police Academy has further strengthened security, creating much-needed space for communities to rebuild their lives. These achievements ultimately belong to the Haitian people. They reflect their resilience, hope, and determination supported by the dedication of MSS personnel from the Bahamas, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Kenya who together are helping pave the way for Haiti's renewal. Respect for human rights remains central to our mission. ln July 2025, the MSS marked one year of strict adherence to its zero-toleran policy against hum an rights violations and sexual exploitation and abuse. This milestone affirms our commitment to internationally recognized standards and the guiding principles of the Mission. Of course, progress has not corne without sacrifice. We honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in pursuit of peace, and we stand in solidarity with th ose who sustained injuries in the line of duty. Their courage will forever rem a in part of the legacy of this mission. As with any undertaking of this scale, challenges persist whether in funding, personnel, or logistics. Yet, despite these constraints, the MSS has continued to deliver visible and meaningfu I results with the resources at hand. As the current UN mandate un der Resolution 2751 approaches its conclusion, we look forward to a renewed framework that builds on the foundation already laid. We trust in the leadership of the United Nations and the support of the international community to ensure a sustainable path forward for Haiti. ln the meantime, our personnel rem a in fully engaged conducting patrols, maintaining security, and working hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity and responsibility in o ur sh ared mission. Today, the MSS stands as a testament to the power of international cooperation and steadfast resolve. The stability restored in key areas, the hope rekindled among communities, and the resilience of the Haitian people all demonstrate what can be achieved when nations unite behind a common purpose. While challenges remain, our commitment to Haiti's security, peace, and prosperity is unwavering. Together with our partners, stakeholders, and above all, the Haitian people we remain united in purpose and resolute in our mission." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... USD 3 Million fonation from Taiwan On Friday, September 19, 2025, Cheng-Hao Hu, Ambassador of Taiwan (Republic of China) to Haiti, presented a USD 3 million donation to assist displaced Haitians at a ceremony organized by the Haitian Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) for the "Kore Rep" People's Assistance Program. This financial support demonstrates the sincere friendship and continued solidarity that unites the Taiwanese and Haitian people. USA : More than 23,000 weapons seized this year for Haiti On Friday, September 19, 2025, the U.S. Embassy revealed on X that the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Service had seized this year "more than 23,000 weapons [accessories and ammunition] and narcotics destined for Haiti," stating, "The United States will continue to work with Haiti to end arms and narcotics trafficking. Haiti's security is important to the United States." Economic Relations between France and HaitiUSD 3 Million Donation from Taiwan On Friday, September 19, 2025, Cheng-Hao Hu, Ambassador of Taiwan (Republic of China) to Haiti, presented a USD 3 million donation to assist displaced Haitians at a ceremony organized by the Haitian Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) for the "Kore Rep" People's Assistance Program. This financial support demonstrates the sincere friendship and continued solidarity that unites the Taiwanese and Haitian people. USA: More than 23,000 weapons seized this year for Haiti On Friday, September 19, 2025, the U.S. Embassy revealed on X that the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Service had seized this year "more than 23,000 weapons [accessories and ammunition] and narcotics destined for Haiti," stating, "The United States will continue to work with Haiti to end arms and narcotics trafficking. Haiti's security is important to the United States." Economic Relations between France and Haiti The Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFHCI) hosted Antoine Michon, the French Ambassador to Haiti, this week. This official visit provided an opportunity to discuss prospects for cooperation and strengthening economic relations between the two countries. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to working jointly with the Embassy to support innovation, investment, and sustainable development for the benefit of the Haitian business community. Launch of the TOYP 2025 Competition Junior Chamber International (JCI) Haiti launched the Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP 2025) competition at the national level, which aims to recognize 10 young Haitians (aged 18 to 40) whose actions have a significant impact on society in various areas: entrepreneurship, education, culture, human rights, political engagement, the environment, scientific and technological innovation, personal development, sports, and public health. Applicants have until October 31, 2025, to submit their applications to toypjcihaiti@gmail.com. The 10 finalists will be honored at a national ceremony scheduled for December 28, 2025. FIFA Ranking : Haiti up 3 ranks The Grenadiers up three ranks in the latest FIFA World Rankings, published on September 17, 2025. Ranked 90th in the July update, the Haitian national team now occupies 87th place. Regionally, Haiti moved up one place to 8th among the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Associations (CONCACAF) teams and is ranked 2nd in the Caribbean region. 3 New Directors General Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Villa d'Accueil, during the Council of Ministers, three new appointments of Directors General took place in the Public Administration: Elysee Cologene replaces Sterline Civil at the National Education Fund (FNE); Gerald Remplais replaces Julcene EDOUARD at the General Administration of Customs; and Evens Charles replaces Jocelin Villier at the National Port Authority (APN). HL/ HaitiLibre Austria's armed forces have switched from Microsoft's Office programs to the open-source LibreOffice package. The reason for this is not to save on software license fees for around 16,000 workstations. "It was very important for us to show that we are doing this primarily (...) to strengthen our digital sovereignty, to maintain our independence in terms of ICT infrastructure and (...) to ensure that data is only processed in-house," emphasizes Michael Hillebrand from the Austrian Armed Forces' Directorate 6 ICT and Cyber. Continue after ad This is because processing data in external clouds is out of the question for the Austrian Armed Forces, as Hillebrand explained on ORF radio station O1. It was already apparent five years ago that Microsoft Office would move to the cloud. Back then, in 2020, the decision-making process for the switch began and was completed in 2021. Detailed planning and the training of internal developers for improvements and additional software began in 2022. Employees were already allowed to switch to LibreOffice at that time if they wished. In 2023, a German company was commissioned with support and external development, internal e-learning for LibreOffice was started and the software package was made mandatory in the first Armed Forces departments. The Austrian Armed Forces make a contribution to open source The use of open source software is not a one-way street for the armed forces. Adaptations and improvements required by the military are programmed and incorporated into the LibreOffice project. More than five man-years have already been paid for this, which can benefit all LibreOffice users. Excerpt from the features that the Austrian Armed Forces programmed for their own use and then contributed to the LibreOffice project. (Image: Bundesheer/heise online) "We are not doing this to save money," Hillebrand emphasized to ORF, "We are doing this so that the Armed Forces as an organization, which is there to function when everything else is down, can continue to have products that work within our sphere of influence." At the beginning of September, he and his colleague Nikolaus Stocker recounted the conversion process at the LibreOffice Conference 2025. MS Office for special cases with approval Continue after ad The starting point in 2021 was Microsoft Office 2016 Professional with numerous VBA and Access solutions. However, even then, the Austrian Armed Forces did not use Microsoft's email or collaboration solutions, but self-hosted Linux servers with Samba. Nevertheless, Microsoft Office was deeply embedded in the IT workflows. Incidentally, the army's smartphones are made by Apple. This year, MS Office 2016 was removed from all of the army's computers. And anyone who thinks they still need Microsoft Office for their official duties can apply internally to install the corresponding module from MS Office 2024 LTSC. Microsoft Access has apparently not completely disappeared either. The army has acquired separate licenses for certain fonts. (ds) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. The 59-year-old suspect, who was the deceased womans cohabiting partner, was taken into custody following a closed-door hearing at the Pasila police station on Saturday morning. The court ruled that there were probable grounds to suspect him of manslaughter. A man has been detained in Helsinki on suspicion of manslaughter after a woman fell to her death from a fifth-floor balcony in the citys Hietalahti district earlier this week. The woman, described as being in her 50s and, according to Helsingin Sanomat, an employee at Finnish broadcaster Yle, fell through a detached balcony panel on Wednesday evening. She died at the scene. Initially treated as a possible accident, the case took a significant turn later in the week as investigators uncovered circumstances suggesting possible foul play. According to Chief Inspector Juha Piippo, the incident occurred when only the couple was present in the apartment. Emergency services were alerted by a passer-by, not the suspect himself. "The overall assessment gives us reason to suspect that the man may have had a role in what happened," Piippo told reporters. However, he added that a tragic accident has not been entirely ruled out, and the investigation remains ongoing. The suspect has cooperated with police during questioning, Piippo noted, but declined to provide further details, citing the early stage of the investigation and the sensitive nature of the case. The court also declared all case materials confidential to protect the investigation. The man has a criminal record, including a restraining order issued in the early 2000s for domestic abuse against a former spouse and child. He has also been convicted of fraud and firearms offences in the past. There are no current or pending court cases between the suspect and the victim, authorities said. The court session drew media attention, which visibly surprised the suspect. He arrived barefoot and wearing a white t-shirt, and did not attempt to cover his face. Before proceedings began, he openly questioned the presence of reporters at the hearing. Investigators have asked the public for any witness statements or observations that may help clarify the events leading up to the fatal fall. The lack of eyewitnesses has added complexity to an already challenging case. The incident occurred on Hietalahdenkatu, a residential street in central Helsinki. Police conducted technical analysis of the damaged balcony on Thursday. As the investigation continues, authorities remain cautious in their public statements. While the suspect has been detained, police stress that no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding how or why the woman fell. HT The roundtable brought together a wide range of media professionals and organisations to assess the sustainability of domestic news production and the impact of shifting consumption habits and international competition. Lulu Ranne , Finlands Minister of Transport and Communications, hosted a roundtable discussion on Friday to address the evolving challenges faced by the Finnish media industry. The meeting followed news that Sanoma Media Finland is considering a major reduction or full withdrawal from using services provided by the Finnish News Agency STT. Finnish media plays an important role and must be defended, Ranne said. We need broad and diverse news coverage in peoples everyday lives. The goal must be a strong domestic media, and achieving that requires joint effort. The discussion focused on the broader transformation of the media market. Participants viewed STTs situation as a reflection of deeper structural issues, including falling advertising revenues and increased competition from global platforms. The withdrawal of support from major media houses like Sanoma was cited as a potential threat to the continuity of national news services. Attendees stressed that the presence of a resilient, independent, and pluralistic Finnish media sector holds long-term value. Ensuring public access to reliable news across all population groups was described as a key democratic concern. The roundtable also addressed future prospects for domestic media and proposed that Finlands media regulation should take into account the imbalance in competition between local companies and international digital platforms. Participants urged the government to reflect these concerns in both national regulation and Finlands contributions to EU legislative processes. The Ministry of Transport and Communications will now produce a policy memorandum assessing the state and outlook of the Finnish media landscape. The document will focus on the competitiveness of domestic media firms, examining current market dynamics and future scenarios. Media representatives at the meeting called for closer cooperation between the sector and the government in future regulatory planning. They argued that regulation affecting media should be developed in active dialogue with local media organisations to ensure their viability. The discussion followed a public announcement on 8 September by Sanoma Media Finland stating that its news outlets are considering ending or sharply cutting back on their use of STTs news and photo services. STT, which provides national and regional news coverage to media clients across Finland, is seen as an important part of the countrys news infrastructure. Any major reduction in its client base raises questions about its long-term sustainability. HT NATO scrambled aircraft from Finland, Italy and Sweden in response. Estonian officials say three Russian MiG-31 jets entered the country's airspace near Naissaar Island and remained for 12 minutes. The jets had no flight plans, flew with transponders off, and failed to contact Estonian air traffic control. Russia has rejected claims that its fighter jets violated Estonian airspace last Friday, as NATO members prepare for consultations under Article 4 of the alliance treaty. Finnish jets were first to intercept the Russian planes before Italian F-35s escorted them away. Swedish fighters also participated in monitoring the situation. The Kremlins defence ministry, quoted by state agency Tass, claimed the jets were flying from Karelia to Kaliningrad over international waters. The ministry insisted the flight followed international aviation rules and that no borders were crossed. Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the incident unprecedentedly brazen and described the denial as false. He confirmed the Russian charge daffaires was summoned and that Estonia formally requested NATO consultations under Article 4. This is not an isolated act. It is part of a deliberate campaign of pressure, Tsahkna said. Estonia has recorded five Russian airspace violations in 2025. Defence officials said previous incidents lasted only seconds and occurred near Vaindloo Island. This time, jets flew as far as Naissaar, just off the capital Tallinn. Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the incursion was aimed at distracting NATO from Ukraine by forcing member states to focus on defending their own territory. "The Kremlins goal is to divide attention and reduce aid to Ukraine," Michal stated. He added that NATO must respond with unity and strength. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, called the flight a dangerous provocation and warned that Moscow is testing the alliances resolve. She noted that similar incidents have occurred in Poland and Romania in recent weeks. Finnish President Alexander Stubb condemned the breach and praised the rapid NATO response. We stand with Estonia. This was a flagrant violation, Stubb said. He linked the event to broader Russian efforts to destabilise the region. Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called the incident reckless. She said NATO had acted appropriately but that Europe must strengthen its deterrence capabilities. We need to build credible defences. The events of recent days only confirm that, Valtonen said at the Helsinki Security Forum. Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen described the provocation as deliberate. Russia wants to test NATO's readiness and unity, he said in the national broadcaster Yle's Ykkosaamu programme. It also wants to undermine support for Ukraine. Hakkanen stressed that NATO must strengthen air defence while maintaining military support for Ukraine. This is not either-or. Both must happen in parallel, he said. NATOs North Atlantic Council will meet early next week to discuss Estonias Article 4 request. The consultations allow member states to discuss perceived threats to territorial integrity or security. This is the second such request this month. On 10 September, Poland triggered Article 4 following multiple drone intrusions from Russian airspace. Military experts warned that repeated violations risk normalising intrusions and weakening NATOs credibility. Jarno Limnell, an MP and defence analyst, said Russia is using calculated provocations to test the alliance. Each minute those jets spent in Estonian airspace was a message, Limnell said. If NATO doesnt respond firmly, the threshold for future violations will lower. He warned that Finland could face similar incursions soon. Senior researcher Matti Pesu said Russia is engaged in strategic messaging through controlled violations. These are deliberate, low-intensity moves designed to challenge NATOs response mechanisms, he said. The Estonian parliament will hold emergency committee meetings on Monday. Further military measures, including increased air policing, are under discussion. Meanwhile, Polish authorities reported that two Russian jets flew through the safety zone of a Baltic Sea oil platform on the same day as the Estonian violation. A week earlier, Poland said 19 Russian drones entered its airspace in one night. Russias defence ministry said both incidents were accidental or misinterpreted, while Belarus blamed GPS jamming for the drones straying into Polish airspace. NATO has confirmed the deployment of additional fighter aircraft to Eastern Europe, including jets from the UK, Germany, France and Denmark. HT Hundreds of flights were affected on Saturday at London Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin Brandenburg airports. The BBC reported that, according to real-time tracking from FlightAware , delays and cancellations surged as airlines and airport operators were forced to revert to manual procedures for check-in and boarding. A cyberattack targeting external airport systems has caused widespread disruption at several major European airports, grounding flights and delaying departures across key hubs. The disruption originated from a cyber incident affecting systems provided by Collins Aerospace. The company confirmed that its external systems used for check-in and boarding were impacted by what it described as cyber-related issues. The attack was first detected on Friday evening. By Saturday morning, the fallout had become evident. At Brussels Airport alone, at least ten flights were cancelled and more than a dozen delayed by over an hour. The airports spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli said the check-in process had to be conducted manually due to system failures. Brussels Airport, which expected 35,000 passengers to depart on Saturday, urged travellers to come to the airport only if their flight was confirmed. Passengers were also advised to monitor official channels for updates. In London, Heathrow Airport acknowledged technical issues that slowed check-in procedures, though it did not specify the cause. Queues built up throughout the day as airport staff worked to process passengers without automated systems. Berlin Brandenburg Airport also reported delays. The airport clarified that its own infrastructure was not directly targeted but said the attack affected systems used by airlines operating from the terminal. So far, there has been no public attribution of the attack or confirmation of the source. In Finland, flight operations continued without disruption. Airport operator Finavia confirmed that its systems are not connected to the affected service provider. Pinja Kallis, a communications representative from Finavia, said Helsinki Airport and other Finnish airports do not use the compromised systems. Flights departing from Helsinki Airport are not currently affected, she said. Kallis added that incoming flights from Brussels, Berlin, and London may experience delays, which could impact connecting flights. If arrival flights are significantly delayed, this may affect the aircrafts ability to depart on time for the next leg, she noted. Collins Aerospace has not provided a timeline for resolving the issue but said efforts are ongoing to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. The European aviation sector has faced several operational challenges in recent months, but cyber-related incidents affecting passenger services remain relatively rare. Despite the scale of Saturdays disruption, air traffic in most other regions remained stable. There have been no reports of data breaches or safety incidents related to the cyberattack. Authorities in the affected countries are expected to investigate the source and scope of the attack. No government agency has confirmed involvement, but some security analysts have raised concerns about the increasing vulnerability of civil aviation infrastructure to digital threats. Airline passengers travelling through the affected airports are advised to check with their carriers for the latest updates before heading to the airport. HT Ukraine is preparing for the U.N. General Assembly, with a large number of meetings scheduled, including with U.S. President Donald Trump, President Zelenskyy said. There will be a lot of bilateral meetings business, technology, defense, the minerals issue. We will be united by a major economic meeting. And, of course, a meeting with the President of the United States of America. Also, most likely, there will be a meeting between the First Ladies of Ukraine and the United States on humanitarian issues, on children, Zelenskyy told journalists on Friday. In addition, Ukraine is counting on holding a summit on the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, with 38 delegations ready to take part. The Crimea Platform will also be part of the General Assembly, with Ukraine expecting around 30 countries to participate. The president explained that, during his meeting with Trump, he hopes to receive signals as to how close we are to an understanding that security guarantees from all partners will be the kind we need, as well as regarding sanctions against Russia. We have prepared the groundwork for security guarantees, which Europe is ready to accept, provided that the United States will stand alongside us. We have held many discussions, including dialogue at different levels between our military leadership and general staffs and their European and American counterparts. There was a meeting between the U.K. prime minister and the U.S. president, and it was agreed that we will discuss these matters at our bilateral meeting in New York, the president added. Zelenskyy noted that Trump expects decisive steps from Europe; however, in his view, we lose a lot of time if we wait, if we dont impose sanctions or take certain steps that we very much expect from him [Trump]. Of course, we support Europe imposing sanctions and tightening tariff policies against countries that buy Russian energy resources. But tying everything together delays pressure on Putin. We are ready for a meeting with Putin Ive said so. Whether bilateral or trilateral. He is not ready, the head of state stressed. Morgan Ortagus , the US deputy Middle East envoy, said the draft failed to condemn Hamas and did not acknowledge Israels right to self-defence. She accused the Council of promoting what she described as false narratives that legitimised Hamas. The United States has blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza for the sixth time, isolating itself from the other 14 members who voted in favour. The veto came as Israel intensified its ground offensive in Gaza City, with tanks and air strikes targeting residential neighbourhoods and UN facilities. Gazas Health Ministry reported that 36 Palestinians were killed on Thursday, including 19 in the city. In total, 65,141 people have died in Gaza since October 2023, according to health authorities. UN officials have warned that the humanitarian situation in the enclave is worsening. Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UNs humanitarian office, described conditions in Gaza City as cataclysmic. The last remaining aid corridors have reportedly collapsed, leaving civilians with limited access to food, water, and shelter. The Israeli military began its operation in response to a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Since then, repeated Israeli bombardments and military advances have led to large-scale displacement. The Israeli army said nearly 480,000 people have now fled Gaza City. The UN estimates that around one million people were living there before the offensive began. Satellite imagery shows al-Mawasi, a coastal area near Khan Younis, has rapidly expanded to accommodate fleeing residents. Israel designates it a humanitarian zone, but the UN and aid agencies do not recognise this classification. Displaced families report dire conditions in the area. Shelters are overcrowded, basic sanitation is lacking, and food is scarce. Sylvia al-Shurafi, a mother of two, said her family is living in the open without proper shelter. Even an animal couldnt survive these conditions, she told the BBC. Journalists at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed that two children were killed in Israeli strikes on tents in the zone. Aid agencies say many more are suffering from hunger-related illnesses. UNICEF's Tessa Ingram reported that children in al-Mawasi are getting sick from malnutrition and waterborne diseases. Families receive only one meal a day, often consisting of lentils or rice, and many parents go without food to feed their children. The UN says 90 percent of its facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. More than 300 strikes have hit UNRWA schools and shelters. Around 6,000 trucks of aid are stuck outside Gaza, awaiting Israeli clearance. The Israeli militarys Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said it had increased power and water supplies to desalination plants in the south and facilitated the entry of 20,000 tents. Officials also claimed that up to 300 aid trucks enter southern Gaza daily, though humanitarian groups dispute these figures, citing continued shortages and restrictions. As Israeli attacks target areas near Gazas port and western districts of the city, residents say they are being forced to flee again. Those unable to afford transport are walking long distances, often without water or shoes. Abdallah Natat, a displaced Palestinian, said he began walking at 4am after Israeli forces blocked Salah al-Din Street with cement. We slept on the street, he told Al Jazeera. Rockets and shelling have become routine. His relative, Ahmed Natat, carried his child during a nine-hour journey. The army wants you to hate life, he said. Theres no safe place. The health crisis continues to grow. A nine-year-old child died of malnutrition in central Gaza, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths to 441, according to local medical sources. Hundreds of thousands face starvation, especially in the north where aid has been largely cut off. The UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that 11 UNRWA shelters have been damaged in recent days and warned of the collapse of essential services. Fuel for hospitals and water systems is expected to run out within 72 hours, risking a complete breakdown of communications and emergency response. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President, will address the UN General Assembly via video next week after the US denied him a visa. The Assembly voted 145 to five in favour of allowing his virtual speech, reflecting broad international support for Palestine. Amnesty International criticised the US veto. Agnes Callamard, its Secretary-General, said the move was morally reprehensible and accused the US of enabling Israeli violations of international law. The International Court of Justice confirmed that Brazil had joined South Africas genocide case against Israel, becoming the latest state to intervene. Brazils filing focused on the interpretation of the Genocide Convention and affirmed its binding nature for signatories. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli forces conducted raids in Qalqilya, Jenin, Nablus and Tubas. A 25-year-old man was hospitalised with fractures after being assaulted in Raba, southeast of Jenin. The Red Crescent reported multiple cases of suffocation due to tear gas in Beit Furik. In southern Israel, activists protesting against the war gathered near the Gaza border. Police detained several demonstrators. A protesters sign read, Stop the war, near razor wire and military patrols. In Vienna, cultural tensions surrounding the conflict continued. Several countries, including Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, said they would boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates. An Austrian official dismissed the boycott threats as pointless. Canada banned the Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country over accusations of supporting terrorism. The band, known for its pro-Palestinian views, denied any links to Hamas or Hezbollah and said it condemned all attacks on civilians. The US is also seeking congressional approval to sell Israel nearly $6 billion worth of weapons, including Apache helicopters and infantry vehicles, according to US media reports. Israel continues its military push into Gaza Citys Tal al-Hawa and Sheikh Radwan districts. Reports from Deir el-Balah suggest entire residential blocks have been destroyed. UN shelters have also come under attack, with quadcopter drones dropping grenades in courtyards, according to residents. The total number of displaced Palestinians is approaching two million. Aid groups warn that most shelters are at full capacity. Disease, hunger and overcrowding are creating conditions that UN officials describe as unmanageable. As the war continues into its second year, pressure is growing on Israel and its allies. Public support for Palestinian statehood in countries like the UK remains strong. A recent YouGov survey found that 44 percent of respondents support official recognition, compared with 18 percent opposed. But with diplomatic channels blocked, supplies restricted, and offensives ongoing, civilians in Gaza continue to face a humanitarian emergency with no clear end in sight. HT Check out volunteer opportunities in Flat Rock on Oct. 7 The Flat Rock Village Council will host a town hall meeting for the village community from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Village Hall, 110 Village Center Drive. Related Stories While a variety of topics may be discussed, the focus of this meeting will be presenting to the community the many volunteer opportunities available at the Village Hall, including information on the boards and commissions that help support the village council. The Village of Flat Rock has always been very volunteer-oriented, and we rely on the expertise of our citizens to provide various perspectives to help the village council make the best decisions possible for Flat Rock, Mayor Anne Coletta said. We want to make sure that our residents are aware of how they may be able to participate in their local government. The meeting will follow a format of brief introductions by village officials and then an extended time for attendees to provide input and ask questions on volunteering for the village as well as topics that are important to them. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact the Village of Flat Rock at 828-697-8100. In the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk sectors, about 330 km are under the control of the Armed Forces, 160 km have been liberated, and more than 170 km have been cleared of occupiers, although the Russians will redeploy personnel there to hold their positions, President Zelenskyy said. Regarding our counteroffensive actions in the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk areas: the Russians wanted to encircle us, but it is our Armed Forces who are doing everything there to destroy the enemy. As of today, about 330 kilometers are under our control, 160 have been liberated, and more than 170 cleared of the enemy. We understand that they will now transfer personnel there to hold their positions, Zelenskyy told journalists on Friday. According to him, the Russians have constantly sent personnel there, as the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk directions have been their main axes. And now they have brought in the 61st Marine Brigade, realizing they are losing large numbers of their troops, the president said. Its not easy to speak of success when we are defending, but I believe this is a success for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Conclusions can probably be drawn a bit later. God willing, everything will end as it is going now. We currently have the 79th and 82nd brigades there we spoke with them yesterday (Thursday), as well as the National Guard and assault units, Zelenskyy added. Heavy fighting continues near Kupiansk, with appropriate forces in place. The president explained that strong units are operating there, destroying Russian forces that are concentrated and trying to advance. In the center of the city, counter-sabotage operations are underway; our units are carrying out sweeps there. We believe the Russians will be eliminated, he stressed. Active operations by the Defense Forces continue in the Sumy sector, regularly producing results. In the Zaporizhia direction just as weve said. We considered the two main Russian offensives to be DobropilliaPokrovsk and Zaporizhia. But since they lack forces, they are transferring everything to Pokrovsk and Dobropillia to try to show success, Zelenskyy said. At the same time, he noted that on Thursday, while receiving a briefing on the Defense Forces operation, he saw electronically the disposition of our forces and assets and also saw the Russian maps, and Russian reports differ greatly from reality. Where weve restored our positions, the Russians show the opposite on their maps. What does this mean? That reports from mid-level commanders up the chain in Russia differ from the real situation. I think thats not bad. In the information space, there has been a constant provocation about where they are in Donbas, claiming that in 30 days they would supposedly finally capture Pokrovsk and definitely seize the east by November. But that differs from reality and thank God, the head of state concluded. Feature: 80 years after WWII, Alan Joy still remembers kindness shown to his father by Chinese people Xinhua) 13:45, September 20, 2025 SHENYANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At 79, Alan Joy still remembers when he was a child, his father Ronald would sit in a local pub in the English city of Bradford night after night, nursing pints of beer before heading to bed. This ritual was not about indulgence but survival, the younger Joy had learned from his mother years later. For his father, who had been a prisoner of war (POW) held by the Japanese in northeast China, sleep free of nightmares was never won without the numbing haze of alcohol. "Without this mild level of intoxication, he might have dreams related to his time in the camp," Alan Joy told Xinhua. The "camp" in question was the former Mukden POW camp, which was established by the Japanese army during World War II in Shenyang, then known as Mukden, in northeast China's Liaoning Province. Known as "oriental Auschwitz," the Mukden camp was one of the largest POW sites in Asia and notorious for its brutality. From November 1942 to August 1945, more than 2,000 Allied prisoners from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and France were held there. Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States, Britain and other Allied nations declared war on Japan in 1941. Battles across Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines led to the capture of hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers, many of whom ended up in concentration camps across Japan and the territories it occupied, where they were forced into exhausting labor. According to British Major Robert Peaty, who was a senior-ranking Allied officer held at the Mukden camp, the Japanese army had treated the Allied POWs in a "disgraceful manner." Hunger, beatings and humiliation were all part of daily life there. The younger Joy said that his father didn't speak much about his hell-like experience at the camp. "I only ever had one in-depth conversation with him about the camp." "He mentioned once being caught smoking in a forbidden area by a Korean guard. As punishment, he had to do 100 push-ups. Each time he pushed up, the guard hit the back of his neck with his rifle butt," he said. Public executions were not uncommon at the camp. Ronald Joy had told his son about two POWs who attempted to escape. They were caught quickly, dragged back to the camp and bayoneted to death in front of the other prisoners. Ian Peaty, the son of Major Peaty, had told Xinhua that nearly all the prisoners had suffered from malnutrition and illness -- conditions that haunted them long after their liberation. When Major Peaty finally returned to Britain by ship, he was so gaunt and frail that even his own family failed to recognize him. Yet amid the brutality, local Chinese residents, who were themselves living under Japanese occupation, quietly risked everything to aid the captives. Li Lishui, who had labored at a Japanese-run machinery works as a child, recalled in an interview with Xinhua before his passing that many prisoners had been forced into grueling labor there and he had managed to help them. "They were so thin, always hungry. Sometimes, if they saw a peanut on the ground, they'd pick it up and slip it into their pocket," he said. Because he was then just a teenager, the Japanese guards watched him less closely. One day, he swiped a few cucumbers from a passing cart. As he turned, he noticed a prisoner marked with the number 266 staring at him with longing eyes. "I remembered him. He was kind, always cleaning up after work and keeping the place tidy," Li said. Without hesitation, he had crouched down and tossed the man two cucumbers. Prisoner 266 quickly scooped them up and hid them away. Li said that he had never forgotten the moment he saw prisoner 266 again after Japan's surrender. "He ran up to greet me, smiling, and handed me a handful of candy, actually chocolate as I got to know later. It was a little bitter, but it tasted wonderful." Others had done even more to resist their captivity. Ge Qingyu, who managed supplies at a Japanese factory during the occupation, had smuggled bearings for Allied POWs so they could barter for food. And Gao Dechun had secretly provided maps to three POWs who were planning an escape. "POWs received strong support and protection from the Chinese people," said historian Wang Jianxue. "Locals forged deep friendships with them, reflecting the kindness and humanity of ordinary Chinese people." In 2005, the Department of State of the United States awarded these three Chinese citizens for the humanitarian help they offered to US POWs during the war. Today, the site of the camp has been transformed into a museum. Opened in 2013, it preserves the relics of that dark chapter of history: the barracks, the objects and the stories etched into the walls. For the descendants of these POWs, like Alan Joy, the museum's existence is vital. "A knowledge of the past is necessary for an understanding of the present," he said. "The museum serves as a reminder of how people can behave when misinformed and misled." Ian Peaty also had been carrying the weight of his father's suffering during the war. Like his father, he had long refused to visit Japan. When the Japanese emperor paid a state visit to Britain years ago, his brother even wrote to the prime minister in protest. Li Zhuoran, deputy director of the museum, said that it has maintained contact with several descendants of former prisoners over the years, including Alan Joy. She expressed hope that research into the period could be revived to uncover further historical truths and keep its memory alive. "Looking back, the suffering, resistance and sacrifice endured by Allied POWs stand not only as irrefutable evidence of the war crimes committed by the Japanese army, but also as a testament to how Chinese troops and civilians stood shoulder to shoulder with their allies in the global fight against fascism," said Jing Shaofu, former director of the Shenyang archives. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) Getting European countries to give up Russian energy resources is a complex process, but if U.S. President Donald Trump takes serious steps, he could encourage some European states that maintain energy ties with Russia to move in that direction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes. We, for our part, support his [Trumps] position. And we, for our part, are working with European countries so they increasingly abandon the Russians energy resources. But ensuring this is a very difficult process. The main thing is results. I believe, on the contrary, that if President Trump takes serious steps, he will give a stronger push to some European states that are engaged in energy economics with Russia, he said during a meeting with journalists on Friday. According to the president, he thinks Slovakia will be close to such a move because everyone looks to the United States. Orban cant remain alone. And its not only, by the way, Orban or Hungary. Hungary and Slovakia. There are some other countries that also provide the relevant infrastructure for all this for Russian energy resources. We very much want them not to link these processes. They must proceed in parallel to bring peace closer, Zelenskyy added. During a massive combined attack overnight, Ukrainian air-defense forces shot down or suppressed 583 of 619 air attack assets, though ballistic and cruise missiles and 23 strike UAVs registered hits at 10 locations, with debris or downed wreckage recorded at 10 sites, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram. According to the Air Force, in total the enemy launched 619 air attack means in the night leading to September 20: 579 strike Shahed-type UAVs and imitation drones of various types from directions including Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Orel, Shatalovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk Russia; eight ballistic Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles launched from Yeysk (Russia) and Crimean territory; and 32 Kh-101 cruise missiles from the airspace over Saratov region, Russia. Preliminary data as of 09:00 show that air defense shot down/suppressed 583 aerial targets: 552 enemy Shahed-type UAVs and imitation drones of various types; two ballistic Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles; and 29 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Ballistic and cruise missiles and 23 strike UAVs struck 10 locations; debris (wreckage) fell at 10 locations, the report said. Thus, overall air-defense effectiveness was 94.2%, including 95.3% effectiveness against UAVs, 25% against ballistic missiles and 71.9% against cruise missiles. The air assault was repelled by tactical aviation, surface-to-air missile troops, electronic warfare units and drone units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. During the strike, the enemy used the now-familiar tactic of simultaneous attacks on specific targets with a large number of rockets and UAVs of various types. Tactical aviation, in particular F-16 fighters, worked effectively against the enemys cruise missiles. Western weaponry once again proves its effectiveness on the battlefield. We thank our partners for the assistance already provided and expect further strengthening of Ukraines airspace capabilities both by ground-based air-defense systems and by aviation, the Air Force said. The attack is ongoing; several enemy UAVs remain in the airspace. For context, the previous large-scale strike Russia carried out against Ukraine was on September 10, when 413 of 458 drones and missiles were neutralized, hits were recorded at 17 locations, and eight UAVs crossed into Polish airspace. The most massive strike the occupiers carried out was on September 7, employing strike UAVs and ground-launched missiles. During that attack, radar troops of the Air Force detected and tracked 818 enemy air attack means; air defenses shot down/suppressed 751 aerial targets: 747 enemy Shahed-type UAVs and imitation drones of various types, and four cruise missiles (Iskander-K). Hits were recorded nine missiles and 56 strike UAVs at 37 locations, and wreckage fell at eight locations. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is providing aid at the scenes of Russian attacks in Dnipro and Mykolaiv. "Another uneasy night for Ukrainians. Dnipro. Volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society rapid response unit in Dnipropetrovsk region, working with other emergency services, assisted at the site of the strike on the city," the URCS said Saturday on Facebook. Volunteers operated in two locations: they went door-to-door in damaged buildings, checked on people rescued from apartments, and gave them the necessary assistance. They also helped evacuate two elderly residents to stay with relatives. First aid was provided to three people with varying injuries, while four others received initial psychological support. In Mykolaiv region, a Ukrainian Red Cross Society rapid response team assisted at the site of a Russian strike. Volunteers accompanied emergency crews at an industrial facility. As reported, a combined Russian missile-and-drone attack on Dnipropetrovsk region and the city of Dnipro left one person dead and 26 injured. More than 22 buildings were damaged in the regional center, with the worst destruction in a high-rise on the right bank. Eight schools and preschools, as well as buildings and dormitories of two vocational schools, were also damaged. A municipal transport depot and several trolleybuses were hit, and overhead power lines were severed. According to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, Mykolaiv region came under heavy Russian fire overnight, involving ballistic missiles and drones. Industrial facilities were targeted, sparking fires. Firefighting and cleanup efforts continue, and there have been no reports of casualties so far. Photo: https://18-24.army.gov.ua/ A decision has been made to establish separate assault troops, and everything should be up and running within a week to ten days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. As for assault units, we now have assault battalions and regiments that, throughout 2025, have undoubtedly demonstrated good results. And we decided that we need to put this on a legal footing. The Russians decided to do the same as we did. We will now create separate assault troops that decision has been made. Everything is being prepared, and I think that in about a week to ten days everything will be operational, he said during a meeting with journalists on Friday. According to the president, these will be modern assault troops with a drone component and everything else. Of course, they are already working today together the assault regiments and the Air Assault Forces are carrying out strong tasks, Zelenskyy said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted by decree an NSDC decision on security and defense spending in the 2026 state budget. Decree No. 692/2025 was published on the presidents official website Friday. The NSDC decision, put into force by the decree, provides for: the possibility of adjusting 2026 spending on national security and defense depending on the military-political situation; measures to ensure timely and full funding in 2026 for security and defense agencies to cover service pay for military personnel, enlisted and officer ranks, and police officers; continuation in 2026 of efforts to attract additional sources of military-technical assistance for Ukraine; priority funding in 2026 for the security and defense sectors key activities; development and approval by March 1, 2026, of a State Target Defense Program for the Development of Weapons and Military Equipment through 2031. The decree took effect upon signing. Zelenskyy: No one is considering 'Korean' or any other model to end war Ukraine needs security guarantees before the war ends, but no one is considering a Korean or any other model because no one knows what the outcome will be, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. They may rhetorically say that this or that scenario is possible. But we definitely have a different story than Korea. There it was about the war ending without a final peace treaty. Thats what was meant. And that relates to the discussion about security guarantees why Ukraine needs security guarantees. It may happen that there will be no final document ending the war, Zelenskyy said during a meeting with journalists on Friday. Thats why, for example, President Macron of France says security guarantees shouldnt wait for the end of the war. And I agree with him that, for instance, a ceasefire is enough to provide security guarantees. We cant waste time waiting for a clear agreement formally ending the war. We need security guarantees sooner, the president stressed. According to him, no one is considering a Korean, Finnish, or any other model. Because we have what we have. And no one knows what the outcome will ultimately be. But we know what the first step is, he said. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine knows which security guarantees are essential and will not allow the Russians to return with new aggression and if they do, they will meet resistance. Ukraine wants to bring home 1,000 people from Russian captivity, and work on the lists is underway, President Zelenskyy said. On exchanges, Rustem [Umerov] spoke with [Vladimir] Medinsky they are in contact. We want to bring back 1,000 people; work on the lists is underway, Zelenskyy told journalists on Friday. At the same time, the president noted that the Ukrainian delegation could meet with the Russian side even tomorrow if we just want to talk, but results are needed. We have read all their memoranda; we know them well. And theyve read ours theyve studied them very carefully. They know what they want, and we know what we want. We can just meet with them without any forward movement and such empty meetings suit them, but they do not bring peace any closer, Zelenskyy explained. According to him, the Russians once again lied, since after the meeting there was supposed to be an agreement on an exchange, as well as on what format the leaders should meet in to try to agree on ending the war, on one stage or another. But after the meeting, there was only an agreement on the exchange. They came back and said: Lets do the exchange, the civilians after the civilians there will be a call with Rustem, well discuss further. They had that call. Now they say: We probably need to do something else technical meetings. So they are dragging everything out. We will talk with President Trump, and today he will be talking with China. I think everyone will gradually work to make a leaders meeting happen, the president said. Photo: National Guard Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes it is reasonable to discuss joint solutions with other states for shooting down drones over Ukraine, saying that if Ukraine has air defenses in place, they should shoot down everything flying toward us and toward Poland. I believe its fair to talk about a joint solution. Not just so that a drone falls on Ukrainians heads and doesnt reach Polish territory, but so these are decisions made together. That is, if our air defenses are in place we shoot down everything flying toward us and toward Poland, Zelenskyy told reporters on Friday. And likewise, Poland shoots down with its aircraft everything flying toward them and toward us. We could focus only on the regions in the western part of our state where Poland has the capability. Or it might not be just Poland but also Romania; we dont count on others, the president added. Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official Ukraine is focusing not on brigades but on ensuring that each battalion receives additional funding for drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. We began giving money directly to brigades, not only for drones. The option of buying pickups had been closed. We opened that possibility, we give them money. Now its roughly like this: additional funds for drones go to every battalion. So were already looking beyond brigades, even ensuring every combat battalion gets it, he said during a meeting with journalists on Friday. The president explained that a brigade commander, within his brigade, decides: If, for example, today four battalions are carrying out tasks, and tomorrow battalions of unmanned systems are added, we provide UAH 78 million monthly to each battalion separately. Now weve opened up opportunities for them and are also giving extra money separately to buy pickups. They can buy not only new ones new isnt necessary but also used ones inside the country. So today their hands are untied, Zelenskyy concluded. On a recent visit to Barcelona, the author discussed how streaming saved the industry from piracy, but not the artists Liz Pelly, 35, had been writing about music for various blogs and media outlets since her teens, until she grew tired of promotional interviews and writing listicle articles summarizing entire albums in five lines. As a true millennial, she knew that little remained of the utopian internet that had democratized music consumption, making it more accessible until piracy became a global problem. The arrival of streaming platforms changed everything, and in 2016, she decided to begin investigating Spotify and its corporate consolidation mechanisms through its playlists. After almost a decade of work, the adjunct professor at New York University (NYU) has published Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist (Simon & Schuster), an investigation with more than 100 sources in which she not only uncovers the platforms extractivist policies but also paints a picture of control over consumers that has flattened musical taste. We met with her at the Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona (CCCB) shortly before her talk with journalist Shawn Reynaldo about the costs of the perfect playlist, as part of the Primavera Pro program. Question. One of the playlists Spotify recommends is titled Pilates Posh Princess. What is the platform trying to tell me? Answer. Streaming services now categorize music by appealing to emotions, by making you feel like the protagonist. It does so based on vibes and feelings. When they recommend that playlist to you in the main carousel, its to make you think: Oh, yeah, my life is a movie, and today I want to be a Pilates Posh Princess. Q. Isnt it a bit essentialist to fit me into that group? Is there a Spotify for boys and a Spotify for girls? A. Streaming has inherited the techniques of personalized marketing. And like the rest of the music industry, it often assumes that people dont like music or underestimates users capacity for engagement and curiosity. If you truly believed your users were serious about music or were fans, you would contextualize them in terms that truly relate to it. Instead of feelings, you could explain music based on musical attributes, record labels, regional scenes, or other aspects that truly help us learn about musical culture. Q. Are predetermined playlists dumbing us down? A. When you think about what a playlist isa way of grouping songsthere are ways of doing it that do relate to music. But streaming services try to package songs in ways that they hope will appeal to a sense of uniqueness or specialness, or simply what users will click on. Pelly recently published the book Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist (2025). Kike Rincon Q. In your book, you point out that Spotify seemed like the platform that would save artists from piracy, but that hasnt been the case. A. Spotify created a huge opportunity against piracy and was very helpful in making the global music business profitable again. Streaming services transfer 70% of their revenue to rights holders. But because of the pro rata business model, most of that revenue ends up in the hands of the major record labels. Weve learned that saving the music industry isnt the same as saving musicians. Q. Who makes money on Spotify? A. The model is designed to benefit artists who operate on a large scale, who aspire to be pop artists, and who have strong marketing support. Those who make money on Spotify are those who aspire to massive success or those who create music that gets played repeatedlymusic that works well in the background. Q. What we put on while we do other things. A. Yes, theres this boom in what the industry calls functional music. What you listen to in the background while you work, study, or try to sleep. But for artists who make music thats less commercial or less ideal for those kinds of constant-playing situations, the model doesnt really work. That doesnt mean those songs dont have value, that those artists dont have value. Q. Indie artists have lost out to functional music. A. The paradox of this is that independent music fans are more willing to pay for it than passive listeners or pop fans. The question here is: Did streaming incentivize certain types of fans to stop paying for music, when in reality those fans would be willing to continue paying musicians directly? Q. In your research, you detected the presence of fake artists on Spotify. Who are they? A. When I published my first article on Spotify in 2017, I was contacted by several people who had worked in the industry alerting me to the same rumor: the existence of fake artists that the platform was putting on its playlists, especially those meant for studying, sleeping, or concentrating. I started with an investigation by journalists from the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, who had access to copyright documents to show that there were a handful of composers who, under pseudonyms, were responsible for thousands of artist names and thousands of songs on these main playlists. I went to Sweden, met with those journalists, and continued investigating, interviewing dozens of sources. Q. What did you discover? A. That Spotify has an internal team specifically responsible for these instrumental playlists and works with a specific group of licensing experts to provide this material. They internally use the term fit to content. I also contacted the musicians who had been hired to create this content. They are session musicians or instrumental artists hired en masse to produce music in large quantities. These artists are often assigned pseudonyms that dont correspond to real artists so you cant find information about them online. There are a handful of songwriters who by using pseudonyms are responsible for thousands of artist names and thousands of songs on these playlists Q. How do they work? A. It all depends on the company. There are several companies, and each one works differently. Some musicians told me they produce a dozen songs in an hour and try to make as many songs as possible in the shortest amount of time. Q. Yet another content farm. A. Yes, it reminds me of those journalists who are hired to produce 15 articles a day. Its all closely related to clickbait culture. Q. How is this tyranny of the click influencing artists? A. I think any creative personbe it a musician, writer, or filmmakerfeels pressure from industries that increasingly value these metrics. If youre a musician, not only does the number of streams determine how much you get paid, but it increasingly influences whether youre scheduled at a festival or booked for your work. The same goes for friends who make videos: they need a certain number of views for their work to be seen as successful. No one starts in music, journalism, or video because they want people to post emojis on their Instagram reels. Its a chore to also have to be a full-time social media manager and marketing specialist. Many musicians see themselves that way. And journalism faces similar pressures with the rise of platforms like Substack and newsletters, which are part of the digital economy, subjecting writers to those same metrics and isolating their journalistic work. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Nearly all of us are familiar with symptoms we call a hangover, such as anxiety rising in the throat, a throbbing headache and general fatigue but we may be not diagnosing them correctly. A study has analyzed the sleep patterns of more than 70,000 people over three years to learn more about a condition that suffocates and exhausts us on weekend nights: social apnea. This condition consists of a variation or worsening of sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes very shallow during sleep. Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have suggested use of the suffix social because some apnea triggers are environmental, like alcohol consumption, smoking and lack of sleep, and become more common on the weekend. Published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the study analyzed data from more than 70,000 people in 23 countries over three years. However, its most notable aspect was not the quantity of subjects, but rather the quality of data. Sleep apnea is tremendously under-diagnosed. It is estimated that up to 80% of those who experience it are unaware they have the condition. Until recently, it was studied in a laboratory under controlled conditions, but that has changed with the rising popularity of applications to measure sleep. This latest study was carried out using such tools, plus a mat placed under subjects mattress, to get sleep data outside of the laboratory under real-life conditions. And in real life, people drink, smoke and stay up late, especially on the weekend. It turns out that such factors have a clear impact on sleep apnea data. We were surprised to see a very pronounced spike on weekends, which then stabilize during the week, said the studys primary author, Zaragoza, Spain biotechnologist Lucia Pinilla. The probability of having sleep apnea was 18% higher on Saturdays compared with Wednesdays. A rise was consistent across all countries and demographics, but the effect was more pronounced among men (who were 21% more likely to be affected, in comparison with 9% for women) and among younger adults. Those under the age of 60 had a 24% higher risk during the weekend, in comparison with 7% among those over 60. In this study, we havent analyzed causes, but of course, we think it has a lot to do with lifestyle habits, explains Pinilla. Previous scientific evidence backs up that hypothesis. A review of 23 studies finds that alcohol consumption increases the possibility of suffering from apnea by 25%. Diverse studies from recent years have demonstrated a correlation between tobacco use and sleep apnea. Some research suggest that it could comprise one of the biggest risk factors behind only age, being overweight and sex (men have two to three times higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea than women). Irene Cano, a pulmonologist specializing in sleep medicine who is co-director of Madrids CISNe Clinic, gave the study a positive evaluation and says shes observed clinical results that are in keeping with its findings. We observe a very pronounced rise in consultations regarding sleep apnea after the summer and Christmas holidays, coinciding with periods of irregular sleep habits, higher consumption of alcohol and later schedules, she explains. Cano, who was not involved in the study, values its large volume of data and long-term follow-up of those impacted by apnea. We usually rely on studies conducted over a single night, she says, but these findings highlight the importance of taking night-to-night variability into account in diagnosis. Pinilla thinks that the studys impact goes beyond its curious central finding, and that it could help us to better understand a pathology that sometimes flies under the radar. Sleep apnea is a significant public health issue, but our findings suggest that its true impact could be under-estimated, she says. Until now, the majority of clinical diagnostic tests were carried out over a single night, normally during the week, which meant that they werent taking into account this weekend effect. And that can have consequences that previously went missing. Apnea not only can worsen the quality of life of those who suffer from it in extreme cases, it can lead to having to sleep with a machine that helps individuals to breath. It is also a reliable indicator of the risk of cardiovascular accident. According to the new study, changes in sleep schedule, such as staying up or sleeping late on the weekends, can aggravate sleep apnea. These schedule alterations, known as social jet lag, impact the quality of our sleep. On weekends, we tend to go to bed later and delay getting up in the morning. It may seem that these extra hours or minutes would lead us to waking up better rested, but for people with sleep apnea, that doesnt always seem to be the case. Sleeping 45 minutes longer increases the risk of sleep apnea worsening by 47%. It would be better to maintain a stable schedule throughout the week, says Pinilla. Scientists also noted seasonal variation. Apnea tended to worsen during the summer and winter, with a rise in severity between 8% and 19% compared to the spring and fall. This seasonal spike is explained in part by higher temperatures, which disrupt sleep and cause lighter sleep phases, which is associated with a worsening in apnea, explains the study. In the winter, sleeping for longer periods of time and waking up later increased the amount of time dedicated to REM sleep, which is also related to more frequent episodes of apnea. Apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects around a billion people globally. It is caused by the repeated collapse of the respiratory channels during sleep. If serious cases go untreated, it increases the risk of suffering from cardiac diseases, diabetes, cognitive decline and depression, making early detection key. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. This is Dr. Frankensteins reaction to his own creation in Mary Shelleys 1818 novel, known by the scientists surname or as The Modern Prometheus. A similar vertigo has been experienced by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The head of the company behind one of the most sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) developments has begun to consider the dead internet theory, which argues that automatically generated content will eventually surpass human-created content multiplying the risks of manipulation, disinformation, and intentional behavioral conditioning. Altmans terse message has raised concerns: I never took the dead internet theory that seriously, but it seems like there are really a lot of [large language model] LLM-run Twitter accounts now, he posted on X (formerly Twitter, which is now owned by Elon Musk). Aaron Harris, global chief technology officer (CTO) at Sage, a multinational specializing in AI applications, is cautious about labeling the phenomenon, though he does not deny the process. I dont know if I would call it the dead internet, but its certainly changing rapidly. The rise of automated content and bot-driven interaction [computer programs that mimic human behavior] makes it increasingly difficult to separate the authentic from the noise. The question is whether we allow that noise to overwhelm us, or focus on designing technology that restores trust. What matters now is how we filter, verify, and display information that people can trust. Altmans specific reference to the social network is no coincidence. This is critically important, as social media is now the primary news source for many users around the world, write Jake Renzella, director of computer science at the University of Melbourne, and Vlada Rozova, a machine learning researcher at the University of New South Wales, in an article published in The Conversation. As these AI-driven accounts grow in followers (many fake, some real), the high follower count legitimizes the account to real users. This means that out there, an army of accounts is being created, the article continues. Already, there is strong evidence social media is being manipulated by these inflated bots to sway public opinion with disinformation and its been happening for years." Back in 2023, a study by security firm Imperva estimated that nearly half of all internet traffic in 2022 was bots. And these bots are not only capable of creating unique content, but also of mimicking formulas to ensure massive, viral distribution. According to a new study published in Physical Review Letters, led by researchers from the University of Vermont and the Santa Fe Institute, the thing being spread, whether a belief, joke, or virus, evolves in real time and gains strength as it spreads following a mathematical model of self-reinforcing cascades. According to this research, what spreads mutates as it propagates, and these changes help it go viral in a pattern similar to sixth-generation fires, which cannot be extinguished with conventional methods. We were partly inspired by forest fires: they can become stronger when they burn through dense forests and weaker when they cross open gaps, explains Sid Redner, a physicist, professor at the Santa Fe Institute, and co-author of the article. The same principle applies to information, fake news, or diseases. They can intensify or weaken depending on the conditions. Juniper Lovato, a computer scientist and co-author of the study, believes the work provides a better understanding of how the creation of ideas, misinformation, and social contagion occur. This gives us a theoretical basis to explore how stories and narratives evolve and spread across social media, she says. Researchers caution that AI tools greatly amplify the risks of viral content that supports manipulation or misinformation, and urge users to be more mindful of the threats posed by AI assistants and agents. Because these innovative AI tools not only know how to create content and make it go viral, but also how to influence individuals effectively using information gathered from users interactions. The study Big Help or Big Brother? Auditing Tracking, Profiling, and Personalization in Generative AI Assistants, presented at the USENIX Security Symposium in Seattle, examines users vulnerability to such influence. When it comes to susceptibility to social media influence, its not just about who you are, but where you are in a network and who youre connected to, explains Luca Luceri, a researcher at the University of Southern California and co-author of the paper. Susceptibility Paradox In this regard, the research highlights a phenomenon they call the Susceptibility Paradox, which describes a pattern in which users friends are, on average, more easily influenced than the users themselves. According to the study, this behavior may help explain how behaviors, trends, and ideas catch on and why some corners of the internet are more vulnerable to influence than others People who post because others do are often part of tightly knit circles exhibiting similar behavior. The study suggests that social influence operates not just through direct exchanges between individuals, but is also shaped and constrained by the structure of the network. In this way, it becomes possible to predict who is most likely to share content a goldmine for automatic virality based on personal data collected by AI. In many cases, knowing how a users friends behave was enough to estimate how the user would behave, the study warns. The researchers work outlines a series of principles, akin to Asimovs laws of robotics, to prevent AI from acting outside moral boundaries. In summary, AI must not manipulate users to serve the interests of itself or its developers, or create social harm such as misinformation; it must not allow users or developers to apply strategies that negatively affect society (e.g., domination, behavioral conditioning, or discrediting institutions); and it must not unduly restrict user freedom. Aaron Harris, the CTO of Sega, believes an ethical internet is possible, but it wont happen by chance, he says. Transparency and accountability must determine how AI is designed and regulated. Companies developing it must make their results auditable and explainable, so that people understand where the information comes from and why its being recommended. In finance, for example, accuracy isnt optional, and errors have real consequences. The same principle applies online: responsible training, clear labeling, and the ability to challenge results can make AI part of a more ethical and trustworthy internet. Harris advocates for protecting the human internet, especially now that more and more content is being created by bots, but not at the expense of foregoing technological advances. I dont think the solution is to go back to the pre-AI world and try to restrict or completely eliminate the content it has generated. Its already part of how we live and work, and it can provide real value when used responsibly. The question is whether anyone is responsible for the content. Thats the principle all companies should follow: AI should enhance human capabilities, not replace them. A more human internet is still possible, but only if we keep peoples needs at the center and make accountability non-negotiable. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Venezuelans in the US are bewildered and nervous as the Republican administration seeks to end their immigration protections. The president is also pressuring the Maduro regime like never before On September 6, after months of litigation against the Trump administration, a federal judge ruled that Venezuelan immigrants could renew their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States. However, after the ruling was handed down, only about 20 people gathered to celebrate outside the Arepazo restaurant in Doral, Florida a focal point of the largest Venezuelan enclave in the country. Under normal circumstances, you would have seen 2,000 people here at Arepazo. When [former Venezuela president Hugo] Chavez died [in 2013], 2,500 came and blocked the streets. This shows that people despite the judges decision arent so sure. They say, Id rather stay home; Im not going to risk being caught by the police and thrown out of the country. Theres fear, says Jose Antonio Colina, president of Venezuelans Persecuted in Political Exile (VEPPEX). He speaks with EL PAIS while sipping coffee at the restaurant, the only one in the area with a statue of Simon Bolivar. In recent months, the Venezuelan diaspora has seen how the government they once supported appears to have abandoned them. The Trump administration has tried to strip them of Temporary Protected Status and has canceled humanitarian immigration programs that allowed hundreds of thousands to live and work legally in the country. U.S. authorities are detaining asylum seekers in immigration courts, while the official narrative associating Venezuelans with the Tren de Aragua criminal organization is stigmatizing them. At the same time, President Trump has gone on a war footing against the Nicolas Maduro regime: he has sent warships to the edge of Venezuelan territorial waters and has raised tensions with Caracas to their highest point in years. In the current context, Venezuelans in the United States are presented simultaneously as victims of Chavismo the political movement that has governed Venezuela since Chavezs rise to the presidency in 1999 and as criminals on American soil. In Doral a city thats about 25 miles northwest of Miami one in three people is of Venezuelan origin. And Trumps immigration policy has been a tough pill to swallow. The majority of voters in the young city are affiliated with the Republican Party, according to figures from the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office. Many residents sponsored relatives under the Biden administrations programs. Some beneficiaries have had to leave the country, or are hiding for fear of arrest. Others have been in the U.S. for decades and have been politically active against Maduros regime, which would expose them to a serious risk of persecution or retaliation if deported. And all watch in bewilderment as the Trump administration deploys destroyers to combat drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela a country that it deems as being safe to return to. Jose Antonio Colina in Miami, Florida. Eva Marie UZCATEGUI Its completely traumatic. Its one thing to search for undocumented immigrants and another thing to place people in a situation in which theyre not in the country legally, Colina says. Theyre not seeing us as a community affected by political problems, but as a number of migrants who could be deported to fulfill an electoral promise. The Venezuelan community that voted for Trump voted to remove Maduro from power, not to remove Venezuelans from the United States. TPS allows people from countries facing exceptional circumstances such as natural disasters or humanitarian crises to live and work legally in the United States. It must be renewed every 18 months. Some 250,000 Venezuelans received TPS in 2021 including Colina after years of advocacy to protect those who had fled the Maduro regime and were unable to return, while their asylum cases trickled through immigration courts. Another 350,000 Venezuelans were granted protection in 2023, when the United States concluded that extraordinary conditions persisted in Venezuela and redesignated the countrys citizens as being eligible for TPS. Before leaving office, former president Joe Biden extended TPS until 2026, but in January of 2025, the Trump administration reversed this measure. Immigrant rights groups sued, sparking a legal battle against the government. Federal Judge Edward Chen blocked the measure this past March. Subsequently, in May, the government asked the Supreme Court to intervene. The court said the government had the authority to terminate TPS, but didnt suspend the litigation or Chens case. In early September, Chen ruled that the governments move to eliminate TPS was unlawful. DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin argued in an email to EL PAIS that TPS was never intended as a de-facto amnesty program and that the Biden administration exploited TPS programs to allow poorly-vetted migrants to gain entry into the country, from MS-13 gang members to known terrorists and murderers. Paradoxically, however, the State Department warns its citizens against traveling to Venezuela due to the high risk of insecurity, such as arbitrary detentions, terrorism, and kidnappings, as well as civil unrest and crime. The moment the United States Armed Forces attacked a Venezuelan boat. Johanna is a Venezuelan citizen who came to the U.S. in 2021. She asks that EL PAIS not reveal her identity, for fear of retaliation from immigration authorities. She tells this newspaper that she has experienced the unrest surrounding TPS in court with anguish. And, even though she applied for the extension, she has lost faith in the system. Well have to see if the government will respect the judges decision, she sighs. She says that, in Doral where she works as a waitress in a restaurant theres a lot of fear. When she drives with her eight-year-old son, the boy looks out the window looking for police officers to warn her, for fear of being stopped. Following the judges ruling, many rushed to renew their TPS before the deadline expired on Wednesday, September 10. However, the website wasnt allowing the process, causing confusion and panic. On Friday, September 12, the same federal judge ruled that the renewal service must be reestablished. Judge Chens recent decisions have taken many by surprise. Lots of people have already left the country, Isamar Torres points out, because they were disappointed or pessimistic. A 35-year-old Venezuelan who arrived in the United States in 2016, she owns a form-preparation business in Doral. She believes the government is trying to clean up what the previous administration did. They want to find every person regardless of nationality and remove them. Their problem is that Venezuelans have TPS, meaning that they cannot be deported, Torres adds. Many of those who entered through the land border werent given due process, because so many people were transiting. Thus, she affirms, many criminals entered. Because its no secret that Nicolas Maduros regime opened all the prisons. She repeats an argument that Trump has made numerous times, without evidence. Torres indicates that most of the TPS renewals that her business has put together recently are from 2021, from people who have been here for many years. Some have multiple ongoing immigration processes, including asylum applications, so they waited until the last minute to renew their TPS. However, some have chosen to leave the U.S. On Wednesday, September 10, she met a client who had a ticket to return to Venezuela that Friday. He says hes afraid and prefers to leave before being deported. Hes a decent person; he paid his taxes on time every year hes been here. Hes never even had a fine, Torres says. Isamar Torres pictured in Florida on September 10, 2025. Eva Marie UZCATEGUI Thats what 22-year-old Barbara Reyes did, returning to Venezuela on April 7, 2025, the same day her TPS expired. Her aunt a resident of Doral had sponsored her under the humanitarian parole program. The young woman had spent two years in the United States, during which she spent a lot of time working. But she wasnt able to study. I was trying to process the paperwork to study, but it seemed more and more difficult without permanent residency, she tells EL PAIS by phone from Caracas. She wanted to enroll at Miami Dade College, but because of her status, she couldnt receive the in-state discount, which Florida discontinued in March of this year. With the pressure of Trump coming and starting with the Im going to kick everyone out speech, I said, I dont want to give all Ive got to one place just so they can kick me out. Colina says that criminals came in through the border, but so did good people, including activists he knows who were imprisoned in Venezuela, as well as former officials who refused to repress [the population]. But unfortunately, he adds, this administration doesnt differentiate between the two. It seems that, in some ways, [for them], Venezuela is politically unstable, but in others, it isnt. The Department of Homeland Security argues that its not in the national interest to keep these people in the country, claiming that conditions in Venezuela have improved enough for them to return. But in recent weeks, U.S. ships, warplanes and a nuclear submarine have positioned themselves near the coast of the Caribbean nation, generating tensions. This has led Nicolas Maduros regime to mobilize its troops in response. Colina says that theres hope among the public that if theyre removing TPS and are in this operational deployment in the Caribbean, its because [the U.S. government] is going to remove Nicolas Maduro from power. However, while it seems like a somewhat excessive deployment to combat drug trafficking, it doesnt seem sufficient for an invasion. Reports indicate that there are currently about 4,500 U.S. troops in the Caribbean. He finds it contradictory that the government wants to remove TPS under these conditions. Maduro is still there, he notes. He also doesnt believe theres a plan in place, nor a political opposition thats ready for a transition of power. Its not just about removing TPS and removing Maduro. What about the transition? he wonders. Mariana Torrellas, pictured in Doral, Florida, on September 10, 2025. Eva Marie UZCATEGUI Mariana Torrellas the owner of a jewelry business in Doral sponsored two relatives under the Humanitarian Parole program. She and her husband arrived in the US 10 years ago with their two children. Theyre very grateful for the stability they enjoy. Shes Catholic and joined a foundation called Virgen de Coromoto to help the community. After the social unrest that began in Venezuela in 2014 which left dozens dead and thousands injured and detained she saw her fellow Venezuelans arrive, fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs. We helped them with food, furniture and temporary accommodation while they settled in, because there were people sleeping in the Walmart parking lot, she recalls. She says that her country has always been supportive and welcoming of immigrants, regardless of where they come from. An estimated seven million Venezuelans have left their country as a result of the crisis. DHS said in an email that those whose TPS or parole status has expired or who are otherwise in the country illegally should take advantage of the CBP Home self-deportation process, which supposedly gives migrants a free ticket and $1,000. Torrellas says its not that simple. She knows some folks who have returned to Venezuela especially young people, including the relatives she sponsored but there are others who dont have that option. Especially families with children, she emphasizes. Helene Villalonga president of the Multicultural Association of Activists, Voice and Expression (AMAVEX) says that the recent court ruling has been a respite for thousands of families who have lived in uncertainty for years. However, she vows that they will continue fighting for a permanent solution. TPS is a relief, she acknowledges, but its not the final goal: we need a path to residency. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition WARSAW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A lecture on Chinese poetry was held Friday at the House of Literature in Warsaw, Poland, drawing more than 50 Polish writers, scholars and literature enthusiasts. The event, supported by the China Writers Association and the Chinese Embassy in Poland, was co-hosted by the Polish Chinese Literature Readers Club and the Polish Writers Association. During the lecture, Chinese poet Yang Ke said contemporary Chinese poetry is seeking new ways to connect with tradition, moving from the tonal rhythm of classical verse toward structural experimentation influenced by the West. Li Xun, a Chinese poet living in Europe, said that Chinese and European poetry have influenced each other for over a century, with Western techniques enriching Chinese verse and Chinese poetry offering European readers fresh aesthetic and philosophical perspectives. Among those attending were Wei Jiao, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Poland, Anna Nasilowska, president of the Polish Writers Association, and Polish sinologist Malgorzata Religa. Zbigniew Zbikowski, head of the Warsaw branch of the Polish Writers Association, said he recently visited China and translated several Chinese poems into Polish. He said the lecture would help strengthen literary exchange and promote translation between the two countries. TIANJIN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- When fresh food chain Freshippo opened its first store in north China's Tianjin Municipality, long queues formed at the entrance as shoppers pushed their carts inside. Customers could be seen lingering at the seafood, bakery and cooked food counters, pausing to capture photos to share online. Tianjin resident Zhou Yun was impressed by both the taste and design of Freshippo's new desserts, she told Xinhua. Holding her chosen box of sweets, she said that the store's setting had made shopping a truly enjoyable experience. The new Freshippo store features fresh seafood counters and an in-store bakery to enhance its "shop-and-dine" experience, and it has rolled out a number of exclusive "debut" products, bringing novelty and convenience to consumers. In recent years, Tianjin has fully utilized the "debut economy" as a key lever to enhance consumption, bringing together more premium brands and new business formats. Some debut stores -- a brand's first presence in a city or region, including everything from global or national firsts to new concept stores -- have become instant hits, quickly turning into city landmarks and social media hotspots. At the local Tianjin MixC commercial complex, the recent opening of DJI & Hasselblad's first store in the city attracted a flood of tech enthusiasts. "I came all the way from Hebei just to try the latest drone, and finally got the chance today," customer Wang Nan told Xinhua. The store's immersive experience zone was packed with young visitors trying out DJI's latest drones. "We want consumers to feel the blend of technology and art during their experience," a regional market executive for DJI said. The concept store emphasizes scene-based design and interactivity, acting as a display space and an inspiration hub for photography lovers, drone users and creative communities. In addition to debut stores, Tianjin is also promoting debut scenarios. The Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Art Block integrates art exhibitions with debut stores, creating a space where shopping, culture and leisure intersect. Shoppers strolling through the block come across large-scale art installations, experiencing unique art woven into daily life. "The debut economy has evolved from simple product debuts into a comprehensive lifestyle consumption model covering shopping, dining, culture, tourism and technology," said Cheng Wen, a researcher at the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences. "It not only meets personalized demand, but is also a key driver of urban consumption upgrading." In the first half of 2025, Tianjin welcomed 290 new debut stores. Tianjin is refining its support measures, establishing an evaluation system and rolling out a series of product debut events, according to Wang Yagang, deputy director of the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Commerce. "We are cultivating landmark debut clusters to better meet diverse, high-quality consumer demand." "The debut economy is not just a business innovation, but a reflection of urban competitiveness," Cheng said, adding that integrating innovation, industrial and policy chains by developing the debut economy can open up new growth pathways and engines. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Banana Island Resort Doha has brought on Ziya Cikrikci as executive chef. In his new role, Cikrikci leads a team serving global delicacies across seven dining venues, including three signature restaurants and a collection of exclusive dining concepts. Possessing a flair for presentation, the gastronome applies his technical skills to deliver dishes built around a philosophy of elevating one carefully selected centrepiece seasonal ingredient per dish. He adds accompanying flavours and deconstructs each product to its essence, conjuring experiences that touch all the senses. Every aspect is considered, from aroma and texture to temperature and contrast, delivering mindful eating that is in tune with nature. In addition to exemplary cooking skills, Cikrikci provides valuable expertise learned over 15 years managing high-end restaurants and multi-outlet culinary operations at luxury hotels and resorts across the USA, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Turkey. Over the past 24 years, Cikrikci has honed his craft. His distinctive culinary storytelling blends the innovation of modern craft with the soul of tradition. Cikrikci began his career in Istanbul after graduating from the University of Izzet Baysal with a Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts. After training with several of the city's most prestigious kitchens, he joined The Ritz-Carlton in Miami and Washington D.C. In Miami, he served as chef de partie at the five-diamond Bizcaya Restaurant, supporting daily operations and leading culinary teams. He later advanced to kitchen supervisor, playing a key role in the opening of Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C., a signature restaurant created in partnership with Eric Ripert, the celebrated three-Michelin-starred chef of Le Bernardin in New York. He was a core supervisory team member overseeing multiple kitchen brigades there. After three years of managing speciality fine dining operations as a sous chef on flagship liners for Celebrity Cruises, Cikrikci returned to Istanbul to establish the Frankie Istanbul Restaurant. He built a team of 35 chefs and managing kitchen operations to create one of the city's most successful dining establishments. He continued to work in the roles of executive sous chef and chef de cuisine with leading global luxury hotel brands. In 2018, he took his first executive chef role at Hyatt Regency Istanbul Atakoy. From here, Cikrikci fostered a celebrated international reputation as executive chef for the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus and the Hilton Cairo Grand Nile, before joining Anantara in 2025. MCLA Master of Education Program is Accepting Applications NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is accepting applications for the Spring 2026 semester for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program. The M.Ed. program serves working educators across Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. Graduates emerge with a blend of classroom and fieldwork experiences that prepare them to make an impact in their school communities. Programs include M.Ed. with initial licensure, professional teacher licensure with M.Ed., M.Ed. with individualized plan of study non-licensure, and accelerated 4+1 bachelor's degree with M.Ed. "When you finish our program here, you will be licensed as a public school teacher in Massachusetts," said Maggie Clark, Associate Professor of Education. "That means, upon graduation, you can immediately go into the field. This is a license that you can bring anywhere. So many states are looking for educators from states like Massachusetts, because they know weve done it well." MCLA's Education Department also provides essential support to emergency license holders within Massachusetts public school districts. The mission is to guide and assist educators in transitioning from emergency licenses to provisional or initial licenses, ensuring stability and excellence in our educational system. Designed for working professionals, the program offers an online format. MCLA is a fully approved educator prep program through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for Initial Licensure in early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary education, and moderate disabilities. Information Sessions: October 14 at 5 p.m. November 20 at 6 p.m. December 10 at 6 p.m. Students can complete the degree in as few as five semesters with fulfillment of many subject matter knowledge areas. The program welcomes applications from well-qualified candidates who have evidence of academic success and a bachelors degree. Applications for the Spring 2026 semester are due by December 1, 2025, for priority consideration. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal addresses the opening ceremony of NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia, Sept. 19, 2025. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) NARVA, Estonia, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. The facility, built by Canada's Neo Performance Materials, is designed to produce around 2,000 metric tonnes of magnet blocks a year -- enough for over a million electric vehicles or more than 1,000 offshore wind turbines, according to local media reports. The magnets will be tailored to meet the specifications of Europe's automotive and wind-energy sectors. Neo CEO Rahim Suleman said the plant was built "at record speed" and has already signed multiple contracts with European car makers. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described it as "the most cost-efficient magnet factory ever built in the Western world." Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows inside view of NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows inside view of NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows inside view of NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows a rare-earth magnetic bar at NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows rare-earth magnetic bars at NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2025 shows outside view of NEO magnetic plant in Narva, a city in northeastern Estonia. A plant producing rare-earth magnets for Europe's electric vehicle and wind-energy sectors opened Friday in Narva, Estonia. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) The Pittsfield's Economic Development subcommittee is backing $200,000 in Pittsfield Economic Development Funds to help Elegant Stitches develop a production facility in Downing Industrial Park. Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports GE Funds For Old, New Business PITTSFIELD, Mass. Councilors were glad to see a long-time and a new company put forward for a total of $700,000 in economic development funds. On Monday, the Community and Economic Development subcommittee supported requests of $200,000 and $500,000 for the Pittsfield Economic Funds, also known as the GE funds. A half-million dollars would help Jain Americas Inc. expand Chicopee operations to Pittsfield, and $200,000 would support a design and manufacturing studio for Elegant Stitches. "First, I want to say to the mayor, thank you," Councilor at Large and committee member Earl Persip III said to Mayor Peter Marchetti. "You brought us two companies, one new one and one expanding one. When we talk about these funds, if we have somebody that's new, the talk is, 'Why aren't we helping someone local?' and then when we bring someone local, it's 'Why aren't we bringing someone new in?' so you killed it the first time out here with these two." President and owner Alfred Enchill said, "The story of Elegant Stitches is the story of Pittsfield." The company was founded in 1997 and plans to relocate its production to an 11,500-square-foot space at 17 Downing III. "Twenty-eight years ago, a husband and wife started with a single-head embroidery machine in our basement, going to trade shows and selling embroidered stuff. Two years later, we moved out of our basement to the corner of First and Fenn Street, right around the corner here," Enchill explained. "A few years later, it got burned down, and everyone that lived in Pittsfield long enough knows what happened to Elegant Stitches, but the people of Pittsfield stepped up, supported us." Today, the company offers embroidery, screen printing, promotional products, and more. Elegant Stitches has eight employees, several of whom are long time, and the project will add six new full-time staff, including a marketing director and a director of operations. Head of Business Development Auric Enchill, who was raised in the family business, detailed the First Street location's spatial limitations. They plan to have the new space up and running by the new year. "It's not a terribly big space. It's actually very small, and when customers come in, they hear the production, they see it, which I think is a nice, cool thing, but we'd like to expand that space into purely retail and customer service, so we can display our products better," he explained. "And all the production will be at 17 Downing III, that's going to be an increase in embroidery, an increase in screen printing, and the space works out nicely. It's a flat, open production space, so we're not going to have any real challenges in getting our equipment in there and operating, and then there's loading docks, which we need." Hungarian National Assembly Deputy Speaker Istvan Jakab has said that he is impressed by China's modernization achievements, and highlighted the growing momentum of bilateral cooperation and prospects for partnership in artificial intelligence (AI). #GLOBALink For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A dating show modelled on TV reality phenomenon Love Island, featuring Pakistani contestants, has sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country, despite no episodes having aired and the series being exclusively on YouTube. Lazawal Ish (Eternal Love), hosted by Pakistani actress Ayesha Omar and filmed in Istanbul, is adapted from the Turkish format Ask Adasi. It brings together four Pakistani men and women in a luxury villa, with their every interaction filmed. This format clashes with Pakistans strict social norms, where extra-marital relationships are illegal and dating carries significant stigma. The countrys broadcasting regulator stated on Saturday it was not in a position to act on public complaints, as it holds no authority over the streaming platform. Last week, Omar shared a teaser of her cruising along the Bosporus before welcoming contestants into the villa. But the promo quickly drew criticism online, with detractors labelling the format un-Islamic and accusing it of copying Western culture. The flood of public complaints about the Urdu-language show prompted Pakistani regulators to issue a clarification, saying they were unable to do anything. Muhammad Tahir, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, said that the programme was neither being broadcast on mainstream media nor on any television channel licensed by the authority. It does not fall within our domain, Tahir told the Associated Press. We do not regulate YouTube, and this content is not from any television channel. The general public is not aware that YouTube lies outside our regulatory scope. Omar posted her promo while cruising down Istanbuls Bosporus ( AP ) The host, Omar, told the Pakistan-based Fashion Times magazine last week that the project was a first of its kind for Pakistani and Urdu-speaking viewers. She said the show would feature love, bonding, and competition, with audiences witnessing every spark, every fight, and every heartfelt connection. Over the course of 100 episodes, the eight contestants compete in challenges and form alliances until one couple emerges as the winner. Nobody from the show was immediately available for comment. Lazawal Ishq is scheduled to debut on YouTube on 29 September. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Pakistani court charged a man on Saturday with murder for shooting a teenage social media influencer outside her home earlier this year after refusing his offer of friendship. Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka in the capital, Islamabad, indicted Umar Hayat for killing 17-year-old Sana Yousaf. Hayat pleaded not guilty. Hayat, a 22-year-old TikTok content creator, was arrested in June in the eastern city of Faisalabad. Yousaf's death drew widespread condemnation. Judge Majoka asked Hayat if he had killed Yousaf. Hayat replied that he had not. He also rejected the allegation that he had stolen her mobile phone, a court official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. Footage on Pakistan's private Samaa TV channel showed police leading a handcuffed Hayat to the court. Yousuf, originally from the scenic northern region of Chitral, was known for promoting traditional Chitrali music and dress through her TikTok channel. She also advocated for girls' education. Hours before her murder, she had posted a birthday celebration photo with friends. TikTok enjoys immense popularity in Pakistan due to its easy-to-use and visually-led format, with tens of millions of users. But it has also faced temporary bans. The government has suspended the platform several times, citing concerns that the app promotes immoral or unlawful content. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A backpacker is warning others of the unexpected health risks that come with eating street food and petting stray cats after a terrifying brush with typhoid left her seriously ill. Alysha Pyrgotis, from Bradford, was island-hopping in Indonesia and en route to Thailand, when she suddenly developed symptoms that were later diagnosed as typhoid fever. The serious bacterial infection left the 27-year-old unconscious and dangerously dehydrated on the remote island of Gili Trawangan in June, with no hospital access. I couldn't even keep a sip of water down. I thought I was gonna die, Ms Pyrgotis told the Independent, recalling the ordeal. The traveller first assumed she was simply hungover, but she was soon unable to even get out of her hostel bed. open image in gallery Alysha Pyrgotis was island-hopping in Indonesia and en route to Thailand when she became ill ( Alysha Pyrgotis ) I thought I was hungover, but by midday I started to get really sick. I was aching in my bones and muscles, and that was followed by extreme vomiting, she said. I started to panic because it was getting really bad, and I couldn't leave my bed. I was very dizzy and felt sick, and then the next few days were just horrific. Stuck on a remote island, she had no access to a hospital, but a local doctor was able to diagnose her with typhoid fever following a blood test. She was given antibiotics via an intravenous drip in a building Ms Pyrgotis likened to a shack. I didnt even tell my family, I was too scared that it was gonna be so bad to tell them, so I waited until I was a little bit better, she said. Typhoid is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi, which spreads to people through contaminated food and water. Fever, headache, tummy ache, chills and pains are all symptoms of typhoid, according to the NHS. open image in gallery Alysha Pyrgotis pictured on an IV drip on the Island after being diagnosed with typhoid ( Alysha Pyrgotis ) If it's left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems such as internal bleeding or an infection in the lining of the stomach and in some cases it can be life-threatening. Ms Pyrgotis believes her infection was caused by eating street food and brushing her teeth with the tap water. I was eating really cheap street food, with places that had meat left out all day, she said. I was also brushing my teeth with the tap water the whole time I travelled, which is a big no, apparently, she added. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist from the University of East Anglia, stressed that items contaminated with faeces can spread typhoid, meaning food and water probably made Ms Pyrgotis sick. Green leaf salads are lethal in many parts of the world because they're often grown in areas that are subject to human faecal pollution. Even when they are adequately washed, they're often washed in dirty water that can spread infection, he told the Independent. However, the cat lover who was touching and feeding several stray cats a common sight across Thailand and Indonesia has since discovered this may have put her at risk of other diseases. When I was on the island and I was sick, some of the locals were asking if I had been touching stray cats, Ms Pyrgotis said. I was stroking so many cats and I didnt realise the risks, she added. Professor Hunter explained that stroking stray cats would not have given Ms Pyrgotis typhoid, but she could have been at risk of catching rabies had she been bitten. It's best to avoid contact with animals, whether they be wild or domesticated, because you can catch particularly scary diseases, including rabies, he said. He also explained that she could have been at risk of catching typhus, a potentially deadly bacterial illness, because fleas are a potential transmitter of the disease. A vaccine is available for typhoid free on the NHS and is recommended for people travelling to high-risk areas. Pharmacist and health expert Thorun Govind said: Travel vaccines can provide vital protection and reduce the risk of becoming seriously unwell. Its always best to check the latest travel health advice and speak to a healthcare professional well before your trip, so you know which vaccines or precautions are recommended for your destination. Join the Independent Women newsletter with Victoria Richards for a thoughtful take on the weeks headlines Join the Independent Women newsletter Join the Independent Women newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A woman has opened up about the moment she was told she looked rapeable by a group of men, as campaigners say 1.5 million young women have been harassed while the government delays enforcing a new law. Charli Keely said she was just 18 years old and on her way to a lecture during the terrifying experience. She recalled running back to her home to change her clothes because of how unsafe the men made her feel. Thursday marked two years since the public sexual harassment act became law yet, according to the activists who campaigned for the bill, it remains unenforced due to delayed guidance from the government. During the two years since the act was passed, new data analysis revealed that almost 1.5 million young women aged 16 to 24 have faced harassment. Meanwhile, half of girls say public sexual harassment has become worse over this time, rising to 57 per cent among those aged 18 to 21. open image in gallery Harassment disproportionately affects marginalised groups, such as disabled women and LGBTQ+ people ( Getty Images/iStock ) Charity Plan International UK and grassroots organisation Our Streets Now are urging the government to publish statutory guidance immediately, as well as introduce preventative education to tackle attitudes that fuel harassment, warning that until this happens, women and girls across the UK are being failed. Opening up about the time she was harassed, Ms Keely said: I was 18, on my way to a lecture, when a group of men told me I looked rapeable. I felt so unsafe, I went back inside and changed clothes I ended up missing half my lecture. One in four young women aged 16 to 24 reported experiencing sexual harassment in the year ending March 2023, according to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales. It has been estimated that this means as many as 1.5 million young women have been harassed since the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act was passed in September 2023, taking into account Office for National Statistics population figures. Almost all girls say they take precautions to feel safer in public including avoiding eye contact, sticking to well-lit routes, or turning on location tracking according to the poll of 1,000 UK young women aged 14 to 21 conducted for Plan International UK this month. Harassment also disproportionately affects marginalised groups, such as disabled women and LGBTQ+ people. Ms Keely, who now works as head of policy and campaigns at Our Streets Now, said: The Protection from Sex Based Harassment in Public Act commencing is just one step in a journey toward ending public sexual harassment. We know the law alone is not enough this must be coupled with preventative work through education and policy to ensure that everyone feels safe in public space. Kathleen Spencer Chapman, director of influencing and external Affairs at Plan International UK, said: Girls and young women have been calling for action on public sexual harassment for years. Finally publishing this guidance would send an important message that the government recognises and cares about the toll of harassment on the wellbeing and safety of women and girls. That means implementing this act, ensuring police and courts can address harassment effectively, and tackling misogyny early in our schools. Until this happens, women and girls across the UK are being failed. A Home Office spokesperson said: Violence against women and girls is a national emergency and we are determined to halve these crimes in a decade. Public sexual harassment is abhorrent and can leave women feeling unsafe to walk the streets in their own neighbourhoods. We will commence the legislation in due course. We will be working with the police to help make sure it can be enforced robustly. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man has died after falling from a hot air balloon. He was reported to have fallen at about 9.20am on Friday near Newpound Common, Wisborough Green, West Sussex. After a search, his body was found in a field at about 1.50pm. Formal identification has yet to take place and the death is not being treated as suspicious. It is understood he had been on a flight from Billingshurst to Dunsfold, Surrey. A Sussex Police spokesperson said: Police were called to a report of a man having fallen from a hot air balloon near Newpound Common, Wisborough Green, just after 9.20am on Friday (September 19). Following an extensive search the body of a man was sadly found in a field at 1.50pm. The search was carried out by neighbourhood officers, police drones, search officers and dogs. The man had been among a group of people on a balloon flight from Billingshurst to Dunsfold. Police have yet to formerly identify the man. An investigation is taking place as to the circumstances and at this time the incident is not being treated as suspicious. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The UKs care system is at breaking point, a new report has found, after the number of full-time unpaid carers increased by more than 70 per cent in the last two decades Latest research shows that the number of people providing 35 hours or more a week of care has increased from 1.1m in 2003/04, to 1.9m in 2023/24, with a growing demand and shrinking supply impacting those in need. Martin McGowan, 72, and his wife Sue, 69, have spent the best part of three decades caring for one another due to their complex health conditions. It was in 1995 that Mr McGowans first began to experience heart issues, with his consultant cardiologist describing his family history of heart conditions as a nightmare. He quickly went from being a fit and able caretaker for Hampton Council, to being on oxygen and struggling to work. His wife has also undergone more than 30 operations for a myriad of issues, which first began 37 years ago after undergoing a c-section for the birth of their son. open image in gallery (Alamy/PA) Over the years, they have only once relied on the local authority for care services, but have been significantly impacted by the lack of support available due to funding cuts. My wife used to go to day groups that were useful and very helpful for her, but they were all cut down. Its been cut right across the board, weve watched everything be knocked out over the last 30 years. Its crazy, Mr McGowan said. They talk about care in the community but the problem was that the care there had been gotten rid of, and nothing ever replaced it. The research, conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the IPPR, found that the quantity of new requests for support had increased from 1.8m in 2015/16, to 2.1m in 2023/24. The number of working age adults needing care has increased by 31.5 per cent, while the report stated that unpaid care, which is often provided by parents, spouses and adult children, is relied on too heavily to fill the gaps of an inadequate social care system. This is the crazy thing, Ive had the misfortunate to be stuck in an ambulance for six hours and once youre moved to A&E, you have bed blockers. Ive been one myself, Ive been ready to be discharged on Good Friday but the whole Easter weekend, they couldnt get any social workers to see me to understand what needs I had, Mr McGowan said. open image in gallery Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is a carer for his son (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire ) I couldnt be released until the following Thursday or Friday, which means I was blocking a bed which I didnt need. The systems dont work, social services dont work on Bank Holidays and there are no carers available. The new report is calling on the government to provide unpaid carers with care leave, workplace rights and income protection through their commitment towards a National Care Service (NCS). Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "Ive been a carer for most of my life. First as a teenager, nursing my mum during her long battle against bone cancer. Later for my Nanna, organising her care and trying to make her last few years as comfortable as we could. And now for our son John. "Thats what family is all about: caring for our loved ones. You can hear it in the conversations around every kitchen table, but not often enough around the Cabinet table. And when Ministers do turn their attention to care, they too often focus only on care homes, nurseries, care workers, childminders, and how they are funded. Those are crucial, but they are only part of the picture. "Most care happens not in care homes but in peoples homes; provided not by paid care staff but by family members and other loved ones. Parents and grandparents, husbands and wives, siblings and children. We dont talk about it much, but we are a nation of carers. "So the answers to the care crisis cant just be about tinkering with the formal systems of childcare and social care as they exist today. We need to take a step back as a country and ask some more fundamental questions about how we can better support families." Abby Jitendra, author of the IPPR discussion paper and principal policy adviser at JRF, said: Millions of us are carers or need care, and this number will surge in the future. But families are being left to navigate a neglected system paying sky-high costs, sacrificing work to care, and too often going without the support they need. We need to build a care system that works like a public service: universal, affordable, reliable and fair. That means bold reform now not another decade of drift. Dr Parth Patel, associate director at IPPR, said: We all want and need more care in our lives yet there are fewer people to provide it. Who will care is one of the great challenges of our age. This is not just a question of tax and spend, but of dignity and mutual obligation. The left too often romanticises the Scandinavian model, while the right still treats care as womens work. Neither will do. Each of us has a duty to care for our children, our parents, and our neighbours. Most of us actually find it rewarding, and would do more of it if only we had the time. That is what a National Care Service must recognise and support: helping us look after one another. And that means bringing a new set of policies into the care conversation from flexible working hours and paternity leave, to stronger commitments on affordable, high-quality care services. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has told Sir Keir Starmer it is time to look at rejoining the European Union to ease the countrys economic woes and get a grip on the small boats crisis. Lord Kinnock, who led the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992, said the UK could no longer afford the huge self-inflicted losses created by leaving the European Union and that restoring membership would be a major boost for growth. He said he understood the reluctance within government over the issue, but sooner or later, were going to have to say if we really want sustained economic growth, we have to be part of a body of the single market with our nearest neighbours. The comments by Lord Kinnock, a former European Commissioner and vice-president of the European Commission, come at the same time as warnings that Rachel Reeves will have to raise taxes in the Budget in November to meet her self-imposed borrowing rules. On Friday, experts warned that unexpectedly high government borrowing figures in August meant tax rises were inevitable. open image in gallery Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock has made a number of interventions in recent weeks, urging Starmer to change course on several key policies ( Getty ) Lord Kinnock said: If we rejoined, wed be able to get rid of the economic growth deficit, which is costing us 100bn a year, which means the government is losing 40bn in tax revenue. We cant afford to carry on losing revenues on that scale or the investment in jobs that would go with that amount. We need to resume normality and be part of our continent again. It would hugely help our economy out at a time of desperate need in a major way. It wouldnt be marginal, it would be about five per cent of GDP added to our economy, he added. I think it has always been time to look at rejoining the EU. Lord Kinnock also argued that EU membership would strengthen Britains ability to manage migration, as Sir Keir fails to get a grip on illegal migration with small-boat crossings at a record high. Around 1,000 people crossed the Channel in dinghies on Friday, while the government has so far only been able to deport three migrants under its one in, one out returns deal with France after a slew of last-minute legal challenges. Lord Kinnock said: It would help the small boats crisis, too, as we will be part of the Dublin Protocol again, he said. Under that protocol, which we participated in until 2021 when we fully left the EU, anyone who arrived by irregular means could be returned to the last EU country through which they came from [France]. open image in gallery Lord Kinnock with Keir Starmer as the 2024 election results came in ( PA ) At the time, we didnt have to do it much as there were very, very, very few people arriving by irregular means. Why? Because they knew that when apprehended, they would be sent back. We had to get out of the Dublin Protocol when we left the EU, something believers of Farage and the rest of them never acknowledged, but it was always the truth. When we left the EU, we left the Dublin Protocol, which is the main deterrent to irregular migration. That is what has happened. On free movement, Lord Kinnock said the system had never been properly enforced before Brexit. If you havent got a job within three months of moving inside the single market, you have to go home. Before Brexit, we had a system without limitation, and that was a mistake, as people need reassurance that if people arent coming here to work, then they are not as welcome as they would be if they were making a contribution. When we had the figures before the referendum, the migrant workers from the rest of the European Union were generating a surplus revenue of about 2.6 per cent to 3bn a year. For very understandable reasons, they were young, working, made little demand on the education system, virtually no demand on the NHS, and they werent unemployed. They were generating much more than they took out. open image in gallery Experts have warned Rachel Reeves will have to raise taxes in the Budget ( Toby Melville ) Lord Kinnock has called for Britain to return to full EU membership, but would also support remaining outside the bloc if Britain rejoined the single market. The most sensible proposal was made back in 2018 by my son, Steve [Kinnock, MP and care minister], who advocated for a common market, too. That is to say, rejoining the European Free Trade Association with Norway. It would have meant we were in the single market and the customs union, we wouldnt have to accept the rules of the European Union, without it being on the council of the commissioner or in the parliament. Although, he continued, I much prefer the idea of restoring full membership because it gives the UK power and influence over our nearest and biggest market of the European Union. It would be an enormous benefit to our country and people. He conceded that Labour would face political difficulties in pursuing re-entry. It is something a Labour government can do but not easily and without having a big argument, which is an inhibition. I think the sensible people in the government understand there would be this enormous diversion of a huge debate over re-entry. They are reluctant to do it for good reasons because they want to focus on promoting growth and restoring public services. I understand the reluctance, but sooner or later, were going to have to say if we really want sustained economic growth, we have to be part of a body of the single market with our nearest neighbours. It is not the first time in recent months that Lord Kinnock has urged the government to adopt a different stance on certain issues. In July, he suggested a wealth tax would bolster the public finances without breaking Labours election pledges, while earlier this month, he claimed those supporting Palestine Action are not terrorists in the latest blow to Sir Keirs government, which proscribed the group. A government spokesperson said: We will not be rejoining the European Union. Thanks to the new UK-France treaty, people arriving in small boats can now be detained and sent back to France, with the first returns having taken place this week. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The UK has sent fighter jets to Poland in a clear warning shot to Vladimir Putin that Western nations will not tolerate Russias repeated incursions into Nato territory. The RAF Typhoons took part in a Nato operation to bolster European security after Russia provoked global outrage when its jets flew into Estonian airspace on Friday. Defence secretary John Healey said the use of British fighter planes sent a clear signal: Nato airspace will be defended. And David Lammy warned Putin Britain can of course face his military down. Combined with 27 countries, of course, we can face down Putin, he knows that, and I want to reassure you that whilst we take this seriously, he understands that he will be up against a very, very serious effort, the deputy prime minister said. It comes after Polish fighter jets were scrambled on Friday night to protect the countrys airspace as Russia unleashed a massive aerial attack on sites across Ukraine. Polish aircraft were at the highest state of readiness, the countrys operational command said on X (Twitter), as more than 600 drones and missiles were fired at Ukraine overnight in a bombardment which killed at least three and injured dozens. European countries are on high alert following a string of Russian breaches into Nato territory, following drone incursions into Poland and Romania, as Putins forces continue to provoke the alliances defences. open image in gallery An FGR4 Typhoon during the first Royal Air Force Eastern Sentry deployment over Poland, 70 miles from the Belarusian border ( PA Wire ) The latest breach saw three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets enter Estonian territory where they remained without permission for 12 minutes, the Estonian foreign ministry said on Friday. The incursion led US president Donald Trump to warn of big trouble as he grows increasingly frustrated by Russias provocations. He told reporters: I dont love it. I dont like when that happens. Could be big trouble. The UKs involvement in the Nato air defence mission over Poland saw two British fighter jets take off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night, supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft, to patrol Polish skies against threats from Russia, including drones. They returned to the UK early on Saturday morning. Mr Healy said he was proud of the British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our allies from reckless Russian aggression. open image in gallery Aircrew pilot a Royal Air Force Voyager air-refuelling tanker during the first Royal Air Force Eastern Sentry deployment over Poland ( PA Wire ) This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security making us secure at home and strong abroad, he added. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said the UK forces remained agile, integrated, and ready in the face of the Russian threat. Our partnership with Nato has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAFs first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UKs steadfast commitment to Nato and its allies, he added. The announcement of the mission comes hours after it emerged the UK could use frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraines war effort. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said it was right to explore all options to support Ukraine at a meeting with her European counterparts in Copenhagen on Saturday. open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healy said he was proud of the British pilots and air crew who took part in the operation ( PA Wire ) It follows comments from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last week, who suggested providing a loan to Ukraine backed by the cash balances associated with Russian assets frozen by the EU. The move would allow the EU to use Russian assets to fund Ukraines fight against Moscows invasion without immediately confiscating them, amid fears this could breach international law. Announcing the UKs plans, Ms Reeves said: While Russia has no respect for international law, the UK does. We will only consider options in line with international law and that are economically and financially responsible. In March, the UK announced it would provide a 2.26bn loan to Ukraine based on profits generated by frozen Russian assets. But the government has been urged to go further. On Saturday, former defence secretary Ben Wallace called on the government to use frozen Russian assets to fund the war effort in Ukraine against Moscows invasion as he urged the UK to double down and stretch Russian president Vladimir Putins forces. He said the move would force Russia to divert assets to Ukraine, making it harder for Putin to make incursions into other countries such as Estonia, in an interview with BBC Radio 4s Today programme. open image in gallery This is Russias war, and Russia should pay, said Rachel Reeves ( PA Wire ) The Liberal Democrats have called on ministers to seize Russian assets outright and use them to support Ukraine. The Treasury said a reparations loan could see billions of pounds made available for Ukraine without touching the underlying assets. Ms Reeves said: This is Russias war, and Russia should pay. It is right to explore all options to support Ukraine. Defending against Russian aggression is vital not just to the long-term security and prosperity of Ukraine, but to the UK and the whole of Europe. Since the outbreak of war, the UK has committed up to 21.8bn for Ukraine, just less than the 25bn of Russian assets the government has frozen. Meanwhile, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the latest Russian air attack that he said saw 580 drones and 40 missiles target infrastructure, civilian manufacturing companies and residential areas. All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia, Mr Zelensky said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram. Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure. Russia denies targeting civilians. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Zarah Sultana says she has consulted defamation lawyers as the row that has engulfed the fledgling political party she created with Jeremy Corbyn escalates. Hours after diplomatic efforts behind the scenes got underway in a bid to ease tensions within Your Party, Ms Sultana said she had been on the receiving end of baseless attacks that were politically motivated. And in a statement posted on X, she said she had instructed specialist defamation lawyers after she was the subject of a number of false and defamatory statements. open image in gallery I have this evening instructed specialist defamation lawyers, the Coventry South MP said on Friday ( PA Wire ) On Friday, The Independent revealed that some in the party were still pushing ahead with plans for a party conference in November, even as the row over membership ignited. In her statement, Ms Sultana said: Over the last 24 hours, a number of false and defamatory statements have been published about me concerning the launch of Your Partys membership portal. The portal was properly launched in accordance with the partys roadmap. At no point was members data misused or put at risk. All funds received from members were ringfenced and protected in the appropriate manner. She continued: These baseless attacks on my character are politically-motivated and I intend to hold to account those responsible for making them. To that end, I have this evening instructed specialist defamation lawyers. To avoid prejudicing or complicating any future legal process, I will not be making any further comment about this matter at this time. open image in gallery Jeremy Corbyn said legal action was being taken over an unauthorised email ( PA Archive ) Earlier this week, Ms Sultana complained she had been subjected to a sexist boys club amid the row over the membership system. On Thursday morning, supporters were invited to officially sign up and give the party financial backing. But Mr Corbyn described this as an unauthorised email and just hours later warned people in a statement posted on social media not to sign up via the link. The former Labour leader and Independent MP for Islington North added that legal advice is being taken over the message, which featured the names of four other Independent MPs who have set up an ad hoc parliamentary group with Mr Corbyn. Any direct debits should be immediately cancelled, Mr Corbyns message said. Ms Sultana hit back, saying: After being sidelined by the MPs named in todays statement and effectively frozen out of the official accounts, I took the step of launching a membership portal so that supporters could continue to engage and organise. She insisted supporters of Your Party should sign up now as the portal was safe, secure, legitimate. Ms Sultana added: My sole motivation has been to safeguard the grassroots involvement that is essential in building this party. Unfortunately, I have been subjected to what can only be described as a sexist boys club: I have been treated appallingly and excluded completely. As the row escalated, the party said it had reported itself to the UKs data protection watchdog and claimed a false membership system has been unilaterally launched. The party said the developments were a blow for everyone who has put their hope in a real alternative and that Ms Sultana has not been excluded from any discussions. More than 750,000 supporters signed up since its launch earlier this year under the placeholder name of Your Party, according to Ms Sultana. And pollsters have warned Labour that the new party could damage it at the next general election. Meanwhile, a group of left-wing activists calling themselves Our Party has urged the six MPs to step aside and hand the founding of the new party over to its members. Ms Sultana said she supported Our Partys call, saying it was what Ive been fighting for from the start. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration has moved to block a Massachusetts offshore wind farm, its latest effort to hobble an industry and technology that President Donald Trump has attacked as ugly and unreliable compared to fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, filed a motion in federal court Thursday seeking to take back its approval of the SouthCoast Wind projects construction and operations plan.'' The plan is the last major federal permit the project needs before it can start putting turbines in the water. SouthCoast Wind, to be built in federal waters about 23 miles south of Nantucket, is expected to construct as many as 141 turbines to power about 840,000 homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Interior Department action is the latest by the Trump administration in what critics call an "all-out assault on the wind energy industry. Trump's administration has stopped construction on major offshore wind farms, revoked wind energy permits and paused permitting, canceled plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development and stopped $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects. The moves are a complete reversal from the Biden administration, which approved construction of 11 large offshore wind projects to generate enough clean energy to power more than 6 million homes. The projects now face uncertain futures under Trump. Last week, the Interior Department asked a federal judge in Baltimore to cancel a previous approval by BOEM to build an offshore wind project in Maryland. The ocean agency has concluded that its prior weighing of the project's impacts was deficient and intends to reconsider that analysis to make a new decision, the department said. Developer U.S. Wind has not yet begun construction, but plans for the Maryland Offshore Wind Project call for up to 114 turbines to power more than 718,000 homes. BOEM had approved SouthCoasts operations plan on Jan. 17, 2025, three days before Trumps second term began. Based on its review to date, BOEM has determined that the COP approval may not have fully complied with the law" and "may have failed to account for all the impacts that the SouthCoast Wind Project may cause," Interior said in its legal filing. The agency asked a federal judge to allow reconsideration of the project. In a statement, developer Ocean Winds said the company intends to vigorously defend our permits in federal court. "Stable permitting for American infrastructure projects should be of top concern for anyone who wants to see continued investment in the United States,'' the statement said. Jason Walsh, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of labor unions and environmental groups, said Trump is threatening good jobs while he pursues his senseless vendetta against offshore wind." Pulling energy project permits and canceling lease sales isn't new. Biden revoked the permit to build the long-disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office, halting construction. He canceled scheduled oil and gas lease sales. But Trump's efforts to dismantle the offshore wind industry are much more extensive than the way Biden targeted fossil fuels, said Kristoffer Svendsen, assistant dean for energy law at the George Washington University Law School. He thinks offshore wind developers will now see the U.S. as too risky. They have plenty of options. They can invest in Europe and Asia. There are good markets to invest in offshore wind. It's just the U.S. is not a good market to invest in, he said. The Trump administration has stopped construction on two major offshore wind farms, so far. One of them, the Empire Wind project for New York, was allowed to resume construction. The Revolution Wind project for Rhode Island and Connecticut is paused, and both the developer and the two states sued in federal courts. The Danish energy company Orsted is building Revolution Wind. The Danish government owns a majority stake in the company. Besides SouthCoast, the Trump administration has said it is reconsidering approvals for another wind farm off the Massachusetts coast, New England Wind. It previously revoked a permit for the Atlantic Shores project in New Jersey. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at ap.org. Tweet tweet! Tens of thousands of little egrets are gathering at Poyang Lake in southeast China. Autumn is here, and these feathered travelers are getting ready to head south. They flock together, feed nonstop, and prepare for their long journey to warmer lands. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The former federal prosecutor who helped broker a controversial 2008 plea deal that let Jeffrey Epstein largely avoid prison time and serious charges in an early sex crimes case reportedly defended his record on Friday during lengthy testimony before a House committee. Alexander Acosta, the former U.S. attorney who negotiated the deal, was defiant, unremorseful, and evasive before the House Oversight Committee, according to Democrats. There was a clear lack of remorse, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia told The Miami Herald. This is someone who should at least acknowledge that he made a mistake his memory faded whenever we asked pointed questions. The testimony marked the first time Acosta, 56, has spoken under oath about the plea deal, which saw Epstein plead guilty to lesser state charges and avoid a federal sex trafficking case. Under the terms, the late financier and his associates also got immunity from federal prosecution. Epstein, who had been on federal officials radar since 2006, ended up serving just over a year in prison, much of the time being allowed to commute to his West Palm Beach office. An Epstein survivor has said she was raped during this period. open image in gallery Former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta reportedly defended his decision to strike a widely criticized plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 to resolve a sex-trafficking investigation ( Getty ) The scores of Epstein victims who had already come forward were not notified about the plea deal, and its terms were initially sealed, further preventing public knowledge about the agreement. Ive testified for six hours, Acosta told reporters of his comments before the committee. Ill let the record speak for itself. During his testimony, Acosta expressed concern that a potential loss in federal court wouldve been seen as a green light for Epstein to continue committing crimes, according to a committee readout. He also testified that he never met with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and that he never saw Donald Trumps name mentioned on any Epstein-related documents. The Independent has contacted the news network Newsmax, where Acosta serves as a board member, for further comment. open image in gallery FBI Director Kash Patel has sharply criticized original federal probe into Epstein allegations during Acostas tenure, referring to it as an original sin of the Epstein scandal ( Getty Images ) Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the committee, painted a different picture of the former officials testimony, thanking him for providing useful information and accusing Democrats of overly politicizing the process. They were battering around so many questions about Trump, Comer told Politico. The members were talking over each other. Acosta, a veteran government lawyer, went on to lead the Labor Department under the first Trump administration. He resigned in 2019 when Epstein was re-arrested as part of a renewed federal sex-trafficking investigation, saying he didnt want to be a distraction for the administration. During his testimony on Friday, Acosta said his decision to resign was his alone. Earlier this week, FBI Director Kash Patel testified in the Senate that Acostas case was the original sin of errors in how officials prosecuted Epstein. open image in gallery The Epstein scandal has continued to haunt the Trump administration, after the White House backtracked on further releases of information despite prior promises of major transparency ( PA Media ) The original case involved a very limited search warrant, or set of search warrants, and didn't take as much investigatory material it should have seized, Patel said. If I were the FBI director then, it wouldn't have happened. The Epstein scandal continues to haunt the Trump administration and the president, a former friend of Epstein who was accused of (and denies) writing a sexually suggestive 50th birthday letter to the late financier about a wonderful secret. The FBI, meanwhile, concluded this summer that Epstein did not maintain a long-rumored client list full of well-known figures, and that federal officials had determined no further disclosure is appropriate or warranted regarding the late sex offender. This angered a MAGA base that had been promised wide-ranging releases about Epstein. Officials in Congress, including Republicans, have continued to push for more information, subpoenaing the Department of Justice and the Epstein estate, among others. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice CNN analyst Van Jones revealed Saturday that the day before Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor college debate event, the conservative activist had messaged him inviting him onto his show. The liberal pundit believes Kirks final text to him offers a powerful message about debating and managing political disagreements. Jones and Kirk had been sparring publicly over the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and its relationship to race. Writing on Substack, Jones said of Kirk: He said the gruesome killing of a White woman by a Black man was motivated solely by anti-White hatred. I denounced those comments on CNN as unfounded. He went on TV and denounced MY denunciation. Then he unleashed a firehose of tweets, challenging my argument. open image in gallery CNN contributor Van Jones, pictured in March, revealed Charlie Kirk sent him a final message the day before his assassination as the two argued online ( Getty Images for Anti-Defamation League ) Kirks pushback sparked an online torrent of racist death threats against me, the likes of which I have rarely seen, Jones wrote. Things were seriously heading off the rails. To his surprise, in the middle of their spat, Kirk reached out in a direct message. Hey Van, I mean it, Id love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race, Kirk wrote in his message on X, which Jones shared on his Instagram. I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well, the slain 31-year-old conservative activist had added. We can disagree about the issues agreeably. On Substack, Jones further wrote: Unfortunately, before I could even respond, Charlie Kirk was killed seemingly assassinated for the words he'd spoken. I've taken issue with many of those words sometimes strongly but never his right to speak them. Never his right to express those views and then go home to his family. That is a sacred American value. The liberal commentator also wrote on Instagram: When our public dispute started going sideways, whats Kirks response? He pushed for more civility, not more stridency or venom. For all our differences, neither Charlie nor I ever wanted to see the other person harmed or silenced. Jones condemned the murder of Kirk on the day it happened, writing: Todays attack on Charlie Kirk is absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking. He fought with words, not weapons. There is no place for political violence in our society, and those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice. My prayers are with Charlies loved ones, the traumatized students at Utah Valley University, and all who have been impacted by this senseless act. Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN, Jones stressed that he and Kirk were not friends and explained his reasoning for releasing the message. open image in gallery Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an outdoor live debate event on September 10 ( Getty Images ) I'm watching the whole country talk about Civil War, censorship, justifying murder. About this guy. This guy is reaching out to his mortal enemy, saying we need to be gentlemen, sit down together and disagree agreeably, and the next day, he's killed, Jones said. He continued: He was not for censorship, he was not for Civil War. He was not for violence. He was for dialogue, open debate, and dialogue even with me. I did not agree with him on literally almost anything, said Jones, but we were words, not weapons guys And we were getting into a position where we could get some real debate going, whether it's going to be on CNN on his show, that wasn't worked out, but I would have taken him up. I wanted to beat Charlie Kirk in a debate. I didn't want somebody to shoot him. Speaking about the reaction to Kirks murder, Jones said: We need to lower the temperature. Yes, we disagree. But like he said, we can disagree agreeably We have a choice now. This could be the beginning of us getting off of this pathway. But the pathway we're on, Anderson, is scary. It's about more violence, it's about more retribution, it's about more censorship, it's about more of everything that nobody wants, but we can't seem to get off of it. Jones concluded: Charlie Kirk, in this last message was pointing a way out. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New York Mayor Eric Adams did not mince his words about his disapproval of what he called the large number of nasty Gen Z voters supporting Zhoran Mamdani, the democratic socialist candidate leading the race for NYC mayor. I have never witnessed a more mean and angry and nasty electoral season and not all of Zohrans voters are, but a substantial number of them, Adams, 65, told the New York Post about his 33-year-old opponents following in an interview published Saturday. You know, when you sit in a restaurant with a family, a family restaurant, children are there, and youre sitting down with your loved ones and family, and someone is yelling out, F you! Cursing! Or walking into a church, a synagogue, and someone is just cursing and yelling That has never been like this before in the city People are F U Adams! F you! When you do it in front of children, it says to me you have no regard for the civility thats associated with living in a city of this magnitude, he said. Adams accused left-leaning schools and institutions of radicalizing young people, claiming they are being taught to hate their city and country, which is a trend, he says, that must be addressed. open image in gallery Eric Adams (left) will run as an independent in the upcoming mayoral race, while Zohran Mamdani is the surprise frontrunner for the Democrats ( Getty Images ) A lot of young people are going on, doing great things, going to school but a substantial pocket of our young people have been radicalized in the city through a number of means: our school campuses, through social media, through their peer groups. The radicalization is real, he said. The Independent has contacted representatives for Mamdani for comment. In April, Adams announced he would skip the June Democratic primary and instead run as an independent in the general mayoral election. Adams is pitching himself as a middle-ground option against what he calls Mamdanis radical ideas. He says he is trying to appeal to moderate Democrats, Republicans, and independents who feel left behind by the citys progressive turn. His campaign focuses heavily on public safety, practical economics, and traditional values, while painting Mamdani as someone who doesnt get what it takes to run a big, diverse city like New York. However, Adams has faced heavy scrutiny over corruption charges and ties to the Trump administration. Indicted in 2024 for bribery and illegal foreign donations, his case was controversially dismissed by the Trump-led DOJ earlier this year, prompting backlash and concerns over political interference. A judge dismissed the case "with prejudice" in April, blocking any future prosecution. open image in gallery Adams told the New York Post that a substantial number of Mamdani supporters have contributed to 'a more mean and angry and nasty electoral season' ( Getty Images ) Meanwhile, Mamdani has surged to become the Democratic frontrunner in the upcoming November 4 NYC mayoral election. A democratic socialist and State Assembly member since 2020, Mamdani has energized Gen Z and working-class voters with progressive proposals like rent freezes, free public transit, and universal child care. Born in Uganda to Indian parents and raised in Queens, Mamdanis rapid rise has alarmed conservatives and moderates, drawing criticism over his policies, identity, and lack of executive experience, while supporters see him as a symbol of a generational political shift. Much of the outrage stems from how quickly Mamdani went from political outsider to serious contender. He won his primary against better-known candidates, most notably Andrew Cuomo, by mobilizing new and disaffected voters, particularly among Gen Z and immigrant communities. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A top prosecutor has resigned after refusing to press charges against some of President Donald Trumps political foes, new reports reveal. Erik Siebert, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, submitted his resignation on Friday. Shortly beforehand, Trump told reporters he wanted Siebert out because he learned that Virginias Democratic senators supported his nomination earlier this year. But Sieberts resignation reportedly comes after he declined to pursue mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. The Trump administration had pressured Siebert to bring charges against James, despite the fact that investigators failed to find evidence of wrongdoing, ABC News reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. Trump told reporters Friday he thinks James who previously led a successful civil case against him in New York is very guilty of something, but I really dont know. Siebert had also declined to prosecute ex-FBI director James Comey based on allegations lodged by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, two people familiar with that inquiry told The Washington Post. Comey became an outspoken critic of Trumps after the president fired him in 2017. open image in gallery Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, resigned Friday after President Donald Trump said he wanted him out ( AP ) James has denied all wrongdoing, and her attorney, Abbe Lowell, called the pressure on Siebert a brazen attack on the rule of law, The Washington Post reports. James led the three-year investigation and lawsuit which accused Trump and his associates of fraudulently convincing banks and lenders to give them favorable financing terms based on bogus and inflated financial statements. This prosecutor did exactly what justice required by following the facts and the evidence, which didnt support charges against Attorney General James, Lowell said. Firing people until he finds someone who will bend the law to carry out his revenge has been the Presidents pattern and its illegal, Lowell continued. Punishing this prosecutor, a Trump appointee, for doing his job sends a clear and chilling message that anyone who dares uphold the law over politics will face the same fate. open image in gallery President Donald Trump said he thinks New York Attorney General Letitia James is very guilty of something. James has denied any wrongdoing ( Getty Images ) Siebert thanked his finest and most exceptional colleagues in his resignation email, which was reviewed by ABC News. "Thank you for the lessons you have taught me, the sacrifices you have made, and the pursuit of justice you strive for every day, he wrote. Trump nominated Siebert earlier this year. Its not immediately clear who will replace him, as Sieberts deputy has also left her position and will continue working in the office as a line prosecutor, ABC News reports. A White House official referred The Independent to Trump's remarks in the Oval Office on Friday when contacted for comment. The Independent has contacted the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A clash over an obscure immigration policy has been brewing for months within Trumpworld, one that could threaten the Republican administrations unlikely alliance with Big Tech. The H-1B visa process has always been divisive, but the debate over the renewable 3-year specialist visa, popular in the tech world, has taken on a new intensity. Prominent tech leaders in the Trump coalition have squared off against an explicitly xenophobic MAGA wing that opposes H-1B on economic and identity grounds, given that the majority of H-1Bs go to Indian people. On September 19, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants. He also signed an executive order creating a long-promised Gold Card for foreigners to pay $1 million for U.S. residency. Roughly 60 percent of the hundreds of thousands of H-1B visas in use each year go to computer-related jobs, and companies that have sought to align with Trump, like Palantir, Oracle, and Tesla, have all used the program. Amazon, which donated $1 million to the Trump inaugural fund and does billions of dollars of business with the government, was the single largest sponsor of H-1Bs in 2025, according to a Newsweek analysis. The fight has been brewing since December, when tech industry Trump backers and future DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy argued such programs were essential because many Americans were not smart enough to do the job and that American culture venerated mediocrity. open image in gallery The H-1B visa, which largely sends temporary workers from India to the computer industry, has divided the pro-tech and nativist wings of the Trump movement ( The Independent/Getty/iStock ) The reason Im in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B, Musk wrote on X, adding, I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend. The comments set off a brief but fiery MAGA civil war, with far-right figures like Laura Loomer, now an influential outside advisor to the Trump administration, sharply criticizing the program while also demeaning people from India more broadly as third-world invaders. Online trolls, meanwhile, harassed Trumps Indian-born AI advisor Sriram Krishnan. The same day President Trump took office, the White House announced that Ramaswamy, the child of Indian immigrants, would exit from DOGE. This summer, the administrations criticism of H-1B visas along with accompanying right-wing invective online against Indians roared back, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick decrying the program as a scam in August, and Vice President JD Vance hammering tech companies for the bullsh** story that they cant find enough American workers. open image in gallery Major tech companies and more-obscure firms alike have leaned heavily on the H-1B program for workers, according to government data ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The scorched-earth political debate around the H-1B program in the tech world has long obscured the visas original intentions, according to former Democratic Rep. Bruce Morrison of Connecticut, who led the passage of the 1990 law that ushered it in. The legislation came on the heels of the Reagan administration tightening penalties for illegal hiring and giving legal status to millions who had previously arrived in the country illegally. This was all meant to encourage employers to seek foreign workers through long-term, legal means like green cards. Instead, Morrison told The Independent, large-scale immigration reforms in Congress stalled and tech companies have come to rely heavily on H-1Bs, while backlogs in green card approvals span from decades to centuries for large nations like India. They have intentionally done this with full knowledge of what theyre doing, Morrison said of the tech sector. That tells you they see something there thats beneficial to them, and I think the something is lower costs and greater control, he added. open image in gallery Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk prompted an online flamewar in December by defending the tech industry hiring foreign workers, and Ramaswamy, himself the child of Indian immigrants, was soon on the outs with the Trump administration ( AP ) Studies suggest H-1B holders, who lack any real leverage with their employers, are paid averages of between 10 and 20 percent less, despite ostensible requirements they be paid at levels approximating their domestic competition. Further complicating the debate is that leading tech figures, and the president himself, often offer dubious or shifting rationales about H-1Bs. During his first run for president, Trump vowed to end forever the widespread use of the program, and his first administration sought to tighten the program and stepped up H-1B rejection rates. By the 2024 election, however, Trump completely reversed, telling the tech-focused All-In podcast that summer he would deliver on industry pleas for more H-1B visas to secure top talent. The Republican went even further, suggesting all foreign college students get a green card upon graduation because you need brilliant people, though he later backed off the proposal. As the Musk-Ramaswamy comments generated controversy online later that winter, Trump explicitly praised H-1Bs, calling himself a believer who used the great program many times. open image in gallery The H-1B program was originally meant to encourage industries to seek long-term, legal immigrant workers, but the tech world has chosen to focus on short-term guest workers instead, observers say ( Getty Images ) Tech figures like Musk and the hosts of All-In, meanwhile, frequently describe the H-1B program as a way to recruit the best of the best during the December blow-up, Musk compared foreign hiring to assembling an all-star U.S. NBA team with a few top foreign players though thats not quite the case. The H-1B program uses a lottery system and only requires that applicants have a bachelors degree to apply. Theres an entirely separate immigration category for true international stars of their respective fields. The H-1B program has always been a controversial one, but whats new now is the identity-focused dimension of opposition to it, according to Professor Gabrielle Clark, a political scientist at California State University, Los Angeles. Opposition to the H-1B program, in its current form, did not originate with the nativism and xenophobia on the right, she told The Independent in an email. In fact, American labor groups such as the AFL-CIO have historically been the main political actor asking for more protections for American workers from H-1Bs. The current anti-immigrant climate, however, has brought more attention to the program and heightened racialized opposition. At the ground level, tech workers who have themselves used H-1Bs have a complicated set of opinions. open image in gallery President Trump has swung back and forth repeatedly when it comes to his thoughts on the H-1B process, criticizing it during his first campaign and term, then later defending it as he courted the tech worlds support in 2024 ( PA Wire ) One Indian-born worker, who asked to remain anonymous to speak freely, described being both a success story and a cautionary tale of H-1B. Despite spending over a decade working on high-level tech projects at major U.S. financial institutions and being paid well, he felt the difficulty and risk of seeking new jobs while on his visa slowed his career progress. He continues to wait to receive a green card that was approved in 2017. Its like purgatory, he said, adding, Im all for immigration reform. Ive been part of the system since 2009 now. Theres been zero change, zero improvement. He said the image of Indian workers taking all the best jobs is not an accurate one, though he admits he does know individuals who are part of the transnational Indian tech consultancies who recruit some three-quarters of H-1B workers, providing scores of lower-skilled H-1Bs to less prestigious companies. Others have warned that major cuts to H-1B, or changes to favor blue-chip tech jobs, could harm smaller companies, school districts seeking specialists like language instructors, and businesses looking to hire lower-level recent grads. open image in gallery An Indian H-1B worker who has held high-level positions at U.S. financial firms described the program as like being stuck in purgatory ( Getty ) Although the H-1B program is not perfect, it benefits the U.S. because it helps create an open and inclusive economy by attracting foreign talent and bright foreign students, often who were educated in the U.S., California-based immigration attorney Curtis Morrison told The Independent. Axing the program entirely would create a lose-lose situation, Morrison added. Bruce Morrison, the former congressman from Connecticut, said he hopes the discourse around temporary workers can move beyond a narrow focus on H-1B to reform deeper issues like the overall immigration system and the training and education of future U.S. workers. Weve brought out the worst fears and concerns of the public, rather than play to their actual support of immigration in certain forms with certain constraints, he said. Now we have a disaster on our hands. Rather than reframe the debate, the Trump administration has largely gone on the attack. open image in gallery Beyond seeking to reform the H-1B, the Trump administration has revoked thousands of international student visas and arrested foreign students, citing thin or nonexistent ties to the pro-Palestine movement, including the Indian-born Georgetown University scholar Badar Khan Suri ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller last month accused India of cheating on immigration policy, the same month the administration put a 50 percent tariff on the U.S. trading partner. Domestically, the administration has revoked thousands of foreign student visas, punished and arrested Indian nationals on campus for their views on Palestine, and cut billions from the top universities. The former H-1B worker said in the face of the current political and economic climate, hes already seeing companies outsource tech labor to other countries, a trend that accelerated in the wake of the pandemics expansion of remote work. He argued the continued stasis on immigration reform, as well as the continued demonization of Indian people, will harm the U.S. overall. He pointed to the example of the chief executives of both Alphabet and Microsoft being born in India, and wondered if the next such leader would start their career or company in another country instead. These people, and folks like me, Im proud of the work which I have done, he said. Theres a lot of pride in working in a career that is making the overall economy stronger. However, as he awaits permanent residency after nearly two decades in America, hes been considering an option that once wouldve been inconceivable. Hes now looking at open positions in India, where his skills are in demand. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Water, which ensures drinking water is safe, have been instructed by Trump officials to halt publishing ongoing research in an unprecedented move, according to a report. Staffers at the agencys research office told the Washington Post they were summoned to a town hall this week and told that their studies would be subject to a new review process, a change they said was ordered by political appointees. However, in a statement to The Independent, the EPA called the claims patently false, saying there was no town hall and that scientists were transitioning to new roles. As part of these conversations, decisions will be made about how to move forward with projects based on the agencys mission and priorities and new roles, an EPA spokesperson said. These decisions are in no way a deviation from EPAs gold standard science. We are confident EPA has the resources needed to accomplish the agencys core mission of protecting human health and the environment, fulfill all statutory obligations, and make the best-informed decisions based on the gold standard of science, the spokesperson added. open image in gallery Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Water, which ensures drinking water is safe, have been instructed by Trump officials to halt publishing ongoing research, according to a report ( AFP via Getty Images ) Staff told the Post that the new review process was unprecedented and could hamper the release of other important scientific findings affecting public health. This represents millions of dollars of research, potentially, thats now being stopped, one of the employees told the outlet. When staff within the Office of Water asked for an explanation they could share with the scientific journals questioning why their papers are on pause, they did not receive a response, according to one of the employees. Brigit Hirsch, the agencys press secretary, told the Post that great scientific work is continuing at the EPA like never before, but did not share new details about the new review process with the outlet. In June, more than 170 workers at the EPA signed a public letter warning that the agency is no longer living up to its mission to protect human health and the environment. At least eight of them were fired for signing the letter that criticized the agencys leadership under Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump. open image in gallery EPA workers signed a letter in June that criticized the agencys leadership under Administrator Lee Zeldin ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Employees at other agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and Federal Emergency Management Agency, have issued similar statements. And in July, the scientific community sounded the alarm after the Trump administration proposed revoking what's known as the endangerment EPA finding, the concept that climate change is a threat. The finding underpins many environmental regulations adopted in the U.S. and overturning it could pave the way for cutting a range of rules that limit pollution from cars, power plants and other sources. In a statement, EPA said the endangerment finding was used by the Obama and Biden administrations to justify trillions of dollars of greenhouse gas regulations and that many of the extremely pessimistic predictions and assumptions EPA relied upon have not materialized as expected. This article was updated to include a statement from the EPA The Associated Press contributed reporting Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants. H-1B visas are designed to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the U.S. for jobs that are deemed difficult to fill, particularly in the tech sector. Since 2012, about 60 percent of all H-1B visas have gone to workers in computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center. At the Friday afternoon signing, Trump told reporters, We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that's what's going to happen. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also noted the fee will be required annually. "Everyone's going to be happy, and we're going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people, Trump said. And in many cases, these companies are going to pay a lot of money for that, and they're very happy about it. The new rule takes effect on Sunday and will remain in force for 12 months. A decision on whether to renew the executive order will be made 30 days after the H1B lottery. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday imposing a $100,000 annual fee for companies sponsoring H-1B visa applicants ( Getty Images ) Trump also signed an executive order creating the long-promised Gold Card, a green cardequivalent visa for foreigners who contribute $1 million to the United States in exchange for permanent residency. The program offers expedited immigrant visas to individuals who make a significant financial gift of $1 million personally, or $2 million through a sponsoring corporation or similar entity acting on their behalf. The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, is tasked with implementing the program and allocating the funds to support American commerce and industry. Trump framed the high cost as a way to ensure only the most exceptional talent would qualify, comparing the payment to a signing bonus in professional sports. Its going to hopefully bring some great people to our country, Trump said. This way, a corporation sort of like a signing bonus in baseball or football a corporation will be able to get them to stay in the country." Some in the tech world are already expressing concern about the move. Deedy Das, a partner at the venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, called the decision devastating news on X. It creates disincentive to attract the world's smartest talent to the US, Das wrote. They have to pay a high education price and may now not be able to easily recoup it with a job. If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces it's ability to innovate and grow the economy. It makes U.S.' global competitiveness a lot worse. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, warned that this could worsen the existing physician shortage in the U.S. There is a doctor shortage in the U.S. right now. Every year, hundreds of doctors get H-1B visas to help fill those gaps, Reichlin-Melnick wrote on X. If hospitals had to pay an additional $100,000 fee, it's possible they would simply give up and not even try to fill positions. H-1B visas became a contentious issue in MAGA-world late last year, when Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy faced backlash from many members of Trumps conservative base after they expressed support for the program. Trump defended the program at the time, telling the New York Post in December that he has always been in favor of the visas. His wife, First Lady Melania Trump, was granted an H-1B visa in 1996 to work in the U.S. as a model. They met in 1998 and married in 2005. The U.S. government grants 65,000 H-1B visas each year, with another 20,000 available for workers with an advanced degree from a U.S. institution. Critics of the H-1B visa program say the eligible jobs are often entry-level rather than senior roles, and that companies can pay employees less by classifying jobs at lower skill levels, regardless of the workers experience, the Associated Press reports. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump demanded the Venezuelan government accept the return of all of the prisoners he claims the country has forced into the U.S., or face an incalculable price. Trump made the threat Saturday in a post on Truth Social, where he did not elaborate on which prisoners he was referring to other than some were people from mental institutions, an unsubstantiated claim he has repeatedly made before. We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions, which includes the Worst in the World Insane Asylums, that Venezuelan Leadership has forced into the United States of America, the president wrote. Thousands of people have been badly hurt, and even killed, by these Monsters. GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW, OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE! Trump added. For years, Trump has claimed without evidence that Venezuela and other countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been emptying their insane asylums and sending them to the U.S. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has demanded the Venezuelan government accept the return of all of the prisoners he claimed the country had forced into the U.S. ( PA Wire ) Critics of the president also mocked his outburst on Truth Social and suggested Trump misunderstood the definition of asylum. He STILL thinks asylum seekers are people from insane asylums, former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said in a post on X, sharing a screenshot of Trumps latest Truth Social post. He also conflates the primary definition of asylum with the secondary definition, remarked the author and journalist Michael Weiss. Referring to Trump repeatedly mixing up the countries Armenia and Albania, Weiss added: The man who brought peace the peoples of Azerbaijan and Albania may not be the intellectual powerhouse he thinks himself to be The president has claimed that countries are intentionally releasing the mentally ill into America more than 500 times over the years, according to the nonprofit fact-checking outlet The Marshall Project. Roberto Briceno-Leon, founder and director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, told CNN last year that the organization had found no evidence that the Venezuelan government is emptying its prisons or mental health institutions to send them to the U.S. or other countries. open image in gallery Trump made the threat Saturday in a post on Truth Social, where he did not elaborate on which prisoners he was referring to other than some were people from mental institutions an unsubstantiated claim he has made before ( @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social ) Tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. are high after Trump ordered three military strikes in one month on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels. Trump announced the most recent strike via Truth Social Friday evening, writing that three men were killed and that the vessel was in international waters. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, he added. Its unclear exactly where the boat was located. The U.S. Southern Command area includes the Caribbean Sea and South America. It followed an attack on September 2 where 11 people died after Trump ordered a strike on a drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. Venezuela said the 11 killed in the attack were not connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. open image in gallery Nicolas Maduro, right, offered to engage in direct talks with Trump officials this month ( AFP/Getty ) Following the attack, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered to engage in direct talks with Trump officials in a letter dated September 6, according to Reuters. President, I hope that together we can defeat the falsehoods that have sullied our relationship, which must be historic and peaceful, Maduro reportedly wrote in the letter. These and other issues will always be open for a direct and frank conversation with your special envoy (Richard Grenell) to overcome media noise and fake news. But despite the apparent attempt to lower the temperature, Venezuela revealed Thursday it had launched three days of large-scale military exercises in the Caribbean in response to the U.S. attacks. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A twoyearold boy was found dead Friday after his fathers car was swept off the road by floodwaters during storms in Barstow, California, triggering a roughly 20hour search. The child, Xavier Padilla Aguilera, was separated from his father, 26yearold Brandon Padilla Aguilera, around 7:14 p.m. Thursday when their vehicle was swept off Main Street during flooding, the Barstow Police Department said in a news release on Facebook. Brandon was located on what had become a small floodcreated island. He was rescued by the Barstow Fire Department, and taken to Barstow Community Hospital. According to his aunt Leanna, who spoke to ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, Brandon arrived at the hospital with unstable vital signs, water in his lungs, multiple cuts and bruises, and swelling caused by a waterborne infection. He was treated and eventually released. Meanwhile, multiple law enforcement agencies, as well as volunteers for the community, searched for Xavier, who was autistic and nonverbal, his family told KABC. open image in gallery Xavier Padilla Aguilera, 2, had autism and was nonverbal, his family said ( Facebook ) Xaviers body was discovered Friday afternoon in the San Bernardino County Flood Control channel south of the Mojave River. A photo released by police shows the cars hood submerged in floodwaters after the vehicle carrying the father and son was swept away. Brandons mother and Xaviers grandmother, Carolyn Tackett, told KABC on Thursday that the toddlers disappearance was especially heartbreaking as it happened while the family was already grieving the recent loss of a loved one. Yesterday we had a funeral for my mom, Tackett said before Xaviers body was found. My son drove home with my grandson. I guess the road something happened to the road. All I know is that my son's car ended up with the bumpers down here under the bridge. open image in gallery Police said Brandon Padilla Aguilera's vehicle was 'swept off the roadway by floodwaters' on Thursday night ( Barstow Police Department ) In trying to rescue Xavier, Brandon, who does not know how to swim, managed to pull his son from the car before being pulled under by the waters, Tackett said. The incident happened amid severe weather in Southern California, the remnants of Tropical Storm Mario, which brought extreme heat, heavy rain, and flash flooding to Southern California. The storm triggered mudslides in San Bernardino and, by Thursday afternoon, had dumped several inches of rain across the regions mountains and foothills. The intense rainfall created hazardous conditions that made it difficult for emergency responders to access. The Barstow Police Department and San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Three Russian fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission on Friday, the countrys Foreign Ministry said. The aircraft remained there for 12 minutes. Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat to protest against the incident, which came just over a week after Nato planes downed Russian drones over Poland and heightened fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over. Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said Russia violated Estonian airspace four times this year "but today's incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen". Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur also said the government had decided "to start consultations among the allies" under Nato's article 4, he wrote on X, after Russian jets "violated our airspace yet again". The North Atlantic Council, Nato's principal political decision-making body, is due to convene early next week to discuss the incident in more detail, Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said on Friday. Article 4 states that: "The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened." US president Donald Trump told reporters he will soon be briefed by aides on the reported incursion. "I don't love it," he said, adding, "I don't like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later." Russian officials did not immediately comment. European governments rattled Russia's violation of Poland's airspace was the most serious cross-border incident into a Nato member country since the war in Ukraine began with Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022. Other alliance countries have reported similar incursions and drone crashes on their territory, The developments have increasingly rattled European governments as US-led efforts to stop the war in Ukraine have come to nothing. The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Friday's incursion "an extremely dangerous provocation" that "further escalates tensions in the region". "On our side, we see that we must show no weakness because weakness is something that invites Russia to do more," she said. "They are increasingly more dangerous not only to Ukraine, but also to all the countries around Russia." Estonia, along with fellow Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia and neighbouring Poland, are staunch supporters of Ukraine. Italian F-35 fighter jets respond to Russian incursion The Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace in the area of Vaindloo Island, located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said in a separate statement. The aircraft did not have flight plans and their transponders were turned off, the statement said, nor were the aircraft in two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic services. Italian Air Force F-35 fighter jets, currently deployed as part of the Nato Baltic Air Policing Mission, responded to the incident, according to the statement. In a post on social media, Ms Hart described the incident as "another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato's ability to respond." Three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace on Friday ( AFP/Getty ) Nato fighter jets scramble hundreds of times most years to intercept aircraft, many of them Russian warplanes in northwest Europe flying too close to the airspace of its member countries, but it's rarer for planes to cross the boundary. Dozens of Nato jets are on round-the-clock alert across Europe to respond to incidents such as unannounced military flights or civilian planes losing communication with air traffic controllers. Separately, Major Taavi Karotamm, spokesperson for the Estonian Defence Forces, told the Associated Press the Russian planes flew parallel to the Estonian border from east to west and did not head toward the capital, Tallinn. Mr Karotamm said the reason for the border violation is unknown, but added that it may have been to "shift the focus of Nato and its members on to defending itself, rather than bolstering Ukrainian defence. "Russia's increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure," Mr Tsahkna, the foreign minister, said. The Russian charge d'affaires was summoned and given a protest note, a ministry statement said. British spy chief says 'no evidence' Putin wants peace Earlier on Friday, the head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency said there is "absolutely no evidence" that Russia's president Vladimir Putin wants to negotiate peace in Ukraine. Richard Moore, chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6 as it is more commonly known, said Putin was "stringing us along". "He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal. But he cannot succeed," Mr Moore said. "Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he and many others underestimated the Ukrainians." The war has continued unabated in the three years since Russia invaded its neighbour. Ukraine has accepted proposals for a ceasefire and a summit meeting, but Moscow has demurred. Mr Trump said on Thursday during a state visit to the United Kingdom that Putin "has really let me down" in peace efforts. Putin is 'mortgaging the future' of Russia Mr Moore was speaking at the British consulate in Istanbul after five years as head of MI6. He leaves the post at the end of September. The agency will then get its first female chief. Mr Moore said the invasion had strengthened Ukrainian national identity and accelerated its westward trajectory, as well as pushing Sweden and Finland to join Nato. "Putin has sought to convince the world that Russian victory is inevitable. But he lies. He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself," Mr Moore told a news conference. He said that Putin was "mortgaging his country's future for his own personal legacy and a distorted version of history" and the war was "accelerating this decline". Analysts say Putin believes he can outlast the political commitment of Ukraine's Western partners and win a protracted war of attrition by wearing down Ukraine's smaller army with sheer weight of numbers. Recommended MI6 launches dark web portal to attract spies in Russia Ukraine, meanwhile, is racing to expand its defence cooperation with other countries and secure billions of dollars of investment in its domestic weapons industry. MI6 unveils dark web portal The spy chief was speaking as MI6 unveiled a dark web portal to allow potential intelligence providers to contact the service. Dubbed " Silent Courier," the secure messaging platform aims to recruit new spies for the UK, including in Russia. "To those men and women in Russia who have truths to share and the courage to share them, I invite you to contact MI6," Moore said. Not just Russians but "anyone, anywhere in the world" would be able to use the portal to offer sensitive information on terrorism or "hostile intelligence activity", he said. KAMPALA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven people drowned and 29 others survived after a boat carrying mourners capsized on Lake Kyoga in northern Uganda's Amolatar District on Friday, police said Saturday. The wooden vessel was traveling from Muchora Abino A village to escort a catechist to a burial ceremony when it overturned near Kiryanga Village in Acii Sub-County at about 11:00 a.m. local time, police said in a statement. "A total of 36 people were on board and 29 survived the accident. The incident happened approximately 400 meters from the Kiryanga landing site when the engine boat hit a stationary tree stump, causing it to capsize," the statement said. Police said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Amolatar Health Centre IV mortuary for post-mortem examinations. Boat accidents are common on Uganda's lakes, often blamed on overloading and poor weather conditions. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice European countries would be compelled to fight if Moscow launched further military action against Ukraine as part of post-war security guarantees being discussed by the coalition of the willing, Finlands president has said. Alexander Stubb said that any security guarantees negotiated in order to bring the three-and-a-half year long war to a close would have to act as a strong deterrent for a future invasion by Moscow. That deterrent has to be plausible and in order for it to be plausible it has to be strong, he told the Guardian in an interview in Helsinki before travelling to New York for the UN general assembly. It comes after French president Emmanuel Macron told reporters that 26 nations had committed to be part of a reassurance force in Ukraine, which includes military presence on the ground, in the sea or in the air. Asked if security guarantees would mean European countries promising to engage militarily with Russia in an instance of future aggression against Ukraine, President Stubb told the newspaper: That is the idea of security guarantees by definition. He said the guarantees would only come into effect after a future peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, but Moscow would have absolutely no say in the sovereign decisions of an independent nation state. Security guarantees in essence are a deterrent and that deterrent has to be plausible, and in order for it to be plausible it has to be strong. And that means also strategic communication, so were not making security guarantees into the air, but were making real security guarantees and Russia knows that, he said. The Coalition of the Willing visited Washington earlier this summer ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Mr Stubb has become a key figure in peace negotiations, forging a close bond with US president Donald Trump, who he is in regular contact with by phone and other means with a bilateral meeting upcoming this week, according to the newspaper. I think its the job of the president of Finland to get along with the president of the United States, whoever he is, President Stubb said. Foreign policy is always based on three pillars. Its values, interests and power. Small states only have values and interests but we can have influence instead of power. Engagement is better than disengagement, come hell or high water. He has insisted that an American backstop remains necessary to give Ukraine any real force, conceding it remained clear what the Trump administration was willing to agree to. Trumps patience appears to be waning for Putin after a Russian fighter jet incursion in Estonia, he told reporters: "I don't like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later." Estonia joins Poland and Romania as neighbouring European countries who have had their airspace invaded by Russia jets and drones in the last couple of weeks. Estonian officials maintained on Saturday that there was no need to trigger Article 5, NATO's collective defence clause, despite the repeated violations by Russian jets and drones, as well as allegations from Western officials that Moscow is waging a hybrid war against the West including a sabotage campaign, cyberattacks and influence operations. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice India warned of humanitarian consequences after Donald Trump suddenly imposed a $100,000 charge on the H-1B visa, a programme heavily relied upon by Indian workers in Americas tech sector. In a statement on Saturday, the Indian foreign ministry said New Delhi hoped the disruption caused by the presidents decision could be addressed suitably by the authorities in the US, adding that it was studying the full implications of the policy. The proclamation, which came into effect on Sunday, sparked chaos for thousands of Indian professionals and their families who feared they would be unable to return to the US. At the San Francisco international airport, where several Indian passengers on an Emirates flight disembarked just minutes before take-off, fearing they might not be allowed to return if they travelled out of the US. The flight was delayed for over three hours due to the sudden exits, according to Indian media. Many H-1B holders shared stories online of rushing back to America, some just hours after landing abroad, fearing they would be subject to the new fee. According to the Indian Express, there was a significant increase in last-minute flight bookings from India as H-1B visa holders scrambled to get back to the US before the order went into effect at 12:01 am eastern time on September 21. The panic spread after tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet warned their employees on H1-B visas to stay in the US or get back quickly. The White House later clarified that the new fee applied only to fresh applications, not existing visas or renewals. The clarification from the White House came a day after US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick said the visa fee would be paid annually, and would apply to people seeking new visas as well as renewals. Indians account for over 70 per cent of all H-1B visa holders. Last year alone, 285,000 of the almost 400,000 H-1B visas went to Indians compared with just 12 per cent to Chinese nationals. In Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune, where IT parks depend on the US work visa route, families described panic as rumours spread that those travelling back to India might be stranded. The Indian embassy in Washington even established an emergency helpline for citizens facing difficulties. Kathleen Campbell Walker, an immigration attorney in Texas, said in a LinkedIn post that the policy inserts total chaos in the existing H-1B process with basically a days notice. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services later released guidance confirming the fee did not apply to anyone with a valid visa or an application already filed. Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy urged Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to treat the issue on a war footing, warning that the suffering of IT workers from his southern state in America would be unimaginable. Opposition politicians accused Mr Trump of targeting Indians specifically. Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh told ANI news agency: The way they treat Indians shows they dont want to see PM Modi or Indians at all. The US Chamber of Commerce has also voiced alarm, saying it was concerned about the impact on employees, their families and employers. It added that discussions with the administration were underway. The H-1B scheme allows skilled workers mainly scientists, engineers and computer programmers to work in the US for up to six years. Critics in Washington, including Mr Trump, claim it is exploited by outsourcing firms, particularly in India, to undercut jobs for Americans. The president described the system as a national security threat when announcing the change. The new fee, styled as a one-time payment to accompany each petition, could deter smaller firms from hiring foreign specialists. It also risks straining India-US relations even further amid an ongoing row over tariffs. Analysts warn of consequences for Americas own economy. India supplies the bulk of the global IT outsourcing workforce, and sudden restrictions could disrupt everything from software development to banking services. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian military aircraft violated Estonian airspace on Friday, ignoring signals from Italian jets on NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission, a senior Estonian military official confirmed. The 12-minute incursion represents the latest test of the alliance's response to Russian airborne threats, following around 20 Russian drones entering Polish airspace on 10 September. Russias Defence Ministry denied the breach, but Tallinn dismissed this, citing radar and visual confirmation. Officials suggested the incident could be a tactic to divert Western resources from Ukraine. The Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace between 9.58am and 10.10am local time on Friday in the area of Vaindloo, a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said. A ministry statement said it was the fourth airspace violation by Russia this year. It still needs to be confirmed, if the border violation was deliberate or not, Col. Ants Kiviselg, the commander of Estonias Military Intelligence Center, told The Associated Press. Regardless, he said, the Russian jets "must have known that they are in (Estonian) airspace. The Russian pilots didn't pose a military threat, Kiviselg said. But although they acknowledged communication from the Italian pilots flying F-35 fighter jets, they apparently ignored it and didnt actually follow the signs, which is partly why they were in Estonian airspace for so long, he added. Why they didnt do it, thats a question for the Russian pilots, Kiviselg said. open image in gallery This September 19, 2025 Hand Out image released by the Swedish Airforce shows a Russian MIG-31 fighter jet flying above the Baltic sea after violating Estonian air space ( HANDOUT/AFP via Getty Images ) The Russian jets came from an airfield near the city of Petrozavodsk, in northwestern Russia, and were heading to Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland. They were tracked by two Finnish fighter jets before being escorted by the two Italian jets which took off from Estonia's Amari Air Base and followed them into international skies, Kiviselg said. U.S. President Donald Trump responded by telling reporters he will be briefed by aides on the incursion. I dont love it, he said, adding: I dont like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but Ill let you know later. Margus Tsahkna, Estonia's Foreign Minister, told AP the incident was a very serious violation of NATO airspace. The last time Estonian airspace was violated for so long was in 2003, he said, just before Estonia joined NATO. Estonias government responded by saying it would request consultations under Article 4 of NATOs treaty which allows a member to formally consult with allies whenever their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. Poland also used the mechanism after its airspace was violated by Russian drones and, after that, NATO launched its Eastern Sentry mission to boost defenses along its eastern flank. Posting on X, Lithuania's Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene suggested NATO member Turkey set an example of how to respond to such incidents in 2015 when it shot down a Russian fighter jet which violated its airspace for around 17 seconds. But that situation was totally different, Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's Minister of Defense said, adding that the "Russians actually killed Turks, when Moscow used fighter jets to target what they said were militant groups near the Syrian border with Turkey. During Friday's incident, Estonia and its allies observed the Russian jets' route, communication and reaction from the pilots as well as the weapons systems they were carrying and were very confident that there is no need to shoot them down," Pevkur said. Estonian officials maintained Saturday that there was no need to trigger Article 5, NATO's collective defense clause, despite the repeated violations by Russian jets and drones as well as allegations from Western officials that Moscow is waging a hybrid war against the West including a sabotage campaign, cyberattacks and influence operations. open image in gallery Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) In an online statement published Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry said its fighter jets had kept to neutral Baltic Sea waters more than 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Vaindloo Island. It said the three MiG-31 jets completed a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad region" and "did not violate the borders of other states. Pevkur dismissed the statement, saying Estonia and its NATO allies have multiple radars and visual identification which confirm the Russian jets entered the country's airspace. He suggested the root cause for the air violations, hybrid war and cyberattacks was to distract Western attention from Ukraine. Moscow, Pevkur said, may be trying to provoke NATO nations into sending additional air defense assets to Estonia in the hope that Kyiv's allies do more about our own defense," and less to support Kyiv. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian pilots who entered Estonian airspace waved at Italian pilots flying Natos most advanced jets during a tense 12-minute standoff, according to reports. Initiating a routine interception, the Nato pilots rocked their wings from side to side. In response the Russian pilots mirrored the manoeuvre and gave a friendly wave, according to the Telegraph. The Italians then trailed the pilots to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad for an unprecedented 12 minutes. During this time, the three Russian nuclear-capable MiG-31 jets and two Italian F-35 pilots had no radio contact with each other. While the manoeuvre was carried out peacefully, Donald Trump has warned that Russian incursions into Nato airspace could spell big trouble for Moscow. It is the latest in a series of provocations by the Russian military, which has repeatedly sent drones into Poland and Romania as Moscow argues that Nato is already fighting against Russia. Nato is providing direct and indirect support to the Kyiv regime, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. It can be said with absolute certainty that Nato is fighting against Russia. As the war in Ukraine intensifies, The Independent looks at the ways Russia is expanding the conflict to involve more countries. Drone incursions in Denmark The Danish prime minister said Russian involvement in overnight drone incursions near four airports in Denmark could not be ruled out. Russia denied involvement. Denmarks defence minister warned the drone activity was the work of a professional actor, just two days after the countrys main hub was shut down in response to sightings that alarmed defence officials. Copenhagen is now considering whether to invoke Nato Article 4, which would formally request talks over the incident, a move taken by Poland and Estonia following repeated Russian incursions into their airspace in recent weeks. open image in gallery Hand Out image released by the Swedish Airforce shows a Russian MIG-31 fighter jet flying above the Baltic sea after violating Estonian air space ( HANDOUT/AFP via Getty Images ) Fighter jet incursions in Estonia Three Russian fighter jets staged an incursion into Estonian airspace where they remained without permission for 12 minutes on Friday 19 September, the Estonian government has said. Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsakhna said it was the fourth time that Russia has violated Estonian airspace this year, "but today's incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen. The foreign ministry said that the incursion involved three Russian MIG-31 fighters and took place over the Gulf of Finland. The Russian charge d'affaires was summoned and given a protest note, a ministry statement said. There is obviously a lot of discussion whether these incursions, especially when it comes to Poland, were deliberate or it was more of a system malfunction, but I do believe that it was a deliberate one, says Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). I think Putin is basically testing a Western response by trying to violate Polish airspace, which is a major Nato ally, and hes trying to find out basically whether there is such thing as Nato unity when it comes to responding to these acts of aggression. Drone skirmishes in Poland and Romania Russia has faced global outrage as drone incursions in Nato airspace become more frequent. Moscow drew criticism from the West after the Polish military shot down a large number of Russian drones that had entered its airspace, a move which prompted Prime Minister Donald Tusk to warn that the country is the closest to armed conflict since the Second World War. There were 19 intrusions into Polish airspace on 9 September, with many drones entering from Belarus, Mr Tusk said in parliament, adding that three drones were confirmed to have been shot down, with the fourth being likely. open image in gallery A damaged drone lies after falling in the eastern Polish village of Czosnowka ( Dariusz Stefaniuk ) While Russia has said it didnt target Poland, and Moscows ally Belarus said that the drones went astray because they were jammed, European leaders have said they are certain that the incursions were a deliberate provocation by Putin. There have been many instances of Russia violating EU and Nato airspace, but this incursion was particularly serious, according to Ms Seskuria. It shows basically that Putin is not really interested in any kind of peaceful resolution of the conflict. On the contrary, hes signalling to the West that unless he gets the best deal in these peace negotiations, which I dont think he believes he can at the moment, he is willing to go even further ahead and extend the war, which may not be confined to Ukrainian borders. On Saturday, 13 September, Romania scrambled fighter jets after a Russian drone entered its airspace. The countrys defence minister, Ionut Mosteanu, said that F-16 pilots came close to taking down the drone as it was flying very low before it left national airspace toward Ukraine. Belarusian drills Russia and Belarus have launched a long-planned joint military exercise, Zapad 2025, which took place earlier this month. The intention is to showcase the close defence ties between Moscow and Minsk. Defence officials in Belarus originally set aside 13,000 troops to participate in the exercise, which was meant to take place along its western border, although by May the ministry cut the number in half and said the main manoeuvres would take place deeper inside the country. open image in gallery Russia and Belarus hold a joint military drill ( Reuters ) Although Moscow and Minsk have said the exercises are exclusively defensive and that they do not intend to attack any Nato member, they have drawn worries from Kyiv and Western allies in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which border Belarus. Ms Seskuria said Russias training exercises with Belarus were deliberate. These exercises in the past have been used for Russia to escalate the real conflict. In 2008, for example, against Georgia and then against Ukraine, Russia has used these drills as a preparation for the actual war, they said. Russias hybrid attacks open image in gallery Russia has used other tactics as well as physical incursions to impact Nato allies ( AFP/Getty ) Russia has also targeted European countries through other methods, which have been described as hybrid warfare. These range from cyberattacks to sabotage operations and disinformation campaigns. This happens all the time, says Ms Seskuria. It has much deeper implications on European security, and there are various instances where Russia is directly intervening in elections. We saw this happening in Moldova last year, and this year ahead of their parliamentary elections. Russia has been accused of meddling in the elections of European nations for years. The UKs National Cyber Security Centre judged in 2022 that Russia had been behind a cyberattack with Europe-wide impact just an hour before its invasion of Ukraine. While Ukraines military was the primary target of an attack on high-speed broadband service Viasat, wind farms in central Europe and both personal and commercial internet users were also affected. Disinformation campaigns in Western countries have also been linked to Russia. There are consistent efforts to push these narratives that are pro-Russian, portraying the West as an aggressor rather than a Kremlin that wants to violate Ukraines sovereignty and fights this war for its own imperial ambitions, Ms Seskuria said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack struck multiple regions across Ukraine early on Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, Ukrainian officials confirmed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the assaults impacted nine regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv. The enemys target was our infrastructure, residential areas and civilian enterprises, he said, adding that a missile equipped with cluster munitions struck a multi-story building in the city of Dnipro. Each such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure, he said in a statement on his official Telegram. At least 26 people were injured in the attack in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, local governor Serhii Lysak said. Several high-rise buildings and homes were damaged in the eastern city of Dnipro. open image in gallery In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, rescuers work on a site of a residential house damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) In the Kyiv region, local authorities said there were strikes in the areas of Bucha, Boryspil and Obukhiv. A home and cars were damaged. In the western region of Lviv, governor Maxim Kozytsky said two cruise missiles were shot down. Russia launched 619 drones and missiles, Ukraines Air Force said in a statement. In total, 579 drones, eight ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles were detected. Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralized 552 drones, two ballistic missiles and 29 cruise missiles. During the air strike, tactical aviation, in particular F-16 fighters, effectively worked on the enemys cruise missiles. Western weapons once again prove their effectiveness on the battlefield," the Air Force said in a statement. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israeli forces stepped up their bombardment of Gaza City, reportedly killing dozens of people, including children, destroying residential towers, and compelling thousands to flee south. In total, according to Al Jazeera, Israeli attacks killed at least 51 people across the besieged Palestinian territory on Saturday. The dead included two young girls who were killed in Israeli strikes on their homes in the crowded Shati camp. The military had warned on Friday it would operate with unprecedented force while closing a temporary evacuation route that had been opened earlier in the week. From this moment, Salah al-Din road is closed for southbound travel. The Israeli Defence Forces will continue to operate with unprecedented force against Hamas and other terrorist organisations, spokesperson Avichay Adraee said. Announcing the temporary new route for Palestinians fleeing the bombardment of Gaza City, Israel had said on Wednesday that it would remain open for only 48 hours from midday local time. The Israel Defence Forces will continue to operate with unprecedented force against Hamas and other terrorist organisations, the spokesperson declared on Friday. Take this opportunity and join the hundreds of thousands of city residents who have moved south to the humanitarian area. The latest Israeli bombardment comes amid a ground push towards central Gaza City and widespread demolition of residential blocks. Satellite images show extensive destruction in neighbourhoods like Zeitoun, Shejaiya, Tuffah, and Sheikh al-Radwan. Residents told the news agency that at least 20 towers had been brought down in recent weeks. Satellite image from Planet Labs shows destroyed northern areas of Gaza City and Jabaliya ( Planet Labs ) Shady Salama Al-Rayyes described fleeing his 15-storey complex following an Israeli evacuation order. Panic, fear, confusion, loss, despair, and pain overwhelmed all of us, the bank worker said. We carried nothing with us, just ran. Israel alleges, without providing evidence, that the high-rise blocks are being used by Hamas as observation posts and booby-traps, and claims civilians are granted time to evacuate before strikes. Hamas denies using residential blocks for carrying out attacks. Palestinian civil defence officials said nearly half of Gaza Citys population over 450,000 people had left since the start of the current Israeli offensive in August. According to the UN, the latest Israeli offensive has already displaced over a quarter of a million people from Gaza City, with tens of thousands more leaving daily. Israels war on Gaza, now approaching its second year, has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians so far, according to the local health authorities, and displaced the vast majority of the territorys 2.2 million people. Israel launched the war in October 2023 after nearly 1,200 soldiers and civilians were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas attack. International condemnation of Israels war has grown in recent months. Portugal this week joined the UK, France, Canada and Australia in announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state. The Palestinian foreign ministry welcomed Lisbons courageous decision, saying it supports efforts to achieve peace and implement the two-state solution. These developments come ahead of next weeks UN General Assembly session in New York where Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will address world leaders by video after the US denied him a visa. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice UN sanctions on Iran will come back into force at the end of September after a Security Council resolution failed to get enough support to stop the snapback mechanism contained in the 2015 nuclear deal. A resolution brought by South Korea, which currently holds the council presidency, secured only four votes from China, Russia, Pakistan, and Algeria instead of the nine needed. This means sanctions suspended under the 2015 deal with the Security Councils five permanent members and Germany will automatically snap back at the end of this month. The sanctions include a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, travel bans, asset freezes, and bans on producing nuclear technology. The snapback mechanism was built into the 2015 deal as a veto-proof enforcement tool: once triggered, the sanctions would resume unless the Security Council voted to stop them. France, Germany and Britain moved last month to activate the mechanism, accusing Tehran of failing to meet its commitments. Washington unilaterally withdrew from the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, during Donald Trumps first presidential term. French president Emmanuel Macron told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 that the activation of the snapback process was essentially a done deal, claiming Tehrans latest overtures were not serious. European leaders had pressed Iran in recent days to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tehran suspended cooperation with the UN watchdog following Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. The window for finding a diplomatic solution on Irans nuclear issue is closing really fast, the EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said. Iran must show credible steps and allow inspections of all nuclear sites without delay. Iran, already hit by years of economic difficulties and reeling from a 12-day war with Israel earlier this summer, rejected the move as unlawful. In a statement, the foreign ministry said it remained committed to diplomacy but reserved the right to respond to any unlawful action. Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the sanctions decision as lacking any legal or logical justification. open image in gallery IAEA director Rafael Grossi, left, and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi sign an agreement to open the way for resuming cooperation at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on 9 September 2025 ( Egyptian Foreign Ministry Press Service ) Tehran also pointed to a recent agreement with the IAEA, mediated by Egypt, to allow inspectors access to all nuclear facilities and to report on nuclear material. In an address last week to his agency's board of governors in Vienna, IAEA director Rafael Grossi said the document "provides for a clear understanding for the procedures of inspection notifications and their implementation. The agreement includes all facilities and installations in Iran and it also contemplates the required reporting on all the attacked facilities including the nuclear material present at those," Mr Grossi added, noting it would "open the way for the respective inspections and access" without specifying when that would happen. Russia and China denounced the European move as unjustified, with Moscows ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, accusing Western powers of using the council as a tool for their bad faith play. The return of sanctions is expected to heighten tensions further. Iranian officials have previously warned that Tehran could even withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, following the path taken by North Korea, which went on to build atomic weapons. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice If there is a warm fuzz left over from what No 10 no doubt sees as a successful management of Donald Trumps toddler ego, it should be washed away by the cold shower of reality. While King Charles took the US president on a fairground ride around Windsor Great Park, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were enjoying the glow of a nuclear embrace. The influence of the West has been in freefall under Trump 2.0. But now that the Saudis and Pakistanis have signed a joint defence pact, which inevitably brings Riyadh under Islamabads nuclear umbrella, Anglo-American influence in the Middle East and beyond has crashed into the desert sands. The two nations, both hotbeds of Islamist ideologies that have spread violence around the world, are showing theyre far beyond the reach of Western influence and post-colonial hangovers. The UK had enjoyed an outsized influence in Pakistan. During the Afghan conflict in the early 2000s, a senior British general once said after meetings in the Pakistani capital, that every level of government and military, even the intelligence services, is still convinced that the Americans are working for us. Thats over now. open image in gallery Trump at the Saudi Royal Palace in May 2017, a trip which launched a dramatic relationship revamp that freed the hands of the Gulf monarchies ( Saudi Royal Palace/AFP via Getty ) After Israel bombed Qatar, killing at least five people, including a Qatari national, earlier this month, and Trump claimed he didnt know about the attack, no US ally in the Middle East will believe a word that comes out of the Oval Office. And none of the emirs and other rulers in the region can rely on America for their security. Already waning in influence, the USs unprincipled support for Israel over Gaza has shaken even the cynical and largely unprincipled rulers of the Middle East. Talks between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which has 600,000 people in its armed forces and nuclear weapons (aimed at India), obviously pre-date the Qatar attacks by Israel. But as the US has its biggest air base on the Gulf island, but was unable/unwilling to protect it against Israel, why would local leaders believe America will protect them against another Israeli attack or a nuclear Iran in the future? Saudi Arabia and Tehran have been warming up their relationship, even as the US and Israel attacked Irans nuclear programme and assassins hunted its nuclear scientists. Now, Riyadh believes, it has nuclear cover from Pakistan. This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means, a Saudi official told Reuters. In conventional war terms, the deal gives both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan the right to call on one another if they are attacked. open image in gallery Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, embraces Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after signing a joint defence pact in Riyadh on Wednesday India and Pakistan fought a five-day conflict earlier this year after Delhi launched reprisal raids against alleged terrorist bases following an attack in Kashmir. The two countries have been at or on the brink of war almost non-stop since 1948. Pakistan will feel a lot stronger with Saudi muscle and money behind it. Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is trying to modernise his country but bringing it into conflict with the very Wahhabi Islamic tradition that has kept the House of Saud in power since the 1930s. Osama bin Ladens violent interpretation of strict and medieval Wahhabism inspired al-Qaeda, the so-called Isis, and al-Shabaab in Somalia. The non-violent version, preached in Saudi mosques, has underpinned the authority that holds the Kingdom together. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, Deobandist beliefs have given rise to the Taliban in both countries and have been used by Pakistans intelligence services to motivate militia and covert groups to undermine Indias rule over much of Kashmir. It might have been inevitable that these two nations would come together in a defence pact. But it has been accelerated by the mercurial behaviour of the US especially since Trump returned to the White House. open image in gallery Trump and Sir Keir Starmer shared a stage at Chequers to celebrate the special relationship between the US and the UK ( PA Wire ) Western political and military dominance over the world has been brutally undermined by the actions of the West itself. Claims by democracies to hold the moral high ground in international affairs and human rights have been smashed by the illegal invasion of Iraq and the extrajudicial killings of alleged terrorists, and now drug dealers, by successive US administrations. Saudi Arabia might try to argue now that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, lured to his death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, was simply a pre-emptive attack on a terrorist, not the killing of a critic. Under the kind of doctrine now being used by the White House to kill alleged drug smugglers from Venezuela with air strikes, without trial or visible evidence, its hard to see why any nation would resist the temptation to knock off its critics wherever they are. Russia at least bothers to deny its overseas assassinations. The USs latest veto of a UN Security Council resolution to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza will be seen in the Middle East and Pakistan as yet another example of racist moral perfidy from Washington. And since the Taliban beat America and its allies out of Afghanistan, the perception that the West can impose what it cannot persuade through military power has been exposed as a fiction. In short, the world is feral and dangerous, and has slipped out of Western control. No wonder like-minded nations such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia band together to survive the mess of the age. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Major European airports were thrown into chaos over the weekend as thousands faced delays and cancellations after a major cyber attack. Airlines flying out of Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin were forced to check passengers in manually after the attack hit systems used for check-in and boarding, causing hours-long queues on Saturday. Disruption spilled into Sunday as airlines warned passengers not to travel to airports unless their flight had been confirmed. Collins Aerospace, the company hit by the attack, said it was working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, but did not give any details on what was behind the problem. Airlines were left furious, reported The Independents Simon Calder, as the attack left them responsible for rebooking travel and arranging food and accommodation for disrupted passengers. They, along with passengers, will want answers as to who carried out the attack, and what can be done to stop it from happening again. What happened? Late on Friday night, airlines said they were experiencing difficulties with check-in and boarding after a cyber attack on the systems provider. Collins Aerospace, an aviation and defence company, provides airlines with the systems needed to check passengers in and organise boarding. open image in gallery Passengers faced disruption in Berlin ( (c) Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten ) The attack forced airlines to check customers in manually, causing long queues and leaving many passengers in the dark about whether they would be able to make flights and onward connections. Huge queues were reported at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin on Saturday as travellers waited for hours for news on rearranged flights. Aviation safety and air traffic control were unaffected, the European Commission said in a statement, as it added it would closely monitor the situation. Was Russia behind the attack? There have been unfounded claims of Russian involvement, with Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller saying on Saturday that the government needed to urgently establish if Vladimir Putin is now attacking our cyber systems. It follows heightened concern over aviation safety in Europe after 19 recent incursions from Russian drones into Polish airspace. open image in gallery RAF planes flew over Poland on Friday night as a warning to Russia ( RAF ) But at this time, there is no evidence that Russia is behind the attack. Most recent hacks, including the massive attack on British retailer M&S in April of this year, have been attributed to criminal gangs looking to extort huge organisations for money. While some of these groups are based in Russia and could have ties to the state, many are based elsewhere. In the case of the M&S attack, four people including three teenagers have been arrested in the UK. Cybersecurity expert Vykintas Maknickas, who is the CEO of NordVPNs travel eSIM app Saily, said the attack highlights the increasing vulnerabilities within the aviation sector as airports and airlines continue to rely on interconnected systems for operations. Which airports are affected? The main airports affected by the cyber attack are Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. But cancelled and delayed flights to other major hubs such as Paris, Lisbon, and Amsterdam will have had a knock-on effect for those trying to make connections there. open image in gallery Passengers reported long queues and manual check-ins (KC Barnard/X/@lovebydeception/PA) ( PA Media ) This attack is a prime example of the supply-chain risks facing the aviation industry, Mr Maknickas added. Many airports, including those affected in this incident, rely on the same third-party systems for passenger handling. While this approach boosts operational efficiency, it significantly reduces resilience. A single cyberattack on one vendor can quickly escalate into widespread disruptions across multiple airports, as seen with the delays and cancellations at major European hubs like Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. A test for something bigger? While the cause of Fridays cyber attack remains unclear, it is difficult to know whether the hack could be a test for something bigger. But security experts warned that unless airlines create viable backups that can kick into action in the event of cyber attacks, this incident will not be the last. open image in gallery Cyber security experts warned the weekends outage may not be the last T4 (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) ( PA Wire ) Cybersecurity is usually treated as an IT problem, but in reality its an operational safety issue, Mr Maknickas explained. Aviation has long avoided single points of failure in its physical infrastructure, like multiple runways, backup power, redundant comms. The same philosophy must be applied to their digital strategies. Otherwise, todays outage will not be the last. Travel runs on trust that systems will work, flights will depart, and bags will arrive. Every cyber outage erodes that confidence. Rebuilding it requires transparency, accountability, and visible investment in resilience. by Hummam Sheikh Ali DAMASCUS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- With the new school season in Syria set to begin on Sunday, Damascus' historic Asruniyeh market comes alive with colorful displays of cartoon-themed backpacks and stationery. The place hums with the chatter of bargaining parents, the laughter of children, and vendors calling out their offers to draw in shoppers. Bilal Saliq, a Syrian from rural Damascus, is searching for school supplies for his two children. He said the family had started preparations for school nearly three weeks ago. "Prices have dropped a little, but incomes remain low. We hope the coming days will be better," he said. "If we calculate the full cost -- clothes, a bag, and supplies -- we need about 500,000 Syrian pounds (roughly 50 U.S. dollars) for just one child. That's a big number." Back-to-school shopping has become a daunting task, not only for local residents but also for returnees who once relied on remittances. For Anas, a father of four who recently returned from Turkiye, the joy of enrolling his children in a Syrian school for the first time was mixed with anxiety. "Prices are very high. Like most Syrians, I depend on remittances from abroad and still cannot cover all the needs," he said while scanning a pile of backpacks. "Compared to Turkiye, where I used to live, prices here are cheaper, but the problem is that incomes are low and expenses are high," he added. Worsening financial conditions in Syria have affected local businesses, with school supply vendors feeling the strain. Ammar, who runs a stationery shop in Asruniyeh, said sales had fallen sharply. "People now choose the cheapest goods with poor quality. Last year, business was better than it is now," he said. At Khaja Market, a bustling souk known for its more affordable options, vendors are noticeably more optimistic, pointing to newly available imports. Abdul Rahman, a shop owner specializing in backpacks and accessories, said business had improved this year. "This year is better than previous years because we were able to get foreign goods after import restrictions were eased," he said. "Now we have different qualities and prices, so customers can choose what suits them financially. Before, the options were limited." For many, the ritual of back-to-school shopping offered a brief sense of normalcy in a country where school reconstruction remains incomplete and economic pressures weigh heavily. There is still much to be done to rebuild Syria's education system after years of devastating war. According to the country's education authorities, over 8,000 schools now lie in ruins, while nearly 800 more are in urgent need of repair. Officials say that although more than 17,000 teachers dismissed since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 have been reinstated to address severe staffing shortages, the financial burden of rebuilding the education system remains a significant challenge given Syria's weak economic performance. A World Bank report released in July projects Syria's economy to grow by just one percent in 2025, following a 1.5-percent contraction last year. The report cites lingering security risks, a severe liquidity shortage, and suspended foreign aid as major obstacles. Fourteen years of conflict have shrunk Syria's GDP by more than half since 2010, with per capita income dropping to 830 dollars in 2024 and one in four Syrians living in extreme poverty. The report also warns that reliance on costly oil imports, political uncertainty, and fragile security continue to threaten stability, risks all too familiar to families struggling to prepare their children for the new school year. Despite the challenges, Syrian parents continue to do what they can for their children. "Seeing my children laugh as they clutch their first notebooks makes all my hard work worthwhile," said a father at the Asruniyeh market. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice With 81 percent of its land cloaked in forest some 34 billion trees New England is the gold standard for glowing fall foliage. That's the good news for "leaf-peepers" in waiting. The bad? There are so many options for seeing nature at its most kaleidoscopic in the region that firming up an itinerary can be bewildering. This guide clears away the underbrush of confusion and spotlights the must-see routes and stops in the six New England states famed for their fiery displays. We put pins in the map for the "Leaf Peeper's Super-Highway", the most coveted covered bridges, iconic mountain panoramas, perfect waterfall picnic spots and towns with historic homes framed by cascading colors. We also show you where to stay and how best to reach your chosen leaf-peeping havens. The six classic New England leaf-peeping states 1. Vermont open image in gallery Early morning autumn light near Killington, Vermont the state hailed by many as number one for leaf-peeping ( Getty Images ) open image in gallery A Weather Channel map showing peak fall foliage times for the U.S. ( The Weather Channel ) With 75 percent of the state forested, Vermont is often considered number one for fall foliage. When? Between the second and third weeks of October is fall foliage o'clock. Though some radiant colors are still visible at the end of the month. What to expect Maple-clad mountains and rolling hills in shades of fiery pink, deep crimson, blazing orange and dazzling yellow. Where to go Hit Vermont's National Scenic Byway Route 100, known as the "Leaf Peeper's Super-Highway". It meanders through charming towns from Wilmington in southern Vermont to Newport near the Canadian border almost the entire length of the state with local radio stations revealing the best places to view the color on any given day via fall foliage "hot spot" updates. For 360-degree views of fiery leaves, take a gondola ride at Stowe, the "Ski Capital of the East" in the winter, or visit the four-season mountain resort town of Manchester and drive or hike to the top of Equinox Mountain for views of a landscape resplendent in fall colors. You can also enjoy a cruise on Lake Champlain's Spirit of Ethan Allan for 360-degree painted landscapes. How to get there The state is connected to New York City via the I-87 and I-90, and with New Hampshire via the I-89. Most people arriving by air fly into Burlington International Airport, which serves several major cities including Washington, D.C, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. The state can also be reached easily by train. The daily Vermonter service runs from Washington, D.C., through New York City, and makes nine stops in Vermont, while the Ethan Allen Express travels daily between New York City and Burlington. Where to stay Outbound Stowe is nestled alongside the tranquil West Branch Little River, four miles from the Mt Mansfield State Forest, with guests at the 73-room property enjoying direct access to picturesque trails, an outdoor pool and free wifi. Leaf-peeping tales can be exchanged around the fire pit as marshmallows are roasted. Read more: These hotels have very specific concierge services, from sandcastle building to a bourbon butler 2. New Hampshire open image in gallery The Kancamagus Highway, known by locals as the 'Kanc', is a leaf-peeping must in New Hampshire ( Discover New England ) Breathtaking autumnal views greet you at every turn in the Granite State. When? Late September to early October, with northern areas peaking first. What to expect An autumnal cast of sugar maples, red maples, eastern white pines, paper birches, eastern hemlocks, ashes, American beeches, balsam firs and red spruces put on an unforgettable show across valleys, through river gorges and over mountainsides. And for company, some 3,000 to 4,000 moose. Where to go Jump in your car and program New Hampshire's finest foliage routes into your navigation app of choice. If time is not on your side, then make the Kancamagus Highway (known by locals as the "Kanc") your priority. The 34-mile road cuts through the 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest. Highlights en route include the 40-foot-tall Sabbaday Falls on the Kancamagus Pass (perfect for a picnic); the aerial tramway that ascends to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain; and the one-mile hike through the Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves in North Woodstock. Another route with ravishing vistas is the 100-mile Pinkham Notch Loop, which offers immense views of the Presidential Mountains and passes through the town of Jackson, home to a beautiful 19th-century covered bridge known as the Honeymoon Bridge. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a drive along 75-mile-long Moose Alley will give you the best chance of mixing moose sightings with tapestries of mesmerizing fall tones, while the Mount Monadnock Loop deposits drivers at the starting points of moderate hiking trails up 3,165-foot-tall Mount Monadnock. For leaf peeping sprinkled with cute farmsteads, navigate the Concord to Loudon to Pittsfield Loop. How to get there New Hampshire's Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is the state's main commercial airport, though many travelers opt to fly into Boston Logan International Airport, an hour south of the border, and drive. Interstate 93 is the primary north-south route, while New Hampshire is linked with Vermont via the I-89 and Maine using U.S. Route 2. Rail options include taking the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston and Brunswick, which stops in Exeter, Durham and Dover; and the Amtrak Vermonter from Washington, D.C., which stops in Claremont. Where to stay The Omni Mount Washington Hotel is an iconic property set dramatically in New Hampshire's mountainous Bretton Woods. The property features indoor and outdoor pools, and a prohibition-era speakeasy. Read more: Six leaf-peeping US states you didnt expect for stunning fall colors 3. Massachusetts open image in gallery A fall view from the 63-mile-long Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts, which runs from the town of Orange to North Adams ( Discover New England ) Massachusetts is the third-most densely populated state in the U.S., but is also gloriously forested, with around 60 percent of the land, or three million acres, covered in trees. When? Early October to early November. What to expect Maples, oaks, birches and ashes exploding in color across rolling mountains, along dreamy coastlines and in historic streets. Where to go The Mohawk Trail, which runs 63 miles from Orange to North Adams, is one of the state's most renowned foliage routes, with premium leaf-peeping opportunities in Rocky Mountain Park on the Connecticut River; the pretty town of Shelburne Falls; Mohawk State Forest; and the Natural Bridge State Park, home to North America's only natural white marble arch. The views from the top of 3,489-foot-tall Mount Greylock will also leave you spellbound and there's a paved road all the way to the summit. The 50-mile-long Connecticut River Scenic Byway in the Pioneer Valley is also a mesmerizing experience. The drive itself is beautiful and there are hiking opportunities along the way in Mount Holyoke Range State Park and Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation. Slots in the itinerary should also be assigned to a tour of the Cape Ann peninsula in northeastern Massachusetts, home to Gloucester, the oldest seaport in America; and the Greater Merrimack Valley, northwest of Boston. It's peppered with farmstands, orchards and the town of Lexington, with its classic New England town green. How to get there Boston Logan International Airport is the main hub for flyers, with Worcester Regional Airport serving the central Massachusetts area. A scenic and relaxing way to arrive, though, is by train, with Amtrak running several services that benefit those from the Northeast and Midwest. High-speed Acela trains connect the state with New York City and Washington, D.C., the Lake Shore Limited runs between Boston and Chicago, and The Vermonter connects D.C. with Greenfield and Springfield in Western Massachusetts. There's also the Downeaster, which links Boston with Maine and New Hampshire. The major interstates for drivers are the east-west I-90 for the New York State border; the I-95 for access to the eastern part of the state; the I-93, which links Massachusetts with New Hampshire; and the I-84 and I-91, which travel to Connecticut. Where to stay Luxurious Berkshires Untold offers rooms with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, and free wifi, plus it's only 20 miles from the fall foliage hotspot of Mount Greylock State Reservation. Read more: European towns and villages that look like a Disney movie 4. Maine open image in gallery The sensational summit-to-harbor fall foliage view from Mount Battie in Camden, Maine ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) Maine is the most heavily forested state in the U.S., with 89 percent of the land covered in trees. Thats 17.5 million acres of leaves to peep. When? Last week of September to the end of October. What to expect Crisp beach walks, riverside rambles, and oaks, birches and maples saturated with heartwarming autumnal hues. Where to go The short answer is almost anywhere, but lets spotlight some of the most sensational leaf peeping locations across the states regions. In Southern Maine, take the scenic Midcoast Ramble drive, which starts in coastal Brunswick and heads Downeast along Route 1. Be sure to make detours down the multitude of peninsulas to explore charming towns and lighthouses. At the end, in Camden, ascend Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for a sensational summit-to-harbor foliage display. In Central Maine, the serene Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway follows the Kennebec River and passes through intensely picturesque autumnal landscapes flecked with lost-in-time towns, such as Bingham, where classic clapboard homes line the streets. In Eastern Maine, you're spoiled for choice for scenic drives, with the aptly named Million Dollar View offering scintillating views of the Chiputneticook chain of lakes and rolling hayfields, and the 12.5-mile-long Blackwoods Scenic Byway winding through gorgeous glacially formed lakes. In Western Maine, the six covered bridges there make for truly memorable fall photos: Babb's Bridge, over the Presumpscot River; Hemlock Bridge in Fryeburg; Lovejoy Bridge in Andover; Parsonsfield-Porter Bridge over the Ossipee River; Bennett Bridge, which spans the Magalloway River; and the Sunday River Bridge in Newry. Venture to Northern Maine, and a canvas of colors awaits along the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Scenic Byway, with views of the leafy lower slopes of Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak, the summit of fall-foliage perfection. How to get there The main airport is Portland International Jetport, which serves New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago, while the main driving artery is the I-95, which runs the length of the state. Rail travel is also a good option, with the Amtrak Downeaster running from Boston, Massachusetts, to Brunswick, Maine, via several stops in Southern Maine, including Wells, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, and Freeport. Where to stay Ledges By the Bay offers views of Clam Cove, an outdoor pool and free wifi. Read more: Luxury hotels with the best service: The worlds most impressive stays loved by billionaires 5. Connecticut open image in gallery Connecticut is a feast for the eyes in fall. Above is Sleeping Giant State Park ( Discover New England ) Over half of Connecticut is covered in trees. That's 1.75 million acres of fodder for fall foliage. When? Late September through mid-November. What to expect A feast for the eyes, with quaint houses nestling amid bright-yellow quaking aspens, bronze beeches, purple dogwoods and maples dressed in red. Where to go For dramatic panoramas from hilltop farms, drive from North Stonington to Sterling on Route 49. Take to the Norwich-Woodstock Turnpike and you'll find yourself in a world of pre-1855 homes and historic churches. The drive along the tidal Mystic River on River Road, meanwhile, is always beautiful, but especially magical during fall, while the Last Green Valley Scenic Byway in northeastern Connecticut passes through pristine woods and pretty town greens. Linger into the night and you'll get a show from above, too. The Last Green Valley has one of the darkest skies on the Eastern Seaboard. The Essex to Guilford Shoreline Loop Drive is another gem, with the beautiful towns of Essex, Old Saybrook, Guilford and Deep River wrapped in a vibrant symphony of colors in autumn. If youve packed your hiking boots, Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden is an excellent choice for hikes with wow-factor views in every direction, though the most iconic panorama is from the summit of Mt. Carmel. How to get there Bradley International Airport is the main airport, while for drivers, the I-95 runs along Connecticut's shoreline from the New York state line. The I-91 is a direct link for travelers coming from Massachusetts, Vermont, and other northern destinations. Arriving by rail would be an excellent choice, with Amtrak's Acela high-speed service running from Washington, D.C., New York and Boston to the Connecticut cities of Stamford and New Haven. Where to stay The Mayflower Inn & Spa is located amid 58 acres of landscaped woodland in the idyllic town of Washington and features 30 rooms bedecked with feather-topped mattresses, antique oriental rugs and marble baths. Read more: 10 of the best under-the-radar beaches in the US for crowd-free coastal escapes 6. Rhode Island open image in gallery Rhode Island offers top-tier leaf-peeping, particularly in the heavily wooded western and northern areas. Above is South Ferry Church in Narragansett ( Getty Images ) Rhode Island packs a fall foliage punch, with almost 420,000 acres of woodland. When? October is when the leaves glow brightest. What to expect Top-tier leaf peeping, particularly in the heavily wooded western and northern areas, with golden birches, deep-red oaks and warm-orange American sweetgums on hand to savor. Where to go Kick off your leaf-peeping expedition by navigating Route 1A along the Rhode Island coastline, which meanders from one cute cove to another and offers ocean and countryside vistas. The itinerary should also include the delightful Scituate Loop. This takes in parts of the Scituate Reservoir, which beautifully reflects the autumnal foliage. Theres also the opportunity to stop at Salisbury Farm in Johnston, which celebrates fall with pumpkins, a corn maze and hay rides. Newport Scenic Byway gives leaf-peepers views of historic mansions framed by sun-kissed leaves, while a drive along the roads of Conanicut Island means youll be soaking in Narragansett Bay and idyllic rolling fields wrapped in a kaleidoscope of color. The inland Route 3 is an adventure into the delightfully rural western part of the state, including the villages of Hopkinton and Hope Valley. Then theres Goddard Memorial State Park in East Greenwich, something of a local favorite thanks to open fields peppered with huge trees, serene horse trails and a swimming beach. How to get there The main commercial airport is the Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport in Warwick, just south of Providence. Its a popular alternative to Boston Logan Airport. But you might like to take the train, with the state on Amtraks Northeast Corridor route. The calling points are Providence, Kingston and Westerly. Driving? There are plenty interstate options, with the I-95 traveling north-south through the state, the I-195 connecting Providence to southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, and U.S. Route 6 connecting Rhode Island to Connecticut. Where to stay The Margin Street Inn in Westerly is a bed & breakfast with a white-washed wooden facade and an interior adorned with floral wallpaper and elegant country-home furniture. Read more: Twenty-two incredible free things to do and see in New York City, from beaches to secret gardens Watch as a burglar breaks into a gallery and steals a Banksy print worth 270,000 from the wall. Footage shared by the Crown Prosecution Service on Friday (19 September) shows Larry Fraser, 48, using a fire extinguisher to smash through the glass front door at the Grove Gallery in London. After climbing through the shattered door, he then takes a limited edition Girl With Balloon print from the wall before fleeing the scene last September. Fraser has pleaded guilty to the burglary, jurors at Kingston Crown Court heard on Monday (16 September). His alleged getaway driver, James Love, 54, has denied helping Fraser with the burglary. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice It was only a couple of days ago that I sat with my friend and parliamentary colleague, Dr Peter Prinsley MP, at the Sheikh Hussein border crossing between Jordan and Israel. We had flown out to Amman, the Jordanian capital, the night before, and had just driven an hour or so across the Jordan Valley to a place that turned out to be one of the lowest places on earth 413m below sea level. The air was stifling and hot, and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly intense. The Israeli border force was reluctant to let us cross. Ultimately, after several calls with the Foreign Office and others, the guards gave us papers telling us that we were a threat to public safety, security and order and therefore deemed unfit to visit their country. In due course, we were escorted to a bus that took us back to the Jordanian side of the border, and we made our way back to Amman. Just over a day later, we were back in the UK. We had been invited by Caabu, the Council for Arab-British Understanding, on a low-key fact-finding mission. Our trip was to include discussions with officials in Jerusalem, as well as visits to various healthcare settings on the West Bank. The intention was to examine the situation from all angles and to form a fair and balanced view of what was happening on the ground and why. Depending on our findings, we would propose ways to improve the situation. We also wanted to inform the Foreign Office and understand if there is anything our government could do to support these health services. We did not imagine this would be an issue. We had a letter from the British embassy inviting us to visit them, and many previous MPs have visited the West Bank. In only June this year, Labour MPs who visited Israel with Labour Friends of Israel were able to visit the occupied West Bank. Senators Chris van Hollen and Jeff Merkley have also very recently visited. Our visit was non-political and based on healthcare services. Dr Simon Opher in the House of Commons, London (House of Commons/PA) ( PA Wire ) Sadly, however, at the same time as the United Nations commission of inquiry found that the Israeli state was undertaking acts of genocide in Gaza, the same state was also deciding that two doctors, both aged over 60, posed such a threat to the safety, security and order of the public that they shouldnt be allowed to enter the country. As both an MP and a doctor, I have long been concerned with the impact of the war on healthcare, not only in Gaza itself, but also on the West Bank. When I was invited to visit healthcare settings there, I obviously wanted to go and see the situation for myself, to better understand the issues and see what, if anything, could be done to help. I knew that the situation would be grim. Israel has effectively been fighting a financial war on health in the West Bank. While it collects taxes, mainly from the import and export of goods to the territory, Israel is failing to pass on this money (currently an estimated $1.2bn) to pay the Palestinian Health Authority for the running of health services. This means that Israel is in breach of Articles 55, 56 and 59 of the Geneva Convention, the provisions of which outline the obligations of an occupying power to care for the citizens of an occupied territory. Practically, this means that staff, hospitals and suppliers are all owed vast sums of money, and the system is close to breaking down completely. In addition to this, Israel has held back relief and support from elsewhere that might have mitigated the situation. More than this, we also knew that more than 1,500 healthcare workers have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza since 2023, and a further 25 to 30 killed in the West Bank. They are all victims of what appears to be a deliberate policy designed to deny Palestinians medical help. Its hard to escape the feeling that the position of the Israeli government appears to be that they want Palestinians to die. They dont want people to help them and they definitely dont want people to know what they are doing. Dr Simon Opher is the MP for Stroud San Leon hit with six-figure sum in fresh debt judgments against it Local authority registers judgments against Oisin Fannings energy firm in respect of unpaid rates Oisin Fanning of San Leon. Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg John Mulligan Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Embattled oil and gas firm San Leon Energy PLC has been hit with fresh debt judgments totalling almost 400,000 by South Dublin County Council. John Boyne: For years I told myself that Id given him tacit approval. I leaned back. I let him in. He wasnt to blame. I was In a brave account of the abuse he suffered at school, John Boyne writes that it became the genesis of his series, The Elements John Boyne spoke to gardai about incident John Boyne Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 06:30 On a Thursday morning in February 2021, I rode my Vespa into Dublin city centre. Covid was still at its peak, and the rules were that you couldnt travel more than a few kilometres from home, so I was stopped several times along the way by gardai, but when I told them where I was going, they let me pass. latest | Dublin Airport T2 reopens after concern raised over piece of luggage amid major security alert Flight disruption is expected this afternoon as gardai attend scene Separately, Europe-wide cyber attack causing minor impact at Dublin and Cork Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport has been evacuated this morning as a safety precaution Niamh Horan, Keith Kelly and Seoirse Mulgrew Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 13:22 Dublin Airports Terminal 2 building has received the all-clear after being evacuated this afternoon amid a high security alert. Tanya Sweeney: When I moved to London in 1997 it swallowed me whole and spat me out for todays Irish twentysomethings its so much easier Meet the man who is brining a derelict train station in Galway back to its former glory In a span of eight years, a team of volunteers lead by project director Jim Deegan completely transformed the derelict site where once stood Maam Cross train station into what they described as an all-weather, family-friendly visitor attraction able to bring tourists back in time of nearly 100 years. LATEST | Flights cancelled at Dublin Airport on second day of disruption after European cyber attack DAA boss Kenny Jacobs says response was proportionate, with safety of staff and passengers paramount Dublin Airports Terminal 2 after it was evacuated on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Tom Honan Maeve Sheehan Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 21:31 There is continued disruption and delays at Dublin Airport on Sunday after Saturdays chaos caused by a bomb scare combined with a cyber attack on European airports. The real House of Guinness: 'I definitely think that they thought of themselves as Irish. We were genetically Irish, but with a religion that put us in the minority' A Netflix drama about them is on its way, but head of the family Ned Guinness has written his own history of the iconic dynasty. Here, he talks about his idyllic childhood in Farmleigh, the accusations of sectarianism his ancestors faced, why they opposed Irish independence and how the brewery almost moved to Wales I love this part of Dublin and its made great by its people. Theyre real, passionate people - Guinness family patriarch Ned Guinness on his love of Dublin John Meagher Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Arthur Guinnesss great-great-great-great-great grandson would be forgiven for losing track of his names. He was christened Arthur Edward Guinness. Officially, he is Edward Guinness, the 4th Earl of Iveagh, and also Viscount Elveden. He is often referred to as Lord Iveagh in media reports. But he prefers to be known by the simple sobriquet of Ned. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the forcible push for a snapback of sanctions against Iran, said a Chinese envoy on Friday. Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks after the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would continue to provide sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He said China supports keeping the Security Council sanctions against Iran terminated and voted in favor of the draft resolution. China firmly opposes the forcible push by relevant countries for a "snapback mechanism" and sees such a move as gravely undermining diplomatic efforts for a political resolution of the Iran nuclear issue, he said. The current difficult situation concerning the Iran nuclear issue stems from the U.S. withdrawal from the deal in 2018, he said, noting that the United States reinstalled and continuously escalated its sanctions against Iran, depriving Iran of access to the economic dividends provided for under the deal, and leaving Iran with no choice but to scale back its commitments to the agreement. "The United States, at the expense of its own credibility, went even further by blatantly launching military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, thereby torpedoing the very negotiation process that the United States itself initiated," said Fu. Under these circumstances, Britain, France and Germany are insisting on activating the "snapback mechanism" to unilaterally punish Iran. This is unfair and unreasonable, he said. "Such a move causes tension and division among Security Council members, is not conducive to rebuilding mutual trust and bridging differences among the parties, detrimental to the diplomatic efforts toward the early resumption of talks, and may even bring about catastrophic consequences that are impossible to foresee and forfeit years of diplomatic efforts in one stroke," he said. "China has grave concern over this." China always maintains that a political and diplomatic solution represents the only viable option to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and the right path to lasting peace. This is also the prevailing view within the international community. China calls on the parties to stay calm and exercise restraint, resolve issues through diplomacy and dialogue, and avoid falling back into the vicious cycle of sanctions, pressure and escalating tensions, he said. The Security Council should play a constructive role in assisting the parties concerned to build trust, bridge differences, and advance the political process to negotiate a new agreement. China and Russia have tabled a draft resolution for the technical extension of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 that endorsed it. The purpose is to buy time for diplomacy and create conditions for a political solution, said Fu, calling on the parties to give it serious consideration. As a JCPOA participant and a permanent member of the Security Council, China remains committed to a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and to security and stability in the Middle East. China will continue to hold an objective position, work hard to promote peace talks, and play a constructive role in advancing the political process, he said. The bailout babies: 'They werent even 18 by the time it all fell apart theyre the ones who are suffering the most from it' From housing to side hustles, dating to emigration, the generation who grew up in post-boom Ireland have rewritten what adulthood looks like. In his new book, journalist Adam Maguire delves into the lives of these bailout babies Adam Maguire. Photo: Ruth Medjber Tanya Sweeney Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Just as Adam Maguire prepares to release his first book, The Bailout Babies, the very generation he is writing about appear to have been bestowed with their first major anthem. CMATs Euro-Country reflects on the 2008 financial crash, from a childs perspective, and features the lyrics All the big boys/All the Berties/All the envelopes/Yeah, they hurt me/I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me. The song appears to have hit a major nerve with Irelands millennials, most of whom are experiencing major frustrations as a result of Irelands economic and housing situation. News The despair that drove two childhood friends to suicide will never be known Kimmel was planning second Kirk monologue when Disney axed show Employees had reportedly been receiving threatening messages following his monologue on Monday night Jimmy Kimmel. Photo: PA Kieran Kelly Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 06:30 Jimmy Kimmel was planning a second monologue on the fallout from the assassination of Charlie Kirk when his show was pulled off air by executives. Jimmy Kimmel's show has been taken off the air. Photo: Getty Many of the people outraged at Jimmy Kimmels cancellation are the very people who would see the livelihoods of others destroyed for stating that it is not possible for humans to change sex. Any ability to curb free speech or to punish people for what they say is always going to be abused by whoever has the power. What qualifies as hatred will be defined by whoever has the power. What qualifies as misinformation, disinformation or (the latest one) malinformation will be defined by whoever has the power. The left is every bit as authoritarian as the right when given the opportunity, despite usually being portrayed as the good guys. And all of this prevents any discussion that might actually lead to solutions to myriad problems facing us, because everyone is so busy being outraged at people who dont share their opinions. The question we really need to be asking is: Who benefits from having everyone at one anothers throats? E Bolger, Dublin 9 Silencing the jesters like Kimmel will never stop the laughter from satire When authoritarian regimes grow thin-skinned, they usually start with the comedians (Removal of Kimmels show will have chilling effect on other broadcasters, Irish Independent, September 19). In the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev banned political jokes; in Russia today, Vladimir Putin jails comics who poke fun at him; Xi Jinping erased Winnie the Pooh for resembling his gait; Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan drags satirists to court; and Adolf Hitler closed cabaret halls faster than he built autobahns. Now America, once the worlds great exporter of humour, is flirting with the same reflex. Jimmy Kimmels indefinite suspension after ribbing Donald Trump suggests satire is becoming a more dangerous profession than banking. The irony is that silencing the jesters never stops the laughter it just drives it underground, where it grows sharper. Wise societies know to tolerate their comics, for they act as safety valves. Foolish ones, alas, mistake mockery for menace. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Traitors thrills, not with filler challenges, but the human frailties on show Pat Stacey writes (Irish Independent, September 19) that The Traitors is devilishly entertaining except for the measly prize pot and boring challenges. I have never seen other productions of the programme, so I cannot compare it, but in fairness the challenges are just fillers. They dont really add much to the show. At the same time, they dont really distract from it either. The real fun is at the round table and in the conclave, and how people interpret their fellow contestants words and actions and construct a story about them that is often wide of the mark. I had hoped Paudie would go all the way because he seemed to be fumbling his way through the programme without attracting major suspicions, and it was working for him. Eamon the garda had a clear strategy, but it backfired on him spectacularly. Nick now thinks he is smarter than everyone else, but will he meet his Waterloo like Eamon? The what-ifs and should-haves are what makes this programme fascinating. A bit like life, really. Tommy Roddy, Ballybane, Co Galway Global sanctions on both Trump and Netanyahu for Gaza genocide now vital By now, reasonable-minded people are well aware of the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza and the West Bank. Breaches of international law and violations of basic human rights and the Geneva Conventions are routine. Now genocide and starvation are part of the terrible litany. US president Donald Trump not only fully supports Netanyahu, but sanctions any persons or organisation investigating these actions. It is time for elected representatives from the free and democratic world to sanction Netanyahu and Trump. Continually expressing concern but failing to act is shameful. Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork Jim Gavin is like a fish out of water in the Aras race of pretenders and wannabes Mary Regan probably uttered the understatement of the year when she wrote ...and, although its early days, it seems Mr Gavin is not living up to his hype (Mary Lou McDonald teases a Sinn Fein game-changer in race for Aras, but is it all just for sport?, Irish Independent, September 19). If there ever was a fish out of water, it is Jim Gavin in his presidential campaign. I mean, seriously, who is actually running for the Aras Jim Gavin or Micheal Martin? Theres a story in The Kerryman this week in which Fianna Fail councillor Norma Moriarty said every one of Irelands past presidents had an incredible depth of experience as public representatives before becoming president as she urged her fellow councillors to reject the nomination of Gareth Sheridan. Her comments went down like a lead balloon in Kerry. The Soldiers of Destiny will be hoping their own candidate can rise above the fray. At the moment, Jim Gavin looks lost. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Putin plays war games to test the fractured West, which needs a good leader The Kremlin has accused Nato of complicity, when it said the alliance was fighting against Russia and was de facto involved in the war in Ukraine as the bloc provides direct and indirect support to Kyiv. Russian drones have entered Polish and Romanian airspace and were shot down by fighter jets from each country. The real question is: What is Moscow up to now? Is it testing the readiness of the EU to defend itself in the event of invasion? Or is it trying to divide a fractured EU, with France and the UK struggling politically and financially at present? With Denmark having military exercises in Greenland this week without the US, in light of Donald Trumps threat that he wants to take over the country, have we a badly disunited West? All this suits Russian president Vladimir Putin as he seeks to expand his empire. Europe and Nato are in need of a strong, respected leader who will unite and lead from the front. Tom Towey, Cloonacool, Co Sligo Marah Haddad (11), who was trapped under a fallen building after an Israeli strike in Gaza City, is rescued from the rubble. Photo: Getty Candidates on the presidential trail have been surprised at the frequency by which the horrific conditions in Gaza are coming up in engagements with the public. Some have speculated that a past scarred by colonialism and famine has triggered some historical kinship with Palestines plight as if pictures of dead babies or reports of wards full of small children who have had to undergo amputations in hospitals that have run out of anaesthesia were not enough. This week, the death toll passed 65,000, yet for a sixth time the US has vetoed a UN resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire. According to US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus, it was rejected because the text did not go far enough in condemning Hamas or recognising Israels right to defend itself. No one is contesting Israels right to protect itself, and the actions of Hamas have appalled the world, but what is at issue is defending a population from being wiped out. The 14 other United Nations Security Council members who voted in favour described the situation as catastrophic. But there is to be no respite. The killing continued with renewed ferocity this week with horrific assaults on Gaza City. Last month, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Western countries planning to recognise the state of Palestine were motivated by domestic political considerations. He characterised any recognition of Palestine as largely meaningless. It was symbolic, and they are doing it for one reason, and that is their domestic politics, he said. Legitimate concerns about stopping the annihilation of civilians are shared by many Israelis In the UK, in France, in many parts of Europe and Ireland, for a long time their domestic politics have turned anti-Israel ... and theyre getting a lot of domestic pressure to do something, he added. Ireland is not anti-Israel, it is pro-peace. Legitimate concerns about stopping the annihilation of civilians are shared by many Israelis. On Monday, at the behest of France and Saudi Arabia, the UN General Assembly will reconvene a summit on the two-state solution. Last week, an overwhelming majority of the 193 member states of the assembly approved a resolution, endorsing it. France, Britain and several other states are set to formally recognise Palestine next week. A total of 145 UN member states already do. French president Emanuel Macron says the international community is charting an irreversible path towards peace in the Middle East. He argued: Another future is possible. Two peoples, two states: Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. But Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed any such prospect. After nearly two years of war, the government seems intent on creating its own reality. It shrugged off the UNs formal assessment this week that it has committed genocide. Even Netanyahu acknowledges his countrys growing isolation. We will increasingly need to adapt to an economy with autarkic [self-sufficient] characteristics, he said. But the myth that any country can go it alone in our interdependent world is as dangerously delusional as believing a forever war is sustainable. Five North Cork students will host a monster bingo in aid of the Hope Foundation. Colaiste Treasa students Daniel Vaughan, Charlie Daly, Emily Sheehy, Fionn Crowley and Jerry Murphy are running the fundraiser ahead of their trip to Kolkata next spring. The Hope Foundation is a registered charity working to free children and poor families from lives of pain, abuse, poverty and darkness in Kolkata, India. The monster bingo will take place in the Edel Quinn Hall in Kanturk from 2:30pm on September 28. The jackpot is a cool 1,000 and must be won on the day, and the total prize fund is 3,000. All funds raised will go directly to the charity, and the five students will see firsthand where the money raised goes when they visit Kolkata in the spring. Daniels mother, Derval, said their youngsters trip to Kolkata will be a huge learning experience for them. The trip will show them just how less privileged other children are in comparison to how they were brought up here in Ireland. That is the big learning experience for them, she said. Apart from the massive jackpot, players will have the opportunity to win prizes that are kindly sponsored by local businesses on the day. The five friends will run the bingo themselves on the day alongside their parents. All the money goes directly to the Hope Foundation. People may think that the funds will be used to fund their trip it is not. They have to raise their own money for that, Ms Vaughan confirmed. Bingo players can buy a single book for 10, a double book for 15 and two jackpot sheets for 5. At a special meeting of Cork County Council to mark the passing last weekend of Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy, councillors spoke of a dedicated politician who worked hard to deliver for the people of Cork. At the meeting, held at Eyeries National School in Beara, the deputy Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Ian Doyle, described him as a man who gave so much of himself with courage, compassion and unswerving commitment to his community. His passing leaves a profound void across West Cork and in this chamber. We remember a public servant in the truest sense of the word. Since first being co-opted to Cork County Council in 2008, Patrick Gerard represented Bantry and the wider West Cork area with dignity, determination and heart. He was re-elected at every local election thereafter, evidence of the trust people placed in him. Through his work with Employability West Cork, Cork Local Link and West Cork Development Partnership and his role in supporting people with disabilities, he showed us what real service looked like. Cllr Murphy of Ahabrock, Eyeries, Beara and Bantry passed away unexpectedly at home on September 12 aged 54. The Fianna Fail councillor was Mayor of the County of Cork from 2018 to 2019 and chaired the West Cork Municipal District and the Western Committee. A wheelchair user since a car accident in 1993, he was also active in the disability sector. Cllr Deirdre Kelly (Fianna Fail) described him as my leader, my colleague, but most importantly my friend. I saw a comment on one post dedicated to him during the week that said Only the good die young. And if there was ever a more appropriate phrase to help contextualise or make sense of Patrick's passing, it's that phrase. He brought fairness, honesty and dignity and he was a pleasure, from any side of the house, to deal with. And he'll be sadly, sadly missed, Cllr Michael Hegarty (Fine Gael) said. Cllr Alan Coleman (Independent) described him as a great colleague, a great councillor, and a great West Cork man. He had a great ability to understand policy. He had a great grasp of the macro picture but he also had the ability to see how that affected the people that he represented. Patrick was more than a colleague to me, he was a great friend. I never heard anyone in Cork County Hall say a bad word about Patrick Gerard. He was a good delegator. He could work with any of the management, talk it through and get it done. He'll be a sad loss for West Cork, he'll be a sad loss for the Beara Peninsula, Cllr Danny Collins (Independent Ireland) said. Cllr Ann Banbury (Social Democrats) said Cllr Murphy was a gentleman and a great leader for his party in Cork County. A public representative who served his constituents with passion. Always approachable and a really jovial character. His presence will be deeply missed in local government. Cllr Cathal Rasmussen (Labour) said that Cllr Murphy was a great friend to everybody. There's no doubt that he was a very capable councillor and a super mayor. He was the ultimate professional in County Hall. When Patrick Gerard spoke, we all listened. Cllr Finbarr Harrington said Cllr Murphys greatest asset was his ability to get on with life and face the challenges every day. The last council meeting was the prime example of that, when he arrived at the County Hall he had a problem with his wheelchair, without even thinking he turned around, went home to Bantry, got his other chair, and he was back to Cork. And that was Pat. The councillors and staff of Cork County Council passed on their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late councillor and to the people of West Cork. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. A man in his 20s who is alleged to have threatened to drag his pregnant partner to an "abortion clinic" has been refused bail after a judge found the woman was left in fear for herself and her unborn child. The accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage and theft before Tallaght District Court following an alleged domestic incident on Friday, September 12. Garda Brendan Byrne objected to bail under the OCallaghan principles, saying gardai believe the man may not turn up when due in court and was likely to interfere with the complainant. The woman, who is pregnant, said the accused had jumped on her car, thrown runners around her home, smashed a wardrobe and chandeliers and refused to return her house keys. She said she was living in fear for me and my kids and my unborn child. She also told the court the accused had threatened to drag her "by the hair of her head to the abortion clinic". The court heard that gardai found a key to the womans home in the accused's pocket during a search the day after the alleged incident. The accused, represented by defence solicitor Padraig ODonovan, said any damage was accidental and offered to pay compensation. He told the judge: If she wants me to stay away, Ill stay away 100pc", and added he would live with his father if granted bail. Judge John OLeary said while the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence, bail was not an absolute right. He said the man had admitted taking the womans key when he was not entitled to and had not denied making threatening remarks. He noted the case involved alleged coercive behaviour. He added there was a high likelihood the accused would interfere with the complainant, who was in genuine fear for herself and her unborn child. The matter is so fraught, he concluded, before remanding the man in custody to Cloverhill Prison for DPP directions. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. A popular Galway city centre bar, restaurant and hotel has been listed for sale at 1,050,000. Finnegans, located on Galways Market Street, has been listed for sale by private treaty with O'Donnellan and Joyce auctioneers. The popular Galway restaurant and hotel is located in a historic medieval building dating back to the 1500s. The building is said to contain some of its original character, with exposed stone walls and featured flooring spanning over 220 square metres. Internally, the ground floor is configured as a restaurant with a commercial kitchen, lounge area and guest toilet facilities. The first floor is currently configured to provide additional seating area to accommodate the restaurant, while the second floor is used for residential purposes. Most importantly, the building is being offered as an investment opportunity, with the tenants not to be affected - meaning the Galway business will be keeping its doors open. Market Street is a bustling city centre location which links onto Abbeygate Street in the heart of Galway city, the propertys listing said. The area would be regarded as one of the main arteries leading to Shop Street and is renowned for its local trading markets. Surrounding businesses include a variety of restaurants, cafes along with a number of retail units. The area would be a sought-after commercial area due to the high footfall and its prominent frontage. For further information, interested parties are encouraged to reach out and contact Shane McDonagh of ODonnellan and Joyce. There have been calls for Coroners fees in Kerry to be paid by central government and not Kerry County Council (KCC) after it emerged that almost 1.8m was paid out over a four year period. Fianna Fail TD Michael Cahill said he sourced figures for expenses in connection with Coroners fees through a Parliamentary Question submitted to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The total is for the four year period from 2020 to 2023. Deputy Cahill is strongly of the view that all of these costs should be borne by central government, which is the case in some local authorities. The cost of the countys two coroners in 2020 alone came to almost 140,000. This included administration costs, payments to undertakers, and payments for the State Pathologist. He said such fees are the responsibility of the Department of Justice in Dublin District, but that all local authorities outside this region are currently funding the Coroner Service. This is a significant burden on Kerry County Council and I am urging that any reform of the Coroner Service would include full responsibility being transferred to the Department of Justice for all Local Authority districts in the country, he said. I believe calls have already been made that the Coroners Court be reformed to make it more user friendly for the families of the deceased and to have it modernised. The Coroners Court should be the responsibility of the Department of Justice, and independent of county and city councils, Deputy Cahill added. He said local councils have enough expenditure to deal with in terms of housing, roads, environment, and planning, etc. "When a councillor, I also campaigned over many years for this and I believe that progress is now being made," added Deputy Cahill. WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate on Friday voted to confirm Mike Waltz, a former White House national security adviser, to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, filling the eight-month vacancy for this post. The 47-43 vote clears the way for Waltz to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, where U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the annual gathering on Tuesday. During his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this summer, Waltz stressed the need for reform at the UN, including a review of U.S. funding and measures to root out anti-Semitism in the institution, according to an NBC News report. Waltz had served as Trump's national security adviser since January but stepped down after mistakenly adding a journalist to a private Signal chat with senior national security officials discussing an upcoming strike in Yemen in March. On March 27, Trump withdrew his nomination of Republican Elise Stefanik to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Waltz was then nominated by Trump for the post in May. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield left her office on Jan. 20 when Trump took office as U.S. president. Ciara was recognised by Social Enterprise Ireland as one of Irelands newest wave of changemakers for founding Beyond Surviving, a survivor-led charity that provides post-crisis support and community connection for survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. Ms Mangan was recognised by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland's Impact Programme 2025 for her help in filling a critical gap in Irelands support services for survivors of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and abuse. Photo: Social Enterprise Ireland. Ciara Mangan, the founder of Beyond Surviving, a survivor-led charity that connects and supports survivors of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and abuse in Ireland. Photo: Beyond Surviving. Ciara Mangan from Castlebar, County Mayo, founded the charity Beyond Surviving, a survivor-led charity that provides post-crisis support and community connections for survivors of domestic, sexual, gender-based violence and abuse in Ireland. Ms Mangan, a survivor of rape and victim harassment herself, founded the organisation after recognising a gap in the support system for survivors once their needs have moved beyond the initial frontline sector services. Her core message is clear: 'You're not alone, it's never too late, and you will be believed.' Explaining this, she said: "Firstly, you're not alone, I spent 12 years in the justice system and I had never met another survivor. It's never too late. I achieved justice after a 12-year fight through the system, "You will be believed, this is a really important one in terms of - it's not that you're not believed if the DPP doesn't choose to prosecute or you don't get justice. You're always going to be believed and just tell somebody." "I feel like I'm not alone in it anymore. I'm excited that everyone else seems to really believe in where this can go. Ms Mangan was named an awardee of Social Enterprise Ireland's Impact Programme 2025, which supports changemakers tackling Ireland's most urgent social and environmental challenges. The nine-month programme provides funding and guidance to help organisations, like Beyond Surviving, grow and create a lasting change in society. "It's lovely for this to be recognised on a broader scale now, and I feel like I'm not alone in it anymore. I'm excited that everyone else seems to really believe in where this can go," she said, It feels like people can see the vision and see where this organisation can go. Ive always believed in this and I just stuck to my guns. We are living in an epidemic of violence against women and girls and sexual violence against men too. Beyond Surviving was born out of Ms Mangans lived experience, as both a survivor of sexual violence and someone who navigated the justice system in Ireland. She waived her right to anonymity after she got justice. Her rapist pleaded guilty and received an eight-year sentence in 2023. Throughout her 12-year fight, she had support from Rape Crisis Centres, counsellors, her GP and psychotherapists. She explained that there comes a time in the healing process where survivors feel they have outgrown the initial frontline support that is offered from various organisations. "I did a lot of research and used my own experience of services I was lacking. I looked for what I needed at that point in my journey, and I couldnt find it, "What I found was that you do reach a point on this journey where you outgrow services and you look for something beyond that. The services that are available in Ireland support you up to this point of survival. I was looking around and I said - What's beyond this?" "I definitely progressed beyond those services. To be honest, I would not be here today, I wouldn't even be alive, if it weren't for the vital frontline crisis sector services." After Ms Mangan realised that survivors often have nowhere to turn once they move beyond this stage. "We are living in an epidemic of violence against women and girls and sexual violence against men too," she said, We hear this all the time, and I said to myself, right, so it's every second woman, it's 52pc where are they? Surely there's a support group for survivors; there's a support group for everything else. But no, there wasn't, So I set up my own organisation. I just really felt that I couldn't be the only one who found themselves in this gap. We have to be able to support survivors to reclaim a new narrative of themselves and have more future-oriented support. Beyond Surviving centres its work on connection, choice and continuity of support. "It was that connection, sense of belonging and resonance that you get from people who genuinely have walked a mile in your shoes. They understand the nuances and complexities of what it's like to survive something like that. You also don't really have to explain yourself or even talk about your story; it's just another person who genuinely gets it, and that's what I was missing, "It's about having choice. That's the basis of trauma-informed work as well, which is respecting every survivor's lived experience. They are the experts of their own lives, Ms Mangan said. "We can often feel like we're constantly perceived as just victims, and we have to be able to support survivors to reclaim a new narrative of themselves and have more future-oriented support." Beyond Surviving offers choice. The organisation runs weekly online 'Survivor Tea & Chat' meetings, alongside in-person events such as 'Creative Writing for Creative Wellbeing' and 'Vision Board Workshops'. Its advocacy pillar, the most active strand of the charity, helps survivors to contribute their voices at a national level, and offer a chance to research into new policies and legislation. "We also have the advocacy pillar, a lot of survivors are active in that. They love advocating for themselves, researching policy and seeing how they can input and get their voices heard on a more national scale," said Ms Mangan, "That would maybe suit some people more than the peer-led groups." For Ms Mangan, survivor-led advocacy must be at the heart of any new national legislation. Beyond Surviving has taken its advocacy to the international stage, with representatives travelling to Geneva in June 2024 for the 91st session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). There, they urged the Irish government to end the practice of disclosing survivors' counselling notes in sexual offence trials. In particular an alarming issue is how some young men are influenced by pornography. Closer to home, Ms Mangan noted that in recent years there has been an improvement in raising awareness of sexual violence, but said that the conversation must look deeper into the complexities of consent. "Recent statistics and surveys show really disturbing things like 'if you know their partner was not enjoying [sex] and asked them to stop, would they stop', and [respondents] said no. In particular an alarming issue is how some young men are influenced by pornography," she said. Here, Ms Mangan was referring to research conducted by the WeConsent project from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Statistics showed that 43pc of men under the age of 45 agreed with the statement 'Sometimes people say no when they want convincing'. In terms of the general public, 27pc agreed with the statement. As well, one in four men under the age of 45 agreed with the statement 'I would probably keep going even if I suspected my partner is not enjoying a sexual encounter'. "That's really frightening results to hear from young male populations," she said, "It's lovely to see WeConsent focusing on, not just consent, but enthusiastic consent as opposed to being coerced into saying yes - when actually it should be a yes yes." With the support of SEI's Impact Programme, Ms Mangan hopes Beyond Surviving can grow and can continue to offer survivors not only the chance to heal and connect with other people, but to truly move beyond surviving. The organisation will continue to advocate and raise awareness of the current societal issues that surround consent, as well as campaigning for the rights of survivors domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and abuse. To learn more about Beyond Surviving, visit their website www.beyondsurviving.ie or visit their Instagram page @beyondsurviving.ie. The 24 Hour Rape Crisis Helpline can be contacted via 1800 778 888 The Mayo Rape Crisis Centre can be contacted via 094 902 5657 This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. It may not have felt like it for those watching the closing stages of Sligo Rovers FAI Cup defeat at the hands of Kerry FC in Queen Maeve Square but there is a feelgood factor in Sligo these days that is hard to avoid. Whether walking through the centre of the town, escaping to one of our stunning beaches or being at one with nature on top of a mountain, The Land of Hearts Desire has enjoyed a bounce in popularity in recent times. The man helping to oversee much of that positivity is Sligo County Chief Executive Martin Lydon. He previously spent 13 years working as a Director of Services in Roscommon but even before taking up his current role a little over four years ago he had some experience of life in Sligo as he worked as the local authoritys accountant between 2005 and 2008. On a particularly wet and wild September afternoon Mr Lydon spoke as passionately about his adopted county as any Sligonian as he referenced Queen Maeve Square and Neolithic tombs, greenways and railways. Looking back on his time in Sligo to date Martin joked his first stint saw him stuck with his head in a spreadsheet for much of his time but the last four years in his role as Chief Executive have been considerably different. It was good when I came back, when I got the job because one of the first things I did was I met councillors on their own patch and was able to find out what kind of things were of interest to them and what issues were burning and what they would like to see addressed. This was normal stuff to do with roads, improved infrastructure but then it was also looking at capital investment, for example in some of the leisure activities and tourist facilities that we make available to people. "People wanted graveyard issues addressed. It was a mixture of different things, the councillors, what they are looking for and quite rightly, is good service from their local authority. With every councillor having their own concerns determining what may be the most pressing issues of the day could present challenges but Mr Lydon insists that is all part of the job. "It can be difficult to prioritise but I suppose the way I look at it is the councillors are our board of directors. You have been to our monthly meetings, we are there to be cross examined to a certain extent as to what we are doing and not doing. "You can only really work if you have got funding available, if the funding is available then you can deliver. Another challenge is that we have been near full employment recently so recruitment has been difficult. Yes there are challenges, because you are trying to redirect resources as you see fit but that is part of the job and that is what you have to do. We deliver 1,100 different services so there is always going to be a pull and a stretch and demand for different services. One such challenge was the realisation of the Queen Maeve Square project, something that the Chief Executive feels will benefit the people of Sligo for generations to come. "I remember when I first turned up here at Queen Maeve Square, we actually had to go to tender three times for that project. It was a case of are we going to do it, are we not going to do it. We decided we would do it and I think it is a great asset to the town, a great addition to the town. "Anyone that I hear that comes to the town, they always remark on Queen Maeve Square. I dont know if it is because we are living in a social media age but people seem to want instant success or instant soup as I call it and to me Queen Maeve Square has been put there for the next 20, 30, 40 years to deliver for Sligo and put events on. "It has only just started and we are all learning and it will take time but I have no doubt it will be that asset we all want it to be. Everybody talks about it and says its about tourism but for me that square is for the people of Sligo. We live in one of the safest if not the safest county in the country and to me it is a nice, safe space to meet and mix. While Queen Maeve Square has received almost universal praise, the issue of making it compatible with the Irish climate is one that has been raised on numerous occasions and it is one the Council have been proactive in addressing. "This is where the relationships we have with the likes of Sligo BID are very important, Mr Lydon explained. We have put in the infrastructure underneath the ground for us to be able to put up canopies, the infrastructure is there. The beauty of having that relationship with BID is that allows them to go and seek funding that the council cant necessarily bid for so it opens up two avenues to go and attack the same problem. "We are in discussions and we are looking at it but it is making sure you get the right canopy because you dont want it up all the time and you want to have something as basic as storage for it. These are the things you have to think about. People come out and say you could do this or you could do that and I am not arguing with you, it is quite simple but what do you do when you want to take it down? We are working on that. While delivering for the people of Sligo is arguably his main priority, it is also of real importance to deliver for visitors to the county and to deliver more visitors to the county. "We have an outstanding product, Failte Ireland has acknowledged that now and has started putting quite a lot of money into Sligo. Yes, we do want more tourists coming here but if you actually speak to Failte Ireland, if you go to the Cliffs of Moher, as much as you say Galway is doing well, the south of the country is doing brilliantly on the Wild Atlantic Way and nowhere to the north of that is delivering to the potential that it could be but there are now moves afoot to work on addressing that with marketing campaigns and everything else. I have met people through that Destination Experience Development Plan and the tourism industry, they are really good people. We had Minister Kevin Boxer Moran with us last week and he is right, unless you collaborate and work together you cant achieve it, so that is what we are going to keep pushing and I know everybody is on the same page to do that. That said, I think Sligo is starting to get recognised as that place that people should come to because of what we have on offer mountains, oceans, lakes, the town and then other elements to do with music, arts and culture. There is so much there and I think now we are just starting to hone in on it because we have our strategies to do that. When asked what he feels the visitor experience is like for those who choose Sligo as a holiday destination, Mr Lydon was again very positive, remarking, It might be people trying to plamas me but I can only go on what people actually say to me when I meet them. We should always strive to do better but anyone I meet tells me the place looked good, the place looked clean, we had some fantastic meals and they enjoyed themselves and what better barometer do you need than that? I think we can always go down into the negative side of things but I think its better to have a glass half full approach than half empty. The issue of public transport has been a contentious in this region for many years but Mr Lydon was in full agreement that while not yet a perfect service, the Local Link bus network has been a huge boost for the entire county. "The Local Link has been an amazing addition. It helps in every little way even with the night time economy. I know there are more routes that we would like and hopefully we can get there but it has been a massive addition, especially to rural Sligo because we are the County Council, not only the town council so it is in all our benefits to have as much access as possible. It comes down to quality of life issues as well. We know what damage Covid did and anything that can remove rural isolation can only be a positive, he remarked. While the bus network has improved considerably there remains room for considerable improvement with regard rail and road. Mr Lydon remains adamant that a desire for a railway should not mean a greenway is no longer viable as he strongly believes both projects are needed. He also reiterated his confidence that the N17 will receive the required upgrade. If you take the strategic rail corridor, as the executive we have little impact on that because that is down to Irish Rail. The strategic Rail Review is very clear, it is going to Claremorris and after that it is very quiet from Claremorris through to Collooney. There is an argument that if you have the railway you cant have the greenway, if you build the greenway you cant have the railway, I dont sign up to that. "I think it is imperative on everybody to be wanting both and putting a case forward for wanting both. Then it comes down to cost benefit analysis and you have accountants and economists making decisions but we need to be clear that we want both types of infrastructure. In relation to the N17 from Knock to Collooney, that is definitely going to happen. Myself and the Cathaoirleach met with Minister Darragh OBrien and he categorically said it was in the National Development Plan so it is going to happen. There has been a lot of false starts. There was a couple of years of will it or wont it but there was a lot of work done in the background to make sure it stayed on the agenda and I am pleased to say that it is taking in the whole route because it was going to leave out the most dangerous elements of it from just past Ballinacarrow to Tubbercurry but that is back in now. "It brings certainty to everybody I think. We are doing our best working with the local politicians to improve all our roads infrastructure because I think what people dont realise is it is all part of the offering of a county, if you havent got good roads and infrastructure you are going nowhere. As is the case all over the country the demand for housing is constant and Mr Lydon is currently overseeing a project that will have seen 500 new social homes built by the end of next year. Waiting lists have remained fairly static but that is not to say that homelessness is not an issue. I wouldnt want people to think that man is living in some sort of an ivory tower, there is homelessness issues and our list is of a certain size but we aim by the end of 2026 to have delivered in the region of 500 brand new social houses, the time period for that was 2022-2026. "The Minister and the Department will give us more targets and we will look to deliver on that as well. It is probably likely that by the end of 2030, if you took the whole period in, Sligo will have been involved in, either by the purchase of turn keys, building our own houses by using contractors, you are probably going to be in the region of 750 new social houses across the board. "That is all based on Government funding, the economy holding up over the next number of years. We are a growing population, an increase of nearly a million people in 10 years. That brings pressure on services, there is no doubt that we will need to continue to get houses constructed. With four years under his belt in his role there is plenty to look back on with pride but there are also many projects that he would like to see come to fruition with a new museum, library, the Eastern Garavogue bridge and development of the harbour area all areas that would leave a lasting legacy for the county. "I really want the public realm projects to be delivered in the centre of town. I want us to do a new museum and library in the town because I think we are crying out for a new museum and library and we are looking to do that under the City Campus project, the masterplan of which is being developed. You look at what we have got here, I said Yeats already, theres the neolithic side of things, theres the Spanish Armada, Westlife, look how popular they are around the world and now they are being put on a stamp. The Eastern Garavogue bridge was first spoken about in 1948 or 1949 so I think it's time we delivered on that as well, as long as we get the Government funding. Were really proud of what we have done in Cleveragh and if anything we are looking to enhance it. The masterplan for the harbour will be launched very soon and I think there is immense potential. The harbour is part of the town, if we could develop that, I think that changes the way Sligo is. "It's an amazing thing that we can achieve there, if we want to. This is not a council project, its more a case of do the people of Sligo want that change? There is housing you could put down there, a hotel, there is a real opportunity to make that part of the town rather than allowing that road to separate and feeling that it is separate to the town. Looking for ways to improve and lessons to learn can be got what your neighbours are doing with Mr Lydon commenting, I love Galway, but I actually think we have a great opportunity in Sligo. We can learn from their mistakes and it is up to us to make sure we dont make the same mistakes. When I came back to Sligo four years ago, like I said I was stuck behind a desk. I eventually went out and met people and I looked around Sligo and I thought this is an amazing place. Were ready to go this time and I think thats because and I like to use the term Sligo Inc and that just means all the partners, all the stakeholders are geared to go and want to do it. "You are always going to have disagreements, you should have disagreements because otherwise you are not really testing yourself. Whenever we go and meet the Government Ministers or whoever it is, it is more of a collective now. Im not coming with my dimensions in terms of how I think something should go, we are all in one place, which is, we need to get it. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Meet the Wexford Monsignor who is retiring after 60 years The worry I have now is that so many people have lost faith As he steps away from a job he loves, Monsignor Denis Lennon reflects on working in Brazil, a changing church and the future Rt Rev Mgr Denis Lennon pictured outside Clonard Church on Thursday. Pic: Jim Campbell Cillian Boggan Wexford People Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 12:40 In the summer of 2017, Monsignor Denis Lennon was joined by his family, friends and clergy colleagues to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination as a priest. At a thanksgiving mass in Clonard Church, where Monsignor Lennon had been based since 1994, then Bishop of Ferns Denis Brennan joked that June 1967 was a big year for the Lennons. Four makers from Wicklow were among the 26 winners awarded at this year's DCCI Future Makers awards at Dublin's RDS. Future Makers is a platform to showcase the talent of the next generation of makers, designers, and craftspeople looking to take the step from training into enterprise. It is one of the largest prize-funded design and craft award programmes in Europe, with each winner receiving a mentoring package valued at 2,000 in addition to the award. In total, Future Makers offers an award fund of 25,000 and a mentoring package of 52,000 in expert guidance and support to the award recipients. Wicklows Desmond Kavanagh, a musical instrument maker won a studio support award worth 1,000 for his uilleann pipe making skills. He said: Its really uplifting to see the support that uilleann pipe making receives in modern Ireland. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Na Piobairi Uilleann and Ballyfermot South West Campus for running the incredible Ceoltoir course, where I learnt everything I know. Uilleann pipe making has been on the brink before, but its thanks to this kind of support that individuals like me can even imagine doing it as a profession. Daniel Connor Petrin, a Wicklow fashion design student at NCAD, and textile maker Emma Anakon, were winners of the 500 professional development award for the second year running, while another Wicklow textile maker, Rosannah Carter, was awarded 500 under the travel and training category, as she also was in 2024. Speaking at the awards, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland Mary Blanchfield said: The calibre of submissions this year was exceptionally high, reflecting the breadth of talent, creativity, and innovation within the sector. The award recipients demonstrate the vision, skill, and commitment that will ensure the continued strength and advancement of Irish craft and design both nationally and internationally." Artist and Future Makers awards judge Leah Capaldi commented: Irish craft isnt just about tradition - its a living, growing way of expressing who we are. The Future Makers Awards, run by Design & Crafts Council Ireland, helps keep that spirit alive. By backing students and emerging creatives from a wide field of disciplines, the programme makes sure Irish design stays fresh, bold, exciting and ready for the world." Actor supports voting in Latina community and #MeToo movement, writes Helen Brown We physically felt the heat, America Ferrera says, as she reflects on her experience filming The Lost Bus, a charred-knuckle ride of an action movie based on real-life acts of heroism which occurred during the most destructive wildfire in Californias history. Talking via Zoom from New York, the 41-year-old star of Ugly Betty and Barbie who appears in The Lost Bus opposite Matthew McConaughey explains that the films English director, Paul Greengrass, used gas burners on set to generate real flames so Matthew and I really got the feeling. Although, obviously, these were controlled fires; nothing close to how things would have felt in real life. Ignited by a poorly-maintained electricity transmission line, the so-called Camp Fire of November 2018 was spread at terrifying speed by high winds blowing through the canyons of Butte County, northern California. It raged for 17 days across 153,336 acres and through four communities, leading to the displacement of more than 50,000 people, 85 deaths and an estimated $16.5bn (14.6bn) in damage. America Ferrera. Photo: WireImage The Lost Bus fictionalises the true story of Kevin McKay, a school bus driver who evacuated 22 children from a local elementary school that was threatened by the fire, then spent the best part of six hours ferrying them through rapidly advancing flames, gridlocked traffic and thick black smoke to safety, 30 miles away. On board with McKay were teachers Abbie Davis (who isnt depicted in the film) and Mary Ludwig (on whom Ferreras character is based). As smoke began to fill the bus, McKay took off his shirt and ripped it into makeshift face-masks; Davis and Ludwig doused the scraps of fabric in water and showed the children how to wear them. In interviews, Ludwig and Davis have each said there were moments when they feared that nobody would survive that bus journey. We were both trying to keep each other from crying, Ludwig told CBS News at the time. And we just kind of held hands and we just said a prayer. What happens to a person when there is no more fighting, surviving, holding on In one of the films bleakest moments, Ferreras Mary considers letting the fumes send the children to sleep, so they would already be unconscious if the flames did overwhelm the bus. Ferrera closes her eyes as she recalls filming that scene, exploring a character reaching a place of complete surrender. What happens to a person when there is no more fighting, surviving, holding on when there is nowhere else to go but accept ones own mortality? That is a conversation I had with Mary. As with the 2013 film Captain Phillips, Greengrasss earlier recreation of the real-life hijacking of a US cargo ship by Somali pirates, the success of The Lost Bus depends on its ability to convince us that the fiction we are seeing is authentic. To prepare for filming, Ferrera says she and McConaughey spent many hours talking to Ludwig and McKay to understand what they were thinking and feeling on the day of the fateful bus ride. They did this incredible act of service, she explains, taking care of other peoples children in the middle of a disaster when they both had their own children out in the town and had to trust that other people would come to their kids aid. She points out that, to this day, neither driver nor teacher consider themselves heroes, but rather normal people doing their jobs. As Ferrera puts it, my Mary is not a character in Spandex and tights making these decisions in the knowledge that her superpowers would come through. In the years since, McKay has repeatedly stressed that while he was driving the children away from the fire, he was awed by the heroism of the firefighters heading in the opposite direction, straight into the heart of the inferno. Ludwig, a lifelong resident of the community, who had been teaching at that school for 20 years, was clear with Ferrera that when that morning she climbed the steps on to the bus with a driver shed never met before, she had no idea that shed end up in a Hollywood disaster movie. She was expecting it to be a 10-minute drop off, says Ferrera, not the most harrowing six hours of her life. In an interview with Time magazine, Greengrass said he and his co-writer Brad Ingelsby decided early on to shoot the fire as a predatory character in its own right like the shark in Jaws. Thats why I created those shots of the fire moving. So you felt its voracious appetite and then its insidious character at the end when they get trapped. Ferrera recalls this idea being discussed on set. There are times you are with the fire the way you might be with the monster in a horror film, she says. The characters are running from this uncontrollable monster. Ferrera got her big break at 18, in Real Women Have Curves (2002) and went on to win audiences hearts as Carmen in Ken Kwapiss coming-of-age drama The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005) and again as the lovably nerdy, braces-wearing heroine of ABC sitcom Ugly Betty (2006-2010). Although the series picked up several major awards, she points out there would not be another show led by a Latina actor on American TV for a further eight years; Ferrera remains the only Latina ever to win an Emmy in a lead category. I set out to be an artist, an actress, not to make a point Today, Ferrera is almost as well known for her activism as for her acting: with Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, she co-hosts She Se Puede, a digital lifestyle platform created to encourage voting within the Latina community. She has also been a prominent supporter of the #MeToo campaign and was the opening speaker for the Womens March on Washington in 2017. I set out to be an artist, an actress, not to make a point or represent people, she says. But it has become to her very clear how much those conversations were a part of what people saw in me. And I was very, very happy to speak about those things. She shrugs. A lot of the conversations Ive had to have since I was 17 years old are not why I went into the industry. Although Ferrera says she has lots of feelings around climate change and Donald Trumps Drill baby drill! position on fossil fuels in particular, she resists discussing it further. She will only note that wildfires seem to have become more and more an issue all over the world since The Lost Bus was shot. We all understand how relevant what happened in 2018 is today, she concludes. You cant deny that its man against nature now. The Lost Bus is in cinemas from September 19 and Apple TV+ from October 3 A drone attack blamed on Sudans paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces struck a mosque during prayers yesterday, killing at least 70 worshippers in the North Darfur region, aid workers and the Sudanese army said. The strike in the besieged city of El Fasher completely destroyed the mosque, and the death toll would likely go higher because bodies still were buried in the rubble, said a worker with the local aid group Emergency Response Rooms. The worker spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Israel expands Gaza City attack as Palestinians tell of nights of horror The IDF has been attacking two specific areas within the besieged enclave, leaving 33 dead Displaced Palestinians, forced to flee northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation that is bombarding the central Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters Edmund Blair and Ali Sawafta Reuters Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 06:31 Israels military said it had expanded operations in Gaza City yesterday and bombarded Hamas infrastructure, while displaced Palestinians traumatised by the advance said they had no means to flee. US president Donald Trump was said to be furious. Photo: PA US president Donald Trump fumed hes f**king me about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the IDF launched airstrikes on US ally Qatar earlier this month, according to a report. The US leader has remained firm in his support of Israels military action in Gaza but was said to be furious after Mr Netanyahu authorised strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, the Wall Street Journal reported. Three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace and remained there without permission for 12 minutes, the Estonian government has said. It is the third Russian incursion into Nato airspace in a fortnight after drones flew into both Poland and Romania, in moves condemned by the military alliance. Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Greek President Konstantinos Tassoulas in Athens, Greece, Sept. 19, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) ATHENS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Li Xi, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece on Saturday, reaffirming China's commitment to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. During his visit, Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, held talks with Greek President Konstantinos Tassoulas, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, and Kostas Skrekas, Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy Party. During his meeting with the Greek president, Li conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Tassoulas, saying that, under the strategic guidance of President Xi and the Greek leader, the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership has made significant progress. China is willing to work with Greece to uphold mutual respect and trust, strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and mutual learning, and promote win-win cooperation. Li said that China's development strengthens the force for world peace. Not long ago, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The events underscored the importance of remembering history, honoring martyrs, cherishing peace and forging a better future. He noted that President Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit. China is willing to work with Greece to implement the initiative and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Li introduced China's anti-corruption efforts, noting that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to the principles of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance, advancing the integrated approach of ensuring that officials do not dare to be corrupt, cannot be corrupt, and do not want to be corrupt. An unprecedented anti-corruption campaign has been carried out, successfully blazing a path of anti-corruption with Chinese characteristics. China is willing to exchange and cooperate with Greece on anti-corruption work. Tassoulas asked Li to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Greece and China have conducted mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect and trust, and have supported each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns. He added that China's commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance and the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping have sent a firm and powerful message to the world and are of great significance for maintaining world peace and stability. Greece is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in international and multilateral arenas, Tassoulas said. Corruption is a common enemy of humanity, and Greece admires the determination of the CPC to fight corruption and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this field. In talks with Kaklamanis, Li said that China is willing to work with Greece to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, to strengthen the two major bonds of mutually beneficial cooperation and civilizational exchanges, and to deepen exchanges at all levels and in various fields. Kaklamanis said that both Greece and China are ancient civilizations with great potential for practical cooperation. The Greek Parliament is willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogue with China's legislative body. While meeting with Hatzidakis, Li said that China is willing to enhance political mutual trust with Greece, deepen practical cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. He added that China-EU cooperation is an important driving force for world economic growth, and expressed hope that Greece would continue to play a constructive role in the development of China-EU relations. Hatzidakis said that projects like the Port of Piraeus have significantly promoted Greece's economic and social development. He stressed that Greece's doors are always open to China and welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest in Greece. Greece will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China principle. When meeting with Skrekas, Li said that the CPC is leading the people in comprehensively advancing Chinese modernization, and that China is willing to deepen exchanges on governance and party-building experience with the New Democracy Party, so as to better benefit the two peoples. Li introduced the CPC's comprehensive and strict governance, noting that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has incorporated strict governance into the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout. From the start, issues have been tackled by formulating and implementing the eight-point decision on improving party and government conduct, ensuring simultaneous emphasis on party integrity, conduct, and discipline, integrating the rectification of work styles with anti-corruption efforts, Li said. Through this revolutionary self-reform, the party has become stronger and won the heartfelt support of the people. Skrekas said that the New Democracy Party is optimistic about China's development prospects, values exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, and is willing to actively promote Greece-China friendship and contribute to maintaining world peace and addressing global challenges. Li also attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the China-Greece Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning Dialogue and visited the Port of Piraeus project during the visit. Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis in Athens, Greece, Sept. 18, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis in Athens, Greece, Sept. 18, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, meets with Kostas Skrekas, Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy Party, in Athens, Greece, Sept. 17, 2025. Li on Saturday concluded a four-day official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of the New Democracy party of Greece. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Yogi Adityanath emphasises on the need to ensure womens safety ( Image credit : CM Yogi Adityanath. | Credit: Government of UP ) Adityanath calls for surveillance of social media Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged the public to celebrate the upcoming festivals with joy and enthusiasm, while ensuring that safety isnt compromised. During a high-level meeting on September 19, he issued detailed guidelines to government and administrative officials to ensure that festivals are celebrated as smoothly as possible. He also stressed on the need to maintain cleanliness and law and order.Yogi Adityanath chaired a crucial meeting in Lucknow, on Friday, ahead of the upcoming festive season. In it, he highlighted the importance of Mission Shakti. The initiative aims to promote womens safety and dignity.The statewide rollout of Mission Shakti 5.0 is set to get underway on September 22, the first day of Sharadiya Navratri. It will continue for a month in a phased manner. Adityanath asked all concerned departments to be thorough with their preparations. A bike rally, headlined by women police personnel, will be organised across all districts on the evening of September 21. .The Anti-Romeo Squad will make its presence felt from September 22 onwards. The squad will hand out strict and harsh punishments to those who create a nuisance near girls schools or other sensitive locations.Adityanath also urged all women beat officers to play an active role in spreading awareness about womens safety in gram panchayats by informing people about government schemes. Additionally, he asked officials to identify women achievers under the Mission Shakti campaign at both state and district levels. He then asked officials to ensure top-notch coordination during upcoming occasions such as Pitru Visarjan, Sharadiya Navratri, Vijayadashami, Gandhi Jayanti, Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti, Agrasen Jayanti, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, Deepotsav, Diwali, and major celebrations such as Kashis Dev Deepawali and Chhath Mahaparv.The entire Uttar Pradesh administration, including police and civil authorities, must remain on round-the-clock alert. Local needs must be carefully addressed to ensure that every festival is celebrated in an atmosphere of harmony," he added.Adityanath also warned miscreants against creating any communal tension during what he described as a sensitive time.Adityanath attached special importance to the need to monitor social media activities during the festive season.He directed officials to take prompt and decisive action against those who try to mislead the public by creating fake accounts or spreading rumours. .He, however, also asked them to ensure that accurate information about genuine incidents are communicated promptly through social and digital platforms.The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates, Additional Director Generals of Police (Zones), Police Commissioners, Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General, and other senior officers. ( Image credit : BLACKPINKs Rose has come under scrutiny. Credit: Instagram|roses_are_rosie ) FYC campaigns already underway ( Image credit : BLACKPINK Rose with Bruno Mars. Credit: Instagram|roses_are_rosie ) Inside Rose's FYC box ( Image credit : Inside Rose's FYC box. Credit: X|@BuzzingPop ) Grammys rules for FYC promotions Promoting your work: Artists may send emails, mailings, social media posts, or website promotions about their eligible recordings. Artwork and descriptions: Campaigns may include project artwork and factual, brief descriptions of the music or creators. Project links: Direct links to the project or official Grammy resources are allowed. Free listings: Eligible releases can be listed on GRAMMY.com for the first round of voting. Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) September 19, 2025 What is forbidden: Using Grammy logos or trademarks Negative campaigning against other recordings Exaggerating achievements Sharing confidential information from entry lists or proprietary data Including personal pleas or references to the specific Grammy telecast Promoting other artists' work Controversy over streaming claims ( Image credit : BTS' album Map of the Soul: 7. Credit: BIGHIT MUSIC website ) When can the claim made by Rose become accurate? Fan and critic reactions And this is why they pay for these awards, ads views, playlisting, mediaplay.... Their only way to fill a song's CV to send with gifts to the voters. pic.twitter.com/akSW6GYkc5 ilna (Fan) (@sb_ilna) September 19, 2025 this is for song or album submissions that every artist makes to present their work to grammy voters. now notice how BTS never sent any gifts to the awards like Rose is doing... https://t.co/iucD4uund6pic.twitter.com/aZEHoVPt66 alyy (@ywhh07) September 19, 2025 this is the payola that kpop stans have been accusing bts of for yearsor the bribery that zayn was talking about years ago. don't be surprised if that girl gets the award. atlantic did the same thing with another artist last year. dont be surprised :) https://t.co/mrgLsoagZnpic.twitter.com/uGzcTljN6p (@amevvil) September 19, 2025 [] Rose presents false achievements in its recommendation box for Grammys. The record "Biggest Streaming debut by Any Korean Artist in the US in the Billboard 200" belongs to another Korean artist. pic.twitter.com/UQEoU68W13 KFlop Net (@KFloopNet) September 19, 2025 BLACKPINKs Rose is reportedly in an awkward position after breaching Grammy promotion rules by using chart numbers, sales figures, and a misleading achievement in her FYC campaign, violating the Communications Cannot guideline https://t.co/mAiCE5LVnkpic.twitter.com/IRMFXvaOhV ra (@Tanideull) September 19, 2025 Grammy prohibits mentioning commercial success in booklets. Also gifts as in concert tickets/ merch items are prohibited too. In a perfect world this girl should be disqualified. https://t.co/h7UIy3iCrN Butterfly (@btsontiktok) September 19, 2025 The 68th Grammy Awards are just months away, but the buzz around the upcoming ceremony has already begun - long before any official nominations are announced. However, it seems not all the buzz has been welcoming, as BLACKPINKs Rose has come under scrutiny over her controversial FYC campaign.Every year, artists submit their work for Grammy consideration. While official nominations won't be announced until November, the submission period has closed, and hints at potential contenders have already surfaced. Among them, BLACKPINK's Rose has made headlines by sending out her For Your Consideration (FYC) packages to Grammy voters.The Recording Academy allows these boxes to include complimentary copies of submitted music, alongside marketing materials. However, they must follow strict rules designed to ensure a fair and ethical voting process.Roses package reportedly contains a t-shirt and a promotional ad highlighting the achievements of her album APT. and the ad that boasts several streaming and sales milestones.The Recording Academy provides detailed guidelines for FYC campaigns:Rose's FYC ad has drawn criticism over one particular claim: that her album achieved the "biggest streaming debut" for a Korean artist in the U.S. According to Billboard, APT. debuted with 31,000 SEA (streaming equivalent albums), calculated from 43.85 million on-demand streams.However, BTS has multiple albums that surpassed this debut figure. Their album BE recorded 30,000 SEA (48.56 million streams), Proof had 36,000 SEA (52.84 million streams), and Map of the Soul: 7 tallied 48,000 SEA (74.79 million streams). Even removing Proof as an anthology and BE for lower SEA, Map of the Soul: 7 still exceeds Rose's totals.Some argue that if the claim is considered specifically for solo artist albums, it holds true. For instance, BTS' Jungkook debuted his solo album Golden with 29,800 SEA (41.59 million streams), slightly lower than Rose's totals. Additionally, if "debut" is defined as a first chartable release, the statement could also be considered technically accurate.According to the Grammys, exaggerating or overstating "the merits of the music, an achievement, or an individual" is not allowed - this could pose a serious issue for Rose.The vague wording of Rose's claim has drawn intense scrutiny, with fans and industry insiders questioning the accuracy of her FYC ad. While technically defensible depending on interpretation, critics argue it exaggerates the album's accomplishments compared to other Korean artists, leading to widespread debate online.The controversy quickly spilled onto X (formerly known as Twitter), where many users demanded that the Grammys disqualify her. This outcry has been intensified by the fact that Atlantic Records Group, her label, is reportedly backing her FYC campaign. Critics argue that the involvement of a major label with significant influence raises questions about fairness and access to Grammy voters.It remains to be seen whether Rose will face consequences and be disqualified from Grammy nominations, or if the Recording Academy will overlook the criticism and still give her a nod. Did Queen Elizabeth II support Charlie Kirk's conservative movement? ( Image credit : Queen Elizabeth II reportedly showed interest in Charlie Kirks efforts to engage younger generations through Turning Point UK (Credit: X/@NicholasLissack) ) NEWS: Queen Elizabeth II was interested in Charlie Kirks efforts to establish a conservative youth movement with Turning Point UK. Businessman John Mappin, one of the original financial backers of Turning Point UK, has revealed the late Queen loved the idea that Charlie was pic.twitter.com/pVa6eKkarq Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) September 20, 2025 How did Charlie Kirk die? ( Image credit : Charlie Kirk was shot during a live event at Utah Valley University, sparking a massive social media war (Credit: X/@RonaldAiden56) ) Legacy and influence of Turning Point UK ( Image credit : Emergency services quickly arrived, but Kirk was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital (Credit: X/@thedebralea) ) Queen Elizabeth II reportedly showed interest in Charlie Kirks efforts to engage younger generations through Turning Point UK, the British arm of his American conservative youth organisation. Sources claim the late monarch admired Kirks dedication to Christian values and his mission to bring young people back to the Church.Charlie Kirk, a controversial conservative commentator, became a high-profile figure in both the US and UK, drawing praise from some and criticism from others. Tragically, Kirk was shot during an open-air event at Utah Valley University, highlighting the risks he faced as a polarising public figure.Reports from businessman John Mappin and, an early backer of Turning Point UK, suggest Queen Elizabeth II was encouraging and supportive of Kirks mission. As head of the Church of England, she reportedly valued his efforts to remind young people of Christian teachings.She appreciated his faith-driven approach and admired his sincere commitment to spreading religious values among the youth. Mappin recalls that the Queen loved the idea that Charlie was bringing younger people back to the Church, showing her interest in the intersection of faith and activism within British society.Charlie Kirks life was cut short in a shocking incident at Utah Valley University on September 10. During an open-air event, Kirk was struck in the neck by a bullet. Videos of the shooting circulated online, prompting immediate concern among supporters and onlookers. Mappin described the initial shock of seeing the footage and the terrifying reality of the attack.The tragedy underscores the dangers faced by polarising figures, particularly those involved in high-profile political and religious activism. Kirks death has sparked discussions worldwide about security for public figures and the lasting impact of his conservative youth initiatives.The reported support of Queen Elizabeth II highlights the international recognition of Kirks efforts. Despite his untimely death, Turning Point UK continues to influence discussions on youth involvement in politics, the role of faith in activism, and the growing interest of British society in shaping future generations through conservative and religious guidance. ( Image credit : US President Donald Trump has imposed a $100, 000 fee on H-1B visa | Credit: X|@SaveAmericaNew ) Project firewall and enforcement measures The days of employers abusing H-1B Visas are over. Introducing PROJECT FIREWALLour plan to ensure high-skilled jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST pic.twitter.com/XPwBJSZfto U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) September 19, 2025 Trump's proclamation and $100,000 fee ( Image credit : Tech companies advise workers to return. Credit: Freepik ) Tech companies advise workers to return Indian workers caught in uncertainty ( Image credit : Indian workers caught in uncertainty. Credit: Freepik ) Political debate over H-1B visas The H-1B visa program, long used by US companies to hire skilled foreign workers, is facing its toughest changes in years. President Donald Trump has imposed a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications while the Department of Labor has launched Project Firewall, aimed at curbing alleged abuses of the system. The developments have left Indian workers, who form the majority of H-1B holders, facing new uncertainty.US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced Project Firewall, calling it a measure to protect American jobs and wages. The initiative gives the Department of Labor the power to directly investigate violations, impose monetary penalties, and even exclude employers from the visa program. The Office of Immigration Policy, Employment and Training Administration, and Wage and Hour Division will coordinate the effort, supported by the Department of Justice, the EEOC, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services.Chavez-DeRemer said the project aims to ensure that highly skilled jobs are first offered to Americans. Employers found misusing H-1B visas could face significant consequences.President Trump declared that companies must now pay $100,000 for every H-1B visa application. The rule, effective September 21 for 12 months, targets what Trump described as "systemic abuse" of the visa system, especially by outsourcing firms. He called misuse of the program a national security risk, arguing it undercut American graduates seeking IT jobs.The proclamation stated that visas would not be processed without the fee, a move expected to deter employers from hiring foreign talent. With Indians making up more than 70% of H-1B holders, the change is likely to affect them the most. Immigration lawyer Sophie Alcorn warned that while many Indians may not be forced to leave immediately, job mobility and renewals could become costlier.Major tech employers have already reacted. Microsoft advised all H-1B and H-4 visa holders to return to the US before the September 21 deadline. Amazon told its employees abroad to come back by the same time, while Meta asked workers to stay in the US for at least 14 days to assess the rules impact. JPMorgan issued a similar advisory, strongly recommending that H-1B holders avoid international travel.The companies highlighted that uncertainty around the new fee and its enforcement makes it risky for employees to remain abroad.For Indian tech professionals, who form the largest share of H-1B holders, the fee increase and stricter oversight pose significant challenges. Some worry about long-term stability in the US job market, while others remain unsure whether Trumps proclamation will withstand legal scrutiny. One Indian technologist on an H-1B visa told HT that the situation is unclear and could end up in courts.Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has criticized the move, calling it a reckless attempt to shut out high-skilled workers who have historically strengthened the American workforce.The H-1B program, created in 1990, has always been politically contentious. Vice President JD Vance has questioned why firms seek thousands of foreign workers while laying off American staff. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow has emphasized that the visa should supplement, not replace, the US workforce.While Trump himself has defended the program in the past, this fee hike and Project Firewall show a clear shift toward stricter regulation. Conservative voices within his coalition, including Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer, continue to oppose the program altogether. Kerala lottery result today, September 20, 2025 OUT: Kerala KARUNYA KR-724 winning numbers, September 20, 2025 1st Prize: Rs. 1 CRORE: TBU 2nd Prize: Rs. 30,00,000: TBU 3rd Prize: Rs. 5 LAKH: TBU Consolation Prize: Rs. 5,000: TBU 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000: TBU 5th Prize: Rs. 2000: TBU 6th Prize : Rs 1,000: TBU 7th Prize : Rs 500: TBU 8th Prize : Rs 200: TBU 9th Prize : Rs 100: TBU How to claim your Kerala lottery prize for September 20, 2025? The original signed winning ticket in good condition, A filled claim form, Two passport-sized photos attested by a Gazetted Officer or Notary, Self-attested photocopy of your PAN card, An identity proof such as Aadhaar card or voter ID. kerala lottery result today live 3 pm: Upcoming Kerala lottery draws Thiruvonam Bumper BR-105 (September 27, 2025) Monsoon Bumper (July 23, 2025) [upcoming in yearly cycle] Samrudhi Lottery (Sunday) Bhagyathara Lottery (Monday) Sthree Sakthi Lottery (Tuesday) Dhanalekshmi Lottery (Wednesday) Karunya Plus Lottery (Thursday) Suvarna Keralam Lottery (Friday) Karunya Lottery (Saturday) kerala lottery result today live: What time are KARUNYA KR-724 results published? FAQs The Kerala lottery result for today, September 20, 2025, is out for the highly anticipated KARUNYA KR-724 Saturday bumper lucky draw. The draw took place at 3 PM at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. With a grand first prize of 1 crore, along with second and third prizes of 25 lakh and 10 lakh respectively, this bumper event has brought excitement to lottery enthusiasts across Kerala.Participants can now check the winning numbers and see if they have won one of the coveted prizes. The Kerala State Lottery Department advises winners to verify their tickets carefully and follow the claim procedures within the stipulated time to avail their prizes.The winning numbers for the KARUNYA KR-724 draw for September 20, 2025 include:To claim your Kerala lottery prize for the draw held on September 20, 2025 (KARUNYA KR-724), winners should follow these steps:1. Verify the winning numbers on the official Kerala Lottery website or trusted sources.2. Sign your winning ticket on the reverse side with your name and address to prevent misuse.3. For prizes up to 1 lakh, claim the prize at the concerned District Lottery Office by submitting the original signed ticket along with a valid ID.4. For prizes above 1 lakh, submit the ticket and documents to the Director of State Lotteries, Kerala.5. Required documents generally include:6. Prize-winning tickets must be surrendered within 30 days of the draw.7. Prize money above 10,000 will have a 30% income tax deducted as per government rules.8. Smaller prizes (up to 5,000) can be claimed directly from authorized lottery agents.9. If the prize is more than 10 lakh, claim approval and payment are processed by the Finance Department after verification.10. Winners can also claim their prize through nationalized or scheduled banks by submitting the necessary documents along with the ticket.The upcoming Kerala lottery draws after September 20, 2025, are:These daily lotteries continue weekly, with special bumper lotteries held seasonally like the Onam and Monsoon bumpers.The KARUNYA KR-724 Kerala lottery results for September 20, 2025, are published live starting at 3 PM IST. The draw is held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, and live results become available from 3 PM, with the official detailed results typically published around 4:30 PM.Q1. What is the Kerala lottery result announced today, September 20, 2025?A: Todays result is for the Karunya KR-724 lottery draw, one of Keralas weekly lottery schemes.Q2. What time are the Karunya KR-724 results declared?A: The live results start from 3 PM IST, and the full official prize list is usually published around 4:30 PM.Q3. Where is the Kerala lottery draw conducted?A: The draw takes place at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction, Thiruvananthapuram, under strict supervision.Q4. How can I check the Kerala Karunya KR-724 results?A: You can check the results on the official Kerala lottery website, in the Kerala Government Gazette, or at authorized lottery outlets.Q5. What types of prizes are offered in the Karunya KR-724 lottery?A: The draw offers a grand first prize worth crores, along with multiple second, third, and lower-tier prizes, making it one of the most popular Kerala lotteries.Disclaimer: The above mentioned data is based on information available from official online sources. We do not endorse or promote any lottery or Teer games. Please play responsibly and verify results through official channels.For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events Mohanlals extraordinary cinematic journey ( Image credit : The actor has previously won five National Film Awards, including two for Best Actor (Credit: X/@AbGeorge_) ) On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri. Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Mohanlals remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The pic.twitter.com/n1L9t5WQuP Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) September 20, 2025 A legacy of iconic performances ( Image credit : From blockbuster hits to critically acclaimed performances, Mohanlal has consistently pushed the boundaries of storytelling (Credit: X/@gokul_narrates) ) Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, https://t.co/4MWI1oFJsJpic.twitter.com/P0DkKg1FWL Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2025 About the Dadasaheb Phalke Award ( Image credit : The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is presented annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Indian cinema (Credit: X/@gokul_narrates) ) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023. Considered the highest recognition in Indian cinema, the award celebrates his incredible four-decade-long career that has inspired millions of fans across the world. The actor will officially receive the honour during the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on 23 September 2025.Mohanlal, fondly known as Lalettan, has been a beloved figure in Indian cinema, known for his natural style of acting and unmatched versatility. From intense dramas and historical epics to lighthearted comedies and powerful action roles, he has brought more than 350 characters to life over the years.Mohanlals journey began in the late 1970s, and over the years, he has become a household name not only in Kerala but also across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi cinema. His ability to adapt to different roles with ease has earned him praise from both audiences and critics.The actor has previously won five National Film Awards, including two for Best Actor. He has also been honoured with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Indias fourth and third-highest civilian awards, respectively, for his contribution to the arts. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated Mohanlal, saying his work has celebrated Indias culture and inspired creativity across generations.From blockbuster hits to critically acclaimed performances, Mohanlal has consistently pushed the boundaries of storytelling in Indian cinema. His effortless blend of intensity and subtlety has allowed him to connect with audiences on a deeper level.Whether playing historical warriors, complex villains, or relatable everyday characters, Mohanlals performances have left a lasting impression. His contribution extends beyond acting, as he has also worked as a director and producer, shaping the future of Indian cinema.The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is presented annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. Mohanlal will be the 53rd recipient of this prestigious honour.Last year, veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty was recognised with the award for his lifetime achievements in cinema. Mohanlals selection continues the tradition of celebrating artists who have shaped the Indian film industry with their talent and dedication. October school holidays list: Why October 2025 is Packed with School Holidays October 2025 School holidays list: Date Holiday October 1 Ram Navami October 2 Dussehra/Vijay Dashami/Gandhi Jayanti October 7 Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti October 18 Dhanteras October 20 Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) October 21 Diwali (main festival) October 22 Govardhan Puja October 23 Bhai Dooj October 27 Chhath Puja October 28 Chhath Puja Note for Parents & Students: Always check your schools official circular, as holiday dates may vary depending on regional customs, state government orders, or unforeseen changes like weather alerts. Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti - Double holiday on 2nd October Mahanavami Gandhi Jayanti Mahatma Gandhis Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti - October 7, 2025 Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti Ramayana Diwali Week - The Longest School Holidays in October October holidays in 2025 Diwali week October 18 - Dhanteras, October 20 - Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali), October 21 - Diwali, October 22 - Govardhan Puja, October 23 - Bhai Dooj Chhath Puja - October 27 to 28, 2025 October Holidays 2025 FAQs on School Holidays in October 2025 Q. How many school holidays are there in October 2025? Q. Will schools be closed nationwide for all October holidays? Q. Which is the longest school holiday in October 2025? October 2025 promises to be one of the most exciting months for students, as schools and colleges across India will remain closed for several major festivals. The long list of school holidays in October will give children the chance to celebrate traditions, travel with family, and enjoy a well-deserved break from studies. From Gandhi Jayanti to Diwali and Chhath Puja, the October holidays are filled with cultural significance.The month of October is always special in India, but in 2025, it becomes even more festive. Almost every week is lined up with public and religious events that lead to school closures. For parents and students alike, this means extra time for festivals, family gatherings, and short trips during the October holidays.The holiday season kicks off withon October 1, 2025. The very next day, 2 October, marks a rare double holiday. Schools will remain closed for Dussehra, celebrating the victory of good over evil, and for, honouringbirth anniversary. This extended break at the start of the month sets the tone for the festive season ahead.On October 7, schools and colleges will remain closed for. Valmiki, the sage credited with writing the, is remembered on this day with prayers and processions. Students get the opportunity to learn more about Indias literary and spiritual heritage during this October holiday.The highlight of thewill undoubtedly be, when schools remain shut for nearly a full week. The celebrations start with:During this time, students will enjoy one of the longest festive breaks of the year. Families prepare homes, exchange gifts, light diyas, and enjoy traditional feasts. These school holidays in October will be perfect for children to take part in cultural activities and spend time with loved ones.The festive season concludes with Chhath Puja on October 27-28, 2025, observed mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern parts of India. Schools in these regions will remain closed for two days as people worship the Sun God with traditional rituals performed near rivers and ponds.From Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti at the beginning of the month to Chhath Puja at the end, October 2025 is filled with significant events. The school holidays in October not only provide students with much-needed rest but also highlight Indias cultural diversity. Families can use these October holidays for travel, festive shopping, or simply enjoying quality time together.There are several holidays, including Dussehra, Gandhi Jayanti, Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, Diwali week (five days), and Chhath Puja.Most holidays like Gandhi Jayanti and Diwali are nationwide, but regional festivals like Chhath Puja apply mainly to states such as Bihar and Jharkhand.The Diwali week, from October 18 to 23, gives students the longest festive break of the month. Yogi Adityanath bats for adopting technology ( Image credit : UP CM Yogi Adityanath. | Credit: UP government ) Yogi Adityanath lauds PM Modi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday (September 19), launched former MP Ramesh Chandra Tomars book Viksit Bharat Viskit Uttar Pradesh at an event in Ghaziabad. Speaking at the event, he urged the youth to embrace Artificial Intelligence and digital technologyYogi Adityanath spelled out the importance of adopting technology in todays day and age at an event organised on September 19 as part of Seva Pakhwada, which started on Sept 17 to mark PM Narendra Modis 75th birthday. He said that AI can be a game-changer across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and technology.Just as computers opened new possibilities, AI will also provide new directions in agriculture, education and healthcare. If farmers adopt technology, their productivity could increase threefold," he said.Adityanath added that technology does not take away jobs. It, in fact, creates new opportunities.Yogi Adityanath went on to laud PM Modi and said that, under his guidance, India emerged as the world's fourth-largest economy and would soon occupy the third position. This, he added, aligned with his vision of Viksit Bharat. He further highlighted that UP too was set to become vikisit,The states GDP was Rs 12.75 lakh crore in 2016-17 and the Yogi government aims to reach Rs 36 lakh crore by 2025-26.Adityanath then gave a shout-out to UPs youth, farmers, women, and entrepreneurs for being the pillars of its growth. He also asked them to give suggestions for the Viksit UP-2047 Vision Document on the Samarth UP portaHe said that the three best suggestions from each district will be honoured at the district level, and the five best suggestions will be recognised at the state level.He also referred to the PM's Panch Pran' and asked Indians to shun colonial mindset and be proud of their identity. He also brought up the story of the Lion and the Jackal and urged people to stop considering foreigners to be superior. He ended with a strong message for the youth of UP and said that the state will soon become the countrys top economy. Yogi Adityanath urges the youth to read more books ( Image credit : UP CM Yogi Adityanath. | Credit: Government of UP ) Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to Maharishi Valmiki and Tulsidas Ji Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday (September 20), inaugurated the fourth edition of the Gomti Book Festival at Lucknow University. He then interacted with children and highlighted the need to introduce them to books as early as possible. Adityanath also gifted books to schoolgirls and Anganwadi workers on the special occasion.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the fourth Gomti Book Festival at Lucknow University earlier today and urged the youth to spend less time on smartphones and dedicate at least one hour a day to reading knowledge-enhancing books."For the next nine days, the book fair will run at Lucknow University, where visitors will experience a grand confluence of knowledge and literature. A good book becomes a worthy guide, always illuminating the path of our life and helping us move forward," he said.Adityanth went on to highlight that in our tradition, sages like Yajnavalkya encouraged society to tread on the path of knowledge. He referred to the episode of Rishi Yajnavalkya and his wives Katyayani and Maitreyi and emphasised that the pursuit of knowledge should be ones supreme goal in life.He also presented children with the PM Modi-written Exam Warriors and said that reading it carefully can make it easier for one to find success in examinations.Adityanath further urged students to read good books while concentrating on their academics. He then cited the works Maharishi Valmiki and Tulsidas Ji and said that original creations are not only timeless but also make their creators immortalMinister Yogendra Upadhyay, Government Advisor Awanish Awasthi, National Book Trust Chairman Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Lucknow University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Manuka Khanna, noted author, filmmaker, and historian Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, and NBT Director Yuvraj Malik were among those in attendance at the event.The Gomti Book Festival will take place between September 20 and September 28. CARACAS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela on Friday called on the United Nations Security Council to demand an immediate halt to U.S. military operations in the Caribbean. In a post on the social platform Telegram, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil shared a video of a related speech at the UN by Venezuela's permanent representative Alexander Yanez, saying the appeal was made on behalf of President Nicolas Maduro. In the video, Yanez told the Security Council that his country has been the target of "systemic harassment" by Washington, including smear campaigns, unilateral sanctions and a rejection of Venezuelan institutions. He warned that the situation has escalated into a "more dangerous" phase with U.S. naval, air and ground deployments in the Caribbean, including sending a nuclear submarine, which he said violates the UN Charter. Yanez also pointed to U.S. reports of "extrajudicial executions in the Caribbean." Venezuela urged the UN system to condemn the U.S. moves, which it said threaten stability in both the South American country and the wider region. YANGON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has been displaying local products with 120 booths at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), which is being held from Sept. 17 to 21 in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday. The booths showcase high-quality gems and jewelry, clothes, local and natural products, traditional products and handicrafts, the report said, citing U Myo Thant, joint general secretary of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). Myanmar's products are selling well. The expo will create great opportunities for Myanmar business entities, he said. The country is also promoting Myitkyina, the capital city of northern Myanmar's Kachin state, as the city of charm at the expo, the report said. Girls Like Horror stickers and postcards were available at Girls Like Horror mixer at the Human Robot Bar (next to the Hiway Theater) in Jenkintown on August 29, 2025. Read more When Christina Acevedo moved to Philadelphia from Los Angeles in 2022, she hoped to find community in horror movies and the citys many cinemas. But whenever she went to a film screening, she found herself surrounded mostly by men. It was actually a very isolating experience. But I knew there had to be other women who loved horror films as much as I did, she said. Advertisement So Acevedo, a filmmaker who has adored horror since childhood and even directed her own body-horror short, The Pointy Slippers (a surreal meditation on uncomfortable shoes), launched Girls Like Horror in October 2024 in a bid to shatter the myth that horror is a male-dominated space. Why launch the club? I wanted to see movies with my people the people who are of the same energy, who like the same films as me, and especially women, the Center City resident said. The clubs ethos is simple: Watch films directed by women or with compelling female protagonists, then gather afterward to process them together. The only requirement for membership is a passion or curiosity for horror through the eyes of girls. All genders are welcome just bring your love, and that quest for the thrills and chills! said Acevedo. The groups first outing was intimate. About 15 friends gathered to see The Substance at the Philadelphia Film Society. From there, Girls Like Horror tapped into Philadelphias rich horror film programming by microcinema pop-ups like Space Melt and Heavy Cycle. Its Valentines Day screening of Andrzej Zuawskis Possession filled 450 seats at PFS. The accompanying mixer featured disposable cameras from PhotoLounge, a DIY Final Girls Valentines card-making station from the local zine MovieJawn, and a photo backdrop for fans to capture the night. Last December, a Nosferatu screening packed 250 people into a theater, followed by an after-party so crowded that the entire upstairs of Glory Bar was full, with a line for drinks out the door, Acevedo said. The club has been received so well beyond what I could have ever imagined, she said. Ive made so many new friends because of this club, and Ive seen others make friends, too. Its really just happening organically because of our shared love for horror. Though movies are at its core, Girls Like Horror has branched out into themed mixers, cemetery tours, ballet outings, and more. Acevedo collaborates with partners like MovieJawn editor-in-chief Rosalie Kicks, who helps design crafts and activities, and local vendors like Soft Belly Cookies and Tapes From the Crypt, which sells VHS tapes. Mixers often include raffles, tarot readings, or coloring stations tied to a horror film. It is so rare to find a true partnership like this, says Kicks. We are not in competition or rivals we are two cinephiles that not only want to share their love of film but to do so in a welcoming and safe space. For members, these collaborations can be transformative. The first Girls Like Horror event I went to was their screening of Blood Rage at the Film Society last year, says Tory Talaga, 28, of Lower Moyamensing. It was awesome to join a community of people who are as passionate about horror as me! Talaga works at a local nonprofit cat adoption cafe called Get a Gato, which collaborated with Girls Like Horror on a horror-themed trivia event. The event, she said, sold out faster than any event they had had before in less than an hour. But why horror? Acevedo believes it is uniquely suited to reflect the anxieties of its time. Any great filmmaker, whether they know it or not, is making films that reflect the era theyre in, she said, citing George Romeros Night of the Living Dead, a 1968 classic where strangers barricade in a farmhouse as zombies close in. That film was a commentary on race and the media, even if Romero didnt intend it that way. Thats what horror does it becomes a mirror of our deepest fears and concerns, said Acevedo. Horror is a way for me to process my deepest fears around issues that exist in our world today, she explained. Psychological thrillers feel too real. Horror gives you just enough distance to engage with those fears. Horror has also long served as a mirror for gendered fears. Body horror channels anxieties about autonomy and reproductive rights (from Rosemarys Baby to Birth/Rebirth), while possession films dramatize the silencing of women through metaphors of madness or rage (Possession, Jennifers Body). Slashers give rise to the final girl, a symbol of resilience and survival, and more recent films like Revenge, The Invisible Man, and The Babadook reframe trauma and rage through surreal menace. For Acevedo, the monsters, demons, and haunted spaces often feel like metaphors for gaslighting, domestic expectations, and the double bind of femininity. Watching them on screen offers not only recognition but catharsis and she notes with excitement that many of the films she gravitates toward are directed by women. Last month, Girls Like Horror showed Pet Sematary at the Hiway Theater in Jenkintown. The choice was deliberate: Not only is it based on one of Stephen Kings most personal stories,it was directed by trailblazer Mary Lambert. She was one of the first women in major Hollywood to direct a horror film, which shattered the myth that horror was a mans territory, Acevedo noted. Plus, having a young girl as one of the leads was groundbreaking at the time. Producers didnt think a film could sell with a female child protagonist. She dreams of a permanent home for Girls Like Horror: Id love a retro space in Philly where people can hang, grab snacks, and watch films together a kind of community-run video store and screening house. Ultimately, Girls Like Horror is more than a film club its a refuge. Its just amazing to watch people come together and find each other through horror, Acevedo said. At the end of the day, thats what its all about. A microwave dish, installed on top of a farm silo, provides wireless internet service to nearby homes in rural Pennsylvania in this April 2022 photo. Read more Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for free newsletters at spotlight.org. HARRISBURG Pennsylvania will spend $793 million to bring high-speed internet to homes and businesses as part of a major federal initiative to connect even the most remote and rural areas of the United States. The investment will connect 130,000 locations across the commonwealth that still cannot access the internet at broadband speeds. Advertisement After federal officials announced sweeping changes to the massive program over the summer, critics feared those dollars would shift heavily toward low-Earth-orbit satellite internet providers. They argued that would shortchange rural residents and undermine a historic opportunity to ensure universal broadband access. Now, the results are in and those fears have been partly realized although in Pennsylvania the shift is not as dramatic as some predicted. Roughly two-thirds of eligible locations in the commonwealth will be connected to the internet via fiber-optic cables, while another 18% will be served by satellite providers, and 13% will receive wireless internet. Pennsylvania struck a relatively reasonable balance here, but the proof will be in the pudding once these get built, said Todd Eachus, president of the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania, a trade association. The mix of companies that won funding reflects the Trump administrations overhaul of the program, which was originally created as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress in 2021. Its the largest ever U.S. investment in broadband. Under former President Joe Biden, states were told to prioritize projects that would use fiber-optic cables the fastest and most reliable technology, but also the most expensive to install. The new rules, unveiled in June, give more weight to the projects with the lowest up-front costs, making the satellite internet service offered by companies like Elon Musks SpaceX and Amazons Project Kuiper more competitive. The results have varied widely across states. Some, including West Virginia and Louisiana, still want to fund fiber projects at more than 80% of eligible locations. Others have awarded larger chunks of their locations to satellite and wireless providers. Pennsylvania falls somewhere in the middle. Critics say using the program to fund satellite internet providers is shortsighted, since its not clear that those companies will be able to meet future demands for faster internet speeds as technology evolves. Pennsylvania broadband officials appeared to agree with this view, state records show. The infrastructure law says states should prioritize projects that can easily scale speeds over time and the state broadband authority didnt place any satellite projects in this category. Nonetheless, Amazons Project Kuiper which is not yet available to customers won the second-highest number of locations, behind established internet giant Comcast. Under Pennsylvanias plan, Project Kuiper will serve more than 18,000 locations including large swathes of Beaver, Greene, and Washington Counties and SpaceX will cover about 4,800. In a public comment on Pennsylvanias plan, one resident criticized the proposed awards to Project Kuiper because the service isnt even fully functional, calling it a step in the wrong direction just to ensure that internet for all is achieved on paper. The company has said it expects to begin delivering service to customers later this year. Labor unions also criticized the awards to satellite providers, arguing that neither SpaceX nor Project Kuiper builds local infrastructure, creates local jobs, or offers cost-effective long-term service compared to fiber broadband. In its comments, SpaceX urged the federal government to require Pennsylvania to rebid some locations, arguing that the state had not always chosen the cheapest option. The company used almost identical language to push back on proposed awards in Colorado and Wisconsin, and has also criticized Louisiana and Virginias plans on the grounds that both favored fiber internet over satellite. Whether satellite internet technology can consistently meet the programs minimum speed requirements is unclear. During the first three months of the year, only 17.4% of SpaceX users were consistently able to get speeds that meet the federal definition of broadband, according to an analysis by Ookla, a company that measures internet speeds. The analysis did note, however, that median upload and download speeds had increased significantly over the past several years. Adding more customers, other research has found, can create congestion that leads to slower speeds for existing users. If four out of five subscribers arent getting broadband speeds today, what do people think is going to happen when you add in hundreds of thousands of new users? said Sascha Meinrath, a professor at Penn State and coauthor of a recent study questioning whether SpaceX can meet the programs requirements. The problem gets far worse the more people you put onto the infrastructure. A SpaceX spokesperson told Spotlight PA via email that median download speeds, even during times of peak demand, exceeded the programs requirements as of July 2025. The company is focused on ensuring the overall quality of service for new and existing customers continually improves, the spokesperson said. Pennsylvanias plan must now be approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which has pledged to review states proposals within 90 days. The agency has warned that it could reject specific grant awards if it deems the cost excessive, and some reports indicate it has begun asking states to quickly rebid awards for those areas. The agency has not commented publicly on this process. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Dr. Dog are, from left to right, Eric Slick, Zach Miller, Scott McMicken, Toby Leaman and Frank McElroy. The Philly band will play two nights at the Philly Music Fest at Ardmore Music Hall on Oct. 13 and 14. Read more When the lineup for this years Philly Music Fest was announced in the spring, there was one gaping hole in the schedule. Plenty of worthy acts are among those initially announced, from Philly emo standouts the Wonder Years, to a solo set by Matt Quinn of Mt. Joy, to the Fests first ever metal night headlined by Horrendous. Advertisement But there was a TBA on the marquee for the PMFs first two nights at Ardmore Music Hall on Oct. 13-14. No headliner or opening acts were announced to begin the 2025 edition of the nonprofit Philly is our genre independent fest, which raises money for local music education organizations. Greg Seltzer, the PMF founder who is also a Ballard Spahr attorney, said in May that the headliner would be a Philly artist of long standing that he had been trying to book since the fests inception in 2017. Turns out, he said, the ninth year is the charm. READ MORE: Entertainment Music Philly Music Fest is back with a first-time metal night and a customary mystery guest Now it can be revealed: This years mystery headliner is Dr. Dog. The identity of the band led by Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman couldnt be announced until the band hit the stage for its biggest ever Philly show, opening for the Lumineers at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night. Dr. Dog announced in 2022 that it was giving up full-scale touring but has continued to do a handful of gigs each year. In 2024, Dr. Dog released a self-titled album and played a sold out show at the Mann Center in Fairmount Park. This year, the five-piece band, which also includes Frank McElroy, Zach Miller, and Eric Slick, made an annual stop at Red Rocks in Colorado and played a date at Forest Hills Stadium in New York in June. The quintet also has two shows scheduled at the Austin City Limits festival in October. READ MORE: Dr. Dog swore off touring in 2021, but is making an exception for a date at the Mann The PMF dates for which there will be no opening act will be significantly more intimate than those other concerts, reflecting the bands growth in popularity despite playing live less. Red Rocks holds 9,500, and Citizens Bank Park over 40,000. Ardmore Music Hall can fit 600. Tickets for the Ardmore show for subscribers to the Dr. Dog email list went on sale Monday; tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday on phillymusicfest.com. The Eagle and organ in the Wanamaker Building's Grand Court, the home of the holiday light show since 1956. Read more The lights are dark now. The 100,000 individual bulbs that sparkle and dance during the Wanamaker Light Show, and the paneled Santa and Sugarplum Fairies and snowflakes, are stowed away above Wanamakers Grand Court, in a tiny circuit room, known as Frosty Central. Advertisement The 154 branches of the shows towering tree hang in a storage room behind the Wanamaker Organ, an expanse known affectionately as the meat locker. And the cobbled streets of Dickens Village are dark and deserted, the animatronic characters that display scenes of Ebenezer Scrooges Christmas redemption, frozen in place and sheathed in plastics, like ghosts all themselves. Despite the sale of Macys earlier this year, the Light Show and Dickens Village, both beloved Philadelphia holiday attractions, will be broken out of their boxes and wrapping once more come Thanksgiving. And while news this summer that a fundraising effort would ensure that the shows endured for at least one more holiday season fell on many merry ears like the joyous Christmas morning shouts of Scrooge himself, a question remained: What is yet to come for the future of the Light Show? In July, the Philadelphia Visitor Center, in partnership with new Wanamaker Building owner TF Cornerstone pledged to raise $350,000 to bring both attractions back this winter and to begin to plan for their future care. The more we raise, the more hours it can be open. Kathryn Ott Lovell Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Visitor Center, and leader of the effort to Save the Light Show, said this week that with nearly 700 individual donors and gifts from philanthropic foundations, the group has reached enough of its goal to say definitively that the Light Show and Dickens Village will be produced this holiday season. And that both shows will remain free to the public. But with less than 100 days until Christmas, the fundraising continues, Lovell said. Were not sure how many days we can do it and how long each day, she said of the Light Show, last performed five times a day during the holiday season. The more we raise, the more hours it can be open. The more accessible it can be. But then theres next year and all the years after that and the challenge of perhaps having to find a new permanent home, and steady source of funding, for the cherished holiday attractions. Were set for 2025, Lovell said. The future is unknown. Whos looking out for the Light Show? Beginning in 1956, the Wanamaker Light Show has long been a cherished Philly holiday staple. For life-long Philadelphians, like Lovell, those holiday memories run deep. Nostalgia is a core, fundamental feature of us as Philadelphians, said Lovell, who first started attending the show, when her father, a supermarket employee from Mayfair, began bringing her family in the 1970s. And who kept bringing them back year after year even after he got robbed of his Christmas money on Market Street. It just symbolizes the holidays, said Lovell, who now brings her own daughters. We never miss the Light Show. So when word came in March that Macys was sold and that the organ and Grand Court were both protected as landmarks a question immediately occupied Lovell: Whos looking out for the Light Show? She quickly realized she was not alone in her concern. Brian Cawley, a visual director at Macys, who helped produce the show for years before the store was closed, quickly signed on. Cawley, 52, remembers coming to the Light Show as a child from Delaware and thinking he had walked into a palace. You really thought you were in the North Pole, said Cawley, who is also a card-carrying board member of the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ. It was magical. Nearly every day of his 12 years at the old department store, customers shared their memories of the Light Show, he said. This place was always more than a store, Cawley said, on a recent afternoon, touring the quiet streets of Dickens Village. Since its inception, the Grand Court has been a cultural crossroads and touchstone for the city of Philadelphia. Everyone was welcomed here. With other volunteers, the pair turned their attention to this Christmas. They found a receptive ear in Jake Elghanayan, senior vice president at TF Cornerstone, which is based in New York. I didnt know how central it is to the Philadelphia holiday experience, Elghanayan said. But he does now. When I try to explain it to other people, I say its the rough equivalent of [New Yorks] Macys Thanksgiving Parade. With renovation of the building slated to begin in February and expected to last two years, its likely the show will have to find a new home during that time. While helping to ready the building and providing operational support for this years show, Elghanayan said he is glad that a private group has stepped up to try to secure the shows future. Were a real estate company, so we dont exactly know how to operate a light show, he said. Where will it go? Small donations to save this years light show immediately poured in, Lovell said. (With the calendar getting thinner, the group is asking any potential donors to pledge the Christmas-y amount of $12.25, since every dollar helps.) So did the holiday memories. Robin Shreeves, 58, a freelance food and wine reporter from Haddonfield, first began going to Wanamaker Light Show as a child, when tickets were still sold for breakfast with Santa and the old monorail still ran along the ceiling of the toy floor. She donated, she said, because she hopes to keep bringing her full grown boys back each year. It represents magic to me, she said. And the holidays wouldnt be the same without it. Growing up in Trevose, Beth DErcole, 71, remembers riding the old Reading Railroad to her holiday show, when she was 6 along with the smell of chestnuts and hot pretzels on Market Street. She attends the Light Show each year with about a dozen family members, she said. You cant keep the people from the Light Show, she said. But the issue, Lovell said, is where can you put the Light Show? It immediately became clear to Lovell and Cawley just how big a challenge it may be to produce the Light Show which operates on suspended trusses and a digitized lighting and sound program and all 6,000-square-feet of Dickens Village, anywhere besides the Wanamaker Building. By this point, its practically built into the building, they said. As much of an emotional grip that the show has on many Philadelphians, its also an economic driver, Lovell said, adding that each year 2,000 visitors per hour attend the Light Show and 10,000 people a day visit Dickens Village. Whether a new permanent home is needed is a question that wont be settled until new tenants for the building are announced. For now, its just all about this year, Lovell said. And all the costs security, staffing, cleaning that come with putting on a historic Light Show in a shuttered department store. My hope is that if we do it right this year, maybe we can prove ourselves to show that we can continue this partnership for years to come, she said. We need the publics help. Out of everything in the world, Ashley Huston loves sugar the best. Its no surprise she is a baker. Huston opened Dreamworld Bakes, the Fishtown bakery, in December 2024 after years of running a bakery business out of her West Philly apartment. Her perfect day, she said, would be a day when her bakery stays busy all day. Advertisement Im constantly working, said Huston, who baked Patti LaBelles 80th birthday cake. Working and manifesting opening a boutique hotel in West Philly someday more like a bed-and-breakfast with a bakery under it. Her days involve coming into Fishtown everyday, dreaming up her monthly menus, running Dreamworld, and going home to feed and pet her cats Ketchup and Leeloo. She wakes up around 4 a.m. and goes to sleep as early as 7 p.m. on some hard days. Usually, she is in bed by 9 p.m. and asleep by 10 p.m. She tried to imagine what a perfect day in Philly would look like. Outside the bakery. 7 a.m. On my perfect Philly day, I sleep in. I wake up and have coffee in my yard in West Philly. I drink a lot of my own coffee, our Dream World blend but I also use a Trade Coffee subscription. Sometimes I go to ReAnimator Coffee, [on Pine Street] down the street from my house, and pick up an iced vanilla latte. And then Ill sit in my yard, lay in my hammock. I try to touch grass whenever I can. Got to love those big West Philly backyards. 9 a.m. I have a vintage Peugeot Bike. A morning ride down to the Schuylkill trail before it gets too hot is always enjoyable. If I have time, Ill do the whole loop. Im pretty active, so I like to get some kind of movement in on a regular basis. Monarch Yoga in Kensington is a great studio with a very welcoming environment and community. My good friend, Michelle, is my favorite instructor. We went to the same hot yoga studio years ago, and now were both small business owners. If not yoga, Id go to the gym, which is the West Philadelphia YMCA. 10 a.m. I will have some breakfast. If I could, I would go down to South Philly every day and eat at Artisan Boulanger Patissier cafe. I really love their breakfast sandwich and almond croissants. More than mine, probably. They also have really good banh mis. I might even drop into a farmers market. My favorite is the one in Clark Park every Saturday morning. Id get a pastry and some flowers and snag a squat in the park for an hour or so, and just watch people. We have such good characters in Philly. Our people sometimes get a bad rap, but we got the flavor. Noon Id walk around downtown. Riverwards Produce is a great place for seasonal produce, especially in smaller quantities. Before I opened Dreamworld [brick and mortar], I had a hard time trying to find produce like sour cherries or pink chicories in an amount that could fit into my fridge. I also love Reading Terminal Market. Its full of tourists but its fun. I pick up meat, cheese, and get one of those hotdog pretzels from Millers Twist. Its also right next to Chinatown, which is one of my favorite places in the city. I could walk around there forever if I had the time. 1 p.m. Some of my favorite places to eat are in Chinatown, like Penang for their char-kway-teow or beef redang. I also love Sang Kee Peking Duck House with a passion. The roast pork noodle soup with dumplings makes me feel like Im walking around Hong Kong and dont even get me started on the duck. If Im still in West Philly, Ill walk down to Hummus Grill in University City. Dont sleep on it, its the best falafel in the city. In South Philly, my lunch would be a Ba Le Bakery banh mi or pho at Pho 75. 3 p.m. I think all I do is eat, because my whole day in Philly revolves around food! I love vintage shopping too. Moore Vintage in Queen Village is a great place for one-of-a-kind finds. I love the Philadelphia Museum of Art, seeing any contemporary exhibits they may have on. I try to go a few times a year. I love when they bring new artists. I probably go there more than any other museum in the city. 7 p.m. Ill often bike down to the Ritz in Old City; sometimes with people, but also by myself. Or Ill meet up with friends at a bar, get a margarita. I love an outdoor situation, so I love LMNO. Mezcal paloma is my go-to anywhere. So if theres a paloma on the menu, Ill have it. I love to host and entertain and to care for people. And I love showing off my home [recently featured by Apartment Therapy]. When I have the time, the perfect day to me ends with an evening at my place. Maybe in the yard with the lights on and the grill going. Or in my den having a game night with my besties and a signature cocktail. If Im going out, I like Little Water where I went for dinner the other day. The seafood was phenomenal. They had a really nice, clarified paloma on their menu. It had a little lavender in there, so that was right up my alley. I also love Kalaya. Im a sucker for crab fried rice, and their massaman is great. I love Taqueria La Prima in South Philly. And I also love going to Le Virtu in Passyunk if Im on a date. Thats such a romantic place. 8 p.m. Im a woman in my mid 30s, so I try to frequent places that have live jazz. I liked going to Say No Mores outdoor space. I miss them. I love 48 Record Bar. Its always a good time, bomb drinks, and great music always. If people visit me from out of town, thats a fun place to take them to. 10 p.m. North Third in Northern Liberties is my food stop if Im out late. I think they have the best wings in the city, especially their Thai chili wings. Ive been going there since college, which is a hundred years ago. For a late night drink, Im a sucker for a tiki drink. So if theres a tiki pop up anywhere, I will go to that. 11 p.m. In my perfect bed. The trick is to get a hard to firm mattress, and top it with a memory foam and a down topper. You have to do both. Thats the perfect sleeping situation. My perfect day, actually, begins and ends with getting a good nights sleep. With Ketchup and Leeloo, who drive me insane. The perfect way to end my perfect day in Philly, in my bed in West Philly. Jimmy Kimmel appears at the Walt Disney Television upfront in New York on May 14, 2019, (left) and President Donald Trump appears on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 1. Read more Gov. Josh Shapiro charged that the Trump administration is trying to stifle dissent by wielding power to keep critics like late-night comedy host Jimmy Kimmel off the air. His remarks, made Friday during a taping for NBC News Meet the Press, were a response to the Federal Communications Commissions decision to pressure Disney-owned ABC into suspending Kimmels show after he had commented on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Advertisement A national debate has ensued about freedom of speech and whether President Donald Trump has the right to muzzle those who criticize him. On Thursday, Trump said that broadcasters allowing criticism of him should maybe lose their license, NPR reported. Shapiro sees peril ahead. Our foundational principle in this country, which has roots in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania William Penn settled here in the 1680s is about freedom of expression, freedom of speech," he told NBC News. And to see that being undermined by the long arm of the federal government is extremely dangerous. Shapiro added that whether you agree with Jimmy Kimmel or not, whether you found him funny or not, to fire someone because he told a joke about the president repeatedly, and the president didnt like it that is dangerous. The full interview with Shapiro will be broadcast Sunday, but NBC News published a report on his comments Friday. Experts who work as political strategists or who study free speech, history, and the Constitution weighed in on Saturday to share their reactions. Im glad Shapiro is talking about this, said Matt Jordan, a professor of communications and a media expert at Pennsylvania State University. This kind of thing was one of the first actions the Nazis took in 1939. In February of that year, German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels fired five entertainers who had made jokes at Hitlers expense. They displayed a lack of any positive attitude toward National Socialism and caused grave annoyance in public and especially to party comrades, Goebbels said, according to news reports of the day. What Trump is doing comes right out of the authoritarian playbook, Jordan said. Trump had hinted at possible FCC action against ABC if it didnt drop Kimmel. A group of ABC affiliates said it would not broadcast his show, further forcing the networks hand, according to news reports. The FCC is approving more media mergers, making the larger entities more vulnerable to political pressure, said Matt McAllister, an expert on mass media at Penn State. And the Trump administration is squeezing them, he said. Theyre not hiding, McAllister said. Theyre being blatant and public, very explicitly saying what they want. Thats pretty rare in U.S. history. While it may be difficult to follow every facet of the evolving Kimmel saga, one inescapable fact should stand out, according to J.J. Balaban, an independent Democratic strategist from South Philadelphia: Having the FCC bully a major broadcaster because it doesnt like its TV content should be a four-alarm fire for free speech advocates. Republican strategists and politicians did not respond to calls for comment. Some Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, disliked what happened to Kimmel. He said that FCC Chairman Brendan Carrs threat to ABC (We can do this the easy way or the hard way) was right out of Goodfellas. David S. Cohen, a constitutional law professor at Drexel Universitys Thomas R. Kline School of Law, agreed with Balabans premise that these are hard times for advocating the right to speak your mind without backlash. Its very clear that Donald Trump has no respect for the First Amendment, and doesnt believe in freedom of speech, he said. He operates on one principle: Everyone should flatter me. That way lies a deep problem, Cohen continued: If we dont have the right to make fun of our leaders, we dont have a functioning, free democracy. Fraught times such as these make life hard for professors trying to explain whats going on, according to sociologist Maria Kefalas, who has taught on social problems for 25 years at St. Josephs University. My students dont feel free to express themselves, she said. She told them that the firing of Kimmel is a big moment in America, and that it was up to them to decide what free speech means. I waited with bated breath to hear them on this, Kefalas said. And they were silent. Literally. She added: I am struggling to honor my mission in this climate. Its brutal. JERUSALEM, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that its air force struck around 100 targets throughout the Gaza Strip over the past day. It added that among the targets were underground infrastructure sites, weapons storage facilities, and militant cells. At the same time, IDF ground troops expanded operations in Gaza City, dismantling military infrastructure such as tunnels, booby-trapped buildings, Hamas operational sites, and sniper positions, according to the statement. It added that the troops located weapons and killed militants from Hamas' military wing in the area. The IDF also said its troops dismantled military infrastructure and killed militants in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, including Khan Younis and Rafah. Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported on Saturday that at least 34 Palestinians were killed and 200 others wounded in the Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours due to Israeli strikes. Local health authorities confirmed that since October 2023, the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli offensive has reached 65,208, with 166,271 others injured. Pickets, including Strike Ready sign, outside Temple University Hospital on North Broad Street Sept. 10, 2025 as the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents the health systems nurses and techs, hold a protest amid negotiations for a new three-year contract. Read more Members of the two unions representing nurses and technical specialists at Temple University Hospital and a new related facility voted Friday to authorize a strike if an acceptable deal is not reached for a new contract. The current three-year contract expires Sept. 30, and the 2,600 members of the Temple University Hospital Nurses Association and the Temple University Hospital Allied Health Professionals can go on strike Oct. 1 if no deal is reached. Advertisement The main issues that have been highlighted by the unions are employee safety and workplace violence at the main hospital, proposed changes to limit healthcare coverage for members, and staffing concerns at the new Temple Women & Families Hospital. In a statement, Temple Health said the authorization was an expected development as the unions try to enhance their bargaining position. We feel were having productive discussions on all the issues that the union has raised, and those discussions are ongoing as part of our regular labor relations process, Temple Health said. Just like weve done in multiple other labor agreements this year, were confident this process will lead to a contract that does right by our employees and Temple Health and allows us to continue doing what were all here to do: provide our patients with the high-quality care they deserve, Temple Health said. Earlier this month, Temple nurses held an informational picket outside the main healthcare campus at 3401 N. Broad St. highlighting the increased safety provisions they want as part of a new contract. On Friday, the unions also pointed to proposed benefit cuts that they said would double healthcare costs for members if they use providers outside the Temple system. The unions also said that staffing needs to be increased at Temple Women & Families Hospital, which is at 1331 E. Wyoming Ave. Temple says federal cuts to Medicaid will devastate its balance sheet, Marty Harrison, president of the Temple University Hospital Nurses Association and a longtime Temple nurse, said in a statement. But theyre spending tens of millions buying out Holy Redeemers share of Chestnut Hill Hospital and tens of millions more opening the new Women and Families Hospital, calling them strategic investments in the future of the institution, Harrison said. Contracts for Temples frontline caregivers that prioritize protection and retention are strategic investment number one. We have to be able to retain our skilled experienced staff and recruit new staff to Temples flagship hospital here on Broad Street, Harrison said. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity gives her acceptance speech after receiving the PA GOP's endorsement for her campaign for governor as Pa. GOP Chairman State Sen, Greg Rothman and Pa. GOP Vice Chair Bernie Comfort look on during The Republican Party of Pennsylvania's 2025 Fall Meeting at The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College, Pa., on Sept. 20, 2025. Read more STATE COLLEGE The Republican Party of Pennsylvania endorsed Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity for governor in the 2026 election at its massive fall meeting in State College on Saturday. The party decided to endorse a candidate months earlier than in past years as it sets its sights on denying popular Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro a second term. Advertisement And there was a lot of excitement for Garrity at Saturdays gathering. I know what it means to serve, Garrity, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran, said in a speech to GOP state committee members Saturday. I know what it means to solve the tough problems impacting the lives of Pennsylvania families. So my message to families all across our great commonwealth: Help is on the way, she added. Party leaders from every county in the state sat shoulder to shoulder filling a conference room at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center. Some wore Garrity T-shirts and red Trump hats, and others dressed in business wear. They were all well aware that Garrity received more votes for treasurer last year than any other elected leader in Pennsylvanias statewide elections. Shapiro previously hit that record when he was elected governor in 2022. Garrity has been a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, who won Pennsylvania by 1.7 percentage points in 2024 as part of a red wave of GOP victories in the state that included auditor general, attorney general, and U.S. senator. He narrowly won the state in 2016 and narrowly lost it in 2020. READ MORE: Republicans in Pennsylvania had a comeback in 2024 State Democratic Party chair Eugene DePasquale criticized the state Republicans for pledging allegiance to a candidate who has pledged her own allegiance to Donald Trump. Democrats have gone after Garrity over her staunch support of the president, but she told reporters Saturday she does not feel the need to moderate her stances for the gubernatorial race. Im totally authentic, she said with a smile. The GOP is framing Garrity as a hardworking Pennsylvanian who can relate to the struggles of rural communities, while presenting Shapiro as a politician mostly interested in photo ops. Shapiro was the subject of frequent criticism and mockery throughout the two-day session. His office declined to comment on the GOP endorsement or Garritys speech. Republicans point to Garritys rural home county, her military service, and her work as treasurer to return unclaimed property to Pennsylvanians a task of the treasurers office that has been streamlined due to a change in the law for which she lobbied. READ MORE: Stacy Garrity on being impatient, Pa.s unclaimed property problem, and the governors race Peter Quaglia, a state committee member from Wayne County in Northeastern Pennsylvania, said that he is normally against party endorsements, but that Garrity is a special case. Not to endorse her would be an abdication of our responsibility to the party, he said. She is the only one that can beat Josh Shapiro, in our estimation. Dick Harris, chair of the Bradford County GOP, called Garrity a daughter of Bradford County when he stood up to nominate her for the party endorsement. Garrity echoed those words at the start of her speech in a nod to her northern Pennsylvania home. Stacys story is our story, Harris said. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania, where hard work, faith, and community still mean something. Allegheny County GOP chair Jason Richey, who seconded the nomination, praised Garrity for being a servicewoman deployed to all three Middle East missions: Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. At the age of 8, my dad paid me $10 to dig my first ditch, she said in her speech. He called it my first foxhole. Two decades later, I arrived in the Middle East for the first of three combat deployments. So you learn a lot about yourself and what you believe when youre standing in a desert half a world away. If elected, Garrity would be the first female governor of Pennsylvania. Garrity was the only candidate nominated for the endorsement Saturday and received overwhelming support. The room filled with a loud chorus of ayes, and attendees chanted her name when the endorsement was made official. But she did not have unanimous support, with a much smaller crowd voting against the endorsement. According to attendees, some objected because they believe a gubernatorial endorsement ahead of November could divert attention from the judges races this fall, while others are anti-endorsement in general. Doug Mastriano, a state senator who lost to Shapiro in 2022 by 15 percentage points, also has supporters who did not want to endorse Garrity. Mastriano, who is still considering whether to mount another gubernatorial bid in 2026, said in an interview Thursday that the Pennsylvania GOP was denying the people of Pennsylvania a choice and a voice in the primary by endorsing so early in the election cycle. Its not about the person theyre endorsing, its about the process, Mastriano said. Why even vote? Why have a primary? Mastriano noted that a May poll from Public Policy Polling had him well ahead of Garrity among Republican voters, before she had officially announced her candidacy. Theyre starting off with someone who needs to make up a lot of ground in her own party, he added. Garrity told reporters she has a great relationship with Mastriano and he does a great job for people in his district. Lets hope that he unifies behind Stacy, said Val Biancaniello, a Delaware County state committee member. Staff writer Gillian McGoldrick contributed to this article. The high-flying world of aviation is well used to stopovers, quick-turnarounds, and on-time arrivals. But theres a strange limbo in DAA at the moment, with the expected departure of chief executive Kenny Jacobs. The Corkman remains chief executive of the operator of Cork and Dublin airports but is primed to leave the role in the new year, after a rift with DAAs board reached a point of no return. An exit package reported to be worth more than 1m has been informally agreed, which will see the chief executive depart the semi-state company and is awaiting sign-off from Government. This week, DAA chief people officer Siobhan Griffin sent an internal note to staff at DAA acknowledging that coverage of the CEO and the board might be unsettling. While board matters are confidential, we want to reiterate that Kenny is and remains DAAs CEO. In the event of any mutual agreement being agreed and approved, we will update you, the note said. Mr Jacobs may not have received his final boarding call, but it seems only a matter of when. Its a scenario which could not have been foreseen when the Montenotte man took on the role in November 2022. It was at Ryanair, serving as chief marketing officer, that Jacobs caught the eye of the aviation industry. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins At the time, DAA chair Basil Geoghegan said Mr Jacobs would bring unique knowledge of aviation and retail businesses. Mr Geoghegan said: His leadership, expertise and experience will be vital to our operations at Dublin and Cork airports, in ARI and in DAA International as we embrace the growth opportunities that lie ahead. An honours UCC business graduate, Mr Jacobs impressed at companies including German international food wholesale giant Metro Group and Tesco, where he was instrumental in the companys response to Aldi and Lidl eating into Tescos market share. But it was at Ryanair, serving as chief marketing officer, that he caught the eye of the aviation industry. Mr Jacobs led Ryanairs Always Getting Better campaign which overhauled its customer service, digital sales operations, and a cumbersome booking website. Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary said the airlines website and digital presence was transformed during Mr Jacobs tenure. The carrier boosted the proportion of revenue earned from optional extras, such as assigned seating and additional baggage, by 10%. The load factor how many seats are filled per flight increased from 80% to 96%. Kenny was the author of the successful Always Getting Better brand six years ago when he first joined, and he has championed many of the successful customer service improvements we have launched in recent years, which has underpinned our successful growth and evolution, Mr OLeary said in 2022. Kenny Jacobs succeeded Dalton Philips Mr Jacobs succeeded Dalton Philips as DAA chief executive in November 2022, after Mr Philips left the airport operator to join food giant Greencore. Kenny Jacobs succeeded Dalton Philips as DAA chief in 2022, in the difficult post-covid period, marked by queuing chaos at security gates at Dublin Airport. File picture: Colin Keegan/Collins The end of Mr Philips tenure, in the difficult post-covid period, was marked by queuing chaos at security gates at Dublin Airport. In October 2022, a customer experience survey of almost 140 brands and organisations by Amarach Research for The CX Company rate the DAA down in 130th place. Mr Jacobs said his focus at DAA would be to deliver an efficient travel experience for consumers using our airports, supporting traffic growth and building on DAAs vast experience of operating national strategic infrastructure. By March 2023, Mr Jacobs had unveiled a 15-point plan to improve standards for passengers at Dublin Airport, including quicker security times, faster free Wi-Fi, additional and improved seating and improved food and beverage options. Keenly aware of the value of data The new chief executive was keenly aware of the value of data and customer feedback. The Dublin Airport app was upgraded and a Rate My Airport feature allowed passengers to give feedback and flag issues in real-time. A passenger panel was formed to meet with Mr Jacobs and Dublin Airport managing director Gary McLean to ensure passenger needs are understood and to identify the services and facilities at Dublin Airport that need to be improved further. Mr Jacobs has highlighted a hands-on approach to problems. I have low patience and a lot of energy so its just a better place to be sometimes than in the office sitting through stuff, he said in a 2024 interview with executive consultancy Signium. No-nonsense style Mr Jacobs also brought a no-nonsense style when addressing the infrastructure needs of the DAA. In May 2025, when he spoke to the Irish Examiner at the launch of the 200m capital investment plan for Cork Airport, he reiterated the need for improved infrastructure links to the city. Cork Airport has three bus routes. Even the bus that comes from Kinsale is full by the time its a couple of stops away. I think weve over 200 routes in Dublin, Dublin is connected with every single county in the country. So we definitely need more bus connectivity [in Cork]. Thats the easiest one while were waiting for a Luas to Cork airport. DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs at Cork Airport. File picture: Brian Lougheed A proud Corkman hes one of the many long-suffering Rebel hurling fans Mr Jacobs recalled at the launch of the Cork Airport Development Plan of his leaving Cork for Germany 30 years ago though the old airport terminal, lugging two bags as he set off for Germany. In July, he heaped praise on Cork City Council for granting planning permission for an additional 670 long-term car parking spaces at the airport and for granting planning for a new solar farm to be built over the Holiday Blue carpark. Mr Jacobs said: Its a clear example of how a local authority can support its airport as a strategic asset not just in terms of sustainability, but by enabling the conditions for jobs, investment, and long-term regional growth. But a straight-talking attitude to the issues facing DAA, and the pace of change, could also get pushback, and he was vocal in criticism of delays changing Russian roulette planning procedures in Ireland. In March 2025, Fingal County Council member Jimmy Guerin branded the approach of senior DAA management as Trumpesque and accused the DAA of mishandling passenger cap applications. I have attended meetings with the CEO of the DAA and it was clear from these meetings that there is a misunderstanding of how proper planning works, stated Mr Guerin. Mr Jacobs has always acknowledged he has a straight-talking style. Im never going to be called a classic CEO, he told Signium. Where the rubber hits the road really is passengers at the airport so I think to run the operation you have to reach those key touchpoints that define if it was a good or bad trip through the airport. Crucially, relations between Mr Jacobs and some of the DAA board had become increasingly strained. Mediation had been taking place to resolve the rift until what appears to be a point of no return was reached. An exit package has been hammered out by the board and representatives for Mr Jacobs and is awaiting approval from transport minister Darragh OBrien and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers. Unlike the exit of his predecessor Mr Philips, this time there is no interim chief executive, as Mr Jacobs remains in situ. The board will doubtless already be looking to the long-term future, including massive infrastructural projects at Dublin and Cork airports, as well as bringing to fruition the process to remove Dublins 32m a year passenger limit. They will also look to continue increasing profits at Aer Rianta International (ARI), which is responsible for the duty free shops at the two airports and a host of international locations and which saw sales increase by 13.9%. Strong teams at Cork and Dublin airports It remains to be seen who will take the controls from Mr Jacobs, with a strong management team in place. Both Cork and Dublin airports have impressive managing directors in place. Dubin Airport MD Gary McLean has worked with DAA for almost 30 years. In Cork, airport managing director Niall MacCarthy is overseeing the 200m infrastructure upgrade underway to transform the southern hub. Mr MacCarthy is also chair of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation. When Mr Philips left in 2022, then chief financial officer Catherine Gubbins stepped in as interim DAA chief executive, but Ms Gubbins has since joined Greencore. Peter Dunne, former chief financial officer of United Oil and Gas, succeeded Ms Gubbins as DAA chief financial officer. DAA chief people officer Siobhan Griffin previously held roles with PwC and Paddy Power while ARI chief executive Ray Hernan spent 10 years as director of finance at Ryanair. DAA Labs MD John Brennan is a previous director of operations at Dublin Airport. DAA chief governance and strategy officer Miriam Ryan has been an executive director of DAA since 2019. DAA International chief Nick Cole has worked worldwide in aviation while chief commercial and development officer Vincent Harrison previously served as Dublin Airport managing director. Kenny Jacobs leaves DAA in good shape Mr Jacobs leaves with DAA in a good place. Passenger numbers in Cork are up 15% while passenger figures for Dublin have been revised upwards to 36.2m. In July, DAA submitted a planning application to Fingal County Council to expand the existing Pier 1 West building at Dublin Airport. The Government is moving to lift the cap at Dublin Airport. Work is getting underway on the new mezzanine floor in the Cork Airport terminal building, as the 200m airport regeneration gets underway. Last month, Ireland rated top in a Ryanair list of best air traffic control services. Aer Rianta International (ARI),saw revenue of 1.24bn last year. The next destination for Mr Jacobs is unclear. With two teenage children, he will be kept busy but his vast experience in aviation and retail means he is likely to remain in demand. As a youngster, he applied for a job at Cork Airport, but was turned down. For now, he remains in the pilots seat at DAA, as the companys internal note stated. Kenny, the executive team, and board are fully aligned in the focus on business-as-usual matters. Traitors Four members of Traitors Ireland joined the show to share some insight into life in the castle and their predictions for who may win next weeks final. Cork contestant Christine described how much she enjoyed her own funeral on the show. I loved it. Oh my God, she said. The only person that stood out the most that day, besides Siobhan [McSweeney], was our lovely Daddy in the castle with the thanks for coming, thanks for coming. It was lovely. Speaking of Daddy, father and son due Paudie and Andrew spoke about their experience, with Paudie dropping a bombshell: I am very much out there, a hugger. Paudie confirms in fact he IS a hugger and we are more than a little jealous @PatricKielty #latelate #TraitorsIRL pic.twitter.com/y3nvaqdZ0C The Late Late Toy Show (@RTELateLateShow) September 19, 2025 The contestants gave their opinions on who may be crowned the winner on Tuesday, with Katelyn tipping Oracle Oyin, Christine hedging her bets with Im Team Girls, all the girls, Andrew saying Oyin and Paudie playing it safe: any one of them could win it, to be honest, and it's just very hard to call. Aisling Bea Comedian Aisling Bea spoke to Patrick Kielty about returning to comedy after having a baby, her work on the adaptation of "Queen of Ireland" Marian Keyes Grown Ups, and her work to promote sustainability in fashion. Marian Keyes is finally getting all of the treatment she deserves, the Hollywood treatment, Bea said. She's got The Walsh Sisters coming out, and Grown Ups was actually the first book I read during the pandemic. Marian's finally getting all of these stories brought to life on screen, and I think people are gonna love it. Bea, who was wearing an entirely thrifted outfit, was also passionate about choosing secondhand when shopping, including for her baby. I know it's so nice to buy new for babies, and they're exciting and but it does feel innately wasteful, she said. It's about us shifting away from fast fashion and trying to get back to wearing the clothes what we already have, and leaning into secondhand and not having a stigma. Anthony Boyle Patrick Kielty with Anthony Boyle and Aisling Bea House of Guinness star Anthony Boyle spoke about his role in the upcoming Netflix drama. To play Arthur Guinness felt like a real bucket list thing to do. I was very pleased to be part of it, he said. On the last day of filming for the show, Boyle said he organised a surprise for the crew, but it backfired slightly. On the last day, a lot of actors get ice cream trucks or coffee trucks, and I got a Guinness truck to come to set. It came a couple of hours early, it was meant to come like six when we wrapped it came at lunch. So there's a few scenes in the show that the cameras are all over the place because some of the boys were absolutely steaming. The producers were raging. After filming Masters of the Air a few years ago, Boyle said he and costar Barry Keoghan found themselves in the White House, leaving a not-so-great impression on Joe Bidens security team. We went, had the crack and got up o some mischief, had some fun. We ended up doing cartwheels in the White House. They weren't too happy with it. We got a call, and they said, the White House have called and they're not very happy with you. We had to take [the video clip] down. Marian Keyes Marian Keyes and Stefanie Preissner on The Late Late Show Author Marian Keyes and actor Stefanie Preissner joined The Late Late Show to discuss their work on The Walsh Sisters, an overarching adaptation of a number of Keyes novels following the titular family. The novels are beloved by Irish readers and the pair said they felt incredible pressure when casting particularly when choosing the ridiest man in Ireland. I was completely chill about the whole casting process, like everyone that you mentioned and cast I was like, She's fabulous. He's ideal. But when it came to Luke Costello, I was besieged with people like No, he's got to look like this and he's got to be like that person, Keyes said. I had to go to Dixie and the rest of the producers, and say, regarding the casting of Luke, do whatever you like with any of the others, but on this one and this one alone, do not fuck this up. Preissner added: Marian's fans are ardent, staunch people. Her fans are very, very intense. And so I felt the pressure very, very strongly. Keyes was inspired by her own experience of alcohol addiction when writing the character of Rachel and she said she felt strange seeing her brought to life on screen. It made me very sad in a way that I had never experienced before, just how awful it is to have to do that to yourself and to the people who love you, Keyes said. I just I experienced it in a completely new way. And I just think [Preissner] did such a great job of showing kind of how ordinary addiction is, that it doesn't just happen to the people in the margins, and it doesn't respect education or anything, and that crossing the line is such a small thing. I think the more people know that it can happen to anyone, the easier it is for people to say, Oh, Christ, I might actually have a problem. Or for family members to say, actually, we might be the family that has an addict. Harvey Morrisons parents If Harvey had timely access to childcare, he wouldnt have missed so much of his childhood The incredibly brave Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison who joined us tonight sharing the heartbreaking story of losing their son Harvey, and why they have formed a campaign in his pic.twitter.com/H2IsOCjjxw The Late Late Toy Show (@RTELateLateShow) September 19, 2025 The parents of the late Harvey Morrison spoke about their campaign for healthcare reform since his death in July. Harvey was just nine years old when he passed away and Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison are now calling for systemic changes to ensure timely and adequate care for disabled children. Three weeks ago over 1,000 people marched through Dublin in support of their cause and they spoke on the show about why thy are campaigning. His death feels incredibly unjust. Knowing now that he was only going to live to to nine, knowing that he spent the guts of three years in pain on a wait list, feels incredibly unjust, Sherratt said. If Harvey had had the timely access to healthcare, I feel like he wouldn't have missed so much of his childhood, and we would have more memories as a family, more happy memories as a family, and not so many negative memories. I just feel like it robbed him of a large portion of his childhood and I think that's incredibly unfair. Harvey's not an isolated case. We see this up and down the country, unfortunately, where these children are being, for want of a better word, they're being neglected. They're not getting the care they need in the time that they need, and these children are sitting on a wait list to the point that they can become inoperable. I've seen children die. We've seen children end up with massive cardiac problems from this. Having lost Harvey, we don't want any other families to go through what we've gone through. Morrison added: There's been support from across the political spectrum, no matter if it's left, right, centrist, but I think now is a very particular moment in time where we all have to come together and try get this sorted. Its not the Ireland that I grew up in. We don't treat people like this. We don't treat children like this. They met on their first college night out, in Havana Browns in Cork in September 2016. Almost nine years later, Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane said their I dos in Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakilty, Co Cork. Tadhg popped the question on Abbeys birthday in March 2023. Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com On a ski trip in February 2023, after dinner, Tadhg and my dad stayed on having a few drinks after the girls went to bed and so he took the opportunity to ask for my dads permission, says Abbey. Back home, Tadhg hid the engagement ring behind his PlayStation, where Abbey would absolutely not look, he says. Abbey Desmond with Niamh Desmond, Aoife Desmond, Eleanor Lane and Sinead Kelleher. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com The bride, from Glengarriff, and groom, from Clondrohid, were married by celebrant Alison Driscoll of Bespoke Words. Singer Lorna Moore performed for the ceremony and drinks reception. Abbey chose her sister Aoife Desmond to be her maid of honour and Tadhgs sister Eleanor Lane, together with her friend Sinead Kelleher, were her bridesmaids. Tadhgs friends Cian OLeary, best man, and Timmie Desmond and Kevin OConnell were the groomsmen. Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com Abbey admits to feeling nervous that morning. My bridesmaids did a great job of keeping me calm with the help of some champagne! she says. We were all so nervous to walk down the aisle. Just as Aoife had gone through the curtain, myself and dad lined up to go down and all I hear is dad start crying and I said, Oh no, you cant cry because Ill cry! So the two of us went down the aisle crying! Were an emotional family. Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com Tadhg, who drove himself and his groomsmen to the ceremony, kept the jitters at bay by staying busy. I took the car for a wash in the rain to have it at the required standard, and then spent the rest of the morning with my groomsmen, he says. We even collected my friend Damo on the way to the wedding, and the conversations were as normal as ever talking about anything but the wedding! Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com Once we arrived at Fernhill, we grabbed a pint, visited the fernery, and chatted with guests, which really helped keep the nerves buried. Celebrating the occasion with them were the brides parents Niamh and Kieran and her grandmother Joan Desmond, and the grooms mother and father Eileen and Peter Lane and his grandmother Mary Lane. The couple wanted a relaxed day, celebrating with our close friends and family, adds Abbey. Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com We also wanted it to be bright and colourful, Catherine in West Cork flowers helped us create the perfect bouquets for the day they were stunning! Our bridesmaid dresses from Folkster were also a beautiful pastel blue. Arklight kept us all dancing all night, they created such a great atmosphere and really made the night unforgettable. Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com Abbey bought her Justin Alexander dress in Lilac Rose in Limerick. Maria Coleman was the makeup artist and Audrey Cashman was the bridal hairstylist. Tadhg, the groomsmen, both fathers, and my brother all got their suits in Mick Murphys, she adds. Capturing the day for posterity were photographer Dermot Sullivan ( dermotsullivan.com) and videographer John OSullivan (Event Videography). Abbey Desmond and Tadhg Lane with their wedding party. Pictures: Dermotsullivan.com We never felt like the day was getting away from us. This was helped massively by Dermot keeping us on schedule, says Abbey. The newlyweds honeymooned in Bali for three weeks. Abbey, who is an analytical chemist and Tadhg, a data engineer, live in Crosshaven, Co Cork, with their two dogs Nina and Lola. Beautiful Bali Balis beauty is legendary and COMO Shambhala Estate has been showcasing it since the destination spa opened its doors 20 years ago. The sleek 22-acre sanctuary multi-award-winning wellness retreat, has just unveiled its new look following an extensive renovation. 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Rooms from 190. portgitana.com The appearance of Irelands best known self-declared murder suspect at the door of a Kerry legal practice hardly raises an eyebrow anymore. As Michael Kelley peered cautiously out from the darkened entrance of Pat Manns Ashe Street practice in Tralee on Tuesday, passersby barely gave him a double take. After brief hesitation, and a quick look up and down the street, the 53-year-old stepped into the bright sunlit street and walked quickly away. Free to come and go as he pleases after being released without charge by gardai investigating Kerry farmer Michael Gaines murder in March, hes become tired of his celebrity-style status. His early inclination to give interviews, to joke while his photo was being taken, and to busk with his large flute cheerfully on the streets of Tralee have waned. If such public activities appeared insensitive, given his friend of more than three years had been murdered and dismembered, they certainly seemed all the more baffling given Mr Kelleys claims that an organised crime network is after him. Michael Kelley's backstory This, he has said in interviews, was because he had been investigating them before he left the US and arrived in Ireland in 2017. The former US soldier has also said in an interview that he never killed anybody when he served in the US Army and became a conscientious objector after he saw news footage of the infamous Highway of Death on a road linking Kuwait and Iraq, where up to 1,000 retreating soldiers were killed over 48 hours in February 1991. On arrival here on a one-way ticket bought for him by his father Patrick, he applied for asylum, saying he faced persecution in the US, but his application was unsuccessful. This led to him being served with a Deportation Notice, which was then followed by a Deportation Order in around the end of April or beginning of May this year. In the early years here, he lived rough and survived with the help of survivalist skills he had learned in the army. He stayed in a variety of locations in and around Killarney National Park, including a disused shed in a small village near Kenmare and later in a tent in Scullys Wood near Kenmare Bay. Mr Gaine stumbled across Mr Kelley when the Kenmare farmer and a pal were out shooting deer one day in 2022. Michael Kelley claims that 'an organised crime network' is after him. File photo: Dominick Walsh Eye Focus Ltd Feeling sorry for him, he offered him the use of the old family farmhouse on his land at Carrig East, near Molls Gap, in exchange for doing odd jobs around the farm. As well as going hunting with Mr Gaine, Mr Kelley fed his farm animals - mostly sheep, but also a small number of cattle. As a trained mechanic, he also worked on Mr Gaines vehicles and farm machinery. On Friday, March 21, the day after Mr Gaine went missing, Mr Kelley was seen fixing the brakes on one of the farmers jeeps that was due to have its NCT done. Although Mr Gaine, who paid and fed Mr Kelley, used to drive him to local supermarkets from time to time, he was rarely ever seen beyond the bounds of the farm. His closest and only regular human contact was Mr Gaine, whose relationship he described later in an RTE interview as being a transactional one. He said he wouldnt have described the two men as being great friends, but they got on. Before his arrest on May 18, he told RTE: We are both farmers. We are getting along because we are grown men and have work to do. We were brothers of the land, around the same age, with similar interests, and I liked that sense of brotherhood. In the weeks that followed, he gave a number of interviews and offered various theories on how Mr Gaine was killed and how the body was disposed of. But his fondness for the limelight dimmed as more personal details of his life emerged, including his failed custody battle with his former partner, Alicia Snow, the mother of his two daughters, have been made public. In 2009, a court found among other things that his ability to determine fact from fiction is questionable and that his testimony was untrustworthy. Added to this, about a month after those very details first emerged in May, the fact that a garda detective then flew over to speak to Ms Snow could also not have been particularly welcome. Michael Gaine's background By contrast, the details to emerge about Mr Gaine have been nothing but complimentary. He was a popular, sociable and respected pillar of the local agricultural community. He would be regularly seen feeding his sheep along the road, or mingling with fellow farmers at the nearby Kenmare Co Op Mart. Hardworking and successful, having made a good go at running the farm he inherited from his uncle John in 1995, he was also well-known in the local rally circuit. His friend and fellow rally enthusiast Tommy Randles described him fondly as a cool character who never got too excited and as a deep thinker who would steady things. In an emotional video appeal for his return, his wife Janice also described him as her best friend. Published a short time after Mr Gaines disappearance was reclassified at the end of April from being a missing persons case to a homicide investigation, she also said he loved his home, loved his farm, he loved animals. She added: He had lots of friends. He was a very popular guy. His disappearance is totally out of character and we knew that from day one. Michael Gaine's funeral makes its way through Kenmare town in June. File picture: Dan Linehan At his funeral in June, he was remembered as soft and loving, caring and affectionate, kind and considerate man who was unafraid to show his emotions. In a tribute read on behalf of the family by his cousin Eoghan Clarke, he was also described as brave, fearless and strong. He also said he loved life, always made the most of it, and truly lived every single moment. Speaking across from where Mr Gaines ashes lay cradled in a sheepskin-lined basket that had earlier been carried into Holy Cross Church, Kenmare, his cousin also said the much-loved farmer always had the iconic twinkle in his eye - the Im delighted to see you, Im in great form and Lets go and enjoy ourselves glint in his eye. The day of his disappearance On the day he disappeared, he had a cup of tea with Flor OBrien after buying bags of sheep nuts at Dan McCarthys service station and food store in Kenmare at around 7.30am. He later bought phone credit in Centra, Kenmare at 9.48am. The now infamous CCTV image of him at the store on the morning of March 20 shows him wearing his distinctive orange cap, the sleeves of his black fleece are rolled up, and he is clutching something with both his hands as he walks away towards the main entrance of the shop. The infamous CCTV image of Michael Gaine. We now know he was there to buy phone credit and a lunch roll. Before he left, he told staff - who were used to seeing him at around that time of day - Ill see you later. A short while later, he walked out into the car park, and got into the nine-year-old bronze Toyota Rav4 that Janice bought in 2015. He then drove out onto the Killarney Road and headed past the entrance to the path that leads up to the house he shared with Janice in Carhoomeengar East. We know he didnt visit her on his way back to the farm because in the video appeal she appeared in alongside his sister Noreen ORegan, Noreen said her brother went to the farm on March 20 and it was his routine to check his animals. She added: He never returned home. It takes around six minutes to drive from Centra to his farm at Carrig East, so he would have got there around 10am. It is not known if any of his movements to and from Kenmare were picked up by local gardai involved in a major garda operation that morning. They had that day put up checkpoints along a number of roads in and out of the town. As well as roadside searches, detectives targeting the sale and supply of illegal drugs also searched a number of private houses. Michael Gaine was a popular, sociable and respected pillar of the local agricultural community. The well-planned day of action, as gardai later described it, led to the seizure of 20,000 of cannabis herb. Gardai would later confirm to the Irish Examiner they did assess if there was any link between Mr Gaines disappearance and the drugs seizure but could not find one. On April 4, gardai stated: Currently, our assessment shows no links. Mr Kelley has said in an interview with RTE that he last saw Mr Gaine around 10am on Thursday, March 20. He said they met each other in the farmyard, and Mr Gaine told him he was going to meet somebody later that day. Friends have said they also heard Mr Gaine was due to go up to the North to meet a man about a tractor. Mr Kelley has said that after Mr Gaine gave him a list of chores he wanted done that day, he returned to the old farmhouse to make a pot of coffee, and that was the last time he saw him alive. He said Mr Gaine was as normal as ever and that he was doing his own chores, including giving his cattle silage and his sheep nuts. Mr Kelley is reported to have told RTE: He didnt come back that night. He said he would be back. Then they came looking for him at about 10am the following morning. Homicide investigation Although initially mounted as a missing persons investigation, it wouldnt change to a suspected homicide investigation until April 29. This was when gardai formally announced it was reclassified as a homicide investigation, and that a formal criminal investigation had commenced. This was, they said, based on the entirety of the information available to the investigation. The following day, they stated his disappearance was completely out of character and entirely at odds with his normal pattern of behaviour - as had been established by the investigation to date. Up to that point, searches had been conducted in and around the farm by officers and garda divers, as well as a variety of state agencies, including 50 members of the Defence Forces. Gardai had also undertaken nearly 230 formal enquiries, taken nearly 100 witness statements and recovered approximately 1,500 hours of CCTV/dash-cam footage. The farm wasnt formally declared a crime scene until the evening of May 16 when slurry from the bigger of two slurry tanks on Mr Gaines farm was being spread on one of his fields. Forensics digging near the cattle shed on the farm of Michael Gaine. File picture: Dan Linehan A section of machinery in the slurry spreader jammed and what appeared to be human remains were found. It later emerged that his body had been chopped up and put into the slatted slurry pit. This had been missed as - at the time it was first searched - the case was being treated as a missing persons case. Believing he might have accidentally fallen into the slurry tank after being overcome by fumes, they had been searching with poles prodded through the slatted surface of the tank for an intact body. Michael Kelley was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaines murder on the afternoon of May 18 and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Kerry Division. But, the following day, he was released without charge from the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984, and - noticeably - no file was sent to the DPP. Digging taking place on the farm of Michael Gaine in June. Picture: Dan Linehan Because a chainsaw was found at the farm, there was speculation for a while that he had been cut up with a chainsaw. However, it has since emerged that two different types of knives were used to dismember his body, one of which is known to have had - because of the impression it left on some of the found remains - a serrated edge. Mr Kelley has moved from the small town centre gated apartment complex in Tralee where he was living after he left Mr Gaines farm. Home is now a ground floor flat in a small apartment complex off a small laneway. He doesnt appear to visit the two small local pubs nearby, and he also appears to have stopped busking. Requests for interviews are now increasingly met with a firm refusal, and while he is seen around, he is keeping a far lower profile. The Irish Examiner understands that detectives have not gone back to interview Mr Kelley since he was released in May. 'Bafflement' About an hours drive away in Kenmare, there remains a deep sense of hurt and anguish in the farming community, as well as a sense of what one farmer described as bafflement about the investigation. With nobody in custody for the murder of Mr Gaine, and no arrests likely any time soon, there is a feeling the investigation has been handled badly from the start. Why it took so long to move from a missing persons case to a murder investigation is one question. There are others, including why has there been such a visible garda presence at the farm for so long? The fact that there has been a garda vehicle parked there 24 hours-a-day for just under six months up until last week is unprecedented. Its a fright to God, said one farmer getting sheep ready for Fridays Kenmare Mart meeting. The whole thing is diabolical and its hard not to think about his poor family, his sisters and his wife. It is bad enough thinking about how he must have died and how gardai found his body, but to know that his murderer has not been brought to justice must be terrible for them. The ghoulish behaviour of some passersby has raised issues as they have been known to stop and take selfies of themselves and their friends at the farm from the roadside. But, to date, it is understood there has been only one incident where anybody has actually come onto the land since Mr Gaines murder. A man later told gardai he went onsite because he was working with a local mystic who claimed to have had a vision about splatters of blood on rocks at the back of the farm. But as well as the farm being overlooked by two cottages, CCTV cameras have also been erected around the farm, including one at a locked gate at the entrance. His widow Janice herself keeps a low profile, and other than her forays into Kenmare to the local supermarkets, she is rarely seen. Janice Gaine and Noreen O'Regan in their appeal for information. File photo: Garda.ie In terms of any updates, gardai themselves are very tight-lipped. The Irish Examiner posed a series of questions on Tuesday, but the response back was an unequivocal "no comment". They even declined to comment on whether they planned to mount any public appeals to mark the six months that have passed since Mr Gaine was murdered. As well as bewilderment among residents about the apparent lack of progress in the investigation, it is itself being examined by Garda HQ. At the beginning of June, the then Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed officers were conducting a peer review into the handling of the investigation into Mr Gaines murder. He told reporters at the time that this was because he believed there is learning for us around those who would commit a crime and then attempt to dispose of the body, and often are successful in disposing of the body. Speaking in the Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, he said the force was aware of a pattern emerging around this type of crime in recent years. As a result, he said, it was all the more important that detectives adopted what he described as an investigative mindset when investigating what initially is reported or seen as a missing persons case. Asked about the review this week, a garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana does not comment on, confirm, or deny any queries relating to specific operational details of ongoing criminal investigations. Added to that, Mr Kelley has himself lodged a complaint with Fiosru, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, about the way he was treated by gardai. According to a source, his complaint - which was lodged in May - centred around interviews that took place between him and investigating gardai. Uisce Eireann is investigating after crews fighting a fire in Co Cork's largest town, Carrigaline, had to get a water tender rushed from Midleton because the water pressure for their hoses was so low. Firefighters attending the fire at Hillview Estate in Carrigaline told local politicians they had never seen such poor pressure and needed the tender to get the blaze under control. In correspondence seen by the Irish Examiner, the utility told a local representative raising the issue on behalf of worried residents that it had a team currently working with the Cork County Fire Service "to gain a clear understanding of the events". In parallel "it is also reviewing all available monitoring data for the network and once investigations are complete it would provide a detailed and comprehensive response". The fire badly damaged two houses and was witnessed by Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy. She told a meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District Council that she had been contacted by fire brigade personnel about the inadequate water pressure and it was so serious they had to request that a water tanker be brought in from Midleton. Ms McCarthy said this caused significant concern to local residents. She said wind caused it to spread and even more properties could have caught fire if it wasnt for the tremendous work the fire brigade crews did under the circumstances. Fine Gael councillor Jack White said firefighters who attended the scene, both local and from Cork City, had also told him they had never seen such poor pressure. This also opens up wider concerns about the whole water supply system in Carrigaline and its adequacy, especially as more and more houses are built there, he said. Mr White said the population of the town has grown to around 20,000 and while the utility has spent some money enhancing the wastewater systems, there has been no investment in upgrading the water supply system for more than 10 years. There has been a huge amount of new housing built in that time. I wrote to Uisce Eireann a few months ago in connection with a planning application which is ongoing for nearly 400 new houses in the Kilmoney area, he said. He added: "If granted permission it will be on the same water supply line as Hillview Estate. Im concerned that the supply in the town is no longer adequate." Mr White said the utility responded by saying it has adequate capacity. That doesnt stack up in my view, especially after what happened at Hillview Estate," he added. Ms McCarthy said the utility must not only look at the low-pressure issue but carry out a review of all hydrants in the area to ensure they are adequate and fully fit for purpose". Sinn Fein has confirmed its support for Catherine Connolly in her campaign to be the next president. Party president Mary Lou McDonald said it was a big decision to choose to back a candidate from outside their membership, but they wanted to give voters an alternative in the race for Aras an Uachtarain. She made the announcement in Dublin on Saturday following speculation the party would run its own candidate. In a post on X, party leader Mary Lou McDonald announced the partys position. Our job is to get Fianna Fail and Fine Gael out of government and to keep them out of the Aras, Ms McDonald wrote. We can elect a President who will champion a United Ireland, stand up for Irelands place in the world as a defender of neutrality and human rights, and speak out for fairness and economic justice. Its now game on to elect Catherine Connolly as Irelands next President. We will give it our all! Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly during a visit to Culturlann McAdam O Fiach in Belfast. Picture: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire Speaking to media at the Communication Workers Union building in Dublin, alongside vice president Michelle ONeill and Pearse Doherty on Saturday afternoon, she said the party leadership met that morning after extensive consultation across its membership. She also confirmed that the party would provide both financial support and support out on the ground campaigning for Ms Connolly. In our discussions we have had two priorities, firstly to get Fianna Fail and Fine Gael out of government, and to keep them out of the Aras, and todays decision allows us to pursue both of those objectives, she said. This is of course a big decision to support a candidate from outside of our membership, and to work with the combined opposition to collectively take on the government, to give people a clear choice and to give people hope. She added: This, I think, is a unique moment, and where the combined opposition now collectively rallies behind a strong and able candidate in Catherine Connelly and yes, to take on the political establishment, to say very clearly to people that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail who are failing so spectacularly in government should not be rewarded with the Aras. Sinn Fein party president Mary Lou McDonald (right), vice president Michelle O'Neill and Pearse Doherty, arrive for a press conference in Dublin, to announce that Sinn Fein will back the independent candidate Catherine Connolly in her bid to become the next president of Ireland. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Ms Connolly welcomed the announcement in a statement. I thank Mary Lou McDonald for her leadership and Im heartened by their support, she said. I believe the coalition of left, centre-left parties and Independents backing my run for president is a welcome change for Irish politics. However, if I am to be successful I will be a president for all Irish people, of all political persuasion or none. See you on the road. Ms McDonald also thanked President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina for their service. President Higgins has served our country with distinction and with integrity, she said. He has been committed to promoting the best of Ireland, its people, our creativity and culture and our democratic values. When President Higgins speaks, people listen because he understands the challenges facing workers, families and communities where he saw unfairness, inequality and injustice. - additional reporting from PA URUMQI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China broke ground on Saturday on a new expressway across the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the country's northwest, aiming to cut travel time between the region's north and south and strengthen both tourism and trade links. The 393.7 km Duku Expressway will run from Dushanzi in northern Xinjiang to Kuqa in the south of this region, and has a design speed of 100-120 km per hour. Scheduled for completion in 2032 -- the road will reduce driving time to around five hours. Famed for its scenery, the current Duku highway, or Dushanzi-Kuqa highway, is open only four months a year due to snow and ice. The new expressway is expected to provide year-round travel and connect popular attractions such as the Narat grasslands. "This is something we've long been waiting for," said Bayankexike, a herder from Narat township. "In the past, winter snow cut us off. It was hard to get medical treatment or buy supplies. The expressway will make life much easier." Authorities say construction faces challenges due to the high altitude and harsh weather in this region -- allowing only a short annual building season. Builders will, notably, use advanced tunnelling methods and cold-resistant materials to keep the project on schedule. The Duku Expressway is expected to improve the transport network in the country's west and promote economic integration in Xinjiang, said Wang Xinghua, deputy head of the region's transportation department. Over the past decades, China has worked to connect northern and southern Xinjiang via roads -- such as the Urumqi-Korla and Dushanzi-Kuqa highways. Travel in Xinjiang has become more convenient thanks to such infrastructure improvements. All prefectures and over 90 percent of counties in Xinjiang are now accessible by highway, while the length of railways in the region had totaled 9,202 km as of 2024 -- nearly double the 2012 figure, according to a government white paper released Friday on the governance of Xinjiang. Hundreds of devotees are making daily pilgrimages to the grave of an Irish nun who is tipped for sainthood with some leaving bras and boxer shorts on her headstone in the hope that she will perform a miracle for them. Sr Clare Crockett was killed in an earthquake in Portoviejo in Ecuador on April 16, 2016. The 33-year-old is buried in her native Derry. The case for her beatification was opened by her former order in Spain in January following dozens of claims of intercessions by Sr Clare since her death. This is the first step in a long, four-stage process towards sainthood. Sr Clare is among a small number of young Catholic figures currently being considered for canonisation following the recent fast-tracking of Carlos Acutis to sainthood on September 7. The 15-year-old Italian who died on October 11, 2006, was known as "Gods influencer" for his use of digital media to promote Catholicism and was declared the first millennial saint at a ceremony in the Vatican earlier this month. Like Acutis, Sr Clares popularity continues to grow, with hundreds now flocking to her grave in Derry every day. Her parents Gerald and Margaret, who never recovered from her death, died within six years of her passing and are buried alongside her. Sr Clare Crockett with her sisters Megan and Shauna. Sr Clare's family say they appreciate the devotion that their sister inspires, but they been forced to leave a petition box at the grave, to prevent pilgrims from leaving items that are disrespectful on top of her headstone. Clares sister Shauna Gill told the Irish Examiner: "I understand people have very important requests for help which we appreciate so much but some people have left a bra and boxer shorts hanging off the headstone for my family. There are hundreds of people going there every day, we cant keep up with it. "My sister is not a saint, her lifes work is being investigated, it takes a long time, and we understand people want their prayers answered and they come to pray at her grave, but we just want to ask the public if they will leave their intentions in the petition box, please." Our mammy and daddy are in there too, its disrespectful. We are so busy with Clares story and all the petitions, it is a full-time job. We didnt ask for any of this, but of course we understand people want their prayers answered. Sr Clare joined the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother when she was 18 and stayed with them until her death a decade ago. She entered the order as a candidate in 2001, took her first vows in 2006, and her perpetual vows in 2010, making her official consecration to god. Her sister Shauna said it was the last thing her family expected when Clare declared she was going to be a nun, after spending her teens, smoking, drinking and having boyfriends. It made no sense to us, said Shauna. We absolutely never saw it coming. "She was tipping the basket in the church during the collection and putting the two pounds under the basket. We would go to the shop, and she bought cigarettes, and I got chocolate because I was too young to smoke. This was not someone who was going to join the church as a nun no way. We still are learning about her journey, she never spoke to us in detail. The family of Sister Clare said they hope to meet the parents of Carlos Acutis (pictured) to help them understand the process of sainthood. File photo: Wikipedia That religious journey began when Clares friend was due to travel to Spain in 2000 and had paid for the trip and accommodation but fell ill. She gave Clare the trip and she thought she was going to party away, but when she got on the bus, it was full of older people who were going to stay in a convent. She hated it, she didnt go to mass and sat outside smoking. It was on Good Friday when she said, I better go because everyone is going. She went up and kissed Jesuss feet at the cross and in that moment, she said she felt him talk to her and she told a priest about her experience. But as soon as she came back, she was just Clare again, she was back out enjoying her life. Shauna said her sister spoke of a second time "she could feel the presence of Jesus Christ". She said: "She was in the toilets of a pub about to get sick after drinking too much and she closed her eyes and felt he was standing in front of her saying why are you hurting me like this?' Then the following year she said Im going to Spain to be a nun, and she left and never returned. We were all heartbroken, we could not get our heads around it, we told people Clare ran off to be in a cult, we couldnt bring ourselves to say she is a nun, it was so hard on all of us, but it was Clares life and we had to accept it. Sr Clare left her "wild days' behind - including her ambitions to become an actress having worked as a presenter on Channel 4 - and after joining the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, she worked in Spain and the US. "She later moved to Ecuador but tragedy struck when the house she was staying in was hit by an earthquake while she was singing and playing the guitar. She said there was nothing to fear because she wanted to be with Jesus, said Shauna of her sister's tragic death. That's what we were told. My mammy and daddy were heartbroken, we all were, we have no closure, and we read about her death on Facebook. Clare had been missing after the earthquake, and nobody contacted us. She died on April 16, but they didnt find her body until midnight the next night. Mammy wanted her body home, and we didnt get it back until April 29. It was a closed coffin. It was hard enough for my parents to bury their child, but then we had a 14-day wake waiting for her. Sr Clare Crockett (pictured) is among a small number of young Catholic figures currently being considered for canonisation following the recent fast-tracking of Carlos Acutis to sainthood on September 7. Photo: sisterclare.com Clare is only the second nun in Ireland to be considered for sainthood St Brigid of Kildare is the only Irish-born nun who was officially canonised by the Catholic Church. There is now a mural of Sr Clare on the side of a wall in her hometown of Brandywell which can been seen from her grave. Since her death, dozens of followers have attributed favours granted to Sr Clare, and have reported them to the Home of the Mother in Spain. Me and my sister Megan (Nicell) we are normal, to us, shes our Clare, but the amount of people who pray to her is overwhelming. People come to you and tell you your sister did all these things for us. Its a bit surreal and nobody else is in our situation so we have no one to ask questions of. Shauna said they hope to meet the parents of Carlos Acutis to help them understand the process of sainthood. We would very much like to meet them, just to share our experiences, said Shauna. While investigations are ongoing into Clares life, Shauna said they are prepared for the fact that if Clare is canonised her remains will be exhumed. We will be there if that happens she said. It will give people a place to go away from mammy and daddy too, we will have her placed in a casket. Unlike Carlos Acutis it would be impossible to have her remains on full display. Sr Kristen, a colleague of Sr Clare in the House of the Mother is tasked with investigating her life since the opening of her beautification. She told the Irish Examiner dozens of claims of interceptions have been made to the order since her death. Sr Clare Crockett entered the order as a candidate in 2001, took her first vows in 2006, and her perpetual vows in 2010, making her official consecration to god. Photo: sisterclare.com I am the postular in charge of the opening of the investigation, she explained. It is a civil process that we opened in January, and I am tasked with studying Clares life and that includes talking to her family, friends, and the sisters here as well as her community in Ireland, Spain, and Ecuador. "This is my first case. Everything will go before a tribunal and be examined by a bishop. The case then goes to the Vatican, and the pope will make a decision on her life, and if she really did give herself to god and her community. But god will have the final say, only he can decide and he will give us a demonstration she is in heaven that miracle is an approval by god, who decides yes, she is now a saint we can all pray to. Sr Kristen said the road to sainthood is a long process and requires events that cannot be scientifically explained. One case involving Sr Clare includes a four-year-old boy who fell four metres directly onto his head, she said. Sr Clare Crockett joined the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother when she was 18 and stayed with them until her death a decade ago. Photo: sisterclare.com Witnesses say there was blood coming from the childs ear and he was hemorrhaging. On the way to the hospital her parents prayed to Sr. Clare. The results of his MRI and tests then showed he had no damage at all. That case will include medical records and interviews with the doctors who treated the child. Another case is more complex, it involves a cancer patient who prayed to Sr. Clare to remove her cancer, which is now gone, but cancer can return, so that will take more time. We have to show this was gods direct intervention through Sr Clare. It would be fair to say that Gareth Sheridan's presidential campaign didn't get off to the most auspicious start. Within days of the pharma entrepreneur announcing that he was seeking a nomination to get on the ballot, questions were raised about his business partner, his mother's objection to housing, and a settlement he made with the US government. Mr Sheridan seemed somewhat taken aback by the level of scrutiny his nascent campaign attracted in the news-hungry days of August as he was forced to defend a $25,000 fine, ties to senator Sharon Keogan, and links to an Israeli hospital in a bruising first press conference. But, to his credit, Mr Sheridan has remained in the race, undeterred, and has kept his eyes on the one route open to him to achieve his goal garnering the support of four councils. On Tuesday, he got the backing of Tipperary County Council in his bid to secure a place on the ballot paper for October's presidential election. Mr Sheridan received 17 votes in favour of his nomination, compared to three for Kieran McCarthy, the Independent Cork City councillor. That gave Mr Sheridan the backing of two local authorities, after Kerry County Council supported his nomination on Monday. A further 10 councils vote this Monday and Mr Sheridan's team has pinpointed a number which could swing in his favour. For many in the political system, it is an impressive achievement, particularly given Fine Gael's whipping of its councillors to block rivals to Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fail's "nudging" of its cohort to support only its candidate, Jim Gavin. That is in no way to suggest that even with his success in Kerry that Mr Sheridan went unscathed. Fianna Fail councillor Norma Moriarty told the council that Mr Sheridan's youth was not in and of itself an attraction. "I am in no way diminishing the individuals who came before us and who subsequently wrote to us. But please take it seriously. You must, as far as Im concerned, have proven yourself in many areas before you should consider yourself eligible to be put on the ballot paper. Thats my take on it, Cllr Moriarty told the council. Young for the sake of being young does not qualify you. It is what you have done with your time. How much you have served and how seriously youve taken your duties and what it is you hope to achieve in this country by representing all, she added. Groundwork But Mr Sheridan did do one thing that many of those who sought to have their names on the ballot did not: he respected the process. The entrepreneur has been reportedly making contact with councillors for many months, knowing that the makeup of the Dail and Seanad meant that 20 members of that house was less likely than four local authorities. Over the past number of weeks, councils have acceded to requests from members of the public, including former MMA fighter Conor McGregor, to be allowed plead their cases. While Mr McGregor would drop out on Monday morning, the Dublin City Council meeting he had been due to address on Monday went ahead and felt at times like a surrealist sketch. As a Fine Gael councillor told TheJournal.ie's Eimear McAuley: It was the most bizarre meeting I have ever attended in my time as a councillor. It was at times comical, at times farcical, and at times offensive. It was clear that the majority of the people who presented themselves in front of us had no idea of either the role of the president or the role of the councillors to whom they were speaking, and I think that would be a basic requirement if you are going to put yourself forward. Councillors are not stupid, nor are they easily won over. They also, almost to a man and woman, take the function of nominating a candidate extremely seriously. The idea that a member of the public can, in a five-minute address that barely touches on the functions or roles of office, win over support of people who have dedicated huge amounts of time to winning votes is fanciful. Even in the Oireachtas route, there is acceptance among some supporters of barrister Maria Steen that her bid to be nominated came too late. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin reckons that Ms Steen has 11 supporters of the 20 required. Should she hit 16, Independent Ireland has said that its four TDs will at least hear her out. But with just days to go until nominations close, her route to the ballot is narrow. Scrutiny But should Mr Sheridan prevail on "Superior Monday", those questions which dogged him in August will become issues once again in October. While he may feel those questions have been addressed, both Ms Humphreys and Catherine Connolly have been peppered with questions on controversies long since passed and there is no reason to think any more latitude would be granted to a political neophyte. At that first press conference, Mr Sheridan also addressed reports his company had given $50,000 to an Israeli hospital training Israeli Defence Force soldiers. The company worked with two doctors who developed a device that liquefied tablets for people who couldn't swallow. He said the project was shelved. He said he would have no issue whatsoever about the prospect of signing the Occupied Territories Bill into law if he was president, adding what was happening in Palestine is the utmost banality of evil. Mr Sheridan described immigration as a tricky subject, but said Ireland did not have an immigration problem, and there was a problem with the system. He also confirmed he was against Government proposals to amend the Triple Lock. But none of those positions has really been expanded upon in the last month and the difference in magnifying glass between someone who is trying to get on the ballot and a presidential candidate is exponential, not gradual. Mr Sheridan's biggest challenge, however, will be building a campaign in just a matter of weeks. Ms Connolly is a long-time TD, a veteran politician and has the backing of, as of writing, two major political parties. And, yet, her campaign has been notably spartan, with staff being seconded from parties here and there and no major splashing of the 50,000 raised through donations as yet. Running a campaign is taxing and expensive and Mr Sheridan will have to quickly switch gears in a race in which he will start from way behind. For example, while his would-be rivals were in Offaly this week shaking thousands of hands at the biggest single gathering to be held in the run-up to the election the Ploughing Championships Mr Sheridan was courting councillors and working to be on the ballot. He will have a deficit in name recognition and, presumably, resources. That Mr Sheridan is still in the race with a chance of being on the ballot is to the credit of himself and those around him. In a year which has seen all sorts of people want to be the only political outsider whose posters get erected from next week, he has put in the hard yards and achieved the most success. But even should he prevail there, the work is just starting. Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people overnight in Gaza City, health officials said, as Israel ramps up its offensive there and urges Palestinians to leave. The strikes come as some Western countries are moving to recognise Palestinian statehood at the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly next week. In a statement on Friday, Portugals Foreign Affairs Ministry said it will recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday. The country had previously announced its plans to do so but has now set an official date. Portugal is among other Western nations, including the UK, Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium and Luxembourg, expected to recognise Palestinian statehood in the coming days. Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in northern Gaza (Leo Correa/AP) The latest Israeli operation, which started this week, further escalates a conflict that has rocked the Middle East and likely pushes any ceasefire farther out of reach. The Israeli military, which says it wants to destroy Hamass military infrastructure, has not given a timeline for the offensive, but there were indications it could take months. Israeli bombardment over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas of the strip, displaced around 90% of the population and caused a humanitarian crisis, with experts saying Gaza City is experiencing famine. Dr Rami Mhanna, the managing director of Shifa Hospital, where some of the bodies were brought, said the dead included six people from the same family after a strike hit their home early on Saturday morning. They were relatives of the hospitals director, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiya, he said. Displaced Palestinians fleeing Gaza City (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The Palestinian Red Crescent said five other people were killed in another strike close to Shawa Square. Israels military did not immediately respond to questions about the strikes. In recent days, Israel has been urging hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City to move south to what it calls a humanitarian zone. Palestinians have streamed out of the city, some by car, others on foot. Israel opened another corridor south of Gaza City for two days this week to allow more people to evacuate. But many Palestinians in the famine-stricken city are unwilling to be uprooted again, too weak to leave or unable to afford the cost of moving. Aid groups have warned that forcing thousands of people to evacuate will exacerbate the dire humanitarian crisis. They are urging for a ceasefire so aid can reach those who need it. On Friday, Unicef said lifesaving therapeutic food meant for thousands of children in Gaza was stolen from four of its trucks. The statement said armed individuals approached the trucks outside their compound in Gaza City and the drivers were held at gunpoint while the food was taken. They were intended to treat malnourished children in Gaza City where famine is declared it was a life-saving shipment amid the severe restrictions on aid delivery to Gaza City, said Ammar Ammar, a spokesperson for Unicef. In a statement on Friday, Israels army blamed Hamas for stealing the food. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid and using it to fund its military activities, without providing evidence. The UN says there are mechanisms in place that prevent any significant diversion of aid. The death count in Gaza has climbed over 65,100, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, since the October 7 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the war. The ministry does not say how many of the dead were civilians or militants. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the UN and many independent experts. Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in the 2023 attack, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive. WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation raising the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to 100,000 dollars, saying the move is intended to ensure that the United States brings in highly skilled talent whom American workers cannot replace. "The large-scale replacement of American workers through systemic abuse of the program has undermined both our economic and national security," said the proclamation. According to the decree, the entry of foreign nationals holding H-1B visas to work in specialty occupations in the United States will be restricted, except for applicants whose petitions include the six-figure payment by their employer. The entry restriction applies to foreign nationals entering or attempting to enter the United States after the date of the proclamation, Sept. 21. Companies typically pay several thousand dollars for H-1B visas. This latest policy will substantially increase the cost for companies to hire foreign talent. The annual cap for new H-1B visas is 85,000, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Signing the proclamation at the White House on Friday afternoon, Trump said that companies would rather not pay the new fee, and hiring Americans would achieve that. "So there's an incentive to hire American," the U.S. president said. "The company needs to decide, is the person valuable enough to have 100,000 dollars a year payment to the government? Or they should head home and they should go hire an American?" said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was present. U.S. media noted that the hefty fee will affect tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, which have long relied on the H-1B visa program to hire foreign employees, including software developers. CBS reported that the plan could backfire by encouraging U.S. companies to shift jobs overseas, especially in specialized fields such as research and development. It could also further deter international students from studying in the United States. MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia said that a flight by three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region adhered to international aviation rules and did not cross into the airspace of other countries. In a statement published on its Telegram channel on Saturday, the Defense Ministry said that the redeployment flight on Friday was scheduled in advance and carried out under objective monitoring systems, which confirmed that no borders were violated. The statement came after Estonia's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's charge d'affaires on Friday to protest over what it claimed was an airspace violation by Russian aircraft. By Maha Nassar, University of Arizona (The Conversation) Recognition of a Palestinian state is likely to dominate proceedings at the U.N. beginning Sept 23. 2025, when world leaders will gather for the annual general assembly. Of the 193 existing U.N member states, some 147 already recognize a Palestinian state. But that number is expected to swell in the coming days, with several more countries expected to officially announce such recognition. They include Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Portugal and the U.K. although Britain says it wont support statehood if Israel takes steps to alleviate the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. That a host of Western nations are adding their names to the near-universal list of Global South countries that already recognize a Palestinian state is a major diplomatic win for the cause of an independent, sovereign and self-governed nation for Palestinians. Conversely, it is a massive diplomatic loss for Israel especially coming just two years after the West stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas. As a scholar of modern Palestinian history, I know that this diplomatic moment is decades in the making. But I am also aware that symbolic diplomatic breakthroughs on the issue of Palestinian statehood have occurred before, only to prove meaningless in the face of events that make statehood less likely. The non-state reality The fight for Palestinian statehood can be traced back to at least 1967. Over the course of a six-day war against a coalition of Arab states, Israel conquered and expanded its military control over the remainder of what was historic Palestine a stretch of land that extends from the Jordan River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. At the wars conclusion, Israel had taken control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Unlike after the 1948 war that led to its independence, Israel opted not to extend Israeli citizenship to Palestinians living in the newly conquered areas. Instead, the Israeli government began to rule over Palestinians in these occupied territories through a series of military orders. These orders controlled nearly every aspect of Palestinian life and many remain in effect today. For example, if a Palestinian farmer wants to harvest his olive trees near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, they need a permit. Or if a Gazan worker wants to work inside Israel, they need Israeli permission. Even praying in a mosque or church in East Jerusalem is dependent on obtaining a permit. This permit system served as a constant reminder to Palestinians living in the occupied territories that they lacked control over their own daily lives. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities tried to squash the idea of Palestinian nationhood through policies such as outlawing public displays of the Palestinian flag. That, and other expressions of Palestinian national identity in the occupied territories, could result in up to 10 years in prison. Such policies fit a belief, expressed in 1969 by then Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, that there was no such thing in this area as Palestinians. The rise of Palestinian nationalism Around the same time that Meir made that comment, Palestinians started organizing around the idea of statehood. Although the idea had been floated before, statehood was codified into official doctrine in a resolution in February 1969 in Egypt. It occurred during a session of the Palestine National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which formed in 1964 as the official representative of Palestinians in the occupied territories. That resolution called for a free, secular democratic state in Palestine including all of the State of Israel in which Muslims, Christians and Jews would all have equal rights. From that moment on, the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation took twin paths: diplomatic pressure and armed resistance. But events on the ground undermined the idea of a single state for all along the lines envisioned by the Cairo resolution. Yasser Arafat speaking at United Nations, January 1, 1974, Library of Congress, Gift; Bernard Gotfryd; 2004; (DLC/PP-2004:032). Forms part of the Bernard Gotfryd Photograph Collection (Library of Congress). Original negative number: LC-GB15-A-19. There are no known copyright restrictions on Bernard Gotfryds photographs in Library of Congress collections. Via Picryl.com . The 1973 Arab-Israeli Wars inconclusive ending opened the door to greater diplomacy between Israel and the Arab states. Egypt and Israel decided that diplomacy would help them achieve their aims, culminating in the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty of 1979. But the treaty also left the Palestinians without unified Arab support. Meanwhile, throughout the 1970s, the Israeli occupation deepened and entrenched with the building of Israeli settlements, especially in the West Bank. The PLO responded in 1974 by issuing what became known as the 10-Point Plan, where they pivoted to seeking the establishment of a national authority in any part of historic Palestine that could be liberated. It was, in effect, a way of threading the needle: It signaled to moderates that the PLO was adopting a more gradualist position, while also telling the groups rejectionist front which opposed peace negotiations with Israel that they were not giving up completely on the idea of liberating all of Palestine. Then in 1988 a year into the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising the PLO unilaterally declared Palestinian independence on the territories occupied in 1967. The move was largely symbolic the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem were still under occupation, and the PLO was then in exile in Tunisia. But it was nonetheless significant. It represented the bringing together of Palestinians in exile most of whom were from towns and villages that were now part of the State of Israel with Palestinians in the occupied territories. The declaration itself was written by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who grew up inside Israel, and declared by Yasser Arafat, the PLO leader in exile. It was also a moment of tremendous hope and possibility for Palestinians. What most Palestinians wanted was for the international community to recognize them as a national body, deserving of a seat at the table with other nation-states. Compromise and rejection Yet at the same time, many Palestinians saw the declaration as a huge compromise. The West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem comprise about 22% of historic Palestine. So the declaration effectively meant that Palestinians were giving up on the other 78% of what they saw as their land. Reaction from the international community to the PLOs declaration was split. Many formerly colonized countries of the Global South recognized Palestinian independence right away. By the end of the year, some 78 countries had issued statements recognizing Palestine as a state. Israel rejected it outright, as did United States and most Western nations. Such was Washingtons opposition that the U.S. denied Arafat a visa ahead of his planned address to the United Nations at its New York City headquarters. As a result, the December 1988 meeting had to be moved to Geneva. While refusing to accept Palestinian statehood, the U.S. and Israel did begin to recognize the PLO as a representative body of the Palestinian people. This was part of the Oslo Accords a diplomatic process that many believed would outline a road map for an eventual two-state solution. While some Palestinians saw the Oslo Accords as a diplomatic breakthrough, others were more skeptical. Prominent Palestinians, including Darwish and Palestinian-American professor Edward Said, believed that Oslo was a poison pill: While framed as a step toward a two-state solution, the agreement said nothing about a Palestinian state in the interim. It only said that Israel would recognize the PLO as a representative of the Palestinian people. In reality, the Oslo Accords have not lead to statehood. Rather, they created a system of fragmented autonomy under the newly created Palestinian Authority that, though meant to be interim, has in effect become permanent. The Palestinian Authority was allowed only limited powers and deprived of real independence. While it had some say over schooling, health care and municipal services, Israel maintained control of Palestinian land, resources, borders and the economy. That remains true today. Renewed push for statehood recognition Disillusionment over the Oslo Accords contributed to the second, far more violent, intifada from 2000 to 2005. Photo by t s on Unsplash Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority after Arafat, responded by pushing again for international recognition for statehood. And in 2012, the U.N. General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestines status, elevating it from a nonmember observer to a nonmember observer state. In theory, this meant Palestinians now had access to international bodies, like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. But any meaningful change in the status of Palestinian sovereignty would need to come through the U.N. Security Council, not the U.N. General Assembly. The U.S. remains opposed to Palestinians gaining statehood independent of the Oslo process. So long as the U.S. has a veto on the Security Council, achieving a truly sovereign Palestinian state will likewise be off the table. And that remains the case, regardless of what individual members even fellow Security Council members like France and the U.K do. In fact, many Palestinians and other critics of the status quo say Western nations are using the issue of Palestinian statehood to absolve them from the far more challenging diplomatic task of holding Israel accountable for what a U.N. body just described as a genocide in Gaza. This article is based on a conversation between Maha Nassar and Gemma Ware for The Conversation Weekly podcast. Maha Nassar, Associate Professor in the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Arizona This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North America | Letter to UC Berkeley regarding the universitys submission to the Department of Education of 160 names of persons associated with allegations of antisemitism President James B. Milliken Office of the President University of California president@ucop.edu Chancellor Rich Lyons Office of the Chancellor University of California, Berkeley chancellor@berkeley.edu Dear President Milliken and Chancellor Lyons: We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our concern about the University of California, Berkeleys decision to give the federal government the names of 160 individuals associated with allegations of antisemitism on campus. Your administrations actions in this regard, which could jeopardize the safety, employment and/or immigration status of the individuals on this list, threaten all members of the UC Berkeley community. This decision also violates longstanding university policies and procedures, and threatens both academic freedom and freedom of speech at your university. MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the prestigious International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America. On 4 September 2025, 160 members of the UC Berkeley campus community received notice from the university that their names had been handed over to the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights (OCR) because of their connection to an allegation of antisemitism. We note that the purpose of the Office of Civil Rights is to determine a universitys compliance with the nondiscrimination policies outlined in Title VI of the Higher Education Act; the personal identities of those associated with specific allegations on any particular campus are therefore not relevant to the fulfillment of OCRs mandate. Moreover, as far as we know, the Department of Education has not previously requested that UC Berkeley provide information regarding persons allegedly named in reports of other forms of discrimination on campus. In the 4 September 2025 communication, UC Berkeleys chief legal counsel, David Robinson, informed the 160 individuals that while the nature of their association with an antisemitism allegation had been reported to the federal government, the university would not provide the individuals themselves with any information regarding these allegations. These decisions deprive the individuals concerned of the protection of the universitys own procedures and protections; they also run counter to the principles of democracy and of academic freedom. We note that other institutions that have been asked to turn over the names of faculty and students during OCR investigations have provided the named individuals with specific information about what information was released to the federal government. UC Berkeleys decision to hand over the details of allegations some of which have been dismissed or not yet investigated to the federal government potentially threatens the safety, education, employment, and immigration status of members of the campus community. As the request for personal information falls outside the OCRs mandate and targets individuals, the request has the effect of chilling speech and quashing free expression. Those who are non-citizens or whose employment is not protected by tenure are especially vulnerable. The historical echoes of your administrations actions ring clearly. We recall that during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s, hundreds of professors lost their jobs, were denied tenure, or forced out of their positions. Your recent actions are particularly disheartening in light of UC Berkeleys rich history as a place where free speech and expression have been celebrated and protected. Your actions have prompted a wave of fear and opposition on UC Berkeleys campus as well as among the professional associations that represent faculty. In these fraught times, when institutions of higher education are under severe pressure from the federal government, college and university leaders have a heightened responsibility to protect the freedom of speech, academic freedom and physical safety of all members of the campus community. We call your attention to the statement issued by MESAs board of directors and its Committee on Academic Freedom on 6 May 2024, which denounced actions by college and university leaders to delegitimize and repress campus advocacy opposing Israels war on Gaza. In yet another statement , dated 13 March 2025, MESAs board called on colleges and universities to resist demands and pressures by the government and by organized efforts based outside academia to silence scholarly engagement with the question of Palestine/Israel: In the current national climate, as institutions of higher education and their mission of critical inquiry face unprecedented attack, MESA unequivocally supports efforts to stand up for freedom of expression, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy. Rather than facilitating or acting in the interests of government repression, we must all take a collective stance to defend higher education in the United States. We therefore call on you to inform the individuals whose information was conveyed to the Department of Education of the precise nature of the information that was provided. With respect to any further demands for information by the federal government, we urge you to respect the principles of shared governance and consult fully before complying with future demands by the agencies of the federal government. Finally, we call on you to respect the integrity of, and adhere to, UC Berkeleys own procedures for investigating and resolving cases of discrimination by maintaining the anonymity and privacy provided for in university policies. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Asl U. Bali MESA President Professor, Yale Law School Laurie A. Brand Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom Professor Emerita, University of Southern California Cc: Farida Shaheed United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education South Sudan's opposition said Saturday said it had wrongly claimed that a bodyguard of its leader had died in custody amid widespread arrests of their supporters. In a statement, the opposition admitted the leader's office had been given an old photo and wrongly believed it showed the death in custody of the bodyguard, Luka Gathok Nyuon. He was said to be a bodyguard to opposition leader and ex-vice president Riek Machar. "It has come to my attention that this photo was in fact taken few years back in Rumbek prison and does not belong to our fallen comrade," said opposition spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel, without giving details on the bodyguard's current circumstances. The government of President Salva Kiir has locked up dozens of opposition members in recent months, accusing them of fomenting violence. The opposition says Kiir is seeking to consolidate power and has effectively destroyed a 2018 power-sharing deal that ended a devastating five-year civil war in which some 400,000 people died. Opposition leader Riek Machar, Kiir's long-time rival, has been stripped of his position as vice-president in the unity government and will appear in court from Monday on charges of treason and crimes against humanity. Machar is accused of coordinating an attack on a military base by the White Army, a militia group from his ethnic Nuer community, which his party denies. His supporters accuse the government of locking up more than 100 "officials and officers" from Machar's entourage "under very harsh conditions including torture, starvation and denial of medical care". South Sudan, one of the poorest countries in the world, has suffered chronic instability since it became independent from Sudan in 2011. er/sbk X TAIPEI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Latest data show a sharp rise in the number of furloughed people in Taiwan. According to data released by the island's labor authority in mid-September, 333 companies implemented furlough on 7,334 employees, an increase of 88 companies and 2,471 individuals from the end of August. Among them, 242 companies and 6,246 people were affected by U.S. tariffs on Taiwan, with the number of affected individuals nearly doubling from the last period. Behind these figures, the island has witnessed the weakest consumer confidence index in over two years and three straight months of manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) contraction. Observers warn that factors such as U.S. tariffs on Taiwan are undermining business confidence, leaving little optimism for Taiwan's economic outlook. Of all companies implementing unpaid leave for employees, the manufacturing sector appears to be the hardest hit, with 271 companies placing 6,870 employees on furlough in the latest tally. Recent moves by some operators in traditional industries across the island seem to have confirmed this trend. In Taichung, a traditional manufacturer said it planned to shut down and sell the plant for cash to invest in other industries. In Changhua, a hardware company said it had already moved to a schedule of "four days on, three days off," which could be switched to "three days on, four days off" or even shut down for an entire week if conditions worsen. Dachrahn Wu, an economics professor at Taiwan's Central University, told the media that many manufacturers, especially those in traditional manufacturing, hesitate in accepting new overseas orders due to concerns over U.S. tariff policies and factors such as the recent appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar. This has impacted the job market. Concerns over U.S. tariffs have also dampened consumer confidence. According to data released by the Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development under the Central University, Taiwan's consumer confidence index in August was 63.31 points, down 1.07 points from July and the lowest in nearly two and a half years. Wu believes that once households begin to doubt their income prospects, consumer willingness to spend will inevitably decline. The fact that affected companies are expanding unpaid leave or laying off employees is a main reason behind the weakening indicators. At the same time, the PMI, widely regarded as a bellwether of economic growth, plunged 1.6 percentage points from June to 48.0 percent in the island in July, and further dropped another 0.1 percentage point to 47.9 percent in August, marking the third consecutive month of contraction. Lin Chien-fu, a senior Taiwan-based economist, suggested that Taiwan's GDP growth could drop to around 2.8 percent next year, considering the increasing furlough numbers and weakening consumer confidence. Several observers also suggested that Taiwan has already front-loaded a significant share of its export demand in the first half of this year. Once U.S. tariffs on Taiwan are fully implemented, the combined effects will place even greater pressure on its economy. Businesses are also actively seeking solutions in response to the less-than-optimistic economic outlook. The island's federation of industries recently released its 2025 white paper, which emphasized "avoiding misjudgment" and seeking peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The white paper called on Taiwan authorities to ease restrictions on cross-Strait exchanges and seize the changes in the mainland market to explore diverse business opportunities. The proposals have struck a strong chord on the island. Hsieh Chih-chuan, a news commentator in Taiwan, said that strengthening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation is crucial for Taiwan. By deepening integration with mainland enterprises and enhancing collaboration in industrial and supply chains, many struggling businesses on the island could find a way out and achieve better development, he said. Friday, September 19, 2025 - Kiambu Sub-County detectives have apprehended five suspects for masterminding a kidnapping incident in Ruaka. The operation and subsequent arrest of the suspects unfolded after the victims girlfriend's call to his boyfriend was answered by an unidentified voice that demanded a ransom of Sh 500,000 for the safe return of her boyfriend. Acting on intelligence leads, a team of detectives sprang into action, trailing down the kidnappers. Their relentless efforts led them to Ithanga, where they successfully rescued the victim, who was found with numerous visible injuries and a blood-stained shirt, and arrested the suspects: Sydney Ezra Achanda, John Louise Omondi, Enock Sum Cheruyot, Peter Kanini Mwangi, and Lucy Sara Muhonja near Quickmatt Thindigua. The detectives also impounded two getaway vehicles used by the suspects: a Suzuki Swift (KDD 841D) and a Mazda Demio (KDP 468Y). A search of these vehicles revealed a kitchen knife, ten assorted mobile phones, and a tablet, among other items. At the time of their arrest, the kidnappers had already received a ransom of Sh 68,000. The five suspects are currently in custody, undergoing processing, awaiting their court appearance. Friday, September 19, 2025 - Residents of Ruiru are calling for urgent security intervention after CCTV footage captured a shocking attack by armed robbers in the Kimbo area. The footage, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows a man being ambushed and assaulted by thugs wielding crude weapons before they made away with his belongings. The brazen incident has left locals living in fear, with many expressing concern over what they describe as an alarming rise in crime within the fast-growing town. Community members now want more police patrols, installation of additional street lights, and swift action to restore order and protect residents. They argue that insecurity has become rampant, with cases of muggings, break-ins, and violent robberies being reported frequently. Watch the footage. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - In a candid interview with a Mombasa radio station, celebrated Citizen TV journalist, Mashirima Kapombe, opened up about a deeply personal chapter of her life, becoming a mother in her mid-twenties outside of marriage. Kapombe revealed that her parents were visibly disappointed when they learnt of her pregnancy, having held traditional hopes for her future. I gave birth outside marriage, and that was very disappointing for my parents, she shared. But we all learned some lessons there. Despite their initial reaction, her family chose to support her rather than judge, with her father firmly questioning the mans willingness to take responsibility. Kapombe, then just 24 or 25, described the experience as a turning point, one that taught her about the importance of emotional maturity and independence. She reflected on the naivety many young women face, mistaking fleeting affection for lasting love. Her mothers warnings, once dismissed, now resonate deeply: You are still young, you have not seen life. Ultimately, Kapombe chose to lean on her family rather than pursue a relationship that lacked stability. They asked me to make a decision between going on with the man or staying at home. And you know there are things you need like going to the clinic and so much more, so at that point I made a decision and said the relationship will not work, I would rather trust my family. And they were fantastic, they supported me. Their support helped her navigate the practical and emotional challenges of new motherhood. She now advocates for better education and guidance for young girls on love, relationships and self-reliance. Mahirimas baby daddy is comedian turned radio presenter Captain Otoyo. The Kenyan DAILY POST BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday expounded China's views on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict during talks with Foreign Minister of Morocco Nasser Bourita in Beijing. Noting that the international community should unite in the face of the current emergency situation, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said it is necessary to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza with the greatest sense of urgency to alleviate the current humanitarian disaster. Countries that have a special influence on Israel should take their responsibilities earnestly, and the United Nations Security Council and humanitarian agencies should also fulfill their duties. Wang said the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine" must be truly implemented. Gaza and the West Bank are both inalienable territories of Palestine. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements should respect the will of the Palestinian people and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation. Wang also stressed the necessity to firmly adhere to the two-state solution, pool more international consensus and form a more unified position. Wang called for supporting Palestine's full membership in the United Nations on the basis of recognizing the State of Palestine, seeking feasible paths to advancing the two-state solution, and rejecting any unilateral actions that erode the two-state solution. Friday, September 19, 2025 - Renowned digital strategist and Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, has sensationally alleged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua physically assaulted him at the Eldoret State Lodge. Speaking in an interview with media personality Alex Mwakideu, Itumbi claimed that the altercation occurred after he declined to post on his social media pages declaring Gachagua as Mt. Kenyas undisputed kingpin. According to Itumbi, Gachagua roughed him up and accused him of undermining his authority in the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region. Itumbi went further, describing Gachagua as a petty and insecure leader struggling with low self-esteem. He appears like a lion while speaking in public, but in private, he is nothing more than a timid cat, Itumbi remarked. Watch the video. DENNIS ITUMBI narrates how former Deputy President RIGATHI GACHAGUA assaulted him at Eldoret State Lodge pic.twitter.com/SI3vPnh3z6 DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) September 19, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, has attributed President William Rutos growing list of political adversaries to his unprecedented openness with ordinary Kenyans. Speaking on Friday, September 19th, 2025, during the launch of the SHA Sponsorship Program at State House, Nairobi, Duale said Rutos decision to allow citizens from all walks of life to freely access State House has disrupted traditional political norms. Mimi nilikua nakuja State House, wakati wa Mheshimiwa Uhuru na Mheshimiwa Kibaki, na sijawahi kuona Wakenya wa tabaka hii kuja kukaa hapa, Duale remarked. Ndio maana uko na adui wengi. Maadui wanakupiga kwa sababu umesema hii nyumba ni ya Wakenya. He praised Rutos inclusive leadership, noting that teachers, doctors, and civil servants now have the constitutional right to engage directly with their President. Duale emphasized that this level of citizen access fosters trust and a sense of ownership in governance. President Ruto has shown a level of inclusivity weve never seen before. People are angry because this isnt how politics has been done - but its the right way, he added. The SHA Sponsorship Program launch, attended by thousands in branded T-shirts, served as a powerful symbol of this new era. Duales remarks underscored Rutos grassroots strategy - one that challenges old hierarchies and redefines how leadership connects with the public. Observers say this shift could reshape Kenyas political culture ahead of the 2027 elections and Rutos re-election bid. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - Shock still grips residents of Daraja Mbili, Kisii, following the gruesome incident in which Fred Mokaya set his wife ablaze after a domestic dispute, before attempting to disguise the crime as a gas explosion. In the aftermath of the tragedy, locals trooped to the rented house where the horrific act occurred and conducted cleansing rituals. Elders said the rites were necessary to chase away evil spirits and restore calm to the neighbourhood. The rituals came shortly after Mokaya, who had been admitted to the ICU with severe burns sustained during the fire, succumbed to his injuries. The incident has left the community in disbelief, with many struggling to reconcile the couples tragic end with their public image. Friends and neighbours noted that the pair had often portrayed themselves as a perfect match, frequently showcasing their love life online. FRED MOKAYA's house in Daraja Mbili, Kisii pic.twitter.com/htSuV7Hg1g DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) September 19, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - Controversial Kenyan comedian and content creator Chebet Ronoh has ignited a fiery online debate after boldly declaring in a viral video that marriage is for fools. Known for her unfiltered humour and outspoken personality, Ronohs comment quickly stirred reactions across social media, with critics accusing her of mocking a culturally and religiously revered institution. But Ronoh didnt flinch. In a follow-up video, she challenged the outrage, asking, If you truly believe marriage is essential, why are you offended that a stranger thinks its foolish? She argued that secure individuals arent easily rattled by differing opinions, adding, In my 29 years, Ive never seen a secure person stretched. They are always grounded. The conversation has since split netizens split. Some applauded her for questioning societal norms and expressing personal beliefs without apology. Others felt she crossed a line, dismissing a tradition that holds deep meaning for many. A recent survey among Gen Z has added context to Chebet Ronohs controversial remarks, revealing a generational shift in attitudes toward marriage and parenthood. The findings showed that a significant majority of Gen Z respondents are increasingly opposed to traditional milestones like getting married or having children. A growing number even identify as cat mums or pet parents, choosing to nurture animals over raising kids. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - A family in Nairobi is in distress after a man identified as Charles Mwangi, a cab driver, went missing under unclear circumstances. According to his wife, Mwangi left his two mobile phones at home before disappearing, making it impossible to trace his whereabouts. She described the situation as unusual and deeply worrying. His heavily pregnant wife has now turned to social media, sharing his photos and pleading with the public to help locate him. She noted that the disappearance has added to her emotional and physical strain as she prepares to give birth. The family is appealing to anyone with information about Mwangis whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact them directly. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - Grief engulfed Nyamakoroto village in Nyamira County as four family members who perished in a horrific arson attack were laid to rest in an emotional ceremony. The victims, a young mother identified as Maryanne Makini, her 8-month-old baby, and her elderly parents, lost their lives after Marryannes estranged lover set their house ablaze in a fit of rage. Marryannes ex-lover, Benson Maeka, is the prime suspect in the gruesome arson attack. Maeka was nabbed in Kibra, Nairobi, following crucial leads volunteered by two individuals, a Good Samaritan and a close friend of the deceased. Both recorded statements at Keroka Police Station, placing Maeka at the scene of the crime. According to investigators, on the day of the tragedy, Maeka was seen withdrawing money at an M-Pesa shop in Kaplong. In the company of three accomplices, he allegedly purchased petrol from a nearby filling station using a jerrycan before heading to his ex-lovers homestead to commit the heinous crime. Reports indicate that Maryanne had left her matrimonial home after a disagreement, and her parents resisted efforts by Maeka to reconcile. See photos of the burial. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - President William Ruto has revealed that Ksh40,000 is deducted from his monthly salary to fund the Social Health Authority (SHA), a new healthcare scheme aimed at providing universal coverage for Kenyans. Speaking on Friday, September 19th, 2025, during the launch of the SHA Sponsorship Program at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said his contribution, along with those of other top leaders, is helping subsidize healthcare for millions of vulnerable citizens. Leo tunasema ya kwamba, wale wako na uwezo watalipa kulingana na uwezo wao, Ruto stated, noting that Members of Parliament contribute Ksh26,000 monthly, while the lowest earners pay as little as Ksh300. He emphasized that those unable to pay will be fully covered by the Government. The President announced that 2.2 million Kenyans are already benefiting from the program, which covers critical procedures such as kidney transplants, cancer treatment, and accident-related surgeries. He added that even informal workers like boda boda riders can now access care in top-tier hospitals without financial strain. Ruto highlighted that SHA eliminates bureaucratic delays, allowing beneficiaries to receive treatment in level 3 hospitals and above, access prescribed medication, and leave without paying a shilling. Leo ukitoka hapa, uko na bima ya afya unaeza kwenda hospitali yoyote Kenya, he said. While the initiative promises expanded access to quality care, critics remain cautious, citing past unfulfilled pledges such as free phone calls. Questions linger over whether low-income earners will truly access high-end facilities as promised. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, September 19, 2025 - A 23-year-old man was taken to Kinoo Police Station after being spotted dressed in a girls school uniform. With a convincing feminine voice, he introduced himself as Millicent Kemunto from Kisii, claiming he was searching for his mother - a vegetable vendor in Kinoo. However, the phone number he provided was switched off. Police Officers spent hours trying to verify his story and eventually, the truth emerged. His real name was Kelvin Mongare, and the elaborate disguise was a bold attempt to secure a job as a househelp. The incident has ignited widespread reactions online, with many netizens urging the public to exercise caution and conduct thorough background checks before hiring house helps. Social media users emphasized the importance of verifying identities and intentions to avoid potential risks, especially when welcoming someone into the home. Friday, September 19, 2025 - Whistleblower Nelson Amenya has revealed that he was expelled from the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness, led by Prophet David Owuor, following his explosive expose on Adani-linked corruption. Speaking on the Iko Nini podcast from exile in France, Amenya said the church distanced itself, branding him an enemy of the state. Waliniambia hawataki anything to do with me, he shared. His revelations sparked nationwide protests, eventually forcing President William Ruto to cancel the controversial JKIA deal with Adani. Amenyas story highlights the personal cost of truth-telling in Kenya - and how one voice can disrupt powerful interests and reshape national decisions. Watch the video " Waliniambia hawataki anything to do with me because I was the enemy of the state"- Nelson Amenya recounts how the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness, led by Prophet Owuor, expelled him after the Adani expose. pic.twitter.com/SOFIRtDsNm The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) September 18, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST WINDHOEK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of 12 Namibian students aged between 13 and 16 departed on Saturday for a 10-day educational excursion to China aimed at exposing them to scientific innovation and cultural exchange. The program, titled "Nuclear Energy Lights Up Dreams, Friendship Bridges the Future," is sponsored by Rossing Uranium, purchased by China Nuclear Uranium Corporation (CNUC) Namibia Mining Limited. It seeks to introduce the students to advances in science and technology while deepening mutual understanding between the two countries. At a pre-departure event in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, the students expressed their excitement about the journey, which will take them to several Chinese cities -- Beijing, Tongliao, Zhangzhou, and Xiamen -- combining scientific exploration with cultural immersion. "I mostly want to learn more about nuclear energy. I really want to make a notebook just full of notes about nuclear energy because that topic is really fun," said Benjamin Jacobus, a Grade 7 learner from Oshakati in northern Namibia, who also looked forward to visiting iconic sites such as the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and the Forbidden City. Fifteen-year-old Berlize Ria Fuls said she was eager to explore science, cultural differences, and uranium. "I one day hope I can work with one of you, or every one of you. So, thank you very much for this opportunity," she added. Another participant, Hella Kalola, said she hoped to "explore the rich culture of the country" and experience its modern infrastructure. "I hope to experience diverse traditions and art forms and taste authentic Chinese cuisine... I also want to witness the high-speed train," she said. Susan Zhang, manager of public relations at CNUC Namibia Mining Limited, noted that the study tour also reflects corporate citizenship. The initiative "demonstrates our shared commitment to corporate social responsibility, as well as strong support for education and youth development across Namibia," Zhang noted, urging the students to approach the journey with open minds and to become "a lasting bridge of friendship between Namibia and China." The initiative follows Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's recent call for skills development to prepare the country for a nuclear-powered future. In August, Rossing Uranium also sponsored three Namibian students to pursue master's degrees in nuclear energy in China. Rossing Uranium, Namibia's largest operating open-pit uranium mine, employed 871 people by the end of 2024, most of them Namibian. Sale prices for homes in Kilkenny in the first six months of 2025 have continued their upward trajectory across all categories. IPAVs Residential Property Price Barometer charts prices actually achieved by auctioneers every six months for three and four-bedroom semi-detached homes and two-bedroom apartments. In Kilkenny in the first six months of this year three-bedroom homes were up by 3.39% to 305,000; four-bedrooms by 4.05% to 385,000 and two-bedroom apartments by 3.57 % to 217,500. In the three and four-bedroom category Roscommon topped the league with increases of 10.49% and 9.24% respectively in the first six months of the year. At the higher end also in the three-bedroom category were Carlow at 9.71%, Waterford at 8.88% and Wicklow at 7.92%. READ: MAJOR KILKENNY EVENT POSTPONED THIS WEEKEND A number of market segments showed increases of less than 3%, primarily in Dublin. In terms of prices Longford had the cheapest homes in the country at 220,000 in the three-bedroom category, followed by Roscommon at 223,750 and Donegal at 225,000. Commenting on the latest data, Genevieve McGuirk, IPAV Chief Executive said: Prices have been on the up since the third quarter of 2023. It is not positive from the perspective of aspiring buyers, or indeed for the State, that increases of this magnitude would continue indefinitely. READ: 'This is not normal': Rents for new tenants in Kilkenny rose by 7.3% in the last 12 months She said whats worrying is the supply and demand balance has been seriously out of kilter for a considerable period, and latest data is not encouraging. Institutional investment in residential property fell by 80 per cent in 2023 and 2024, according to the Central Bank. And while new dwelling completions in Q2 2025 showed a rise of 35% on the same period last year, commencement notices in the first seven months of 2025 are down substantially. Ms McGuirk said all hope now rests with the Government and its much anticipated new housing plan. We have to embrace new thinking, she said. Above all, we must see coherence of policy across Government and State agencies to break down impediments so that housing policy better delivers socially and economically. And she said emergency planning measures would be needed. In recent weeks, multiple violent threats have been made against Tanaiste Simon Harris, from bomb hoax scares involving his home to threatened attacks on family members. Regardless of your political leaning, this is abhorrent and an attack on democracy itself. There is no doubt; much of this divisive rhetoric is fomenting on social media, where people have become radicalised and emboldened. Some of the poisonous behaviours and ideas now being spewed by (some) Irish people are being imported from abroad. The American culture wars are here and they are now affecting debate and dividing public opinion. America is a hugely divided nation and it is being driven further apart by farms of fake accounts and bots, designed for that purpose. Charlie Kirk a man most Irish people had probably never heard of until this month is being discussed at the office watercooler, in the local pub, and even from the pulpit. Social media and the global nature of the internet means that national debates no longer remain within any one countrys borders. Things changed when social media was born. A further change occurred when the social media algorithims switched from connecting people and showing them things they might like to curating things designed to outrage, to drive engagement, and to polarise. The more extreme the better. We are seeing the results of this in real time. Ireland all of us need to be extremely careful where we go from here. As for the US, the outlook appears grim. One hopes the latest development does not become Americas Reichstag fire moment. TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS BUG HOTEL DESTROYED It is really disappointing to see a Tidy Towns project the Piltown bug hotel destroyed, presumably by vandals. A lot of work went into it, and it was a beautifully crafted piece designed to look like the Ink Bottle at Belline. That purpose was both to enhance biodiversity and add to the areas Tidy Towns offering. Lets hope the culprits are caught and face sanction. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said Saturday that China stands ready to work with all countries to jointly build a global community of science and technology and create a better future together. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai. He called for building an open and inclusive global innovation network, jointly tackling major challenges such as climate change, promoting the reciprocal sharing of technological achievements, and improving the global sci-tech governance system while practicing the Global Governance Initiative. Nikolai Snopkov, first deputy prime minister of Belarus, this year's guest country of honor, and Chen Jining, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, also attended the event. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits an exhibition on achievements in China-Belarus scientific and technological innovation cooperation after the opening ceremony of the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 20, 2025. Liu addressed the opening ceremony here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Tang Lin (front, 3rd L), Mary Silantoi (front, C) and Yuan Lin (front, 3rd R) pose for a photo with girls at the newly-built classroom of the Namunyak rescue center in Narok's Aitong Town, Kenya, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) NAIROBI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Nearly every weekend, Tang Lin and Yuan Lin set out across Kenya's Maasai Mara plains, their vehicle packed with supplies -- sneakers, clothes, sweets, and daily essentials -- destined for the 29 girls under their care. On the edge of the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok County stands the Namunyak rescue center, a modest yet vibrant refuge for girls whose futures were once uncertain. Its name, Namunyak, means "happiness" in the Maasai language. Tang and Yuan, both from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, first came to Kenya to pursue careers in tourism. As Chinese visitors to the East African country increased, their business grew steadily. In 2019, they took a leap and purchased an eco-lodge in Maasai Mara. What began as an entrepreneurial venture soon blossomed into an unexpected mission of compassion. Shortly after opening their lodge, a local woman named Mary Silantoi approached them. Volunteering with the county's department for women and children affairs, Silantoi had taken in several girls who had fled early marriage or female genital mutilation. She asked for space to run a small shop at the lodge to support their care. According to a report released by the local government, girls aged 10 to 19 account for about 30 percent of pregnant women in the area. Many, still children themselves, are married off by their families in exchange for a few cows. "I have a daughter of my own," said 48-year-old Tang. "When I saw children running barefoot and learned that so many were out of school, I couldn't look away." "The locals helped us establish our business, and we wanted to give something back," Yuan said. The pair decided not only to support Silantoi's shop but also to help create a permanent, safe home for the girls. That decision led to the founding of Namunyak -- a community-based organization dedicated to protecting vulnerable girls. In June 2023, Tang and Yuan bought 15 acres (about 6 hectares) of land near Narok's Aitong Town and built what is now the Namunyak rescue center. Though modest, the center gave Silantoi and the girls a place they could finally call their own. Over the past two years, Tang and Yuan have repaired the girls' housing, installed electricity and a water tower, covered their school fees, and hired security guards and caretakers. Near the center stand newly built classrooms, a kitchen, and toilets, along with three traditional thatched huts serving as Silantoi's office and living quarters. Among the girls is 13-year-old Mitchell Ketere, who joined Namunyak two years ago after her father's death left her family struggling. "I want to be a chef someday. I love cooking for others," she said with a bright smile. "These girls have endured difficult pasts, but now they radiate pride, passion, and hope," said Silantoi, who devotes herself to teaching them values, resilience, and self-respect. At 56, she dreams of a day when no more girls need rescuing, when every Maasai girl can enjoy a safe and happy childhood. In March 2024, the local government officially registered Namunyak as a community-based organization, recognizing its contribution to local welfare. For Tang and Yuan, their journey in Kenya is about more than charity. "We've built a business here, but we also built a family," Tang said. Yuan added, "Happiness means every daughter -- whether in Kenya or China -- can live a good life." On the vast Maasai Mara plains, where wildlife roams free, two men from distant China have sown seeds of hope. For the 29 girls of Namunyak, happiness is no longer just a word -- it is home. Girls play soccer at the Namunyak rescue center in Narok's Aitong Town, Kenya, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) Girls have lunch at the Namunyak rescue center in Narok's Aitong Town, Kenya, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) Girls try on shoes donated by Chinese tourists at the Namunyak rescue center in Narok's Aitong Town, Kenya, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) A girl receives her lunch at the Namunyak rescue center in Narok's Aitong Town, Kenya, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) Girls play chess at the Namunyak rescue center in Narok's Aitong Town, Kenya, Aug. 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Water tanks on the roof of households are pictured in Amman, Jordan, on Sept. 21, 2025. Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects.(Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) AMMAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects. Jordan's annual renewable water resources fall below 75 cubic meters per person, far under the global water scarcity threshold of 500 cubic meters, Jordanian environmental specialist Omar Shoshan told Xinhua recently. "The crisis is worsening due to climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand," Shoshan warned. He cited Jordan's Fourth National Communication on Climate Change, a report published in October 2023 by the UN Development Programme, that projected a 15-percent decline in average annual rainfall and a 5-percent rise in evaporation over the next 20 years in Jordan. "Declining rainfall and higher temperatures mean less groundwater recharge, more droughts, and shrinking surface water supplies," Shoshan said, adding that demographic pressures, including a large refugee population, further strain resources. Currently, groundwater provides about 60 percent of Jordan's supply, surface water stored in dams for about 25-30 percent, and treated wastewater for the rest. To manage scarcity, a rotation system is implemented in the capital, Amman, where households typically receive piped water two days a week. Some governorates receive supply only once every two weeks. Families rely on rooftop storage tanks, and many turn to private tankers at additional cost when supplies run out. Residents report adapting to the rationed system with careful planning. "I always hear that Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries, but in my home the water comes regularly on scheduled days, and we manage without problems," said Kareema Othman, a 64-year-old housewife in Amman. "Still, we cannot do all the big household chores at once. We must spread them out so we don't empty the tanks," she told Xinhua. Mahdy Obada, from eastern Amman, noted inconsistencies. "The water in my neighborhood comes once a week, but sometimes the pressure is too low. Less water reaches the upper floors of our building, and sometimes the whole neighborhood suffers from weak flow," he told Xinhua. Jordanian officials have acknowledged the system's fragility, citing over-pumping, illegal wells, high extraction costs, and water losses nearing 50 percent through leakage, theft, or metering gaps. "The current distribution model is unsustainable in the medium and long term," a source at Jordan's Ministry of Water and Irrigation told Xinhua. In response, Jordan is advancing large-scale infrastructure projects. The National Water Carrier Project aims to desalinate Red Sea water in the coastal city of Aqaba and transport it 445 km north to Amman and other cities, potentially supplying about 300 million cubic meters annually, roughly one-third of Jordan's needs by 2030. Additional measures, outlined in Jordan's national water strategy and economic development vision, include reducing network losses, expanding wastewater reuse, and extending sewage coverage. Jordan is pursuing an integrated approach combining advanced technology, sustainable supply, and institutional reform, to secure water access under mounting environmental, climatic, and demographic pressures, the ministerial source told Xinhua. Water tanks on the roof of households are pictured in Amman, Jordan, on Sept. 21, 2025. Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects.(Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) This undated file photo shows people swimming in an irrigation canal in Jordan Valley, Jordan. Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects.(Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) A man brings water from a water tank to his home at a village in Jerash, Jordan, on Sept. 20, 2025. Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects.(Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) A man gets water from a water tank at a village in Jerash, Jordan, on Sept. 20, 2025. Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects.(Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) A man drinks water after taking it from a water tank at a village in Jerash, Jordan, on Sept. 20, 2025. Jordan is grappling with one of the world's most severe water crises caused by climate change, over-pumping, and rising demand, as local authorities are trying to manage scarcity with a rotation system and large-scale infrastructure projects.(Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The descent module of Russia's Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite carrying live organisms landed safely in the steppes of the Orenburg region after a 30-day mission in space, Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos said on Friday. The spacecraft, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Aug. 20, returned to Earth carrying biological samples, including live animals and plants. The organisms will be transported to Moscow for further study. The Bion-M No. 2 project is designed to study how living organisms endure spaceflight in high-latitude orbits, where the level of cosmic radiation is about one-third higher than that on the International Space Station's orbit. On board the 6.4-ton satellite were 75 male mice, around 1,500 fruit flies, cell cultures, plants, grain and legume samples, as well as technical crops. Also included were fungi, lichens, cellular materials, and seeds derived from plants whose parent seeds had previously been sent into space on Bion-M No. 1 in 2013 and Foton-M No. 4 in 2014. The Bion program is a series of Russian spacecraft dedicated to biological research, focusing on the effects of radiation and weightlessness on living organisms. The first satellite in this line, Kosmos-605, was launched in 1973. The first Bion-M satellite was launched in 2013, carrying mice, Mongolian gerbils, geckos, snails, plants and various microorganisms into space. Cheng Lijing, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, poses for a photo with the trophy during the ceremony of the UNESCO-Al Fozan Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Paris, France, Sept. 19, 2025. Cheng was awarded the prize for "his contributions to providing scientific evidence for marine climate change as a critical basis for risk assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation." (Xinhua/Luo Yu) PARIS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Lijing, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was awarded the UNESCO-Al Fozan Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Paris on Friday. According to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Chinese scientist was recognized for "his contributions to providing scientific evidence for marine climate change as a critical basis for risk assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation." Cheng's work includes developing ocean data processing techniques and datasets, studying historical ocean heat content, salinity and oxygen changes, and investigations of our planet's energy budget and water cycle. He leads global researchers in improving ocean data quality, constructing high-quality gridded datasets, understanding of how the ocean responds to climate change, studying the associated risks to support Sustainable Development Goals, and informing policy decisions worldwide relative to climate adaptation and mitigation. "I am very pleased to receive this honor. Ocean climate change is a relatively niche discipline, and I hope this award will help draw more attention to the field. In the future, I look forward to making more contributions, advancing ocean climate research, and supporting climate governance," Cheng told Xinhua. This biennial prize was established by the UNESCO in 2021 in partnership with the Al Fozan Foundation in Saudi Arabia to recognize five exceptional researchers, representing each of the following regions: Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean. Announced during a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the award aims to advance and popularize science, foster international collaboration, and support young scientists, particularly in countries where science and technology are still developing. This year, four other laureates from Cyprus, Morocco, Namibia and Peru were also honored for their significant contributions to advancing science and education in diverse fields, ranging from empowering youth with hands-on skills in coding, robotics and STEM education, to developing pioneering breast cancer risk prediction tools, and promoting biodiversity conservation. Cheng Lijing, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, speaks during the ceremony of the UNESCO-Al Fozan Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Paris, France, Sept. 19, 2025. Cheng was awarded the prize for "his contributions to providing scientific evidence for marine climate change as a critical basis for risk assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation." (Xinhua/Luo Yu) THE APPLICATION by the Heath Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to cancel or vary the registration of Droimnin Nursing Home, just outside Stradbally resumed at Portlaoise District Court this morning Friday 19 September. The application was first brought by Alison Fynes SC under Section 59 of the Health Act 2007 before Judge Susan Fay on Monday last, due to what HIQA said were reasonable grounds of risks to life, or serious risk to the health and welfare of residents at the nursing home. Defending Ronan Kennedy SC said that should the application be acceded to it would have very significant consequences not only for the registered provider, but also for the 49 residents, who treat it as their home. Mr Kennedy also said that when the issues HIQA had raised were brought to the attention of the owners of the nursing home, they prepared an enhanced governance and management plan that was furnished to HIQA last night. Noting that the application was urgent Judge Fay went on to adjourn the case to todays Friday 19 September sitting of Portlaoise District Court for mention before Judge Andrew Cody. When the case resumed today Ms Fynes told Judge Cody that the Chief Inspector of HIQA had received the care homes replying affidavit the previous day and was now asking the court to fix a hearing date as soon as possible, due to the immediacy is the applicants submission. Judge Cody informed Ms Fynes: We only have two courtrooms here and a District Court almost every day. The Circuit Court is starting soon and will be sitting four days a week. We dont have adequate accommodation here. As it stands, 16 of our days (Portlaoise Court hearings), are in Tullamore. He said that he had arranged for a courtroom and a judge to be available at Tullamore District Court from Tuesday 11November to Friday 14 November to hear the case. He told both parties that he is not going to hear the case, but from my preliminary review and not having read the replying affidavit, is there any possibility of the nursing home coming to any agreement regarding the admission of residents, pending the hearing? Mr Kennedy said that his client was prepared to give an undertaking to the court, that no residents will be admitted to the home in addition to those residents that are present at the moment until 11 November when the matters will be heard. Judge Cody said: The second thing that strikes me is in terms of mediation between the parties. As of August, throughout all this, HIQA was allowing the nursing home to continue, subject to conditions, which werent agreed. There seems to be room for discussion or mediation in the interim. Mr Kennedy told Judge Cody: As of yesterday (Thursday) evening we wrote to HIQA indicating that our clients would welcome engaging constructively with them to resolve any concerns in relation to the home. It is our point of view that is in the best interest of all those involved, not only to the two parties but more importantly of all, for the best interest of the residents, some of whom are in their 90s and have been resident in the home for a number of years. Judge Cody said: Over 40 people regard this as their home, some for quite a long time. Ms Fynes said that the Chief Inspector of HIQA intends to respond to the care homes correspondence, and it will be proposed that a meeting be set-up, and in our correspondence, we will set out certain documentation and issues that we will require in advance of the meeting. Were proposing a meeting rather than mediation. Judge Cody adjourned the case to 17 October for mention to determine whether any progress has taken place between the two parties after their meeting, adding: Instead of trying to contradict one another Id ask that you try to work together and engage constructively with each other. Thatd be more important than shouting at each other. SPEED limits in Crettyard will be reviewed by Laois Co Council, following urgent appeals from businesspeople, residents and councillors. The existing speed limit of 100kph on the N78 in the village, outside a busy service station and Tirlan outlet, was described as far too high at a council meeting. Even 80kph would be too fast there, said Cllr Padraig Fleming. It is danger, danger on that road all the time and there have been near misses. Its very busy with the shop and Tirlan and the speed is absolutely phenomenal. Some of the businesses have been on to me because they are scared. People have got serious frights there. We need to make people aware that they have to slow down in that area. Cllr Fleming questioned why the speed limit is 80kph on the entire route from Castlecomer to the Laois border but is 100kph once you cross the border into Laois. There is a 100kph limit outside businesses and only 80kph where there are no businesses, he said, as he sought an update on his previous request for planned road safety measures in Crettyard, at the September meeting of Graiguecullen-Portarlington municipal district council. Cllr Ben Brennan agreed and said: We need action. People have said they are going to go out and stop traffic on that road unless something is done. Someone is going to get swept away there. Its going on years and were sick of it. We want action, not words. He added: Tirlan is a big business there. You have Geneva Stores and a couple of big farmers. The speed limit needs to go down to 50kph there and Kilkenny Co Council is willing to work with us on this. Cllr Aisling Moran said the problem was repeatedly raised with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) but you might as well be banging your head off a brick wall. She said: Someone is going to be killed coming out of the petrol station or Tirlan. There is an easy fix, change the speed limit, but there is no desire from TII to do that. It is the same in Arles. There should be traffic calming measures and a speed van there and I guarantee you people would slow down. Cllr Moran declared: I am going to ask for the 958th time, can TII come down to a council meeting? They ignore all our requests for meetings. Cllr Fleming said he would agree but TII had been asked many times to meet the council, without success. He was often told that TII wanted to keep traffic moving and was reluctant to bring speed limits below 100kph. Cllr Moran commented: Theyre in a world of their own. They are paid with public money and they should be answerable to us. I would demand, not ask, that they come down. They need to look at these roads in reality, not on a piece of paper. They have no right to refuse to speak to us. In a written response to Cllr Flemings request for an update, a council official said the road design section assessed the location in Crettyard and carried out speed and traffic count surveys. The council has made an application to the Kildare-based national road design office (NRDO) for the installation of additional signage and line-marking and is awaiting a response. The council reply added: Road design will assess the speed limit at this location and review internally. Cathaoirleach Cllr Vivienne Phelan asked that a request for a meeting again be sent to TII by the council. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho," has consolidated his place as the most powerful drug trafficker in the world, as his organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has eclipsed the once-dominant Sinaloa Cartel by capitalizing on shifts in the U.S. drug market and the internal collapse of its longtime rival. A Wall Street Journal's report, published September 16, points to rising cocaine consumption in the United States and a decline in fentanyl use since 2023 as key factors in the cartel reshuffle. Derek Maltz, former head of operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told the paper: "El Mencho is the most powerful trafficker operating in the world today. What we are seeing is a pivot toward far greater distribution of cocaine in the U.S." The U.S. government is offering $15 millon for information regarding his capture. Cocaine Replaces Fentanyl in U.S. Market Data from Millennium Health cited in the report shows cocaine use in the western United States soaring by 154 percent since 2019, with a 19 percent rise in the east. By contrast, fentanyl consumption has slowed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Analysts say cocaine's reputation as less stigmatized than synthetic opioids has fueled its resurgence. Record production in Colombia has also played a role. The flood of cocaine reaching the United States has driven prices down by nearly half in the past five years, with a gram now selling for between $60 and $75, according to Drug Checking Los Angeles. Lower prices have boosted consumption and strengthened CJNG's market position. Sinaloa's Internal Collapse While demand shifted, the Sinaloa Cartel was unraveling. The arrest of longtime co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada set off a bloody feud between his son, Ismael "Mayito Flaco" Zambada, and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's sons, known as "Los Chapitos." Noroeste newspaper reported more than 2,000 murders and nearly 2,000 kidnappings in Sinaloa alone as the infighting escalated. Facing weakened leadership, Los Chapitos struck a pact with El Mencho in late 2024. According to sources cited by the Journal, CJNG agreed to provide weapons, money, and fighters in exchange for access to Sinaloa's smuggling tunnels and routes into the United States. The arrangement allowed Los Chapitos to retain control of fentanyl while El Mencho secured dominance over cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking. Expanding Criminal Empire According to the Journal, CJNG's influence stretches beyond narcotics. Security experts note the group extorts businesses in Jalisco and other states, imposing "taxes" on tortillas, poultry, cigarettes, and beer. The cartel has also penetrated the construction sector, winning municipal contracts, and has profited from the black market in stolen fuel. The cartel's financial apparatus was dealt a blow this month when Mexican authorities arrested Oscar "N," described as a top CJNG money manager, at Mexico City's international airport after he arrived on a flight from Barcelona. Despite such setbacks, analysts say CJNG's diversified income streams make it more resilient than its rivals. El Mencho's Elusive Figure U.S. authorities have placed a $15 million bounty on El Mencho, but he remains one of the most elusive figures in organized crime. Law enforcement officials believe he rarely leaves his mountain stronghold in western Mexico, protected by the Fuerza Especial del Alto Mando (FEAM), a paramilitary unit armed with rocket-propelled grenades and thermal-guided weapons. His growing dominance, however, places him squarely in the crosshairs of both Washington and Mexico City. Analysts say his rise mirrors the Sinaloa Cartel's peak under El Chapo before his capture in 2016. As the U.S. steps up counternarcotics cooperation with Mexico and cracks down on cartel financing, El Mencho and CJNG have become top priorities for dismantlement. The cartel's ascent underscores how quickly the North American drug trade can shift. With cocaine surging and fentanyl under pressure, the criminal map has been redrawn. For now, the throne once held by Sinaloa has been seized by Jalisco and its shadowy leader El Mencho. Originally published on Latin Times Law enforcement agencies in the United States are facing sharp criticism after records revealed they circulated reports suggesting that everyday emojis could indicate links to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal group. The theory, repeated in official briefings and training documents, has been described by experts as unfounded, dangerous, and likely to deepen racial profiling. Documents obtained by transparency nonprofit Property of the People, and published by The Guardian, show that the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, the US Army, and the NYPD all warned officers that emojis such as trains, crowns, ninjas, swords, aliens, and even strawberries could serve as coded gang symbols. Some reports went as far as to argue the train icon pointed to the gang's name, which translates as "the train of Aragua." The warnings resemble past practices where tattoos were used as alleged proof of gang membership. In immigration proceedings, tattoos with no clear connection to crime were often cited as justification for deportation, raising concerns that harmless cultural or fashion expressions could again be misinterpreted as criminal indicators. Experts Reject the Claims Specialists who reviewed the documents dismissed the emoji claims outright. Andres Antillano, a criminology professor at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, said there is no evidence that Tren de Aragua uses symbols or emojis to identify members. He described the guidance as "completely arbitrary." He noted that both tattoos, which were used by ICE to detain Venezuelan men and send them to El Salvador, and emojis mentioned by US agencies are common in youth culture worldwide. Rebecca Hanson, a researcher at the University of Florida, added that Venezuelan police themselves do not recognize such symbols as gang identifiers. She pointed to the group's fragmented nature, arguing that there is no unified iconography across different cells. Risks for Immigrant Communities Advocates warn that attaching criminal meaning to online symbols could have serious consequences for immigrants, especially Venezuelans. Sirine Shebaya, director of the National Immigration Project, said that flimsy intelligence often gains weight once repeated by multiple agencies, creating what she called a "feedback loop" that impacts people's lives. The Supreme Court's recent decision allowing immigration agents in Los Angeles to stop individuals for speaking Spanish or appearing Latino has heightened these fears. Same can be said by the use of spyware to access cell phones. Attorneys believe that if emojis are treated as evidence of gang ties, the net for detentions and deportations will grow even wider. Political Fuel The controversy comes as Donald Trump continues to cite Tren de Aragua to justify his immigration policies and military actions. Earlier this year, he referenced the group when announcing strikes on Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean. Originally published on Latin Times ATHENS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- An explosion in the town of Tsotyli, northern Greece, which left two men injured on Friday, was caused by a World War II shell, Greek state broadcaster ERT reported. The blast occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time at a yard for earthmoving machinery, where a 54-year-old man sustained multiple traumatic injuries and a 45-year-old man suffered fractures. The 54-year-old victim, who was in critical condition with severe burns and partial amputations to his knee and elbow, was transferred to Hippocrates Hospital in Thessaloniki. The second man underwent orthopedic surgery at Mamatseio Hospital in Kozani and will remain there for observation. Army bomb disposal experts examined the site following the explosion and confirmed the presence of ammunition fragments, indicating the device was a wartime shell, ERT said. Authorities have cordoned off the area while investigations continue. On Saturday, September 20, Bad Bunny will give one last show of his residency, "No Me Quiero Ir de Aqui," in Puerto Rico. It's the 31st show and a surprise courtesy of Amazon, which will stream it through Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Twitch. The date and all the projects surrounding it have a deep meaning for Benito, and it was why the idea came to be a reality. "If we had gone to his team and said, 'We just want to do a livestream,' I don't think this would have happened," said Rocio Guerrero, Director of Music, Latin-Iberia at Amazon Music during an exclusive interview with The Music Times. "What really convinced them was that we are here for the long term and that we could put Amazon's resources behind Benito's mission to strengthen Puerto Rico," added Guerrero, who led the team that negotiated with Bad Bunny's team. A central element of the pact is educational access. Amazon partnered with the Good Bunny Foundation to expand STEM programs across the island, with donations of Fire tablets and technology support. But there's a practical layer too, creating safe learning spaces that double as shelters during hurricanes. "This livestream coincides with the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, so it all connects," Guerrero emphasized. "We want these spaces to be both centers of learning and safe havens when the island needs them most." The negotiations stretched over a year. Guerrero and her team traveled to Puerto Rico to sit with Rimas, Bad Bunny's management, and map out something that could match the artist's ambition. "From the beginning, our goal was to elevate the artist's mission, whatever that might be," she said. "In this case, Benito wanted to take Puerto Rico to the world and bring the world back to Puerto Rico. That's where the love story started, and the rest is history." The plan that emerged went well beyond staging concerts. It wove together education, disaster relief, commerce, and cultural visibility. For Guerrero, that depth was the decisive factor "For us, the livestream was obvious. It's a gift to the fans, especially those outside Puerto Rico or those who couldn't attend in person," she explained. "But what really took this over the finish line was the support for Puerto Rico's economy and communities. That's what mattered most to Benito and his team." It was a mirror to the mission statement of the residency, built around the album "DtMF", a love letter to Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans, in the island an in the diaspora. Supporting local products with global reach Another key piece is economic empowerment. During the livestream, Amazon is launching comPRa Local, a storefront featuring Puerto Rican goods, clearly marked with a "Hecho en PR" badge. From coffee to crafts, these products will now reach a worldwide customer base. "For Benito's team, supporting local products, especially fresh produce, was non-negotiable," Guerrero explained. "We're launching the store during the livestream so the global audience can support Puerto Rico directly. The idea is that this will evolve, with music, books, and cultural products joining over time." The initiative is expected to benefit both small artisans and larger suppliers, tying commerce to culture in a way that has rarely been done at this scale. The hardest secret to keep Pulling it off required extraordinary discretion. Dozens of Amazon employees, producers, and local partners were involved for months, yet the project stayed under wraps until its official announcement. "It was a titanic project," Guerrero recalled. "Hope for the best that nobody tells their husband or their neighbor. But everyone was so professional and committed to making it happen. The truth is, the bigger it got, the more opportunities appeared. We had to protect it like a jewel in a box." Looking ahead While Puerto Rico is the focus, Guerrero hints at broader ambitions. "The dream would be to replicate this in other countries across the region," she said. "Imagine every artist's tour stop leaving behind something lasting, not just a concert." For Guerrero, the project also reflects her own leadership style,mixing business, culture, and purpose. "I have these visions in my head that I want to achieve, but it's because I know it's the right thing to do," she reflected. "Ninety percent of ideas fall apart, but then one makes it through, and suddenly you realize,wow, we did it." More than a concert As Bad Bunny prepares to step on stage for one last night in San Juan, millions will watch from their screens. Yet, the concert is only the opening act of a larger mission. Education, resilience, commerce, and cultural pride are the true headliners of the AmazonBad Bunny pact. "The livestream is the megaphone," Guerrero concluded. "But the true legacy is what we're building together for Puerto Rico." To watch Bad Bunny live from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, September 20th, starting at 8:30 pm (local time), click here. There is a 24-hour replay. Originally published on Music Times ISLAMABAD, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people, including five children, were killed and several others injured when the roof of a private academy collapsed in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Saturday, police said. The incident happened in Hafizabad district of the province, the district's police chief Atif Nazir Kadhar told the media, adding that the woman who ran the academy and her son were also among the deceased. Rescue teams rushed to the site immediately and launched a search operation, recovering seven bodies from the debris while several injured were shifted to a nearby hospital, reports said. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse, he said, adding that according to the initial probe, the recent spell of rains weakened the structure of the building, causing it to collapse. Over 1,000 people were killed as heavy monsoon rains triggered floods in several parts of Pakistan, inundating low-lying areas, damaging infrastructure, and displacing thousands of people, according to the country's National Disaster Management Authority. If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. I love traveling to Disney World, but I hate paying a lot to fly to Florida. I have a motto: I will never pay $500 to fly somewhere in the United States. If it is domestic, Ill find a deal. Dont believe me? I just got a deal for under $250 (with trip insurance) to fly to Disney in November. For those not in the know, the first week of November is aptly called Jersey Week in Disney World because N.J. residents flock to Florida during the teachers convention. So, getting a flight for $216 that week is practically unheard of. Let me tell you how I did it. Book a flight to Disney for around $117 on United Starting at $117 I found a flight for under $250 to Disney World. Here's how you can too. Book Now How to score a good flight deal Now, a bunch of TikTok videos will tell you how they got a major deal on a flight, and then the deal is just that they used their airline points. Thats not what happened here. I did not use any points to score this deal. However, United is running a sale if you want to buy points for flights (until September 23). But I am a United MileagePlus member, so I earned points by booking this flight. I also have a United MilePlus Explorer credit card. That means that I get priority boarding and my first checked bag is free (both ways) not that I ever check a bag, thanks to my Beis travel backpack + Away Carry-On power combo. I didnt have to give up my favorite airlines, United and JetBlue, either, to go with a budget airline like Spirit Airlines or Frontier. I dont need to drive 90 minutes to New York to fly out of JFK or LGA, either. I am traveling right out of Newark, baby. Flight details Wednesday, 11/5 6 a.m. EWR to MCO for $108 Monday, 11/10 3:30 p.m. MCO to EWR for $108 Thats only $216 round-trip from New Jersey to Orlando during a peak season, AKA one of the busiest months of the year to fly. I tacked on $14 trip insurance (each way), so my total came to just under $250, because Newark Airport had a tumultuous run earlier this year, and I am not chancing anything. So, how did I do it? Here are my top two tips. Price watching Booking one-way tickets If I am traveling anywhere, the first thing I do is log into Hopper and put my flight dates in to see if the website predicts that the flight costs will increase or decrease. If it says prices will decrease, I start heavily monitoring all the travel sites. I stalked them all. I was frequently on Expedia, United, Delta and JetBlues websites. Sometimes, I will spend weeks watching prices. Just a week ago, that same flight was $400+ on United. Secondly, I never book a round-trip flight anywhere. I fully believe booking a one-way ticket is always cheaper than booking a round-trip ticket, from my experience. Had I booked round-trip, rather than one-way, it would have shown me fewer flights returning and it would have cost me $50 more. I sometimes do this to mix and match airlines, as one airline might be cheaper going, but not that cheap returning, whereas a different airline will be cheaper returning than they are going. I still book a round-trip experience, I just do it by booking two one-way tickets separately. Ive often booked United and JetBlue together to mix and match these lower fares. But this time, it worked out that United was the cheapest and best option, both flying out of EWR into MCO and then coming back from MCO to EWR. When is the best time to book a flight? As weve previously reported, the best time to book a flight, as far as domestic travels go, is at least 30-45 days in advance. I booked my flight about 50 days before my trip, so I was getting down to the wire on that window when the prices would start to increase. According to Executive Editor, Kyle Potter, of the Thrifty Traveler, Typically, Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are the cheapest days to fly and the best days to fly both for a lower cost and a less-hectic airport experience. This aligned with one of my travel dates, but not both, actually. I am flying to Florida on a Wednesday at 6 AM, which is a coveted flight time now, due to trying to avoid delayed flights. And then I am returning home on a Monday, which happens to be a very busy travel day of the week for business professionals. You know its a good deal because I managed to get the exact times I wanted for both of my flights at the cheapest price possible. I have a very early arrival to kick off my Disney trip immediately, and an afternoon departure, so I can enjoy my resort or Disney Springs before I have to leave. When is Jersey Week? When is Jersey Week 2025 at Disney World? Canva Jersey Week is the unofficial time of year when N.J. takes over Florida. In fact, according to our friends at KAYAK, 20% of all flight searches by New Jerseyans traveling between Nov. 5-12 (Jersey Week) are for trips to Orlando. The NJEA convention takes place from November 6-7, 2025 this year. New Jersey schools are closed on both days, so many families will take advantage of this and book over that 4-day weekend. This convention also lines up with Veterans Day (November 11), which is also a day that students get off from school. That means that Jersey Week 2025 is in that timeframe between November 5 and November 12, with heavy park attendance expected between November 6 and 11. According to KAYAK, more than of New Jerseyans (67%) searching for travel during Jersey Week are looking to fly out of EWR. In 2024, EWR was the most expensive airport with an average airfare (one way) of $296 during this same timeframe. So, if youre one of those Jersey folks looking to still book your flight to Disney, check out Uniteds deals page and see if you can follow my tips and tricks to score a flight for under $250. A man admitted being highly abusive to door staff and gardai a pub in Laois. Aidan Byrne (29) of 86 St Brigids Place, Portlaoise, appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour on August 5 last at 1.16am. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused was highly intoxicated and aggressive towards security staff and gardai who responded. He said the man had ten previous convictions which were mainly of a minor nature. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said this man drinks too much and when he drinks too much he is bad company. She explained that he had been refused admission to Coppers on the night. She said he had apologised to gardai on his release. I appreciate the apology was really due to the bouncers on the night, she said. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was working full time and hadnt been out in a long time prior to the incident in August. He appreciates that he shouldnt drink and it really doesnt suit him, she added. Judge Susan Fay requested that the man be assessed for community service. When he was deemed suitable, she imposed 80 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Aircraft flying to and from Weston Airport on the border with North Kildare are causing disruption to local residents by consistently flying too low over homes, according to a Social Democrats councillor. Cllr Nuala Killeen asked the council to advise what measures it has in place in relation to monitoring and reporting of flight paths of airplanes and helicopters from Weston Airport. She further called on the council to contact South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) with regard to the reported disruption caused. Speaking on her motion - seconded by Cllr David Trost (FF), and raised at the September meeting of Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District - Cllr Killeen told the council there was a current spike in complaints regarding Weston Airport traffic. People, she said, have persistently complained to Weston Airport about flights traveling directly above their homes. READ NEXT: Extremely disparaging and completely unfounded: Kildare TD takes aim at Danny Healy Rae over Autism comments According to Cllr Killeen, there are talks about expanding Weston Airport, and it was important that the relevant bodies had all the information available to them from concerned residents. Supporting the motion, Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) said he has also been dealing with complaints about flight paths and noise, and the issue had become "problematic" with people who live near Weston Airport. However, there was one dissenting voice in the council. I live probably closer to Weston Airport than anybody else in this room, Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) interjected, and I've no difficulty with Weston. Cllr Caldwell said Weston Airport has been in operation since the late forties, and serves a great benefit to people. Cllr Caldwell pointed out that the air rescue service operates from Weston Airport, and that he was not going to object to a service which saves people's lives. He told the council that the people who objected to Weston Airport weren't there when it was built, so why did they come to live in an area where there's an airport? Cllr Heather told Cllr Caldwell that nobody was arguing against the benefits of Weston Airport, but that the purpose of the motion was to have Weston Airport be more efficient in terms of monitoring and reporting on flight paths. Following a vote held in the council, it was agreed to write to SDCC and the Irish Aviation Authority about residents' concerns. Cllr Caldwell asked that it be put on record that he voted against the motion. Irish radio listeners were left itching and squirming after a leading professor revealed that tiny insects actually live on your face. The revelation came during The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTE Radio 1 last Saturday morning, when Christine Loscher, Professor of Immunology at DCU, joined the host to discuss allergies. Before the big reveal, the pair had already unsettled listeners by discussing dust mites, microscopic, spider-like creatures that thrive in warm, humid homes. Professor Loscher explained that they feed on shed skin cells, multiplying in bedding, carpets and even children's toys. Their waste, she said, contains proteins that trigger allergic reactions, meaning many people notice more sneezing and watery eyes when changing sheets or cleaning. READ MORE | RIP: Young woman in her 20s tragically killed cycling after rush-hour crash with truck She described how female dust mites can lay up to 200 eggs at a time, leading to exploding populations in winter as households close windows and switch on the heating. O'Connor groaned as he learned that their favourite spots are pillows, duvets and sofas - anywhere "cosy and humid" where skin cells settle. But if dust mites weren't disturbing enough, O'Connor then asked if there were mites that lived directly on people's bodies, and that's when things really took a turn. READ MORE | PICTURES: Netflix hosts star-studded House of Guinness red carpet premiere ahead of release "Yeah, we have little mites that live on our face," Prof Loscher confirmed. "They're different [from dust mites] in that they have to live on the human body in order to be able to survive. These actually have to physically live. So they're more like parasites where they have to live on the human." She explained that the microscopic creatures tend to live on the face and in eyelashes. Worryingly, they can also be passed from person to person through physical contact. The creatures in question are Demodex mites, tiny parasites that spend their lives living in human skin and hair follicles. "They tend to live a lot on the face; they tend to be kind of in your eyelashes; and they tend to cause a lot of irritation on the face, around the eyes, that kind of irritation. READ MORE | RIP: Irish pensioner struck by bus remembered for her 'electric smile' ahead of funeral "So they're somewhat the same, but they're actually quite different, and they can be passed from one person to another by physical contact. "So unless they're living on your skin, they're not able to survive," Prof Loscher added. At that point, O'Connor had heard enough. "Okay, I can't take any more. Thank you very much for that, Professor Christine Loscher. I'm now wiping imaginary mites off my face," he said, before cutting to a break. Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport was evacuated as a precaution after an item of luggage raised concerns, Irish police have said. The terminal was closed for a short period on Saturday before reopening around 2pm. Gardai said officers responded to a report of an item of airline luggage of concern. (1/2) Update 13:50: Dublin Airport confirms Terminal 2 has received the all-clear. Passengers will shortly re-enter & flights are expected to resume within 30 mins. Some temporary disruption may continue during the remainder of the day check with your airline for updates. pic.twitter.com/FToKBPillk Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) September 20, 2025 As a precaution, Terminal 2 Dublin Airport was evacuated and traffic entering Dublin Airport was restricted, the force said. An Garda Siochana requested the assistance of the Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. Following a preliminary examination on scene, the piece of luggage was contained and deemed safe for removal from T2 to an alternate location which would not impact on airport operations. The Garda spokesperson said the luggage at the centre of the situation was subject to further examination by the EOD team and declared safe. They said inquiries were continuing and added: Based on the information available to An Garda Siochana and other relevant stakeholders, this was an appropriate and responsible approach to the situation which was presented. Dublin Airport said on social media that some temporary disruption may continue during the remainder of the day, and urged passengers to check with their airline for updates. They added that a separate Europe-wide software issue is causing minor impacts at both Dublin and Cork Airports. People learn about the floral preservation products at the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People visit the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People visit the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People learn about horticultural cultivation substrate during the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People learn about an automatic flower selling machine at the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) An exhibitor promotes flowers at the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) Merchants discuss business during the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People communicate during the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People learn about the greenhouse mist equipment at the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) An exhibitor promotes flowers via livestream at the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) People visit the 23rd Kunming International Flower Expo of China in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The flower expo kicked off on Friday in Kunming, attracting more than 500 enterprises from around the world. The exhibition will run until Sept. 21, featuring a joint display of four major industries including flowers, coffee, tropical plants, and small berries, offering visitors access to the charm of Yunnan's plateau agriculture. (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei) KHARTOUM, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's government on Friday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of bombing a mosque in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, killing more than 70 civilians during dawn prayers. The Foreign Ministry condemned a "heinous terrorist aggression" against the Al-Daraja neighbourhood mosque, saying the strike wounded several worshippers and partially destroyed the building. It said the attack was a "flagrant violation of religious norms and international conventions" protecting civilians and places of worship. The ministry blamed the RSF for systematic abuses against civilians and infrastructure, and urged the international communities to act against "terrorism targeting unarmed civilians." Volunteer groups in El Fasher said earlier on Friday that more than 75 people were killed, including 20 displaced residents of Abu Shouk camp. They said a drone operated by the RSF hit the mosque during dawn prayers. The RSF has not commented. Clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies have raged in El Fasher since May. Nationwide, the war between the SAF and RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since it erupted in April 2023, deepening Sudan's humanitarian crisis. A NEW programme aimed at owners of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is to take place in Limerick. The Engine building in Cecil Street is driving the new hands-on programme designed to equip leaders of SMEs with the tools, frameworks and peer support to accelerate innovation, competitiveness and growth. The programme is limited to just 12 businesses though, so those who are interested are urged to get their skates on! READ MORE: Limerick TD Niall Collins takes bite out of the Big Apple on investment trip The programme is being held in a hybrid format, which means some will take place in person, and the remainder virtually, on the internet. The in-person sessions take place at The Engine building, as referenced above, and will be supplemented by online masterclasses. Each participating firm will complete the programme with a tailored roadmap. It is hoped it will bring a strengthened leadership entrepreneurial capability and a 90-day execution plan tied directly to live business projects. Participation is fully funded for the selected companies, and the programme will run from October to December this year. Curriculum modules will cover innovation foundations, design thinking, business model innovation, AI transformation for small firms. On top of this, leadership and culture is on the agenda. Participants will receive individual company mentoring and a post-course toolkit. The programme will be delivered by facilitators with an understanding of challenges faced by SMEs. The programme consists of a two-day, in-person diagnostic workshop in early October, followed by a series of online classes. There are then two further in-person days mid-programme, and a final integration and showcase meeting in December. The course is designed for all SMEs, including owner-managers, founders, chief executives, senior managers and innovation leads. Its expected any business owner will be able to continue to run their company alongside it. Eoin McDonnell, head of strategic programmes at Skillnet Ireland said: The strategic innovation and entrepreneurship programme equips business leaders with the tools, mindset, and peer network to drive real change. Dermot Casey, chief executive of the Industry Research and Development Group, added: In todays challenging economic environment, Irish SMEs need practical, results-oriented solutions to stay competitive. Through our collaboration with Skillnet Ireland, this pioneering programme provides business leaders with a clear strategic roadmap, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and hands-on guidance to convert innovation into real growth for Irish enterprises. Applications close on September 24 next. For more information, visit https://events.irdg.ie/SIESMEs2025#/ Alternatively, telephone 01-2079630. EARLIER this summer, I had the opportunity and pleasure of being a guest on not one, but two, fantastic podcasts. As someone relatively new to the world of podcasting, I found the experience incredibly interesting and rewarding, now having three podcast interviews under my belt. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with my dear friend Louise Cooney for her podcast Open Book. READ MORE: My Week with Celia Holman Lee: Returning to the Ploughing in glam style! In the episode, Louise and I had a warm and honest chat about my 60-year career in fashion from starting out as a young model in Limerick. We reminisced about iconic fashion shows, working with some of the best designers in the business, and the highs and lows along the way. We also spoke candidly about aging in an industry that so often celebrates youth, and how Ive learned to navigate that with grace, humour, and resilience. The episode is filled with stories, wisdom, and, most of all, a love for an industry that has given me so much. Limerick ladies: This is a wonderful throwback photo of myself, the lovely Louise Cooney and the equally fabulous Muireann O'Connell at the RDS Dublin Horse Show back in 2022! Then later in the summer was a wonderful conversation with Kathryn Thomas in her Dublin studio for her podcast Balancing the Busy. That episode is due to be released later this month. We spoke all about my journey in the fashion industry, from how I got my start, to how I ended up running one of the longest-standing modelling agencies in Ireland. Kathryn and I also delved into my travels with the agency and, of course, my book Glamour & Grit. The book is a deeply personal, pictorial journey through six decades of my life and career. Both podcast experiences reminded me of the power of storytelling and the beauty of good conversation. XxCelia LIMERICK is set to swing to the sounds of jazz, as the Limerick Jazz Festival kicks off from Wednesday, September 24 to Sunday, September 28. Once again, the festival brings together a selection of Irish and international jazz artists for a five-day celebration of rhythm, melody, and soul. This years programme will welcome Ian Shaw to the Belltable, performing When Bowie met Joni: the songs of David Bowie and Joni Mitchell. Also from the UK, the intimate setting of the Peoples Museum of Limerick will host Brigitte Beraha, accompanied by guitarist Ant Law. READ MORE: Art exhibition in Limerick aims to draw attention to mental health challenges Dolans Pub will see a rich selection of Irish talent with Deborah Swiney joining long-time friend of the Festival Nigel Mooney, Emily Conway and Dublins Cormac Kenevey. Among this years featured acts are Irish fusion artists Magical Dog, Julian Siegel Quartet from the UK, and the Irish debut of vibraphonist Dimitris Angelakis and his Quartet. The festival will also welcome back Rory Conneally, who won the 2024 Young Irish Jazz Musician Competition in the University Concert Hall, UL last November. John Daly, Chair of Limerick Jazz Society, said, "We are delighted to announce a really wonderful programme for our 14th Limerick Jazz Festival. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Arts Council and Limerick City and County Council. BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi National Intelligence Service said on Friday that 47 French nationals wanted for prosecution due to their links with the Islamic State (IS) extremist group had been transferred from northeastern Syria to Iraq. The agency said in a statement that some of the suspects were involved in terrorist crimes inside Iraq from 2014 to 2017, when IS controlled several Iraqi provinces, while others engaged in activities outside Iraq that threatened Iraqi national security. The transfer was carried out based on judicial arrest warrants, and the suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with Iraqi law, the statement said. It added that the agency is still pursuing IS members who have committed crimes against the Iraqi people, regardless of their affiliations or location. In 2014, the IS launched a major offensive and seized large areas of Iraq. By December 2017, Iraq declared victory over the group after retaking the territories it had held. Mumbai: Nexus Select Trust, a Blackstone-backed retail real estate investment trust (Reit), is in advanced talks to buy Kolkata's Diamond Plaza for an estimated 500-600 crore, adding to its existing portfolio of 19 malls, according to two people familiar with the developers plans. The move is linked to the companys focus on the organized and branded consumption segment, where per capita usage still remains low, one of the people quoted earlier said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They feel there is a market retail penetration per capita very low and they are trying to bridge that gap." The gap between demand for mall space and available supply widened for a third straight year in 2024. According to data by Anarock Research, 6.5 million sq. ft. was leased against a new supply of 1.1 million sq. ft. That reduced vacancies and pushed rentals higher as brands target affluent shoppers seeking premium experiences. The property consultant estimates that over 16.6 million sq. ft. of new grade A mall space will enter the top seven cities during 2025 and 2026. Also Read | The writing is on the wall for multiplexes. Malls are cutting screens to size Diamond Plaza, which opened in September 2012, is a neighbourhood shopping centre in North Kolkata. Its tenants include Pantaloons, Trends, Max, Reliance Digital, W, and Manyavar. A spokesperson for Nexus Select Trust said, We dont comment on market speculation. As of now, Nexus Select Trust does not have any physical presence in Kolkata." Acquisition spree Nexus Select Trust, incorporated in August 2022, is Indias first publicly listed REIT. Its tenants typically include international and premium brands such as Zara, H&M, Apple to Lifestyle, Cinepolis, Starbucks. The company already operates malls in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Delhi, Indore, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar. "Our acquisition pipeline remains robust. We have got around 10 plus assets in the pipeline across different states in India. Multiple conversations are going on, both on the Asset Acquisition as well as a couple of conversations on the greenfield development," Pratik Dantara, head of strategy, Nexus Select Trust, said during its June quarter earnings call. We are hopeful that once the Hyderabad acquisition closes, we will be able to close a few more in this financial year." Typically, Blackstone acquires the assets, which are then added to the Nexus portfolio. The Reit is also evaluating multiple deals across the east. There are discussions going on for a potential buyout of malls and shopping centres in Kolkata, as well as smaller cities such as Ranchi and Jamshedpur," said the second person in the know, who didnt wish to be named. Also Read | Beauty is the best for malls since consumers say so In fiscal 2025, Nexus Select Trusts revenue from operations stood at 2,282.9 crore, up 19% from the previous year. It had a total area under lease of 1.1 million square feet with a 97.2% occupancy rate. These properties house over 1,000 domestic and international brands in more than 3,000 stores. In February, Nexus announced the acquisition of the MBD Neopolis mall and its attached Radisson Blu Hotel in Ludhiana for 490 crore. It also closed the acquisition of Vega City mall in Bengaluru for 913 crore. In 2024, it announced plans to acquire three grade-A malls in Hyderabad from Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for 1,000 crore. Meanwhile, eastern India, beyond Kolkata in particular, has seen little interest from investors and grade-A mall developers so far. Nexus Select Trusts rival Phoenix Mills, which boasts a retail portfolio with 12 operational malls, is building its first property in Kolkata. In July, Blackstone Group acquired South City Mall in Kolkata for 3,250 crore from South City Projects in the largest retail asset buyout in recent years. India's technology industry body, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), on Saturday said that the US President Donald Trump imposed H-1B visa fee hike will affect Indian tech firms, and September 21 deadline is also a concern. The timeline for implementation (anyone entering the U.S. after 12:01 a.m., September 21) is also a concern," said the industry body in its statement. It noted that one-day deadline creates considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world. Emphasising the need for high-skill talent in the US economy, NASSCOM highlighted that policy changes like these are best when they are introduced with adequate transition periods for people to plan effectively and minimise disruption. NASSCOM noted that they are reviewing the finer details of Trump's order, but an adjustment of this extent can potentially impact the American job market and the overall US economy. While we are reviewing the finer details of the order, adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on America's innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy, the industry body said, as per the statement cited in the agency report. The fee hike will also impact India's technology services companies with their operations in the United States, as the business continuity for the onshore projects in the US may need changes. Companies will work closely with clients to adapt and manage transitions, Nasscom said. What does Trump's H-1B visa fee hike mean? US President Donald Trump, on Friday, 19 September 2025, announced that the federal government is increasing the annual fee on H-1B visas for high-skill foreign professionals to $100,000 per year. This move from the US government is set to impact Indian citizens who are working for global companies or Indian companies operating in the United States, as the H-1B visa is a mandatory requirement for foreign nationals to work in the Western nation. 'Follow all necessary governance' The industry body, NASSCOM, also highlighted in its statement that India and India-centric companies follow all necessary governance and compliance. India and India centric companies have been steadily reducing their reliance on these visas through increased local hiring in recent years. These companies also follow all necessary governance and compliance in the US for H-1B processes, pay the prevailing wages and contribute to the local economy and innovation partnerships with academia and startups. They said that the H-1B workers for these companies are by no means a threat to national security in the United States. In a latest crackdown on immigration, US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will raise the fee for H1-B visas to $100,000 every year, effective from September 21. This decision has sent shockwaves across tech companies, who are asking employees with the H-1B and H-4 visas to return to the United States ahead of the deadline. Now, the question is who will bear the cost of this massive fee hike, the sponsoring employers or the employees? Who will pay for the H-1B fee hike? The H-1B programme grants 65,000 visas each year to employers hiring temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, along with an additional 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees. Almost all visa fees must be paid by employers. The H-1B visas are granted for a period of three to six years, according to a report by Reuters. According to the executive order Trump signed on Friday, he claimed that some employers have exploited the program to hold down wages, disadvantaging the workers in the United States. Major impact on tech companies Trump's fee hike on H-1B visas is likely to have a major impact on the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign. Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon have advised employees holding H-1B visas to stay in the US following the announcement, Reuters reported citing internal e-mails. They asked H-1 B visa workers outside the US to return by midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT on Sunday), when the new fee structures will come into effect. "H-1B visa holders who are currently in the US should remain in the U.S. and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance," the report quoted an email sent to JPMorgan employees. Trump's crackdown on immigration After taking office in January, Trump has launched a broad immigration crackdown. The move to overhaul the H-1B visa programme is his administration's most high-profile attempt yet to reshape temporary work visas. Microsoft has urged its workers with the H-1B and H-4 visa to return to the United States by tomorrow, September 21, before the deadline, according to a report by Reuters. The announcement comes hours after US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications. In an email seen by Reuters, Microsoft has strongly recommended its H-1B and H-4 visa holding workers to come back to the US. The company has also recommended its H-4 visa holders to remain in the US. It said that H-1B visa holders should remain in the US for the foreseeable future. Meta, Amazon issue advisory Tech giants have primarily been affected due to Trump's H-1B orders, as a chunk of employees in these companies hold the permit meant for IT workers. Amazon has asked its employees with H1-B and H4 visas to stay in the US for the time being. Those who have gone abroad have been advised to return to the US by 12:00 ET, September 21, when the deadline will expire. A similar advisory was issued by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta. The company asked employees to stay in US for at least 14 days, until practical application of the order issued by Trump is understood, according to NDTV. Workers currently outside the US have been advised to return within 24 hours. JPMorgan's recommendation to H-1B visa holders The outside immigration counsel of JPMorgan has also made similar requests to its H1-B visa holders. According to an email seen by Reuters, JPMorgan as advised its employees to remain in the US and avoid international travel until further guidance is issued by the Trump administration. It has also strongly advised H-1B visa holders who are currently outside the US to return before 12:01 ET on September 21, in accordance with the deadline set by Trump, after which the $100,000 annual fees will be imposed. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa which allows US-based companies to hire and employ foreign workers for speciality jobs like science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and IT (High skills and at least a bachelor's degree). H-1B visa fees: Why did Trump impose $100,000 fees? Donald Trump on Friday signed the proclamation Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers. Under this, restrictions will be imposed on the entry into the US of those workers whose petitions are not accompanied or supplemented with a fee of $100,000. The H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme was created to bring temporary workers into the United States to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour, Trump said in the proclamation. He described the alleged abuse of the H-1B visa programme as a national security threat. Domestic law enforcement agencies have identified and investigated H-1B-reliant outsourcing companies for engaging in visa fraud, conspiracy to launder money... and other illicit activities to encourage foreign workers to come to the United States, the US President said. Trump ordered that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall restrict decisions on petitions not accompanied by a $100,000 payment for H-1B speciality occupation workers, who are currently outside the United States, for 12 months following the effective date of the proclamation, which is September 21, 2025. (Bloomberg) -- Optus, the Australian unit of Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., is facing multiple investigations and potential penalties after a technical failure that disrupted emergency calls and resulted in three deaths. The outage occurred during a network upgrade Thursday and impacted the so-called Triple Zero calls in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Follow-up checks revealed that three people died in households that had tried unsuccessfully to make emergency calls, the company said late Friday when it disclosed the event. Communications Minister Anika Wells told a new conference Saturday that Optus must explain why it failed to immediately notify emergency services and other relevant agencies. She added that regulators and state governments will conduct multiple investigations. Optus has let Australians down when they needed them the most, she said. This isnt good enough. We will act in the best interests of all Australians to keep failures like this from happening again. Optus was fined A$12 million ($8 million) after a national outage in November 2023 that affected millions of customers, including some who couldnt make an emergency call. This weeks fatalities included the an eight-week-old infant and a 68-year-old woman in South Australia, police said in a statement. The third death was a 74-year-old man in Western Australia, media reported citing state Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey I want to offer a sincere apology to all customers who could not connect to emergency services when they needed them most, and I offer my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the people who passed away, Optus Chief Executive Officer Stephen Rue said in a statement. What has happened is completely unacceptable. We have let you down. Optus is conducting a thorough investigation and once concluded will share the facts of the incident publicly, Rue said. It will also cooperate fully and transparently with all relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies, he said. Optus is Australias second-largest phone company and has been under pressure after a series of missteps. The November 2023 outage cost then-CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin her job. That followed a 2022 cyberattack that exposed personal data of millions. Rue, who took the helm in November, was brought in to stabilize the business and rebuild trust. Despite repeated setbacks, SingTel has stood by Optus, saying last year it wasnt in talks to sell the unit after reports linked the private equity arm of Canadian asset manager Brookfield Corp. to a possible stake. The deaths are the nightmare scenario many of us have long feared, industry consultant Paul Budde said in a statement. Once more, it appears the cause was a human error during a network update. Such faults should not escalate to system-wide collapse. Normally, emergency calls should be rerouted to a rival carrier during outages and this was where the failure occurred, local media reported. There have been other similar instances. In March 2024, Australias biggest telecommunications company Telstra Group Ltd. was fined by the regulator after it failed to transfer calls to emergency services. Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas said there are a lot of questions for Optus to answer. Optus hasnt met the standards that are imposed on them by the Federal government, or thats the way it appears, he said Saturday in a televised news conference. There will have to be a really sharp and inquisitive examination of all the technical failings that have occurred here. (Updates with Communications Minister comments in third paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The Trump administration is expected to collect a multibillion-dollar fee from investors as part of the complicated transaction to take control of TikToks U.S. operations, the latest in a string of lucrative government deals with the private sector. Investors in the TikTok deal would pay the government the fee in exchange for negotiating the agreement with China, people familiar with the matter said. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping approved a preliminary framework for the deal Friday. The final structure and amount of the fee havent been finalized as deal talks continue, the people said. The government recently agreed to become Intels largest shareholder and take 15% of the sales from an Nvidia artificial-intelligence chip made for the Chinese market in exchange for granting export licenses. Trump has mentioned the federal government could get a fee as part of the TikTok deal, but didnt specify that it could be billions of dollars, an enormous sum for arranging a deal. The United States is getting a tremendous fee-plusI call it a fee-plus just for making the deal and I dont want to throw that out the window," Trump said Thursday at a press conference in the U.K. Investment bankers advising on a typical deal receive fees of less than 1% of the transaction value, and the percentage generally gets smaller as the deal size increases. TikToks U.S. operations could be worth many billions of dollars depending on the final outcome of the deal. The unusual fee arrangement is part of already complicated negotiations. Congress last year passed a law banning the video-streaming app in the U.S. due to worries that China could access the data of American users. It was about to go dark before Trump swooped in at the start of his second term and pledged to arrange a deal to transfer control of the company from TikTok parent ByteDance to U.S. investors. The agreement would end years of uncertainty about TikToks fate in America that dates back to the first Trump administration. Under the structure being discussed, a group of new investors including private-equity firm Silver Lake and cloud-computing firm Oracle would own roughly half of the new U.S. entity running TikTok in America. Existing investors would hold about 30%, while ByteDances stake would dip just below 20% to comply with the law. The TikTok deal is well on its way," Trump said Friday afternoon in the Oval Office. In 2020, when Trump tried to facilitate a sale of TikTok to Microsoft, he said the company should pay the U.S. Treasury Department for facilitating the deal. Its a little bit like the landlord-tenant; without a lease the tenant has nothing, so they pay whats called key money, or they pay something," he said at the time. Trump has taken a series of steps to exert more influence over the private sector in his second term, worrying some Republicans who are wary about the repeated interventions. Administration officials are weighing a plan to spur the construction of factories and other infrastructure using billions of dollars from a fund established during trade negotiations with Japan. The government also got a golden share" in Nippon Steels takeover of U.S. Steel that gives Trump the ability to appoint a member to the board of Nippon Steel. His approval is needed for many strategic moves by the company. Write to Miriam Gottfried at Miriam.Gottfried@wsj.com, Amrith Ramkumar at amrith.ramkumar@wsj.com and Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com President Donald Trump expressed support for Union Pacific Corp.s proposed $72 billion acquisition of rival Norfolk Southern Corp., which is seeking regulatory approval. Union Pacific is a great railroad, and they want to add a railroad that had a mistake at a place very close to my heart, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, appearing to refer to the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, in 2023, an accident that spilled toxic chemicals and sickened residents. Well, theyre trying to buy that railroad that had the problem. And it sounds good to me, to be honest with you, sounds good to me, he added. Trump went on to praise the head of Union Pacific, saying he was a big fan of the head of the railroad. The proposed merger, which would create a massive single railroad company controlling shipments across the continental US, is currently being weighed by the US Surface Transportation Board, the rail industrys economic regulator. On an enterprise basis, the agreement values the company at about $85 billion. Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena discussed the merger with Trump and senior administration officials earlier this month, highlighting how the company is engaging at the highest levels of the US government as it seeks regulatory approval. If allowed to proceed, it would create the countrys first continuous transcontinental railroad by connecting Union Pacifics network in Western US states with Norfolk Southerns tracks along the East Coast. US rules require rail mergers to show that a deal would serve the public interest and enhance competition, a step beyond merger requirements applied to other industries. The companies aim to complete the deal by early 2027. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in August offered a hopeful sign the deal could proceed when he said hed be open to consolidation in the rail industry if it improved efficiency. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- A federal prosecutor in Virginia is resigning from his post after being told by Trump administration officials that hed be removed for not bringing mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision to step down by Erik Siebert, who has been serving as US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, follows a day of public speculation about his future in the post. Siebert, who was nominated by President Donald Trump for the job in May, started working at the US attorneys office as a career prosecutor in Richmond in 2010. Siebert had been asked by administration officials to prosecute James over allegations she committed mortgage fraud related to a home she owned in Virginia, said one of the people, both of whom asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. Sieberts office told the officials that it hadnt found sufficient evidence to charge James, said the person. James, who led a successful civil fraud prosecution against Trump, has denied wrongdoing. ABC reported earlier on the administrations move to oust Siebert and his decision to resign. The Justice Department, Sieberts and Jamess offices declined to comment. Earlier Friday, Trump said he wanted Siebert out when asked by a reporter. It looks to me like shes very guilty of something, but I really dont know, Trump said of James. The Justice Departments probe into James stemmed from claims by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte that she may have committed mortgage fraud based on the residence status she listed on applications. James won a $454 million civil fraud case against Trump and his company in 2024 before he was elected. A New York appeals court struck down the financial penalty in August, but upheld the finding that Trump broke the law by inflating the value of his assets. The Trump administration targeted several Democrats in an effort led by Justice Department official Ed Martin over the mortgage fraud allegations, including James, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and California Senator Adam Schiff. All three have denied committing fraud. Martin was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the departments so-called weaponization group. That was formed in response to an executive order by Trump titled Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The Justice Department has opened a separate investigation into James over the civil fraud case she won against Trump. Trump said in August he was firing Cook over mortgage fraud allegations, prompting her to file a lawsuit. A federal judge in Washington issued a ruling allowing Cook to remain in her position for now. Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to let him fire her while the case proceeds. Schiff has been one of Trumps chief antagonists dating back to his first administration. President Joe Biden preemptively pardoned Schiff and others who served on a special House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. Siebert has spent his career climbing the ranks of the US attorneys office in Virginias Eastern District. The Trump administration named him interim US attorney in January. His interim appointment expired in May, after which Trump nominated him to be confirmed by the Senate. Federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously installed him as US attorney in May while he was awaiting Senate approval. Its possible that hell continue to work as a federal prosecutor in that office after being removed from the top job. --With assistance from Josh Wingrove, Erik Larson and Sara Forden. (Updates with details on prosecutor leaving post in lede. An earlier version of the story corrected the spelling of Virginia in headline.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Bengaluru: Semiconductor start-up SandLogic is in early talks to raise $30-40 million in Series A funding at a valuation of $200 million, two people aware of the matter said. Bengaluru-based SandLogic is among Indias few chip builders targeting commercial-grade artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The company has already appointed an investment banker, and domestic and foreign venture capitalists have been approached, one of the two people said on the condition of anonymity. Founded in 2018 by Kamalakar Devaki, Jesudas Fernandes, Radhika Kanigiri and Ravi Kumar Rayana, the Texas- and Bengaluru-based company started as a low-code/no-code platform, before entering enterprise AI and designing its own chip prototypes. Its low-power Krsna chip aims to facilitate on-device AI and has already achieved 22 trillion of operations per second (TOPS). Also Read | Bullish on India for its chip potential, says Dutch major ASML Devaki declined to comment on the funding round. AI chip start-ups have seen increasing investor interest this year. While Kerala-based Netrasemi raised about 107 crore in Series A funding led by Zoho and Unicorn India Ventures, Bengalurus Maieutic Semiconductors secured roughly $4.15 million seed money from Endiya Partners and Exfinity. SandLogic has previously raised around $3.5 million from high-net-worth individuals and a few angel investors, including Google and AT&T executives. ExSLerate V2 is SandLogics underlying chip design that can be reused and scaled. It is meant to run AI tasks faster while using less than 2W of power, and the company says it will be ready for commercial use by December 2026. Krsna chip is built on that design and is now in prototyping, with test chips planned for the third quarter of FY27, Devaki said. It is aimed at AI applications like image, language and audio processing, and is designed for use in small devices without heating up. These chips can give more battery life for small devices and then still run AI algorithms on those devices such as smart watches, infotainment devices in the cars, routers at home, TVs, and phones, Devaki said. Semiconductor bets rise Investor interest spans deep-tech specialists such as Speciale Invest, which has closed a 600 crore fund to back early-stage deep-tech start-ups including AI and semiconductors, and global investors like Celesta Capital that have been active across semiconductor and AI infrastructure bets. Other investors include venture capital (VC) funds like Endiya Partners, Unicorn India Ventures and 3one4 Capital that are actively writing seed-to-Series A cheques in AI-led start-ups. Among foreign VCs, Celesta Capital remains active across semiconductor and AI infrastructure, while larger multi-stage VCs such as Peak XV Partners, Accel, Lightspeed and Elevation Capital have been leading or participating in new AI and agentic AI rounds this year. Shakti is SandLogics in-house large language model (LLM) built for enterprise use, with versions released till 4 billion parameters and 8 billion parameters under progress, according to Devaki. In simple terms, parameters are the dials inside an AI model that it learns to tune; more parameters generally allow the model to handle more complex tasks. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the United States with his official team for trade talks on September 22, said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Saturday. On September 16, weeks after the US imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, including a 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian crude oil, Chief US negotiator Brendan Lynch held positive discussions with Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal, the Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. Also Read | India, New Zealand to hold next round of trade deal talks in October During a visit by Lynch, teams from both the countries covered various aspects of the trade deal and decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement. In continuation of these discussions, a delegation led by the Commerce and Industries Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal is visiting the United States for meetings with the US side on 22nd September 2025," said the ministry in a statement. The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement. Significant gesture On Tuesday, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75, US President Donald Trump dialed to his friend and thanked him for his support on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, in a significant gesture to reset ties with India. Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine! President DJT, Trump posted on Truth Social. Also Read | India, US to intensify efforts to seal trade deal as talks resume In a post on X, PM Modi thanked Trump for his call and warm greetings on his 75th birthday. "Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday," the prime minister said. TAIYUAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 25th Pingyao International Photography Festival kicked off Friday in the ancient city of Pingyao, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in north China's Shanxi Province, known for its well-preserved ancient architecture. Themed "Breaking Boundaries, Intelligent Insights into the Future," the five-day festival has drawn more than 5,000 photographers from 34 countries and regions, as well as from 25 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across China, with over 20,000 works submitted for the exhibition. Highlights of the festival include a showcase of Polaroid works. Belgian photographer Carmen De Vos and British photographer Clare Marie Bailey are attending the festival in person, while works by German photographer Stefanie Schneider are also on display. A training program has also been launched at this year's festival, offering participants both instruction and hands-on experience in Pingyao and Bottrop, Germany, to enhance their curatorial skills. Over the past 25 years, the Pingyao International Photography Festival has exhibited more than 300,000 works from over 100 countries and regions, attracting millions of visitors from home and abroad to the ancient city. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has received widespread congratulations from fellow actors and colleagues following the announcement that he will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Mammootty, a long-time friend and colleague, took to X to write, More than a colleague, a brother, and an artist who has embarked on this wonderful cinematic journey for decades. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is not just for an actor, but for a true artist who has lived and breathed cinema. So happy and proud of you, Lal. You truly deserve this crown (sic). Also Read | Actor Mohanlal to be conferred with prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award Prithviraj Sukumaran shared his felicitation on Instagram Stories, saying: Congratulations Cheta on the Dadasaheb Phalke award! A truly well deserved recognition for a legend beyond ages! @mohanlal (sic). View full Image Prithviraj Sukumaran congratulated Mohanlal. Dileep also congratulated Mohanlal on Instagram, writing: Hearty congratulations to dear Lalettan and dear brother for winning the Dadasahib Falke award, the highest honor in Indian cinema. This is a proud moment for the Malayalam cinema family (sic). Kushboo Sundar expressed her delight on Instagram, adding: Extremely happy and delighted to see our most amazing, our favorite, our most adorably lovable Shri @mohanlal Sir being conferred with the most coveted #dadasahebphalke honor. Its an honor bestowed upon the Malayalam industry, infact the entire South Industry. Thank you @mib_india , Shri @ashwini.vaishnaw ji , Thiru @murugan_tnbjp avl and the jury for this. Heartiest congratulations to you Lalettan (sic). Nivin Pauly also joined in, posting on Instagram Stories: Congratulations dear Laletta. @mohanlal (sic). View full Image Nivin Pauly congratulated Mohanlal. Just ahead of its grand finale featuring Akshay Kumar, The Great Indian Kapil Show has landed in legal trouble. Producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala has slapped a 25 crore legal notice on Netflix and the shows makers, accusing them of misusing the iconic Baburao Ganpatrao Apte character from Hera Pheri. Heres a breakdown of the controversy. Why the lawsuit? The promo for the finale shows comedian Kiku Sharda dressed as Baburao, a character made famous by Paresh Rawal in the Hera Pheri films. Nadiadwala, who owns the rights, claims the act was done without permission. His team says this amounts to copyright infringement under Section 51 of the Copyright Act and trademark infringement under Section 29 of the Trademarks Act. Baburao is not just a character, but the soul of Hera Pheri, Nadiadwala said, insisting that the legacy cannot be exploited for wrongful commercial gain. This legacy was built with our sweat, vision, and creativity. Paresh Rawal ji nurtured the role with his heart and soul. No one has the right to misuse it for commercial gain. Culture is not for exploitation; it is for preservation, Nadiadwala said in an official statement. Also Read | MNS leader warns Kapil Sharma for calling Mumbai as Bombay on his show Whats the penalty? The notice demands: Immediate removal of the segment from Netflix, social media, and third-party channels A written undertaking that Baburao will not be used again without permission A formal apology within 24 hours 25 crore in damages and compensation, to be paid within two days Failure to comply, the notice warns, will lead to civil and criminal proceedings. Also Read | MNS warns Kapil Sharmas comedy show for using term Bombay instead of Mumbai Will this stop the show? For now, the finale episode featuring Akshay Kumar as the final guest- is still set to stream on September 20. But if the matter escalates legally, Netflix may be forced to edit or withdraw the contested skit. Watch the promo here: Will they have to drop the character? If Nadiadwalas demands are met, the Baburao parody will likely be pulled from all platforms. His legal team has stressed that Baburao is a registered trademark and warned that no one has the liberty to treat a creative legacy as a free-for-all. Los Angeles [US], September 20 (ANI): Stephen Colbert brought back one of his most famous characters to stand up for his late-night colleague and friend, Jimmy Kimmel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert, on Thursday's episode of The Late Show, revived his old Comedy Central persona from The Colbert Report, the satirical political pundit. Colbert entered the segment with his trademark greeting, "Hello, nation. Daddy's home." The return of his iconic act was marked by the familiar bald eagle sound and the satirical bit "The Word." The segment saw Colbert mocking what he called a "free-speech crisis," as he joked that the solution was simple: everyone should just stop talking and "certainly not aloud." "You can have your rights just as long as you don't use them," Colbert said, with a chyron beside him adding, "Like a gym membership." He closed with, "Give up, America. Just give up and stop saying anything that might upset the president. If you think that's a terrible idea, no, you don't." This comes just after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! when Kimmel mocked MAGA Republicans. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kimmel called out their attempts to distance themselves from Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, and accused both sides of turning the tragedy into political points. "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said. TEL AVIVPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stunned markets and sent shudders through Israeli society this week when he suggested the country should lean into its growing international isolation over the war in Gaza and become economically self-reliant. But for some who know him well, the Israeli leaders message came as no surprise. Netanyahu has survived 17 years in power by adopting a defiant posture toward Israels allies and enemies alike. The stance is part of an image he has curatedthat he alone can stand up to the pressure heaped on the country that could harm its national security. Now, with Israel facing growing international condemnation over the war in Gaza, he is turning to the same playbook. This week, he called for the country to become the super-Sparta" of the Middle East, referring to the ancient militaristic city-state that fought the powerful Persian army. He said Israel must adapt its economy to take on autarkic characteristics." The speech was jarring to many in Israel, who see international isolation as dangerous both to its security and economy. Netanyahu said in a press conference a day later that he was referring to the defense industry, and that its economy would continue to be open to the world. But his comments offered a window into how he is responding to growing international condemnation over the warin classic Netanyahu fashion. He actually welcomes the pressure," said Michael Oren, who served as the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. under Netanyahu. Hes saying, OK, everyones coming down on me but Im showing strength, my voters are going to respect me and the same world leaders who are condemning me right now are respecting that I can withstand this storm, and project and use power in Gaza." The comments by Netanyahu came amid a crescendo of international calls to end the war in Gaza that will culminate next week with recognition of a Palestinian state by Western European allies, led by France, at the United Nations General Assembly. In both the U.S. and across Europe, support for Israel has fallen, and cultural and educational institutions have cut ties with their Israeli counterparts. Germany, Israels second-biggest arms supplier, has suspended some arms exports. But Netanyahu has increasingly shown a willingness to go it alone and he has been emboldened by a string of military successes. He defied the Biden administration over Israels wars in Gaza and Lebanon. He pushed ahead with an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, without a promise from President Trump to join in. The huge gamble paid off when the U.S. brought its bombers to bear against Irans nuclear facilities. Recently, when Israeli warplanes carried out an attack on Hamas political leaders in Qatar, Netanyahu gave the U.S. little time to object. In his speech on Monday, he blamed Qatar and China for social-media campaigns aimed at smearing Israel, without offering evidence. And he pointed the finger at rising Muslim migration to Europe for swaying its political leaders to turn against Israel. The defiance reflects a formula that has worked for Netanyahu in Israel. He has become the countrys longest-serving prime minister but has faced increasing political isolation during time in power. Centrist and left-wing parties that were once a part of his government have shunned him over allegations of bribery and fraud, which he denies. Many of his aides and political allies have abandoned him. In the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, everyone was writing his political obituary for what has been seen as one of the countrys biggest security failures. Yet, nearly two years later, he is climbing back up in the polls. The isolationist political stance is another gamble in a series of risky positions he has staked out. He is banking on continued support from the U.S., even as the Democratic Party has increasingly turned on Israel over the war in Gaza and as more young Republicans and MAGA leaders begin to question the close U.S.-Israel relationship. What we see now is a reflection of the fact that Netanyahu reduced the notion of foreign policy to U.S. policy, in particular the U.S. administration," said Yohanan Plesner, the president of the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute think tank. Its a dangerous reduction that Israel can rely solely on its relationship with who is in the White House instead of adopting a much broader policy in international relations." Israeli flags outside a fabric shop in Tel Aviv.The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Israels prime minister said its economy would continue to be open to the world. Paradoxically, Netanyahu was the one who helped usher in changes that further opened Israels economy to the world, making it a technological powerhouse and leading to an unprecedented level of wealth for a generation of Israelis. In the 90s, Netanyahu was a globalist when it was popular, said Gideon Rahat, a political scientist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The wave of protectionist urges that has followed populist movements in Europe and the U.S. are also being reflected now by Netanyahu, he said. Netanyahu is trying to imitate this trend," said Rahat. But it is a more dangerous prospect for Israel, a country of only 10 million, than for the U.S. There is a long history of Israeli leaders defying international opprobrium. David Ben-Gurion, Israels first prime minister, famously coined the phrase um shmum," which roughly translates to United Nations, shmoonited nations," a phrase that is meant to belittle the international communitys efforts to condemn Israel. That kind of defiance has always been a winning tactic domestically. But those same early Zionists always believed that Israel fundamentally relied on the international community for its legitimacy. Its part of the core of the idea of Israel," said Plesner, from the Israel Democracy Institute, that it has to be open and closely linked to the Western world." Netanyahu is betting that the worlds anger will subside once the war is over, and that Israelis who have served in the military wont continue to face charges of war crimes when they arrive in European countries. He is also betting that American Jews will continue to identify and support Israel, even if its reputation is tarnished. Daniel Gordis, a fellow at Shalem College in Jerusalem, said American Jews support Israel in part because it has always been a source of pride for them. Hes little by little, knowingly or unknowingly, chipping away at things that made people proud to be part of Israel," he said. Ultimately, though, Netanyahu is betting, once again, on himself. He is doubling down on a strategy that has kept him in power and, in his view, secured Israels future. He thinks hes the one who can save Israel from the imminent threat of annihilation," said Aviv Bushinsky, who worked for Netanyahu for nine years. He really believes that he is the only one on Earth that can do it." Write to Shayndi Raice at Shayndi.Raice@wsj.com Bank Holiday Today: All public and private banks across India will be open on Saturday, September 20, as it is the third Saturday of the month and there is no bank holiday on this day. What are the usual bank holidays in India? According to the Reserve Bank of India bank holiday calendar (RBI), banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays each month. Usually, banks remain closed on weekends, except on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays. Notably, all banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank will be open on Saturday, September 21. Apart from weekend holidays, banks are closed on national holidays like Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti, as well as for certain religious and regional observances. The bank holidays for religious and regional observances vary from state to state in accordance with the RBI calendar. Therefore, before making a visit to the bank, you must always check with your branch if there is a bank holiday or not. When are banks closed next? The next bank holiday is on Sunday, September 21. In terms of regional observances, banks will be closed next on September 22 in Rajasthan to mark the beginning of Navratri celebrations. Remaining bank holidays in September September 22 (Monday) All banks will be shut in Jaipur as the city will celebrate Navratra Sthapna, marking the beginning of Navratri celebrations among Hindus. September 23 (Tuesday) All public and private banks across will remain shut in Jammu and Srinagar in celebrations of the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, the last ruling monarch of Jammu & Kashmir. September 29 (Monday) There is an RBI mandated bank holiday for Agartala, Kolkata and Guwahati in observance of Maha Saptami, which is the seventh day of the Durga Puja festival, celebrated in the Hindu month of Ashwin. Also Read | IDBI Bank revises its Utsav FD rates starting today. Check the latest rates September 30 (Tuesday) Multiple cities, including Agartala, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Imphal, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna and Ranchi will observe bank holiday due to Maha Ashtami/Durga Ashtami, the eighth day of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja and Navratri. Apart from these, there will be bank holidays on September 27 as it is the fourth Saturday of the month, as well as on September 21 and 28 as these are Sundays. What to do if there is an emergency on bank holiday? If you are in urgent need to withdraw cash or send money on a bank holiday, you need not be worried. ATM services work 24x7, despite bank holidays, if you need to withdraw cash, get a statement or any other requirement. To send money on a bank holiday, online banking services like NEFT, IMPS and RTGS are available. A real estate agent in San Francisco has long been a trusted figure among the Bay Areas Indian diaspora, especially the tech community. A US citizen himself, he has built a reputation for helping newly arrived professionals, many of whom are on H-1B visas, find housing and settle into life in America. His phone is usually abuzz with inquiries about rental listings, schools, and neighborhood safety. But last night, the calls were different. Dozens of frantic voices reached out, not to find a home in the US but to lament being unable to return to India for the festival season. With Diwali around the corner, many H-1B visa holders had planned short trips to visit family, celebrate the festival, and recharge before returning to their jobs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere in the US. But a sudden change in visa policy has thrown their plans into disarray. I couldnt offer them much. Just a patient ear," the real estate agent said. US president Donald Trump signed an executive order late on Friday that requires companies to pay $100,000 annually for every foreign worker on an H-1B visa a 100-fold increase. The abrupt change has left thousands in limbo. Trump's decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas is the latest and most dramatic development in a long-running political debate over the program. While the H-1B visa was originally created to allow US companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers for "specialty occupations," critics have long argued that it has been exploited by outsourcing firms to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign labour. The new policy is part of the administration's broader America First agenda to protect domestic jobs and wages. IT companies left scrambling Back in India, an IT services company was still scrambling to figure out, at the time of filing this story, how to return to the US 10 of its employees who had traveled home for a short break. They had planned to stay in India until the end of October, assuming their return to the US would be routine. Now, they face an uncertain future. A spokesperson for the company, who requested anonymity, expressed frustration, saying: We will not be paying $100,000 for each visa. Thats simply not feasible." The company was drafting an urgent advisory for its US-based employees while senior management convened an unscheduled weekend meeting to assess the fallout. For many, the decision feels punitive. A software engineer in New York on H1-B visa said, Obviously companies wont be willing to pay the high fee, but this decision also impacts people who already have valid H-1B visas but are not in the US. They should have been given at least a weeks notice to allow them to return." According to a Reuters report Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon have advised employees on H-1B visas to remain in the US. Around 71% of the H1-B visas issued in 2024 went to Indians, while China was a distant second with about 11%. Life, interrupted Another software developer, based in New Jersey, had just wrapped up a project involving an AI-powered fraud detection system for a US banking client before returning to India. My project ended and I came on a one-way ticket to meet my parents and sister in Pune. I was waiting for the next assignment. Now I cant go back," he said. In Bengaluru, a young coder had booked a round-trip ticket, with a return scheduled for 4 October. He had been working on a personalised recommendation engine for an American retailer. I was in Coorg with my family when I heard about the change. I rushed back to Bengaluru, but despite contacting multiple agents and offering to pay extra, I havent been able to reschedule my flight," he said. A spokesperson for travel portal MakeMyTrip confirmed there has been a spike in last-minute bookings to the US. There has been a notable increase in last-minute bookings to the US since this morning. This increase in bookings for same day travel is atypical for a long-haul segment," he said. The Indian tech community finds itself grappling with more than just visas. Theres a growing sense of being caught in the crossfire of policy decisions that overlook the human cost. When the dust settles, a lot of good could come out of this, said a Bangalore-based honcho who did not wish to be named. Its a blessing in disguise. Top -deck talent will shift to India. This will be the best thing to happen for R&D in India," he added. Bengaluru: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that requires companies to pay $100,000 annually for every foreign worker brought under the H-1B visa, up from about $1,000 at present a 9,900% increase. This could increase the visa fees to about 10% of the profits of Indias five largest recipients of H-1B visas, and prove the death knell for the countrys $283-billion IT services industry. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd sponsored 5,364 H-1B Visas in 2025, while Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp sponsored 2,493 and Infosys 2,004, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data. LTI Mindtree Ltd sponsored 1,807 such visas and HCL Technologies sponsored 1,728. The new order, effective 21 September, would increase visa fees from about $13.4 million to $1.34 billion if the five Indian IT companies were to bring a similar number 13,396 people to the US on H-1B visas in the future. Currently, a non-US worker on an H-1B Visa pays $215 and his employer contributes an additional $780 for the visa application. TCS ended FY25 with $5.74 billion in profit, while Cognizants Infosyss net income totaled $3.16 billion and $2.24 billion. Cognizant follows a January-December financial year. LTI Mindtree and HCL Technologies net income totaled $520 million and $2.04 billion. The revised H-1B visa fee would amount to about 10% of these five companies $13.7 billion of profits. Death knell The H-1B is definitely finished if these fees materialise," Siddharth Pai, co-founder of Siana Capital, a venture fund manager in Bengaluru. All companies that use this visa class will have to readjust around it, including changing business models to the extent needed. So yes, all industries using this visa class will change." Phil Fersht, chief executive of HFS Research, an outsourcing-research firm in the US, said, A jump from $1,000 to $100,000 per H-1B petition is not an incremental change; it is a direct attack on the Indian IT delivery model. No provider can simply absorb that level of cost. Passing it fully to clients is unrealistic, especially in a hyper-competitive market, so the hit will show up in margins." For the largest IT firms, the damage can be cushioned by diversifying into more local hiring, nearshore delivery, and accelerated automation. For mid-tier firms that rely heavily on H-1Bs, the shock could cut several hundred basis points off operating margin," he said. Even if this policy is stayed in court, the psychological effect is permanent. Boards will not design new projects around H-1B staffing as long as this level of policy risk exists," Fersht added. So the short answer is: no, companies cannot pass this on wholesale to clients. They will absorb some, reprice some, but most importantly, they will accelerate the redesign of their delivery models away from H-1Bs." A spokesperson for Cognizant said, We are reviewing the President's proclamation to evaluate the potential implications. At this point, we do not have the details to respond accurately. Cognizant has established a resilient business model that creates flexibility to hire the best candidates for open roles, including robust local recruiting and hiring infrastructure." Emails sent to TCS, Infosys, HCLTech and LTIMindtree remained unanswered. Less dependent than before Indian IT services players' dependence on H-1B visas has fallen substantially over the years. In fact, US firms are now the biggest sponsors of H-1B," said Abhishek Kumar, IT Research Analyst, JM Financial Institutional Securities Ltd. American companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google were the largest recipients of H-1B visas in 2025. In the current cost-constrained demand environment, it might be difficult to pass on the higher cost to clients. That could lead to some impact on margins," Kumar added. Also Read | In charts: The great Indian American dream falters under Trump Industry body Nasscom said, While we are reviewing the finer details of the order, adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on Americas innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy However, it is also important to note that India and India-centric companies have been steadily reducing their reliance on these visas through increased local hiring in recent years. These companies also follow all necessary governance and compliance in the US for H-1B processes, pay the prevailing wages and contribute to the local economy and innovation partnerships with academia and startups. The H-1B workers for these companies by no means are a threat to national security in the US," it added. Companies are very happy about it: Trump On Friday, Trump dismissed a question on whether technology company executives would be concerned about the action. I think theyre going to be very happy. Everyones going to be happy. And were going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people," Trump said. And in many cases, these companies are going to pay a lot of money for that and theyre very happy about it." For now, it is unclear whether companies sponsoring H-1B visas will recall their workers and how they will continue to work under the revised rates. That said, in the medium to long term, firms may be able to find ways to navigate the landscape better by either hiring even more local workers or offshoring or outsourcing more work. The H-1B non-immigrant visa program was created to bring temporary workers into the United States to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor," read the order signed by Trump. Its usually in the nature of Indian Uncles (and Aunties) to dismiss Gen Z (born 1997-2012) as self-centred, distractible and addicted to the internetcompulsively doomscrolling through their social media feeds all day, and then complaining of anxiety. News media outlets in India recently stepped in as proxy for similar avuncular moral guardians as Nepal went up in flames. Gen Z protests against social media ban" became a simplified, catch-all headline trend to describe an event that had its origins in a long-simmering brew of dissatisfaction: a corrupt regime, staggering unemployment, and a bleak future for the countrys youth. Doomscrolling has a bad rep, and rightly so. It was Oxford English Dictionarys word of the year for 2020, as our collective brain was being turned into mush by panic and fear induced by the covid-19 pandemic at the time. Scientists researched the phenomenon, concluded that it was a terrible habit, not only for our mental health but also physical well-being (it impacts the brains limbic system negatively, especially for those with a history of trauma). The chief trigger for doomscrolling is bad news, and humankinds appetite to seek more of it, until it sends us spiralling, putting our flight, fight and freeze reflex into an overdrive. A recent report by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism points out that 40% of the respondents, surveyed from 50 countries, admit they avoid the news these days because it affects them negatively. While its only fair to hold up a shield against psychological damage, is it also possible that doomscrolling can act as a mirror to society, a reality check to jolt you out of your bubble? To take the example of Nepals youth, their glimpse into the excesses of the political elite and their scions, accessed through those very social media platforms they had been cut off from, became a moment of reckoning, a push for change. The agency that the internet gives people in societies with systemic inequality cannot be underestimated. For one class of young people, doomscrolling ends up being a pathway into a den of toxic capitalism, where self-worth is measured in terms of body type, outfits of the day, or the number of Labubus one owns. For the rest of their peers, whose education has seemingly proved futile in getting them a job (Nepal, for instance, has a high outflow of young people from the country looking for a better life), doomscrolling becomes a fuel for righteous anger, a desire to restore some semblance of balance. A decade before Nepal, there were the youth of Egypt, assembled on Tahrir Square of Cairo in 2011, demanding the downfall of the corrupt dictator, Hosni Mubarak. It was one of the first popular uprisings to be mobilised through the power of the internet, especially social media platforms like Twitter (before it became X). The internet has come a long way since, acting as a vehicle for social justice movements like Dalit Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, MeToo, the farmers protests in India, and so on. Sceptics scoff at online social justice warriorsoften rightfully so. The misuse of social media as a tool for virtue signalling is widely visible. But its also foolhardy to dismiss the internets ability to forge meaningful solidarities. There is now a medical term for the overstimulated: popcorn brain. If doomscrolling makes kernels of self-doubt pop in some brains, it can also make other brains sputter with a desire to shake up things. Also Read | Why Gen Alpha is looking for love and friendship in the world of gaming Just a month later, the President of India Droupadi Murmu formally launched the therapy, hailing it as the countrys first homegrown gene therapy for cancer. Developed by a team of Indian scientists and cleared by regulators in late 2023, the therapy marked a watershed moment in Indian biomedical innovation. At the centre of this revolution was an unassuming but determined thirty-five-year-old scientist: Alka Dwivedi. Dwivedi and her team had achieved what many thought impossiblethey had indigenously redesigned the most cutting-edge, patented cancer therapy of the West, capable of curing advanced blood and lymph cancers, and slashed its price by nearly 90 per cent without compromising on efficacy or safety. It was the kind of medical breakthrough that might have made Dwivedi a household name anywhere else. But lost among the 1.4 billion people of India, she was barely recognized outside her circles, save some mentions in the Hindu and India Today. The Indian media was busy covering political turmoil and parliamentary elections when the news broke, while social media was captivated by the Ambani wedding, celebrity airport looks and influencer feuds. Dwivedis achievementone that could save countless lives around the world for decades, if not centurieswas drowned out by clickbait content and election drama. Dwivedis journey to this milestone was as remarkable as this cancer vaccine itself. Raised in the narrow lanes of dusty Mirzapur in rural Uttar Pradesh, she completed her schooling and early university in Mirzapur. She then pursed biotechnology for her masters at a little-known university in Nagpur. A brief internship at IISc, Bangalore during her masters opened her eyes to the world of serious scientific research. She gained some industrial exposure at Japanese life sciences firm Daiichi Sankyo in Gurgaon, followed by a year-long stint at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. There, she worked on plant-nematode interactions using RNA interferenceher first real brush with genetic engineering. After a year at IARIs iconic Pusa campus, she joined IIT Bombays Biosciences and Bioengineering Department. Thats where she met Dr Rahul Purwar, an immunologist trained at Harvard Medical School and Hannover Medical School. Together, they set their sights on cancer immunotherapyoften referred to as cancer vaccine because it helps the body to generate its own immunity against cancer cells. Their objective: bring the Western designed CAR-T cell therapy to India and make it accessible to Indian patients. They got medical support from Dr Gaurav Narula and Dr Hasmukh Jain, two expert oncologists at the nearby Tata Memorial cancer hospital. View Full Image 'Vaccine Nation: How Immunization Shaped India' By Ameer Shahul Macmillan India, 504 pages, 699. CAR-T cell therapy, hailed as a breakthrough in oncology, involves extracting a patients T-cells, genetically engineering them with synthetic receptors (CARs) and reinfusing them into the body to hunt and destroy cancer cells. This living drug has achieved astonishing success in treating blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma since its advent, especially in children.1 But the cost was prohibitive up to 3040 million (roughly $500,000) per patient even as cancer has been emerging as one of the worst killers in the modern world. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme, the official source for Indias cancer data, approximately 1.46 million new cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the country.... Besides this alarming data, a large number of cases go unreported beyond the coverage of cancer hospitals and in rural areas. The incidence of cancer has been on the rise due to growing environmental pollution, over-use of plastics and chemicals and increasing dependence on processed and packaged food. The affected patients have been desperately seeking a cure. One of the reliable solutions that emerged in the West in the new millennium was CAR-T. Also Read | Science Gallery Bengaluru: Finding the true weight of a single calorie The concept of CAR-T originated in Israel in the late 1980s and was brought to clinical fruition by renowned oncologist Carl Junes team in the US, with the launch of the first human trial in 2011. CAR-T cell therapy took immunotherapy to a highly personalized levela patients own T-cells are extracted and genetically altered to recognize cancer. When infused back into the patient, these tailored cells seek out and destroy malignant cells with heightened precision. In 2017, US FDA approved two CAR-T therapiesKymriah (Novartis) and Yescarta (Gilead)that made headlines for their remarkable success in treating certain leukemias and lymphomas, especially in children. The therapy marked a new era of living drugs that are custom-made to each patients cancer. Despite its promise, high costs and complex logistics made CAR-T therapy inaccessible for most of the world. When Dwivedi arrived at IIT Bombay in 2015, CAR-T trials in the US were gaining momentum. But in Indiawhere nearly 1.5 million new cancer cases were being reported annuallythe therapy was out of reach for most. When she witnessed cancer patients lining up daily at the nearby Tata Memorial Hospital, the mission became a personal one for Dwivedi, setting her on track to develop a safe, effective and affordable version of CAR-T therapy in India, by India, for India. Dwivedi led the technical processdesigning the CAR and producing the viral vector that delivers cancer-fighting genes into a patients T-cells. But resources were scarce. A better equipped bioengineering lab was still under construction at IIT Bombay, and a variety of equipment had to be imported. Every step was a struggle. More significantly, researchers with know-how and hands on experience were hard to come by. The silver lining was that the project had received key support from Tata Trust in the beginning with 1.76 million and later from National Biopharma Mission through BIRAC, which sanctioned 191.5 million to fund the Phase I/II clinical trials. A breakthrough came in 2017 after Dwivedi spent time at the US National Cancer Institute, where she picked up critical know-how in CAR-T cell manufacturing and viral vector development. Also Read | Why you shouldnt rely entirely on your smart watch to read your health Returning to Mumbai, she cracked key challenges in CAR and vector production and began generating CAR T-cells in the lab. Animal trials showed promising remission rates. The project soon received a regulatory green light for clinical trials on cancer patients. By 2021, the team had built a GMP-grade facility at IIT Bombayone that met WHO standards for sterility and safety. Clinical trials began shortly after, enrolling informed patients from Tata Memorial battling advanced leukemia and lymphoma. 4 June 2021 marked a historic milestone in Indias cancer care journey. At the Bone Marrow Transplant unit of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in Mumbai, the countrys first CAR-T cell therapy was successfully administered to patients by Narula and team. The results were stunning. Nearly three of four patients responded to the therapy, and almost half of them went into complete remission. Even more encouraging was the reduced toxicity. By tweaking the therapy design, the team managed to minimize dangerous side effects, making treatment safer and more tolerable. Just as important was how they did it. Every componentfrom viral vectors to cell-processing systemswas made in India. No costly imports. No reliance on foreign patents. The result: a world-class CAR-T therapy at one-tenth the cost of its Western counterparts. In October 2023, the therapybranded NexCAR19received approval from Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, becoming the countrys first sanctioned CAR T-cell product. By mid-2024, more than 150 patients had received NexCAR19. The team expects that number to cross 500 by 2025. Construction is underway on a larger manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Mumbai, with the goal of producing 1,200 treatments annually. The new site will house high-efficiency labs for vector and CAR T-cell production, along with expanded quality control units to accelerate turnaround time. The team dreams of bringing down the cost of the therapy to as little as 10,000 one day. Excerpted from Vaccine Nation: How Immunization Shaped India with permission from Macmillan India. Also Read | Its time to revisit the stereotype of the surgeon in the 21st century While the efficacy of the basic plank hold is often questioned, given the sheer number of plank variations, one of its best replacements often goes under the radarthe reverse plank. It is one of the most underrated isometric holds, with very easy progressions, and has a host of advantages that makes it worth adding to the list of regular exercises to do. For experienced fitness enthusiasts, the reverse plank represents the better go-to isometric core hold. Much of this is down to the number of muscles that this exercise works. The conventional plank has more variations: marching planks, kettlebell drags, mountain climbers, and so on; the plank also works the shoulders due to how its done in a push up position. The reverse plank, on the other hand, hits a lot of the posterior chain muscles, as the body is held up by the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, along with the shoulders and the hip flexors (the big bonus of this hold). There are other neglected parts of the back that also get activated in this hold, like the rhomboids, the erector spinae and the middle traps. The fundamental of this exercise is pretty simplejust flip the plank. So now the body is facing up to the ceiling, and is supported on the heels rather than the toes which instantly kicks in the posterior chain. There arent that many posterior chain isometric holds, and just the superman hold comes to mind as a popular one. Also Read | Try these three advanced isometric holds for improved muscle control and focus But one doesnt need to start off with the perfect reverse plank. The first variation might look like a glute bridge hold, but with the arms fully extended to support the upper body. The easy part in this starter variation would be to support the lower body on the soles of the feet until there is enough strength and comfort to take the weight on the heels. YouTube channel Calisthenic Movement posted a video showing the first few variations of the reverse plank and it is the only video possibly needed to learn this exercise. One of the biggest issues while doing a conventional plank is bringing down the hips in line with the rest of the body. But there is no scope to cheat in the reverse plank, because you can see your own form instantly as you try to create a line with the body. If the hips drop, it is happening right in front of your eyes. And the body cannot extend the hips beyond a point in this exercise. So the most irritating form hack to the plank has no room in the inverted plank. The next question is obviously the placement of the hands. Should they be facing the feet, or away from the body, or be to the sides? A Reddit thread on the community r/bodyweightfitness has a comment from an experienced gymnast who discusses this issue: My hands are facing towards the sides on purpose. While the end goal should be hands facing backwards (forearm supination), this position along with the full shoulder extension greatly stretches the biceps. When it comes to the hands facing forward, this hand position does not lead anywhere and most people do not have the required wrist extension strength to safely hold the position. The average Joe has pain in its wrists by performing Push-Ups. At the end, the hands facing the sides is the best option and it will be the base to gradually transition towards hands facing backwards, which should take a few months for most people." Also Read | Fitness: Why you need to master secondary lifts for better strength training This opinion resonates with a lot of material on the reverse plank that is available online, but a first-person point of view while learning a new move is important. This is not an exercise I have seen many people try in a gym, so if youre doing it, remember that comfort comes first, before the strength to get the best position. The final progression of this is called a Chinese plank. This can be done using two benches, or two similarly tall pieces of equipment with the feet resting on one and the head and upper back on the other while the body is suspended on a plank. There is a floor version of this as well, where the body is resting on only the head and upper back and the heels, without extending the arms. If you are still unsure of the reverse plank, then its worth knowing how to get the best from the conventional version. I wrote a piece four years ago in Lounge titled How to get the most out of the plank which can help build strength. The reverse plank is a must-try if youre serious about overall development. Pulasta Dhar is a football commentator and writer. BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that China's position on the TikTok issue is clear, emphasizing the Chinese government's respect for the will of enterprises. The ministry highlighted that the country welcomes companies to conduct business negotiations in line with market rules to reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and balance interests of all parties. The ministry stated that China hopes the United States will move in the same direction and fully honor its commitments, provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, including TikTok, to continue operating in the United States, and promote stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations. Ladki Bahin Yojana: In an important update to its flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, the Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for beneficiaries to do their e-KYC to continue enjoying the benefits. A government resolution (GR) regarding the same has been issued on Thursday, an official said. What is the Ladki Bahin Yojana? The Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched by the Maharashtra government to provide financial assistance to needy women. The aim of this scheme is to improve the economic condition of women and their overall development. Under the scheme, the government offers a monthly assistance of 1,500 to women in the age group of 21-65, whose annual family income is not more than 2.5 lakh. Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana e-KYC rule The Ladki Bahin Yojana e-KYC should be done within two months from now, the government announced. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare on Thursday said, "An e-KYC facility has been made available on the web portal, 'ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in', for all beneficiaries of the scheme. They are requested to complete the e-KYC process in the next two months." This process is simple and convenient, and to maintain transparency in the scheme and ensure regular benefits to eligible women, everyone should complete it, she said in a post on X. According to the GR, eligible women must complete their verification and authentication within two months to receive the monthly assistance in their bank accounts. Similarly, if Aadhaar authentication is not done, the benefits will be withheld, it said. Beneficiaries will have to carry out the e-KYC process compulsorily every year, the GR stated. How to do e-KYC for Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana? Here is a step-by-step process to do Ladki Bahin Yojana e-KYC online: Step 1: Go to the official Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana website at ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in. Step 2: Go to the e-KYC option on the homepage. Step 3: You will have to re-upload your documents as required including name, address, ration card number, income information, and Aadhaar card information. Step 4: Click on submit to complete the e-KYC process. Why did Maharashtra govt make e-KYC mandatory? The government had recently revealed that nearly 26.34 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, including men, had enrolled in the scheme and received the monthly allowance. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that requires companies to pay $100,000 annually for every foreign worker brought under the H-1B visa, marking a 100-fold increase. This could deal a severe blow to aspirational Indians and companies that rely on Indian workers in the US. Indians are major beneficiaries of H-1B visas issues by the US government, making up about 70% of the total. Before the sudden and hefty fee hike, the number of H-1B visas issued to Indians had already fallen as the Trump administration tightened the rules, imposing a quota and putting a lottery system in place. Data from the US State Department showed Indians were issued 63,323 H-1B work visas during January to May 2025, which is 11.1% fewer than the same period in 2024. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US employers to employ foreign workers in specialised occupations temporarily. Over the decades, Indians have greatly benefited from the visa, especially in the technology sector. Tata Consultancy Services is among the biggest sponsors of H-1B visas. Several other IT giants including Infosys and HCLTech are also among the top sponsors. According to a Mint analysis the revised H-1B visa fee would amount to about 10% of the FY25 profits of five companiesTCS, Cognizant, HCLTech, Infosys, and LTIMindtreeat the same level of issuance. The massive revised fee is likely to be a strong deterrent for the companies as it is nearly as much as the median pay of H-1B workers and, in many sectors, even higher. An analysis by the Pew Research Center showed that 65% of H-1B visa approvals are for computer-related jobs, which have a median salary of $123,600 a year, only about 20% higher than the revised visa fee. The latest move is part of Trumps Make America Great Again plan, which aims to put American citizens and workers before the immigrants, even those who have migrated to the US legally. This is part of a broader anti-immigration sentiment that has gripped several countries including the US, the UK, and Australia. Over the decades, millions of skilled and unskilled Indians have moved abroad in search of a better life and opportunities. An analysis by howindialives.com showed that about 6.5 million Indians live in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, with over half of them in the US. Also Read | Beyond the visa: Why foreign universities are flocking to Gurugram and GIFT City Indians now make up about 10% of the foreign-born population in countries such as Canada, Australia, and the UK. While many of these are imposing restrictions on migration, several of them, with an ageing population, also depend on migrants to fill gaps in their labour force. Moreover, the move by the Trump administration could also impact Indias economy through the current account deficit. Higher inflow of remittancesthe money migrants send back homehelps narrow the deficit and keep the countrys external financial health in check. The US is currently the biggest source of inward remittances, accounting for about a quarter of the total. The Trump administration has also proposed a 3.5% tax on foreign remittances by non-citizens in the US, which could further hit inward remittances to India. According to Reuters, companies such as Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon have already responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the US to avoid the revised visa fees. A significant number of American companies including Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Walmart also rely on migrant workers from countries such as India and China, and the latest move threatens to disrupt the operations of these firms as well. Also Read | In charts: The great Indian American dream falters under Trump Air India issued an advisory urging passengers flying to London from India to complete their web check-ins before arriving at the airports, after a cyberattack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations at major European airports including Heathrow, on Saturday. "A third-party passenger system disruption at Heathrow may cause delays in the check-in process. Our ground teams in London are working to minimise inconvenience. Passengers flying with us from London today are advised to complete their web check-in before arriving at the airport to help ensure a smooth experience," Air India stated in its advisory. Cyberattack hits European Airports Air India's advisory comes after major European Airports including London's Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, reported flight delays and cancellations on Saturday after a cyberattack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations. According to a report by The Independent, at least four flights were cancelled at the Brussels Airport on Saturday, following the cyberattack. Aviation watchdog Eurocontrol said airlines had been asked to cancel half their flights to and from the airport between 4:00 am GMT on Saturday and 2:00 am GMT on Sunday because of the incident, reported BBC. Which services have been affected? Brussels Airport said the cyberattack disrupted automated systems, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures. Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, said the cyberattack was affecting select airports, impacting electronic customer check-in and baggage drop. So far, London's Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin Airport have warned of delays and flight cancellations. Meanwhile EasyJet said it does not expect a system issue affecting airports including Heathrow and Brussels to impact its flight schedule for the rest of Saturday. In a horrific incident, a 24-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed and sexually abused at White Rose layout's paying guest accommodation in Bengaluru's Whitefield area on Tuesday, reported Times of India. The report mentioned that the accused has been identified as Sai Babu Chennuru. After the incident, the PG management allegedly assaulted him severely the same night. The police stated that the incident took place at Pro4Living, a co-living PG where both Chennuru and the victim are staying. The police registered an official complaint and a counter-complaint, and Chennuru has been arrested. The report further added that the victim gave a statement to the police from her hospital bed. She mentioned having been staying at the PG for the past three months and works as a private bank employee. About the incident: The victim told the police that around 3 am she heard someone ring her doorbell. When she opened the door, the accused entered and locked it from inside. Following this, he then pulled out a knife and threatened her. Soon after this, he stabbed her on the left side of her back and she collapsed. Later, the accused stripped her and took some photographs of her and allegedly demanded that she have sex with him. When she denied, he threatened to kill her and self. When she said that he was on her periods and could accept the threat the next day. After this, Sai allegedly demanded 70,000 from her, and she said she would borrow money from friends in the morning. Then, Sai allegedly took her phone and transferred 14,000 from her UPI app to his account, the report said. Sai left the room with a threat to not reveal the incident to anyone, else he will send her photographs to her parents and friends. At around 7 am she was taken to the hospital when she called her male friend, where her treatment is underway. Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under charges of attempt to murder, assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment and extortion. On September 17, Sai also filed a cross-complaint against the woman and claimed he and the victim had been in a relationship for past two months. He claimed that he had a fight after which he left the room, and at around 10.30 pm, the PG management confronted him. He also alleged to have been verbally abused and assaulted, adding he sustained injuries on his hands, legs and face. US President Donald Trump's executive order to increase the H-1B visa fee to $1,00,000 has caused significant concern among tech companies. A visa consultant has said that Indians stand to lose the most after the US' move The fee which was previously around a thousand dollars is now raised to $100,000, a move that will hit Indian workers the hardest, ANI quoted Bikram Chabhal, president of the Association of Visa and IELTS Centres (AVIC), as saying. The H-1B program offers around 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, and another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees, among which India was the largest beneficiary with a 71% share of approved beneficiaries. Visa consultants worried about the impact Chabhal noted that 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indians, followed by Chinese nationals. Previously, the total fee was $215, plus another $750. Now, it translates to eighty-eight lakh plus in Indian rupees, he told ANI. He further added, "I believe these companies will have to struggle a lot in the future. If a company has to pay a fee of one lakh dollars every year, then companies won't be able to afford that much money." Chabhal stressed that Indians stand to lose the most after this move. "The biggest disadvantage of this seems to be for Indians, as Indians used to go extensively on this visa... After receiving those visas, they would then obtain green cards and become American citizens. This will impact them significantly," he noted. Speaking of the future outlook, despite the negative short-term impact, he suggested that the policy shift could indirectly help India. "In the future, this will benefit India more because if specific workers return to India, they will be able to do something good for India. However, America will not find specialised workers in America..." he said. Why did US hike the visa fee? Chabhal's remarks came as US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced details of the new H-1B visa fee during a press conference, describing the decision as a strategy to get rid of lower-skilled training positions while preserving opportunities for highly skilled workers. "A company that wants to buy an H-1B visa... it's USD 100,000 per year," Lutnick explained. The visa maintains its current structure: three years with one possible renewal for a total of six years. Also Read | Helios Capital founder shares amusing boardroom scenario on H-1B visa fee hike The fee, which applies to all H-1B positions regardless of salary or skill level, is designed to make the programme viable only for roles that justify such a substantial cost. "No longer will you put trainees on an H-1B visa -- it's just not economic anymore. If you're going to train people, you're going to train Americans," Lutnick said. Implications for Indian IT sector This sudden change is expected to significantly impact Indian IT services companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro. Meanwhile, Industry body Nasscom said the US' move will impact India's technology services companies as business continuity will be disrupted for onshore projects that may require "adjustments". "While we are reviewing the finer details of the order, adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on America's innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy," the apex body said. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has resurrected his eight-year-old tweet on H-1B visa just as United States President Donald Trump slapped a steep hike on visa fee, likely to impact the Indian workers more. Reacting to the H-1B visa fee hike, Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, I repeat, India has a weak PM. He also retweeted his 2017 post where he had questioned the prime minister for not taking up the H1B visa issue with Donald Trump who was then in his first term as President. The outburst comes in response to Donald Trump's new presidential proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The measure, effective from September 21, aims to combat what the administration calls widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages. His sentiments were also repeated by senior Congress leader Pawan Khera who said this was alerted by Rahul Gandhi back in 2017. He also said that Donald Trump has been insulting India but the prime minister, he said, remains silent. "This is not a new development. On 5th July 2017, Rahul Gandhi had tweeted and alerted PM Modi that this was going to happen and do something. But he was a weak PM back then and even today. You have the result today...Crores of youth of this country are going to face a loss...Trump is insulting us every day. But the PM is silent. Rahul Gandhi gave him an opportunity to say on the Floor of the House that Trump is a liar. Had he said that, the country would have stood with him. Today, the entire country is questioning the PM," he said. MP Manish Tewari who alleged that the US was being deliberately aggressive with India. The US is systematically turning on the screws on India. What happened with regard to the H-1B visa is no coincidence at all. If you look at it in context, the premature ceasefire announcement by the US at the instigation of Pakistan, subsequently, the felicitation and the feting of the Pakistani Army chief in the White House, followed by the 50% tariffs which have been imposed by the US and even the Saud-Pakistani defence partnership won't have happened without the tacit support and blessing of the US. He continued, So, in a very systematic manner, for reasons which are inexplicable and understandable, the US is deliberately being belligerent towards India and it does not augur well for India-US relations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday, September 20, that India and Canada have agreed to pursue a collaborative approach in a new phase of their bilateral relationship, focusing on close cooperation to tackle terrorism and transnational crimes. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi on Thursday with a focus on repairing the bilateral relations that came under severe strain following a diplomatic spat over the killing of a Sikh separatist in 2023. The MEA came out with broad outcomes of the talks on Saturday. The ministry said, The two sides agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations. The two NSAs also spoke about advancing the bilateral relationship that includes areas such as counter terrorism, combating transnational organised crime and intelligence exchanges. Also Read | India presses Canada for proof in Nijjar killing, calls for action against anti-India Khalistanis "They agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement," the MEA said in a statement, adding, "It said, The two NSAs also deliberated on the priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada. During the discussion, the two leaders committed to taking constructive measures aimed at stabilizing and strengthening India-Canada relations. It was also an opportunity to follow up on the discussions between Prime Minister Modi and his Canadian counterpart Carney, the MEA said on Doval-Drouin talks. Both sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership, it said. When India-Canada relations hit rock bottom India-Canada relations took a massive hit after the then prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged potential Indian link to the killing of Khalistani supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In October last year, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. However, Liberal Party leader Carney's victory in the parliamentary election in April helped in beginning the process to reset relations. H-1B visa fee: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said that full implications of the United States increasing H-1B visa fee to a staggering USD 100,000 annually are being studied by all concerned, noting that the move could have humanitarian consequences. Trump on Friday signed the proclamation Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers', saying the abuse of the H-1B visa programme is a "national security threat". The Government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program, MEA said in a statement. The ministry stated that the measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities, it stated, adding, Industry in both India and the US has a stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward. MEA also said that skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India. Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries. The H-1B visas are valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. Meanwhile, several companies have asked employees who are on leave or outside America to return within the next 24 hours as the proclamation comes into effect from 12:01 am September 21. Industry body Nasscom said the US' move will impact India's technology services companies. The industry body noted that one-day deadline creates considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world. Policy changes of this scale are best introduced with adequate transition periods, allowing organizations and individuals to plan effectively and minimize disruption. While we are reviewing the finer details of the order, adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on Americas innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy. It will also impact Indian nationals that are on H-1B visas working for global and Indian companies. Indias technology services companies will also be impacted as business continuity will be disrupted for onshore projects which may require adjustments. Companies will work closely with clients to adapt and manage transitions. The apex body also stated that it will continue to monitor developments closely, engage with industry stakeholders on the potential implications, and seek further clarity on the discretionary waiver process, to be granted by the Secretary of DHS. In a post on X, New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta said, "H-1B visa holders who are out of the US on business or vacation will get stranded unless they get in before midnight September 21. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline, as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time Bomb threat call to Delhi Schools: Several schools in Delhi received bomb threat calls on the morning of Saturday, September 20, officials said. Among the schools that received bomb threats were DPS Dwarka, Krishna Model Public School and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. Police teams, along with bomb disposal squads, were rushed to the schools upon receiving the news, according to officials. Students and staff were safely evacuated as precautionary measures after the bomb threat calls were made. Thorough searches of the premises are underway. DPS Dwarka closed for the day and postponed its mid-term exam. Dear Parents Kindly note that the school will remain closed today i.e Saturday, 20 September 2025 due to unavoidable circumstances. All school buses and private vans/ cabs are being sent back immediately. Parents are requested to kindly be there at the stops to pick up their wards. Parents of private commuters must come to pick their wards in case they have dropped them to school. Mid term Exams scheduled for the day stand postponed. Fresh dates will be intimated shortly, said DPS Dwarka circular. DPS Dwarka and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya were among the over 50 schools that received a bomb threat mail in the national capital region in the early hours of August 20. According to Delhi police, a group identifying itself as Terrorisers 111 sent an email to various schools, including DAV public school, Faith academy, doon public school, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, and others demanding $25,000. Bomb threats in Delhi Earlier last week, three Max Hospitals and luxury hotel Taj Palace received bomb threats, all of which turned out to be hoax calls. Bomb threats were sent to Max hospitals at three of its locations in Shalimar Bagh, Saket, and Dwarka in the national capital, the Delhi Fire Service said. The Fire Department received a call at 16:47 last Saturday about a bomb threat to the Max Hospital in Dwarka, Delhi. The Delhi Police and the fire department team were deployed to both hospitals, and a search operation was initiated, authorities said. Officials said nothing suspicious was found. Taj Palace had also received a bomb threat in an email, which the Delhi Police later said was a hoax. The Delhi Police found nothing suspicious at the luxury hotel and launched an investigation into the matter. Hoax bomb threats at various premises in Delhi have increased in the recent months. On September 12, a hoax bomb threat was received by the Delhi High Court, triggering panic across the premises. Judges and litigants were evacuated from courtrooms, causing commotion after an email threatening an attack was received. The e-mail, received by the registrar general at around 8.39 am, warned of explosions in judges chambers and courtrooms around mid-day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat, his home state today, 20 September. The prime minister will participate in Samudra se Samriddhi event and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over 34,200 crore, at around 10:30 AM, at Bhavnagar. PM Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion. Thereafter, the prime minister will undertake an aerial survey of Dholera. At around 1:30 PM, he will chair a review meeting and visit the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, a government statement said. Here the prime minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects related to the maritime sector worth over 7,870 crore. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock. He will lay the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; new container berth, cargo handling facilities, and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi. Also Read | PM Modi to inaugurate state-of-art Mumbai International Cruise Terminal today The prime minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects of the central and state government, worth over 26,354 crore, catering to various sectors in Gujarat. He will inaugurate HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, complete solarization of Dhordo village among others. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of LNG infrastructure, additional renewable energy projects, coastal protection works, highways, and healthcare and urban transport projects, including expansions at Sir T General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Guru Govind Sinh Government Hospital at Jamnagar, and the four-laning of 70 km of national highways. Dholera Special Investment Region Prime Minister Modi will also undertake an aerial survey of the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), envisioned as a greenfield industrial city built around sustainable industrialization, smart infrastructure, and global investment. Also Read | Trump hails PM Modi, reaffirms India ties amid trade talks He will also visit and review the progress of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NHMC), at Lothal, being developed at a cost of around 4,500 crore, to celebrate and preserve Indias ancient maritime traditions and serve as a centre for tourism, research, education and skill development. WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States is edging closer to a partial government shutdown after the Senate on Friday rejected a short-term funding measure passed earlier in the day by the House of Representatives. The House narrowly approved the Republican-drafted plan to keep the government funded until late November, but the Senate blocked it hours later with 44 in favor to 48 opposed, failing to reach the required 60 votes. A Democratic alternative, which included provisions on healthcare programs, also failed. With both chambers now at an impasse and the deadline to renew federal funding expiring at midnight on Sept. 30, the risk of a government shutdown is rising. A shutdown would halt many federal services, delay paychecks for hundreds of thousands of workers, and disrupt operations from national parks to visa processing, though mandatory programs such as Social Security and Medicare would continue. The standoff underscores deep partisan divisions in Washington, with Democrats criticizing the House plan for omitting healthcare priorities and Republicans arguing that a stopgap is necessary to buy more time for negotiations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a roadshow in Gujarat's Bhavnagar, drawing large crowds of supporters waving tricolours as he greeted them. PM Modi also participated in the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event, where he inaugurated and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over 34,200 crore. He also addressed a gathering on the occasion. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to conduct an aerial survey of Dholera, and at around 1:30 PM, chair a review meeting before visiting the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal. According to a PMO release, PM Modi laud foundation stone for multiple development projects related to the maritime sector worth over 7,870 crore. He also inaugurated the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; new container berth, cargo handling facilities, and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi. Here are top quotes from PM Modi's address : 1- I thank everyone from India and abroad who sent me best wishes on my birthday. Also Read | Trump hails PM Modi, reaffirms India ties amid trade talks 2-From Vishwakarma Jayanti to Gandhi Jayanti, people across the nation are celebrating Seva Pakhwada. In the last three days, several programmes were held under Seva Pakhwada. One lakh people have donated blood in the blood donation camps till now in Gujarat. Cleanliness drives were undertaken in several cities, and lakhs of people joined. More than 30,000 health camps were organised in the State; this number is huge. Women's health is at the centre 3- I have come to Bhavnagar at a time when the Navratri festival is about to begin. This time, due to the reduction in GST, markets are expected to be more vibrant. And in this festive atmosphere, we are celebrating the Samudra Se Samriddhi festival today. 4-Today, India is moving forward with the spirit of 'Vishwabandhu'. We have no major enemy in the world. Our biggest enemy is our dependence on other countries. This is our biggest enemy, and together we must defeat this enemy of India, the enemy of dependence. 5-We must always reiterate this. The greater the foreign dependence, the greater the country's failure. For global peace, stability, and prosperity, the country with the world's largest population must become Atmanirbhar. 6-If we remain dependent on others, our self-respect will be hurt. We cannot leave the future of 1.4 billion countrymen to others. We cannot leave the resolution for the country's development to the dependence of others. We cannot put the future of future generations at stake... There is only one medicine for a hundred sorrows, and that is a self-reliant India. 7-After Independence, Congress ignored the potential of India, which is why even 67 decades later, the country could not achieve the success it deserved. There were two main reasons: for a long time, the Congress government kept the country entangled in a 'license raj', and when globalisation arrived, they focused only on imports and even then misappropriated thousands of crores. 8-The shipping sector is one of the major examples of the loss our nation had to bear. India was a global maritime power for a very long time. We were the biggest shipbuilding centre in the world... We used India-made ships just 50 years ago. Shipbuilding eco-system 9-The country's shipping sector has fallen victim to Congress's misgovernance. Instead of focusing on shipbuilding in India, they prioritised paying rent to foreign ships. Shipbuilding eco-system collapsed in India... We became dependent on foreign ships for 90% of our trade... Today, India pays around 75 billion dollars or around 6 lakh crores to foreign shipping companies as a rent for shipping services... It is almost as high as India's defence budget. 10-The policies of the Congress governments caused great harm to the country's youth. These policies prevented India's true strength from being revealed. A LinkedIn user, who goes by the name Kunal Bahl and describes himself as a former Microsoft employee, has recounted his experience of facing an H-1B visa rejection in 2007, amid growing discussions around H-1B visa policies and recent crackdowns. In a social media post, Bahl described receiving the rejection email while sitting at his desk as crushing and numbing, calling the moment both unexpected and disheartening. The abrupt denial halted his plans to work in the United States, leaving him shocked and unsure about the future. Did the Setback Lead to Something Positive? Bahl said the setback eventually turned into a turning point. After returning to India, he rebuilt his career and life, discovering new opportunities and growth in the process. It was crushing at that moment, but life-changing eventually when I moved back to , he wrote. What Message Does He Have for Those Facing Visa Challenges? Addressing those affected by the latest visa restrictions and heightened scrutiny on H-1B applications, Bahl urged them to remain optimistic. To those impacted today, be positive. There is something much bigger & better in store for you, he added, emphasizing that visa rejections, though difficult, can lead to unforeseen opportunities and personal growth. How Are People Reacting to His Story? His post has resonated with many social media users, underlining the emotional toll of visa rejections. A user wrote: "That's a powerful perspective! It's amazing how setbacks can sometimes redirect us to even better paths we never imagined. Thanks for sharing your story." Another said: "Kunal Bahl, it's their calling to take over the world. INDIA needs TALENT MORE THAN EVER. WE DON'T NEED TO WASTE IT on the arrogant U.S. Big changes are coming with Indian Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities joining the party. The consumer market in India is ever-expanding." Samir Arora, the founder and fund manager of Helios Capital Management took to X (formerly Twitter) to lay out a hypothetical boardroom debate about the best strategy that an Indian company would adopt in response to increased fee for H-1 visas. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, September 19, introducing a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas to encourage companies to prioritise hiring American workers while at the same time to allow hiring of highly skilled foreign workers in specialised fields. The boardroom debate Arora said that if an Indian IT company were to discuss the impact of increased fee for H-1 visas, there could be three possible proposals given by the directors during the board meeting: " Director 1: We should encourage clients to do more off shoring and may be give them more attractive prices to make the move. We can sacrifice some margins and hire more US green card holders/citizens in the meantime Director 2: We should invest more in AI tools to increase the productivity of our traditional services and also to invest in AI's own basic development so we have a seat at the table when AI's dominance grows with time. Smartest Director in the room: We can announce a buy back of shares." Netizens react to the post Many X users responded to Arora's post with their own opinions on the situation, while some also responded with their own satirical takes to the post, including memes and a continuation of the hypothetical boardroom meeting. A user said, The $100k H1B fee will hurt margins and create headaches in the short term, but its also a wake-up call: time to invest in AI, improve efficiency, hire locally, and strengthen Indias tech ecosystem. In the long run, companies that adapt now will emerge stronger, more innovative, and globally competitive - turning this crisis into opportunity. Another user mirrored that statement and noted, Visa fee hikes are short-term. Offshoring and local hiring balance the risk, but AI investment is the real long game. In continuation to the post, another user said, Director two was fired. Director one was made sales head. Director three was rewarded with bonuses for the sheer brilliance." One user connected the post to Indian IT giant Infosys, stating, "Hahaha....Striking two targets with 1 tweet...Have u ever were invested in infy?" to which Arora replied, nearly all my life- at least 25 yrs out of 30. Arora's take on the most suited approach In another X post, Arora shared his thoughts on the best possible course of action during such a time. I think the most logical and practical suggestion is from 1st Director. Business to Indian IT will not not be affected much but the margins will reduce over time. May take 1-2 yrs to get new model in place," he posted. He also noted that there should not be any secondary effects if the only consequence is lower profits for Indian companies as they would still want new business and remain competitive. This assumes we ignore the unknown AI effect that continues to be a big overhang. Biggest impact is on individuals directly affected, living in uncertainty and waiting for what happens when their H1 needs to be renewed/expires, and students studying/planning to study in US and there will be many individual sad stories (and hopefully some good stories about people forced to take on new challenges and succeeding beyond their wildest expectations), he noted. How does hiked H-1B visa fee affect Indians? The H-1B program offers around 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, and another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees. Under the current system, entering the lottery for the visa requires a minimal fee and, if approved, subsequent fees could amount to several thousand dollars, a Mint report said earlier. A recent beautification initiative in Bengalurus Malleswaram has come under fire after Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and several citizens criticised the quality of work showcased by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The authority had shared a video on social media highlighting the clearance of a long-standing black spot near the BBMP School Road in Malleswaram. Supervised by Assistant Executive Engineer Rekha, the effort was presented as a successful Blackspot Removal & Beautification Update, with the GBA urging residents to maintain cleanliness in the area. Also Read | Bengaluru set for WFO return from Oct 1? Redditor claim goes viral However, the post drew widespread backlash. Sharing the video, Mazumdar-Shaw questioned the quality of the work, writing: Are you really proud of this? You reclaimed the footpath but its still shoddily finished. Full marks for effort but please ensure good quality finishing. Her remarks resonated with many residents who expressed disappointment over the so-called beautification. One user wrote, The finish is worse than any poor country in the world. Horrible work. The workers who did the job should never be given any job. There is no pride in their work. Also Read | BlackBuck CEO says co. not moving out of Bengaluru amid debate over pothole post Another citizen pointed out the irregularity of such clean-ups: The situation in this country is that even basic things needs to be celebrated which are part of work of authorities. Others criticised the need to publicise basic civic work at all, with one comment reading, The finish is worse than of any poor country in the world. Couldnt digest that GBA is this bad. Horrible work. The workers who did the job should never ever should be given any job. There is no pride in their work. Shame on you GBA. The third asked, "Are we really celebrating this???? Is this called beautification??" While a handful of users acknowledged the intent behind the initiative, most agreed that the execution left much to be desired. Your efforts are good, but not enough, one response summed up. As the criticism continues to mount online, the GBA has not yet responded to the concerns raised by citizens and the citys prominent voices. The US governments sudden decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on companies sending employees to the US on H-1B visas has forced Indian IT firms to return to the drawing board. The move, announced late on Friday by President Donald Trump just eight months into his tenure, has jolted an industry that sends thousands of skilled professionals to the US each year, often to fill roles for which American talent is scarce. Mint examines the broader implications of this steep hike for India's $250-billion IT services industry and the millions of professionals whose livelihoods depend on it. What is an H-1B visa, and what spooked the Trump administration? An H-1B visa grants an employee permission to work in the US for a maximum of six years, because the skills he or she has are not widely available in America. The Trump government alleged companies use this route to replace" American workers and artificially suppress wages, resulting in a disadvantageous labor market for American citizens". The H-1B visa has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour", read the proclamation Trump signed on Friday. The number of foreign STEM workers in the United States has more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, increasing from 1.2 million to almost 2.5 million, while overall STEM employment has only increased 44.5 percent during that time, US government data showed. One of Trump's main promises while campaigning for his second term was to bring jobs back" to the US. Will H-1B sponsors pay an annual fee or a one-time fee? If you have an H-1B visa that is nowhere close to renewal, you can stay put in US for the time being. But for those who have applied for fresh visas or renewals, their sponsor firm (employer) will have to pay $100,000 to get a visa, the duration of which will vary from a few months to a few years, depending on the nature of the project. Here lies the catch. According to Sajai Singh, partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors, executive orders remain valid for 12 months, after which they need to be renewed. If the US government decides no fee is payable after 12 months, they may let the order lapse. If not, they will renew it. If the amount is changed after 12 months, firms will have to pay the revised sum. This will hit the IT industry the hardest. Families that are dependent on H-1B visa holders will also be affected," Singh told Mint. Is this a body blow for India's IT sector? Nasscom, the industry body that represents the IT services sector, said the decision can potentially have ripple effects on Americas innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy" and highlighted the impact on the Indian IT industry. It will also impact Indian nationals that are on H-1B visas working for global and Indian companies. Indias technology services companies will also be impacted as business continuity will be disrupted for onshore projects which may require adjustments. Companies will work closely with clients to adapt and manage transitions". An onshore employee is employed by the firm to work on a project in another country. According to data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, in the first six months of 2025, TCS, Cognizant Technologies, Infosys, LTI Mindtree, Wipro sent 13,332 employees to the US on H-1B visas. Assuming a similar number of employees are sent over the next six months, a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that these companies will have to pay at least $1.3 billion in fees. In January, Mint reported that as per US Citizenship and Immigration Services, as many as 188,400 H-1B visas were granted in 2024. Most of them were issued to employees of technology companies. US government data showed nearly three-fourths of H-1B visas are granted to Indian nationals. One day to return Employees with H-1B visas who are outside of the US will have to head back to base by 21 September. According to lawyers, immigration officers may have instructions to allow entry only to those H-1B visa holders who have the latest fee receipt. Many Indian H-1B holders are likely to be in India at present, owing the the festive season. A one-day deadline creates considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world. Policy changes of this scale are best introduced with adequate transition periods, allowing organizations and individuals to plan effectively and minimize disruption," said Nasscom. Will Indian in the US on other types of work visas be affected? While H-1B visas are most common, there is an L-1 visa that is granted in an inter-company transfer. But according to an industry executive, these visas are too few in number to come under scrutiny. In fact, before the focus shifted to H-1B visas, the US government had its eye on people the US on student visas. In May, the US government directed its embassies to stop scheduling new interviews for international student visas. Before that, the US embassy in India had cautioned students that skipping classes or leaving the program without informing authorities would lead to their visas being revoked. US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping changes to the H-1B visa programme, a move that has sent shockwaves through Indian tech circles and sparked an avalanche of reactions online. On Friday, Trump signed a proclamation titled Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers, which makes it mandatory for companies to pay a hefty $100,000 per year for every H-1B visa holder they employ. The President argued that the visa system was being misused, calling it both an economic and a national security risk. The abuse of the H-1B programme is also a national security threat. Domestic law enforcement agencies have identified and investigated H-1B-reliant outsourcing companies for engaging in visa fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and other illicit activities, Trump said, justifying the crackdown. Internet reacts: H-1B is dead The announcement triggered a flood of responses on social media, with many calling it the end of the American dream for thousands of foreign workers particularly Indian tech professionals, who make up the majority of H-1B holders. One user wrote, H-1B fee of $100,000 is not a one-time fee. It is $100,000 per year, every year. H-1B is dead. They might as well end it formally. Another added, Imagine someone vacationing in India for a wedding or to take care of their parents. They must be back in the US before midnight, September 21, or they cant return without paying $100K. This is chaos. A third user said, Trump just killed the H-1B visa. Companies now have to pay $100K per year to bring skilled foreign workers to the US. This will push jobs offshore. For Indian techies, the American dream just got killed. Others flagged the immediate disruption the move could cause. Those on an H-1B cannot return to the US from tomorrow unless paying $100K. Software engineers could get stranded abroad. Expect less global travel for work and conferences, one comment read. Adding perspective, Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl shared his own experience. In 2007, sitting at my desk in Microsoft I got an email that my H-1B visa was rejected. It was crushing and numbing at that moment, but life-changing eventually when I moved back to India. To those impacted today, be positive. There is something much bigger & better in store for you. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Friday that restricts the entry into the United States of nonimmigrants working in a speciality occupation unless their H-1B petitions are accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000. The new rule is effective from September 21. Owing to this, immigration lawyers and employers are warning US work visa holders to avoid traveling abroad. In fact, many companies are instructing employees to return immediately to America or risk getting stranded. Immigration experts address some of the most pressing questions being raised - including immediate actions one must take and who are exempt. H-1Bs still in India to miss deadline H-1B visa holders who are out of the US on business or vacation will get stranded unless they get in before midnight September 21. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time, eminent New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta said in a post on X. What are the options now? There may still be a way for an H-1B visa holder who is in India to arrive in California before midnight September 21, 2025, Mehta said. Who are exempt? Answering this, Immigration Expert Rajiv Khanna posted on Linkedin, The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the requirement if hiring is deemed in the national interest and poses no security threat. This discretionary exception could apply to individuals, entire companies, or industries. What should be your immidiate action? Khanna responded saying: For Current H-1B Filers: If your beneficiary is outside the US and you havent filed yet, you have until September 20, 2025, to file under current rules. For Future Filers: Budget for the $100,000 payment or explore the national interest exception pathway. Document how your hire serves national interests. For B Visa Holders: Expect stricter scrutiny if you have approved H-1B petitions with start dates before October 2026. What companies are advising? Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon have urged H-1B visa holders to stay in the United States, internal emails reviewed by Reuters show. Employees abroad were told to return before midnight Saturday (0400 GMT Sunday), ahead of the new fee taking effect. "H-1B visa holders who are currently in the U.S. should remain in the U.S. and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance," read an email sent to JPMorgan employees by Ogletree Deakins, a company that handles visa applications for the investment bank. Users on social media posted excerpts of an internal email by Microsoft that asked its employees on H1B visas and their dependents to avoid travelling outside the US and return immediately before the September 21 deadline. The tech giant is understood to have told its employees to remain in the US for the foreseeable future" to "avoid being denied reentry. Amazon, meanwhile, stated in a note, "If you have H-1B status and are in the US, stay in the country for now," "We recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US before 12:00 AM EDT on September 21," the company added. H-1B Visa Fee Hike: On the Donald Trump administration slapping a $100,000 fee on H1-B visas, the officials said New Delhi are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Washington and is holding consultations with Indian tech industry body NASSCOM. There will be an immediate fallout. We have to see how companies adapt to it, the official noted, sources close to development stated, as reported by Moneycontrol. The official stressed that the new costs are likely to weigh more heavily on American technology firms, which rely heavily on Indian professionals for specialised roles. H-1B Visa Fee Hike: American tech firms to bear the brunt? The newly imposed fee on H-1B visa is expected to hit American technology companies the hardest, given their heavy dependence on Indian talent for specialised roles such as engineering, programming, and data science. The new costs are likely to weigh more heavily on American technology firms, which rely heavily on Indian professionals for specialised roles, the official emphasised. H-1B visas are a cornerstone of the US tech industry, allowing companies to sponsor foreign workers with niche skill sets. Currently, the United States issues 85,000 H-1B visas annually, with India accounting for nearly 75% of these permits. The process operates on a lottery system, making the visa both highly competitive and vital for staffing critical projects. Many Indian workers relocate permanently, while others travel back and forth between the two countries to support international operations. H-1B Visa Fee Hike: India sees potential upside amid disruption While the immediate response is one of concern, Indian authorities also see a potential silver lining. The sharp increase in visa costs may encourage more global capability centres (GCCs) to be set up in India, reducing reliance on US-based teams. In a positive sense, more companies will be setting up global capability centres to meet the shortage of talent, the official said. Indias IT sector has long been a hub for multinational corporations, and this development could accelerate that trend, potentially boosting domestic job creation and innovation. H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Legal challenges expected in US The Trump administrations decision is already being described as sweeping and controversial, with legal experts predicting that it may face significant challenges in US courts. The move came alongside the launch of a $1 million gold card residency programme, aimed at attracting ultra-wealthy immigrants, a plan Trump had hinted at for months. The main thing is, we're going to have great people coming in, and they're going to be paying, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during the announcement. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who stood alongside Trump, claimed, All the big companies are on board. H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Tech leaders warn of talent crisis The decision has drawn criticism from prominent tech figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, once a close ally of Trump. Industry leaders have repeatedly cautioned that restricting H-1B visas could deepen the US tech talent shortage, harming innovation and slowing economic growth. The United States does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies, Elon Musk has previously warned. With many American firms depending on Indian professionals to drive their operations, the steep new fee threatens to disrupt hiring strategies and project timelines. In a move seen as crackdown on immigration and furthering the America first agenda, United States President Donald Trump on Friday, September 19, signed a proclamation increasing the H-1B visa application fee to a staggering USD 100,000 (approximately 88 lakh). The H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 could significantly impact Indian employees working in the US on work visa. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that enables the US companies to hire foreign workers for specialized roles in fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and IT, requiring high skills and at least a bachelors degree. With the H-1B visa fee hike set to strain India-US relations just weeks after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, here are 10 key things you need to know: "America's loss but India's gain," Former NITI Aayog CEO and ex-G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant commented as US President Donald Trump slapped a $100,000 fee for H1-B visa applications and notes that the move will redirect global brains to India's tech hubs like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Gurgaon. After the Trump signed the executive order regarding the changes in H1-B visa policy, Kant posted on X, "Donald Trump's 100,000 H-1B fee will choke U.S. innovation, and turbocharge India's. By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon. India's finest Doctors, engineers, scientists, innovators have an opportunity to contribute to India's growth & progress towards Viksit Bharat. America's loss will be India's gain" In a similar note, Kunal Bahl, former CEO of Snapdeal and entrepreneur, said that due to the new regulations, a large number of skilled professionals are expected to return to India. "Because of the new H1B rules, a tremendous number of talented individuals are going to be headed back to India. It will no doubt be tough in the beginning to move base, but will work out for them given the tremendous opportunities in India. The talent density in India is going up," Bhal said in a post on X. What did the proclaimation say? This increase in HIB Visa Fees could hit the tech arbitrage model where Indian software engineers and other talent works onsite in the United States but could see a rise in Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. Set to take effect on September 21, the proclamation represents one of the Trump administration's most aggressive efforts yet to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. Framed as a crackdown on "systemic abuse", it places strict financial and compliance burdens on companies seeking to hire skilled foreign workers, especially in the technology and IT sectors. The administration insists the intent is to restore integrity to a programme originally designed to bring in "top-tier global talent" on a temporary basis. Instead, it argues, the H-1B system has been hijacked by outsourcing firms to displace American workers, depress wages, and even create national security risks. MOSCOW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed regret that the United Nations Security Council remains unable to end the violence and humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip due to repeated vetoes by the United States. "The UN Security Council's inability to stop the fighting and bloodshed and end the suffering of civilians is therefore deeply regrettable and disappointing," the ministry said in a statement published on its official website. On Thursday, a group of non-permanent members of the Security Council attempted yet again to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages, and access for humanitarian aid. All council members voted in favor of the draft resolution except the United States, which used its veto for the seventh time since the escalation of the crisis. The Foreign Ministry reiterated that Russia's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains consistent. While condemning the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, Moscow said the incident "cannot and should not be used as a pretext for the collective punishment of Palestinian civilians or for fueling a broader war in the Middle East." Russia believes that achieving genuine peace and security in the region is impossible without a just settlement of the Palestinian issue and the fulfillment of the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people, the ministry added. H-1B visa fee hike: US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation titled Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers which increased H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 for people who are looking to work in the United States. As a result of this move, several Indians who are on H-1B visas will now be either stranded and have to pay the newly revised fee of $100,000, effective Sunday, 21 September 2025, or will have to enter the United States before the midnight ahead of the deadline. However, so far, neither Donald Trump nor the White House have announced any extension to the Sunday, 21 September 2025 deadline for the H-1B visa fee hike. Are Indians stranded? Several people took to the social media platform X to share their take on Trump's decision to hike the H-1B visa fees for foreign nations. Many are sharing their thoughts on the issue, while others are empathising with the Indian students and professionals abroad who are directly affected by this federal order. It's hard for a GC youth to land a job in India with reservation quotas reaching 70% in some states and when he/she moves to another country for a secure future and career, crisis strikes! said a social media user named @saffronsentry in their post. Also Read | Helios Capital founder shares amusing boardroom scenario on H-1B visa fee hike The user also highlighted the current situation of distress and uncertainty of their future in the minds of Indian students in the United States. Another social media account, @M9USA_, emphasised that thousands of people who want to get their US work visas will be lining up in front of their consulates to beat the deadline. What a mess man! Thousands are stuck renewing visas at consulates outside the U.S., and many more are on vacation or visiting family. Imagine their depression now, they said. Many others have been tagging the Indian External Affairs Ministry and Minister S Jaishankar on social media, asking them to address the issue and issue an urgent advisory for the people. Tonight, thousands of Indians on H1B/H4 visas are stranded here in India. They came for stamping, to meet parents, to attend a wedding. Now, a rule say, if they dont return to US by Sept 20 midnight, their dreams die unless companies pay $100,000. They are in panic, stuck in India. Years of sacrifice, loans worth lakhs, all at risk, said Nayini Anurag Reddy, urging the Government of India to issue an advisory for the people in distress. People who have H-1B visas and are in India will likely miss the deadline, as a direct flight from India to the United States will not be able to reach within the timeline given by the Trump administration. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time, said Cyrus Mehta in his post on the platform X. Talking about a potential outcome from this H-1B visa fee hike move, a social media user said an immediate effect which is expected that foreign nations who work in the US with H-1B visa will have to travel less for work purposes. One easy to predict outcome: those on US visas will travel less for work, for conferences etc, said a social media user named Gergely Orosz on X. Why did Trump increase H-1B visa fees? The $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas for high-skill foreign professionals comes as the US government aims to end practices where foreign workers take jobs from hard-working Americans and exploit the nation's economy without making meaningful contributions, according to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The US government claimed that this policy update move comes after an alleged abuse of the H-1B visa programme, causing a national security threat to America. US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual visa fee for H-1B visas for highly-skilled foreign workers and introduced a $1 million gold card visa, offering wealthy individuals a pathway to US citizenship. Why did Trump impose $100,000 annual visa fee? U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick lauded the Trump administration's recent changes to visa programs, asserting that the new policies would ensure foreign workers provide a significant benefit to the U.S. He noted that the reforms would end practices where foreign workers take jobs from hard-working Americans and exploit the economy without making meaningful contributions. Lutnick said the change will likely result in far fewer H-1B visas than the 85,000 annual cap allows because its just not economic anymore. If youre going to train people, youre going to train Americans, Lutnick said on a conference call with reporters. "If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in ... then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa. What will be the impact? Although Trump has insisted that the tech industry would support the changes, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claiming all big companies are in favour, if the measures withstand legal scrutiny, they will result in dramatic fee increases. The cost for skilled worker visas would surge from $215, while investor visa fees could rise from $10,000-$20,000 annually. H-1B visas, which are used for high-skilled roles in industries like tech, are a key target. Critics argue the program enables foreign workers willing to accept lower wagessometimes as low as $60,000competing with U.S. tech workers, who typically earn $100,000 or more. However, these actions are likely to face significant legal challenges, with critics accusing Trump of bypassing Congress. Fan service for immigration restrictionists? Critics say Critics of H-1B visas, who argue they replace American workers, applauded Trump's move, with the advocacy group U.S. Tech Workers calling it "the next best thing" to completely abolishing the visas. However, Doug Rand, a former senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the Biden administration, described the proposed fee increase as ludicrously lawless, as reported by AP. This isnt real policy its fan service for immigration restrictionists, Rand said. Trump gets his headlines, and inflicts a jolt of panic, and doesnt care whether this survives first contact with the courts. Lutnick said the H-1B fees and gold card could be introduced by the president, but the platinum card needs congressional approval. Why a strike on the H-1B visa? Historically, H-1B visas have been distributed through a lottery system, with Amazon leading the way this year, receiving over 10,000 visas, followed by companies like Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple, and Google. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers. Critics argue that H-1B visas often go to fill entry-level positions rather than specialised, senior roles with unique skill requirements. While the program is designed to avoid undercutting U.S. wages or displacing American workers, critics contend that companies can classify jobs at lower skill levels to pay foreign workers less, even when those workers have more experience. As a result, many U.S. companies outsource help desks, programming, and other basic tasks to consulting firms like Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Tata, IBM, and Cognizant. These firms hire foreign workers, mostly from India, and subcontract them to U.S. employers seeking to cut costs. First lady Melania Trump, the former Melania Knauss, was granted an H-1B work visa in October 1996 to work as a model. She was born in Slovenia. If youre going to train people, youre going to train Americans. In 2024, lottery bids for the visas plunged nearly 40%, which authorities said was due to success against people who were gaming the system by submitting multiple, sometimes dubious, applications to unfairly increase chances of being selected. This isnt real policy its fan service for immigration restrictionists. Critics welcomed the change but said more needs to be done. The AFL-CIO wrote last year that while changes to the lottery included some steps in the right direction, it fell short of needed reforms. The labor group wants visas awarded to companies that pay the highest wages instead of by random lottery, a change that Trump sought during his first term in the White House. (With inputs from Associated Press) H1B Visa News LIVE Highlights: Amid all the the confusion around the new H-1B visa fee hike, White House on Saturday clarified that the $100,000 fee is not a annual charge and won't apply to existing holders of valid visas re-entering the country White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, "This is NOT an annual fee. Its a one-time fee that applies only to the petition." And, goes on to add that current H-1B visa holders who are currently outside of the country right now will not be charged $100,000 to re-enter the United States. Donald Trump's surprise H-1B visa fee hike of $100,000 (~ 90 lakh) on Saturday triggered a wave of panic leaving tech giants including Meta, Microsoft at the edge. The POTUS's signing the proclamation Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers' is expected to hit India the most, with the nation dominating the number of H-1B visa grantees. India said all implications of the H-1B visa fee hike is being studied by all concerned, noting that the move could have humanitarian consequences. Some companies including Microsoft, JPMorgan , and Amazon, had responded to the Friday announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States. Stay tuned to LiveMint for all the H1B Visa News LIVE Updates President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order introducing a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas to reduce overuse of the program. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that thats whats going to happen, Trump said while signing the order at the Oval Office. White House officials said the measure was designed to encourage companies to prioritise hiring American workers while at the same time being allowed to hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialised fields. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, So no longer will you put trainees on an H-1B visa. That its just not economic anymore. If youre going to train people, youre going to train Americans If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa. Since taking office in January, Trump has launched a sweeping immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration. The step to reshape the H-1B visa program represents his administration's most high-profile effort yet to rework temporary employment visas. How will it affect the industry? "In the short term, Washington may collect a windfall; in the long term, the US risks taxing away its innovation edge, trading dynamism for short-sighted protectionism," eMarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman told the Reuters. Meanwhile, Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on X that the new fee "creates a disincentive to attract the world's smartest talent to the US. If the US ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy. In the first half of 2025, Amazon.com and its cloud-computing unit AWS received approval for more than 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had over 5,000 H-1B visa approvals each. India accounts for most H-1B visas The H-1B program offers 65,000 visas a year to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, and another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees. Under the current system, entering the lottery for the visa requires a small fee and, if approved, subsequent fees could amount to several thousand dollars. India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, according to government data. The US Department of Labor on Friday announced the launch of Project Firewall, an H-1B enforcement initiative that aims to protect the rights, wages, and jobs of skilled American workers. The announcement came the same day President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. What is Project Firewall? Under Project Firewall, employers must prioritise qualified Americans when hiring and will be held accountable if they abuse H-1B visa process. US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said, The Trump Administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. As we reestablish economic dominance, we must protect our most valuable resource: the American worker. Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our workforce. By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first. Five things to know about Project Firewall: The Department of Labor will conduct investigations to ensure employers follow H-1B rules. The secretary of labor will be personally involved in approving these investigations. The secretary of labor will personally certify the initiation of investigations a first for the department. This action leverages existing authority that the secretary has to take action if reasonable cause exists that an H-1B employer is not in compliance, as per the Department of Labor. Violations may result in collection of back wages owed to workers who were affected. There might also be an assessment of civil money penalties, and/or debarment from using the H-1B program for a prescribed amount of time. How will Project Firewall impact Indians? The stricter laws will surely affect Indian and other foreign nationals who are in the United States on H1-B visas or are applying for them, but the full extent of the impact is still unclear. Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a delegation to the United States this Monday, September 22 as India-US trade talks gain momentum. The visit comes after the recent daylong discussions in New Delhi between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement, the commerce ministry statement said on Saturday. Also Read | India, US eye quick trade deal as negotiations resume amid tariff tensions The team will comprise special secretary and chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal and it will also visit New York to hold discussions with American officials, according to reports. On September 16, the commerce ministry said that daylong discussions with the visiting US team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, and both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement. "It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," the ministry said in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US officials. The talks were important as the US has imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Some reports suggested that talks would also be held on the political front by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio when they meet on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York next week. Jaishankars travel plans to the US are being worked out and an official announcement is awaited, Indian Express said in a report. A team from United States Trade Representative, led by Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch, had meetings at the Ministry of Commerce on September 16 to take forward the ongoing negotiations for a trade deal with the US. The discussions were positive and forward looking covering various aspects of the trade deal. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. Tariff stand-off to be resolved in 2 months? The visit of the high-ranking US trade officials was first after the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market for buying Russian crude oil. On September 16, the day the trade talks were held in New Delhi, President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on phone to wish him on his 75th birthday the next day. PM Modi responded by saying he was fully committed to taking the Indo-US partnership to new heights. In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025. So far, five rounds of negotiations have been held. The pact is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion. Indias chief economic adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran struck an optimistic note on 18 September saying he expected a resolution to the tariff stand-off with the US within the next two months, even as he projected steady momentum in Indias domestic economy. Speaking at an industry gathering in Kolkata, Nageswaran said he believed Washington would soon roll back the additional 25% tariff imposed on New Delhi for buying Russian oil. Earlier visits by Goyal Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks. He held deliberations with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. Also Read | India, US to intensify efforts to seal trade deal as talks resume The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports). It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade. Goyal had on Thursday said that trade talks between India and the US are progressing and are moving in the right direction. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a high-profile Democrat widely known as AOC, and her team are preparing for a potential presidential or U.S. Senate run in 2028, as reported by Axios, citing sources. The report further mentioned that this move could significantly impact the 2028 race, especially as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, faces re-election that year. A Senate battle between Schumer and the 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez would represent a generational clash, pitting the Democratic Party's established figure against its rising progressive star, Axios reported. This summer, Ocasio-Cortez held a series of town halls in Upstate New York, aiming to broaden her appeal for a potential statewide Senate campaign. At one event in Plattsburgh, N.Y., she said her commitment to representing all communities, stating, Plattsburgh, we are here because every town, every city, every neighbourhood in this state matters. Every corner matters. No one deserves to be ignored. Ocasio-Cortez has been campaigning nationally and across New York State, far beyond her Bronx and Queens district, while pouring millions into expanding her already powerful online presence. Bernie Sanders aide Ari Rabin-Havt told Axios, She has a supporter base that, in many ways, has a larger potential width than Bernie's. She has been in the glare of the spotlight from day one and has the national campaigning experience a lot of other potential candidates are now trying to get. Meanwhile, the House passed a resolution on Friday honouring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, but a notable number of Democrats opposed it, reflecting the growing political divide following his assassination. The resolution, which praised Kirk's "life and legacy," passed in the Republican-controlled House with 310 votes in favour. While 95 Democrats supported it, 58 voted against, and 38 abstained by voting "present." Despite Republican warnings that no one should oppose the measure, many Democrats argued that Kirk's death had been "politicised" and that the resolution amplified views they strongly disagreed with. Today's resolution underscores the majority's recklessness by choosing to author this condemnation and honouring on a purely partisan basis," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who voted against the resolution. We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been vocal in her criticism of Democratic leadership. She recently targeted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for not supporting Zohran Mamdani, the party's nominee for New York mayor. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, September 19, raising the annual fee for H-1B visas to $100,000 to encourage companies to prioritise hiring American workers, allowing the hiring of highly skilled foreign workers in specialised fields. The H-1B visa fee, which was previously around a thousand dollars, is now increased to $100,000, a move that would impact employers across different sectors, specifically the Information Technology (IT) industry. Which companies are hit the hardest? The IT companies who were heavily relied on the H-1B program to hire foreign workers will be significantly impacted by the fee hike as their expenses to bring in new employees from foreign countries will also rise. The visa fees are typically considered a business expense for the employer. Here are the top 10 companies who are set to feel the shockwaves of the sudden fee hike in H-1B visa by the Trump administration as they employ the highest number of visa beneficiaries as of June 30, 2025: Amazon: The e-commerce giant employs 10,044 H-1B visa beneficiaries. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): This Indian tech giant has around 5,505 beneficiaries. Microsoft: It employees 5,189 H-1B visa holders. Meta: The company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has around 5,123 beneficiaries of the program in their workforce. Apple: Tim Cook-led company has 4,202 visa holders in their company. Google: The global tech giant has 4,181 beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program. Cognizant technology solutions: It has around 2,493 visa holders within the firm. JP Morgan Chase and co.: This tech company has 2,440 employees who hold the H-1B visa. Walmart: The retail company employs 2,390 beneficiaries of the H-1B visa. Deloitte: This global professional services firm has around 2,353 visa holders in their workforce. Which US states have the most H-1B visa holders? California in the US tops the list as the state with the most number of H-1B visa holders. The next most populated state by foreign workers holding the visa holders is Texas, followed by New York and Virginia. These states, among various others such as Illinois, Michigan and Washington host significant concentrations of H-1B visa beneficiaries across both tech and financial companies. They remain key hubs for skilled foreign workers, reflecting the broader trends in the distribution of H-1B employment across the US. How Many H-1B Visas Were Already Approved for FY 2026? The H-1B program offers around 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, and another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees, a news report by Mint said. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Amazon had 10,044 workers on H-1B visas as of June 2025, while TCS had 5,505 approved visas. USCIS stated in July that it has already received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, also called the masters cap, for fiscal year 2026, Mint reported. In a big blow to professionals on visas in the US, the Trump administration announced on Friday that it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas. It is feared that the change will heavily impact the technology sector that relies heavily on workers coming from India and China. White House staff secretary Will Scharf stated that the H-1B non-immigrant visa program is one of the most abused visa systems in the countrys current immigration system, and the move is aimed at protecting American workers while ensuring that companies have a pathway to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the United States. Rules for the H-1B non-immigrants President Trump signed the proclamation Restriction on entry of certain non-immigrant workers on Friday. As per the proclamation, The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State shall coordinate to take all necessary and appropriate action to implement this proclamation and to deny entry to the United States to any H-1B nonimmigrant for whom the prospective employer has not made the payment described in section 1 of this proclamation. What about the family of H-1B Non-immigrants? In the wake of President Trumps new decision on the H-1B visas, it is important to take a deep dive into the details and definition of H-1B nonimmigrants. As per the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age may seek admission in the H-4 nonimmigrant classification. Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, as long as the H-1B nonimmigrant has already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status. Which means, families of H-1B visa holders often come to the United States on H-4 visas. This visa is given to the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an H-1B worker. Their stay in the country is directly tied to the status of the H-1B holder. If the worker loses their job or status, dependents also lose their legal stay. H-4 family members are allowed to study full-time or part-time without needing a student visa. Work, however, is more limited. Spouses can apply for work permits in certain cases, mainly if the H-1B worker has reached a stage in the green card process, such as an approved I-140 petition. Children on H-4 visas are not allowed to work. Dependents can travel outside the U.S. as long as their visas remain valid. They can also be included in the green card application process, along with the H-1B worker. The H-1B program is understood to offer around 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields. According to a report published by Reuters, India has been the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year and it accounted for 71 per cent of approved beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Tech giants, including Amazon and Microsoft, have warned employees families on H-4 visas to avoid international travel after the Trump administrations steep hike in H-1B visa fees. According to Reuters, the new $100,000 entry fee applies mainly to H-1B workers, but re-entry from abroad could be treated as a fresh application under the revised rules. Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin Democrat leading the race for New York City mayor, is facing mounting criticism from sections of the Indian-American community who accuse him of divisive rhetoric and open bigotry towards Hindus. Mamdani, 33, was born in Uganda and became a US citizen in 2018. If elected, he would make history as New Yorks first Muslim mayor. However, several of his past remarks have resurfaced, drawing sharp reactions. He once described Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Hindu-American elected to the New York State Assembly, as a puppet of Hindu fascists. In 2020, he joined a protest in Times Square against the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where some demonstrators were filmed chanting anti-Hindu slogans, according to the New York Post. Also Read | Zohran Mamdani says if elected mayor, NYPD will arrest Benjamin Netanyahu Lakshmi Bandlamudi, a psychology professor at LaGuardia Community College, said she was alarmed when Mamdani secured the Democratic nomination earlier this year. First, as a New Yorker, he would hurt the city with reckless freebies. His comments on Hindus and Jews are terrifying, and it adds fuel to the already existing fire, she told The New York Post. Mamdani has also stirred controversy with his remarks about global politics including a statement that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if elected, as well as his vocal criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Bandlamudi and others, the concern is about harmony in New Yorks multicultural fabric. To live in harmony in a diverse city like New York that is what matters most to the Hindu community. When one community is pitted against another, the harmony is destroyed. Mamdani is too divisive, she added. Some critics used stronger words. Satya Dosapati, a New Jersey resident, described Mamdani as dangerous and helped fund a banner flown over the Hudson River in June that read: SAVE NYC FROM GLOBAL INTIFADA. REJECT MAMDANI. Meanwhile, former UN officer Rahul Sur questioned Mamdanis slogan to globalise the Intifada. He said, New York is a beautiful city with people from all over the world. And then you talk about globalize the Intifada and expect to run the most diverse city in the world? Unbelievable. Also Read | Zohran Mamdani leads NYC mayoral race amid split opposition, poll finds TEHRAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran would not accept "political action and unfair pressure" over its nuclear program, warning such moves could escalate tensions. He insisted Iran has consistently pursued diplomacy and technical cooperation. Araghchi made the remarks in a phone call with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, state news agency IRNA reported. The call came after the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief under the 2015 nuclear deal. Britain, France, and Germany -- the so-called E3 -- last month triggered the deal's "snapback" mechanism, which allows U.N. sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is judged in breach of the 2015 nuclear accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The sanctions are expected to take effect later this month. Araghchi criticized the "political atmosphere" at a recent IAEA board meeting, saying Iran's cooperation with the watchdog remained within international regulations. Iran's foreign ministry separately denounced the European move as "illegal, unjustified and provocative," accusing the E3 of undermining diplomacy. The E3 argue that Iran has failed to provide full access to inspectors, withheld clarity over nuclear material, and ignored a late-August deadline to present concrete proposals for returning to talks with the United States and other parties. Iran held several rounds of nuclear negotiations with Washington earlier this year, but halted both the talks and cooperation with the IAEA after Israeli strikes -- joined by the United States -- hit Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Signed by Iran and six world powers in 2015, the JCPOA has been under strain since the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018, prompting Tehran to gradually scale back compliance. Dublin Airport's Terminal 2 was evacuated on Saturday as a "safety precaution" with the airport warning of temporary disruptions in flights. Authorities have now given the terminal the all clear, and flights are set to resume. Police are at the scene following an incident, the Irish Examiner newspaper reported. Why the disruption Although the Dublin Airport did not cite any reason for the evacuation but said "the safety and security of our passengers and staff is our absolute priority". According to a report by Sky News, the airport said flights would resume at around 2.30pm, but temporary disruption could continue till the rest of the day. Also Read | Air India issues advisory after cyberattack hits check-in systems at Heathrow Images from news agencies showed people queueing up to re-enter Terminal 2 of the airport after authorities gave clearances for operations to resume. People queue to enter at Dublin Airport's Terminal 2, which has been evacuated as a safety precaution, in Dublin, Ireland, September 20, 2025. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne The evacuation of Dublin Airport's Terminal 2, came hours following the cyberattack affecting European airports. Dublin Airport said it is experiencing minor impacts related to the Europe-wide software issue. Cyberattack hits European airports Major European airports including London's Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, reported flight delays and cancellations on Saturday after a cyberattack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations. Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers, London's Heathrow Airport said on Saturday, reported Reuters. Also Read | Google confirms data breach after Salesforce database hack exposes customer data As per Brussels Airport, the attack disrupted automated systems, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures. Elon Musk had long defended the H-1B visa as a vital tool for attracting global talent, adding that H1B makes America strong. The billionaire and Vivek Ramaswamy, then leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had advocated for the H-1B visa to help US companies recruit the worlds best talent and stay competitive. The reason Im in America, along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that make America strong, is because of H1B, Musk wrote on X on 27 December 2024. What Was Tesla Accused of in the Visa Lawsuit? On September 12, 2025, Tesla Inc. faced a lawsuit alleging that it had favoured visa holders over Americans for jobs to reduce labor costs. The complaint stated that Tesla had hired an estimated 1,355 visa holders while laying off more than 6,000 domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were believed to be US citizens. While visa workers make up just a fraction of the United States labor market, Tesla prefers to hire these candidates over US citizens, as it can pay visa-dependent employees less than Americans employees performing the same work, a practice in the industry known as wage theft, the complaint stated. What Is the US H-1B Fee Hike? On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that companies will have to pay up to $100,000 per foreign employee to secure an H-1B visa. The fee hike, effective 21 September 2025 for a 12-month period, is intended to ensure that US companies hire more American talent while sending less valuable foreign workers back to their home countries. Trump described the H-1B program as being subject to systemic abuse, particularly by IT outsourcing firms, and called the misuse a national security threat. He also said the program has made it even more challenging for college graduates trying to find IT jobs, because employers can hire foreign workers at a significant discount to American workers. How Will the Fee Hike Affect Indian Tech Workers? Sophie Alcorn, an immigration lawyer, said the move will likely limit job mobility and make renewals costly for thousands of Indian tech workers. She warned that employers may hesitate to sponsor or retain H-1B employees, especially early-career professionals, pushing some to consider moving to countries like Canada, the UK, UAE, or Saudi Arabia. Major European airports including London's Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, reported flight delays and cancellations on Saturday after a cyberattack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations. Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers, London's Heathrow Airport said on Saturday, reported Reuters. Berlin airport also warned of similar disruptions, advising passengers to confirm their travel with airlines before heading to the airport on Saturday. As per Brussels Airport, the attack disrupted automated systems, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures. This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights...The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, Brussels Airport stated on its website. Hours later, Air India issued an advisory for its passengers flying from India to London, to complete their webcheckin before reaching the airports for departure. How many flights have been cancelled? According to a report by The Independent, at least four flights were cancelled at the Brussels Airport on Saturday. The cancelled flights included the 10:25am service to Kigali and the 10:35am KLM flight to Amsterdam. Which airlines have been affected? So far, London's Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin Airport have warned of delays and flight cancellations. Meanwhile EasyJet said it does not expect a system issue affecting airports including Heathrow and Brussels to impact its flight schedule for the rest of Saturday. "Were aware of an IT system issue affecting a small number of airports, a spokesperson told Reuters news agency. What did Collin Aerospace say Collin Aerospace, in its statement, said the cyberattack was affecting select airports and is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. We will share more details as they are available," the service provider said in its statement, as per The Independent. When I began reporting on Indian IT in 2000, just after the Y2K scare, the stories I heard were about the onsite dream an engineer sent to Chicago or San Jose, an H-1B visa that bought a house in Chennai or cleared family debts in Kanpur. Entire families rose into the middle class because one engineer went abroad. I sat in those homes. I saw the first cars in their driveways, the relief of loans paid off, the belief that a promising future had opened up. Many of todays startup founders from Girish Mathrubootham to Mukesh Bansal lived through those years. For a generation of Indian engineers, the H-1B was not just a visa it was a portal to the middle class. Families bought homes, paid off debts, and saw their children move upward because one member worked onsite in America. That portal is now gone. Trumps $100,000 fee signals the end of the onsite era, and with it, the end of an idea: that global talent could move freely to where it was needed. The question is what replaces it: a retreat, or a redirection of ambition and money. Over much of my career I heard executives at GE, Microsoft and Walmart explain why it was nearly impossible to find enough engineering talent in the US at the time. Indian engineers were not a stop-gap; they were the only option. Two decades later, I have to assume America is now producing millions of engineers willing to do these jobs locally quite a reversal. Going, going, gone The Indian American Dream had already been dying as Trumps protectionism hardened. On 20 September, it was formally buried when Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on every H-1B visa. Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said, A hundred-thousand dollars a year for H-1B visas, and all the big companies are on board." Whether or not this survives a legal challenge experts note the US President has no authority to impose fees beyond cost recovery the message is blunt. Washington has chosen to tax the very talent it cannot replace. The dependence is clear from the numbers. According to a Reuters article, more than 70% of H-1B beneficiaries come from India. Amazon secured more than 12,000 approvals in the first half of 2025, and Microsoft and Meta more than 5,000 each. Elon Musk told The New York Times in January that such expertise does not exist in America in sufficient quantity". Yet the White House now demands companies train local graduates while charging $100,000 a head from the same pipeline that keeps its tech economy running. Analysts quoted by Reuters warned the US risked taxing away its innovation edge, trading dynamism for short-sighted protectionism". The tide is turning A reversal, however, has been underway for some time. The brightest Indian engineers no longer see onsite as the prize. They return home to comparable salaries and greater responsibility. The GCC boom has pulled thousands of high-value jobs into India. Walmart, Boeing, GE, and JP Morgan alongside Microsoft, Amazon, and Google now employ armies of Indian engineers out of Bengaluru and Pune, effectively running second headquarters. They save millions each year and build global products out of India. Yet these same firms remain silent while Washington taxes the very workforce they depend on. For Indian engineers, the symbolism stings. A $100,000 fee is not just another policy; it makes their ambition unaffordable. At home they pay out of their own pockets to stay up to date on AI. They will now have to pay again abroad, to companies that cannot function without them. Some are already calling time on the dream. On LinkedIn, Chaitanya Chokkareddy, CTO of Ozonetel, wrote: Now that the H-1B dream is over, it basically means studying in the US taking huge loans is not worth it. Instead of giving a US university $250,000, commit to invest that amount in your kids startup. If you do that, I will commit to mentor your kids startup. For free. No strings attached." In other words: redirect your ambition and money to build at home. For Indian IT firms, this is another penalty layered over the proposed HIRE Act, floated earlier this month. Washington is taxing services abroad and workers at home. How India can fight back Indias deeper problem is that it still undervalues its invisible exports. Engineers in GCCs are booked at cost+5% when fair value would be cost+50%. American platforms Meta, Google, Instagram, OpenAI operate freely in India, training their AI models on the worlds largest user base. India is their biggest market by users, if not by revenue. The value they draw training data today, exponential market potential tomorrow is immense. Yet India charges nothing for this access. Also Read | Beyond the visa: Why foreign universities are flocking to Gurugram and GIFT City The IT industry didnt just generate revenue it built Indias middle class. It gave families their first homes, their first cars, their first passports. To keep undervaluing it now is to waste the foundation of modern India. Onsite is over. Washington has shut the door. If America insists on pricing Indian talent at $100,000 a year, New Delhi must stop giving away engineers, markets, and user data for free. If America can set the price of Indian talent, India can set the price of American profits here. And American corporations, from Silicon Valley to Bentonville, must admit what they know privately: this is their crisis too. In an era when Indian capital was timid and colonial firms ran the show, one man decided that Indians would sail their own ships, fly their own aeroplanes, and drive their own cars. Walchand Hirachand Doshi, born in 1882 as the Digamber Jain son of a cotton trader in Gujarats Wankaner, was not content with mills and trading houses. He wanted empire-scale industry, and for a while, he almost achieved it. Walchands journey began humbly in the 1910s, with investments in Deccan Sugar Mills and Sholapur Spinning and Weaving Mills. Sugar, the white gold of the Deccan, was flush with government incentives, and its profits gave him both capital and clout in Bombays mercantile circles. This early success wasnt glamorous, but it was strategic, serving as a springboard for his audacious leap into heavy industry. Also Read | Trust issues: Boardroom fractures at Tata signal a deeper governance reckoning By the 1940s, Walchand had stitched together a federation of ventures that read like a blueprint for modern India: Scindia Steam Navigation Co., set up in 1919, was Indias first indigenous shipping line, defying British monopolies. Hindustan Construction Co. (HCC), set up in 1926, built docks and dams, while Premier Automobiles Ltd, founded six years later, rolled out Indias first passenger cars. In 1940 came Hindustan Aircraft Ltdlater nationalized as HALwhich birthed Indias aviation industry. With sugar and textiles as his cash engine, his empire was worth 60-75 crore in 1940s money. The quintessential gambler Among his peers, Walchand stood out for his audacity. The Tatas, with their steel fortress generating crores in revenue, were three to four times larger, while the Birla Group, with jute, textiles, and cement assets, matched Walchands scale but wielded deeper capital pools and shrewder political bets. Walchand, however, was the quintessential gambler. His ventures in aviation, shipping, and automobiles were bold but over-leveraged. Whats more, they were tethered to strategic sectors that the newly independent Indian state would not leave in private hands. His timing was both a blessing and a curse. The interwar years and World War II fueled demand for shipping and defence, which Walchand exploited masterfully. Scindias ships carried goods across oceans, and Hindustan Aircraft supplied planes for the war effort. But Indias shallow capital markets and scanty bank credit left him vulnerable. After 1947, the Nehruvian states push to nationalize commanding heights industries, including aviation, shipping and infrastructure, swept away his most ambitious bets. Hindustan Aircraft was absorbed into the state, and Scindias dominance waned as government priorities shifted. The swagger of a Rockefeller Walchand himself was a larger-than-life figure, a flamboyant nationalist-industrialist with the swagger of a Rockefeller. He cultivated political friends and princely patrons with ease, believing Indias industrial future was his to shape. Unlike the patient Tatas or the financially astute Birlas, Walchand ran on ambition and leverage, his ventures often dependent on state contracts or foreign partners. Critics claimed that he dreamt like Rockefeller but borrowed like a speculator. Yet, there were no scandals to smear his reputation. His aggression was in lobbying, not fraud, extracting contracts from colonial rulers and wrangling with Nehruvian planners. His sudden death in 1953 left no centralized succession plan. His half-brothers, notably Gulabchand Hirachand, took over Walchandnagar Industries, pivoting to engineering and defence contracts. HCC passed to Gulabchands son, Ajit Gulabchand, who inherited Walchands itch for grandeur. Ajits Lavasa city, a private hill station envisioned as Indias Lake Como, echoed his forebears ambition but crumbled under debt, violations of environmental regulations, and land acquisition controversies. By the 2010s, HCC was among Indias most indebted infrastructure firms. Ajit, the flamboyant Davos skier, avoided outright fraud but couldnt escape the optics of overreach. Investors and banks took hits as debt spiralled, a 21st-century echo of Walchands own vulnerabilities. The legacy Walchands legacy is one of paradoxes. He was one of the most visionary capitalists of pre-Independence India, a dreamer-builder who wanted Indian equivalents of Ford, Bechtel, and British shipyards. If the Wadiascautious, technical, enduringwere the ballast of Bombay capitalism, Walchand was its rocket fuel: spectacular in ascent but sadly prone to burnout. His ventures were bold but not fraudulent. His over-leveraged dreams and dependence on state goodwill left him exposed to a system that favoured the cautious. He built castles in the air that were gone too soon. His story is a lesson in ambition outpacing execution, a reminder that in business, vision alone is never enough. For more such stories, read The Enterprising Indian: Stories From India Inc News. Calling it Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday return gifts from US President Donald Trump, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday slammed the Centre and noted that chanting Modi Modi is not foreign policy. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi received a phone call from US President Donald Trump, who extended birthday greetings and referred PM Modi as a friend. In a post on X, senior Congress leader Kharge said, Narendra Modiji, Indians are pained by the return gifts you have received after the birthday call. Birthday Return Gifts from your Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar Govt! $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, hits Indian tech workers the hardest, 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indians. Trump on Friday signed the proclamation Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers that restricts the entry into the US of those workers whose H1B petitions are not accompanied or supplemented by a payment of USD 100,000. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called Narendra Modi a weak PM. In a post on X, Congress leader wrote, I repeat, India has a weak PM. Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday slammed the Centre and said that the move will affect the brightest minds from India. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gogoi said that his strategic silence and loud optics have become a liability for the nation. The fee is set to take effect on September 21. The proclamation represents one of the Trump administration's most aggressive efforts yet to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. Sharing an X post, the Congress MP wrote, With the recent decision on H1-B visas the American government have hit at the future of the best and brightest minds from India. I still remember the boldness of former PM Manmohan Singh when one IFS lady diplomat was insulted in the US. Now PM Modi's preference for strategic silence and loud optics has become a liability for the national interest of India and her citizens. Congress MP Manish Tewari says, The US is systematically turning on the screws on India. What happened with regard to the H-1B visa is no coincidence at all. If you look at it in context, the premature ceasefire announcement by the US at the instigation of Pakistan, subsequently, the felicitation and the fetting of the Pakistani Army chief in the White House, followed by the 50% tariffs which have been imposed by the US and even the Saud-Pakistani defence partnership won't have happened without the tacit support and blessing of the US. So, in a very systematic manner, for reasons which are inexplicable and ununderstandable, the US is deliberately being belligerent towards India and it does not augur well for India-US relations. Here's how AAP responded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and party's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, saying that US president Donald Trump has given a "gift" to India by sending people back to the country and allowing them to witness tenure of the "vishwaguru". Bharadwaj posted a clip of President Trump signing the presidential proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. Those people who were working in America, earning dollars, and saying that India has now become the world leader. Now Trump is sending all those people back to India so that they can enjoy the tenure of the vishwaguru while staying in India. What greater gift could there be for their friend Modi than this, all the dear ones returning home, Bharadwaj posted on X in Hindi. Trump's move is likely to affect Indians looking for jobs in the technology and IT sectors in the US. AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia called it humiliating to Indians that they have been subjected to such increasing visa costs, calling for PM Modi to speak on the issue. Indians have never faced such humiliation and indifference before. On his birthday, as soon as a call comes from Trump, the Prime Minister gets thrilled and tweets about it, telling the country how delighted he felt... But after this major blow from Trump on Indian professionals, how does he feel now--that too the country wants to know through the Prime Minister's tweets, Sisodia posted on X. What did Trump say? Trump said that it is necessary to impose higher costs on companies seeking to use the H-1B programme in order to address the abuse of that programme while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers. The H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme was created to bring temporary workers into the US to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour, Trump said in the proclamation. Congress has set a mandated cap of 65,000 H-1B visas, with 20,000 additional H-1B visas for professionals who have obtained a master's degree or higher from an accredited US institution. Industry veteran says Former Infosys CFO and industry veteran Mohandas Pai on Saturday said the US move to impose a steep USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applicants will dampen fresh applications by companies and may accelerate offshoring in the coming months. An IT industry expert who did not wish to be named said that the fresh approvals for Indian tech companies range from 8,000 to 12,000 every year. The impact is not just on Indian companies but also on global tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, who account for significant H-1B numbers to get "the best talent" to the US. The fee of USD 100,000 is way too high, the source said, as reported by PTI. Meanwhile, Pai pointed out that the impact will be "limited" for now, as it only affects new applications, and existing H-1B visas are safe, PTI reported. Which company topped the list of H1-B visa approvals? According to the USCIS website, the H-1B programme allows employers in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher in the specific speciality, or its equivalent. A look at the USCIS website shows that for fiscal year 2025 (data as of June 30, 2025), Amazon topped the list of H-1B visa approvals at 10,044. In that list of top ten beneficiaries, TCS (5,505) is at the second spot, followed by Microsoft Corp (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Cognizant (2,493), JP Morgan Chase (2,440), Walmart (2,390) and Deloitte Consulting (2,353). The top 20 list includes Infosys (2,004), LTIMindtree (1,807), and HCL America (1,728). Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor claimed that the state's Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary has a criminal past and also raised concerns about the BJP leader's educational qualifications, claiming he never passed the matriculation exam. Speaking at a public meeting on Friday, Kishor accused Choudhary of being skilled at changing names and linked him to an alleged murder case, further stating that Choudhary was once known as Samrat Kumar Maurya and had been an accused in the killing of a Congress leader, as reported by ANI. Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is an expert in changing names. People know that his name was Rakesh Kumar, which changed to Rakesh Kumar aka Samrat Choudhary, but this is not the complete truth. His original name was Samrat Kumar Maurya. He was accused of murder. Bombs were thrown at Congress leader Sadanand Singh, in which six people died. He came out of jail after six months, as he was a minor, Jan Suraaj, founder, said. Questioning his educational qualification, he said that the Bihar School Examination Board had submitted in the Supreme Court that 'Samrat Kumar Maurya' had failed his matriculation exam. Kishor said, When he became a minister, he became a member of Vidhan Parishad and was given a ministerial post. He was suspended from the post due to his young age, and Samrat Choudhary says that the matter has been settled. I will tell you what has not been settled yet. Bihar School Examination Board told the Supreme Court that Samrat Kumar Maurya, who is claiming to have passed matriculation, has received 234 marks and failed. He added that Samrat Choudhary, in an affidavit, wrote that he has passed class 7. In 2010, in an affidavit, Samrat Choudhary wrote that he is a 7th pass. He hasn't even passed matric, and he claims that he has a doctorate degree from the University of California... I want to ask, when did the Deputy CM pass matriculation? he asked. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor also accused Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary of Benami property of over 200 crore. He alleged that his PA bought a property for 34 lakhs, which was later transferred to Ashok Choudhary's daughter, Shambhavi Choudhary, for 10 lakhs. "Ashok Choudhary, a close aide of CM Nitish Kumar, has made a corruption record in Bihar. He has a lot of Benami Property. He had a PA, Yogendra Dutt. In 2019, Ashok Choudhary bought 0.7 acres of land under Yogendra Dutt's name for 34 lakhs... Two years later, Yogendra Dutt transferred that land to Shambhavi Choudhary's name for 34 lakhs, but he was paid only 10 lakhs," he said. "Income Tax gave him (Ashok Choudhary) a notice that only 10 lakhs were paid for a property worth 34 lakhs... To save himself from Income Tax, he transferred 25 lakhs to his PA's account... Through this Modus Operandi, in the last two years, he (Ashok Choudhary) has gathered property worth more than 200 crores in the name of his wife, daughter and a trust named Manav Vaibhav Vikas Trust," he further said. These allegations come ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections later this year. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj is set to contest independently of the ruling NDA alliance and the Opposition's Mahagathbandhan led by RJD and Congress. Bihar elections are expected to take place later this year, likely in October or November, though the Election Commission of India (ECI) has yet to confirm an official date. The NDA, which includes BJP, JD(U), and LJP, aims to retain power in the state, while the INDIA alliance, consisting of RJD, Congress, and left-wing parties, is focused on ousting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The current Bihar Assembly has 243 seats, with the NDA holding 131 seats80 from BJP, 45 from JD(U), and 4 from HAM(S), plus 2 Independent supporters. The INDIA bloc has 111 seats, led by RJD with 77, Congress with 19, CPI(ML) with 11, CPI(M) with 2, and CPI with 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet with US President Donald Trump next week in a bid to persuade the US administration join a security guarantees framework supported by Kyiv and its European allies. The talks will be held on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York, Zelenskiy said. I would like to receive the signals, how close we are to understanding that the security guarantees from all partners are those what we need, Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv on Friday. Trump is scheduled to address the UN gathering on Tuesday and Zelenskiy on Wednesday. Its not clear which day the two leaders will meet. We have prepared the basis for security guarantees that Europe is ready to adopt, taking into account that the United States of America will be there, Zelenskiy said. We have had many discussions, including among the leadership of our armies and general staffs with the Europeans and the Americans. A special separate meeting of US and Ukraines first ladies is also planned for next week, Zelenskiy said. Ukraines potential post-war security issues have been widely discussed in recent weeks both in Washington and across European capitals, with the potential for a ceasefire seemingly at an impasse amid continued Russian bombardment of civilian targets across Ukraine. The number of Ukrainian civilians killed in attacks in July-August exceeded 500 people, according to UN Human Rights Commissioners office. Regions across the country are under the permanent threat of air attacks, including from shahed-type drones, ballistic missiles and glide bombs. Three civilians were killed and dozens injured on Saturday in the latest strikes, with municipal infrastructure hit in countrys south and center, Zelenskiy said on X. Russia launched 40 missiles cruise and ballistic and about 580 drones of various types into Ukraine, he said. Some 26 European countries have expressed willingness to contribute to guarantees, including with troops, while Trump has pledged to provide some form of backstop, potentially including intelligence and air support. The US hasnt committed to direct steps despite Trumps expressions of frustration toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. US sanctions against Russia will also be discussed at next weeks meeting, according to Zelenskiy. If the war continues and there are no moves toward peace, we expect sanctions - this is the second topic that I will raise at the meeting with President Trump, Zelenskiy said. He emphasized that Ukraine is heading toward another winter of war, and concrete moves by the US, including new sanctions, should be made before the cold season. He praised Europe for adopting a new sanctions package and strengthening tariff policies against countries that buy energy resources from Russia. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Trump administration officials told the top prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia that he will be removed from his position, after he didnt bring mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to two people familiar with the matter. Erik Siebert, whom President Donald Trump nominated as US Attorney in May, was asked by administration officials to prosecute James over allegations she committed mortgage fraud related to a home she owned in Virginia, said one of the people, both of whom asked not to be named discussing a confidential matter. Sieberts office told the officials that it hadnt found sufficient evidence to charge James, said the person. Siebert is a career prosecutor that began serving at the US attorneys office in Richmond in 2010. Its possible that hell continue to work as a federal prosecutor in that office after being removed from the top job. The Justice Department, Sieberts and Jamess offices declined to comment. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. ABC reported earlier on the administrations move to oust Siebert. The Justice Departments probe into James stemmed from claims by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte that she may have committed mortgage fraud based on the residence status she listed on applications. James, who led a successful civil fraud prosecution against Trump, has denied wrongdoing. James won a $454 million civil fraud case against Trump and his company in 2024 before he was elected. A New York appeals court struck down the financial penalty in August, but upheld the finding that Trump broke the law by inflating the value of his assets. The Trump administration targeted several Democrats in an effort led by Justice Department official Ed Martin over the mortgage fraud allegations, including James, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and California Senator Adam Schiff. All three have denied committing fraud. Martin was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the departments so-called weaponization group. That was formed in response to an executive order by Trump Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The Justice Department has opened a separate investigation into James over the civil fraud case she won against Trump. Trump said in August he was firing Cook over mortgage fraud allegations, prompting her to file a lawsuit in retaliation. A federal judge in Washington issued a ruling allowing Cook to remain in her position for now. Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to let him fire her while the case proceeds. Schiff has been one of Trumps chief antagonists dating back to his first administration. President Joe Biden preemptively pardoned Schiff and others who served on a special House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. Siebert has spent his career climbing the ranks of the US attorneys office in Virginias Eastern District. The Trump administration named him interim US attorney in January. His interim appointment expired in May, after which Trump nominated him to be confirmed by the Senate. Federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously installed him as US attorney in May while he was awaiting Senate approval. With assistance from Josh Wingrove and Erik Larson. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The recent announcement that scientists have spotted what they believe to be evidence suggesting ancient life on Mars seemed like the latest in an endless cycle of tantalizing hints followed by pleas for more funding. What will it take for them to declare something definitive? This time, the SUV-sized Perseverance Rover detected minerals called vivianite and greigite, which typically form in marshes, lake bottoms, or hydrothermal sediments environments where microbes thrive. Here on Earth, microbes play a role in their formation by altering the chemical forms of iron and sulfur. A NASA team concluded that life is the most likely explanation for these minerals presence on Mars. Scientists already have several lines of evidence suggesting life may have arisen on Mars. Raising the probability is intriguing but wont fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe. What would? Actually finding remnants of alien life and using them to understand how it functioned. Martian life might consist of different building blocks and use something other than DNA or RNA to store and copy information. Because all earthly life shares a common origin, finding a second tree of life would forever change humanitys understanding of ourselves. It would help guide our search for life elsewhere in the solar system and on the many seemingly habitable planets astronomers have discovered orbiting other stars across the galaxy. But to actually see whats inside potential Martian life, scientists would need to bring samples back to Earth to study a project NASA launched but has struggled to complete. In the early 2000s, the space agency proposed a relatively inexpensive sample-return mission called Groundbreaker. Christopher McKay, a planetary scientist and astrobiologist at the NASA-Ames Research Center, compared the mission to a VW Beetle. NASA instead chose to pursue a Cadillac version, which began with Perseverance. Perseverance, which landed on Mars in 2021, has been collecting samples and storing them in sealed titanium containers, which are now awaiting retrieval for a return to Earth. The return was slated for as early as 2033, but the schedule has fallen behind to at least 2040. A recent independent review estimated the mission would cost between $8 billion and $11 billion, a price tag that is untenable in todays budget reality. So, its been put on hold. Meanwhile, China successfully used a relatively simple technique to return moon rock samples and has devised plans to apply the same technology to bring Martian samples back to Earth within five years. But how will scientists in the US or China recognize alien life? Theyll have compelling evidence if they find highly complex molecules such as hemoglobin or chlorophyll, which are very unlikely to form outside of living systems. Yet extraterrestrial organisms might rely on molecules weve never seen before. In recent years, scientists have developed a mathematical framework to determine whether any given molecule is too complex to have formed without life. This framework, assembly theory, measures complexity by counting the number of steps needed to build a molecule from basic building blocks. Once that number reaches about 15, the probability of the molecule forming without a biological process guiding its construction becomes highly unlikely. There is already strong evidence that Mars supported a warm, watery environment early in its history, before it lost its atmosphere and dried out. Life appeared early on Earth in a similar setting by 3.7 billion years ago at the latest which is why scientists are so hopeful it may have originated on both planets. Even if all life on Mars went extinct billions of years ago, it could have left behind complex molecules that could tell scientists how it was assembled. The older Curiosity Rover has detected organic compounds that could have come from dead Martians, but the compounds arent complex enough to rule out non-biological origins. Analyzing Mars samples back here on Earth could reveal much smaller traces of past life. The bad news is that we might return a sample and find only the same kind of life that exists here. In the early solar system, debris was frequently hurled between planets. Scientists have identified several Martian meteorites that landed on Earth, and in 1996, they announced they might have found signs of fossilized life. The evidence was never considered sufficient, and excitement quickly faded. Later studies, however, showed that rocks traveling between planets can preserve delicate magnetic structures, suggesting that ejection into space wouldnt necessarily be lethal. Its not impossible that life originated on Mars and seeded life on Earth. Finding evidence of interplanetary transfer of life would be exciting but also a bit of a let-down because we wouldnt gain a second form of life. Thats part of the gamble of doing science: the universe doesnt always conform to our highest hopes. Still, a sample return is a safer bet than sending astronauts to Mars without knowing whether life exists there. Astronauts would take precautions to avoid contaminating Mars, but they might still inhale dangerous spores or bring them back to Earth. Biologists have shown that spores can survive in suspended animation in extremely hostile environments. Discovering life on Mars would be world-changing but its not something wed want to learn the hard way. More From Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. F.D. Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science. She is host of the Follow the Science podcast. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion NEW DELHI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- An army trooper was killed in an ongoing gunfight with militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday. The gunfight broke out on Friday night inside the Dudu Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, about 276 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. According to officials, the trooper was wounded during the initial gunfight and succumbed to his wounds early Saturday. Police said the gunfight broke out after joint contingents of police, army and paramilitary launched a search operation in the area following specific intelligence inputs suggesting the presence of militants. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has highlighted both the risks and potential benefits of artificial intelligence, stating there is a 25 per cent chance that AI could lead to catastrophic outcomes, but a 75 per cent chance it could produce highly positive results, at the Axios AI + DC Summit. Amodei explained that by really, really badly, he was not referring to minor issues like autocorrect errors, but to scenarios capable of destabilising societal systems, creating existential threats, or leading to severe misuse of AI. He has previously warned that AI could replace up to half of all entry-level white-collar jobs and expressed concern over the export of advanced chips to China, signalling the economic and geopolitical stakes of AI advancement. By framing the discussion probabilistically, Amodei emphasised that while risks exist, human choices and governance can influence outcomes, offering a balanced perspective that recognises danger but also potential opportunity. Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this month that Anthropic PBC has agreed to a minimum payout of $1.5 billion, plus interest, to resolve a class action lawsuit brought by authors who accused the AI start-up of illegally scraping millions of copyrighted books to train its language models. Among the largest AI-related settlements Filed on Friday in a San Francisco federal court, the settlement ranks as one of the largest agreements to date involving AI and intellectual property. A trial had been scheduled for December, with plaintiffs seeking damages that could have reached trillions of dollars, potentially jeopardising the companys future. Also Read | Anthropic tells US judge it will pay $1.5 billion to settle author class action Also Read | Apple joins Anthropic and OpenAI in facing lawsuits over AI and copyright Compensation for millions of writers The settlement covers claims from up to seven million authors, with initial payouts expected at around $3,000 per book for an initial set of 500,000 works. If additional claims are approved, the total compensation could increase further. Anthropic has also pledged to delete any disputed data it was alleged to have obtained unlawfully. Legal representatives for the authors described the settlement as unprecedented. Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey said, This deal sends a strong message to AI companies and content creators that using copyrighted material from pirate sources is unacceptable. Apples newly launched iPhone 17 range has run into early controversy in China, where customers have shared images of scratched display models just hours after launch. Visible scuffs on display models Shoppers in Hong Kong and Shanghai noticed visible scuffs on the deep blue iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, with some also reporting marks on the black iPhone Air. The handsets were touted by Apple as featuring a more durable finish, with the company returning to an aluminium frame for the first time in years. However, photographs posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Friday suggested the new coating may be more fragile than advertised. By the afternoon, a hashtag linked to the issue had amassed over 40 million views on Weibo, making it one of the days top-trending topics. Apple has not yet commented on the reports. The complaints recall previous teething problems with Apples flagship devices. The glossy black iPhone 7 was criticised for being prone to scratches, the iPhone 6 famously bent under pressure, and the iPhone 4 struggled with signal reception depending on how it was held. Also Read | Skip the queues: 5 Platforms to deliver iPhone 17 series at your doorsteps Also Read | Apple iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max tipped to keep same design as iPhone 17 Pro Strong demand despite issues Despite the concerns, demand for the iPhone 17 series remains strong across Asia. In Hong Kong, Apples flagship outlet saw queues of visitors on launch day, though walk-in purchases were restricted to the iPhone Air. Those seeking the iPhone 17 Pro models were redirected to online orders, with estimated shipping delays of up to three weeks. Similar wait times have been reported across Australia, New Zealand, mainland China and Singapore, with the Pro Max variant facing the longest delays of nearly four weeks. In South Korea, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to ship within a week, while the Pro Max will not be available until late October. The setback in China threatens to overshadow what has otherwise been a robust debut for Apples latest smartphone, which the company hopes will sustain momentum as it navigates slowing growth and increased focus on artificial intelligence features. Chinas internet regulator has announced disciplinary measures against popular social media platforms Kuaishou Technology and Weibo, citing repeated lapses in content oversight. China targets Kuaishou and Weibo over content oversight The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) revealed on Saturday that its Beijing branch will summon company representatives, issue formal warnings, and require corrective action within a set period. According to the regulator, both platforms failed to uphold their fundamental responsibility for managing online content. The CAC highlighted the frequent appearance of problematic posts on trending lists, particularly those promoting celebrity gossip and trivial personal updates, as a key concern. The move reflects ongoing scrutiny from Chinese authorities over social media content, as the government steps up efforts to ensure that online platforms comply with regulatory standards and social responsibility requirements. Also Read | From size to price: 5 key facts about the Hongqi L5 used by PM Modi in China Also Read | iPhone 17 users shocked as scratches appear on new devices instantly: Report iPhone 17 faces early scratching concerns in China Meanwhile, in separate news, Apples recently released iPhone 17 series has sparked early controversy in China, as users shared images showing scratched screens just hours after the devices went on sale. Shoppers in Hong Kong and Shanghai reported noticeable scuffs on the deep blue iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, with some also spotting marks on the black iPhone Air. The company had promoted the range as having a more robust finish, marking a return to an aluminium frame after several years. Yet, images circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Friday suggested that the new coating may be less resilient than claimed. By the afternoon, a related hashtag had attracted more than 40 million views, making it one of the most discussed topics on the platform that day. Apple has yet to respond to the reports. The complaints echo past issues with Apples flagship devices. The glossy black iPhone 7 drew criticism for scratching easily, the iPhone 6 became infamous for bending under pressure, and the iPhone 4 faced signal problems depending on how it was held. Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, best known to fans as Uncle Roger, has married lawyer Sabrina Ahmed in a three-day wedding celebration in Sintra, Portugal. On September 14, Ng announced the news on social media, writing: On July 19, 2025, I married my best friend @sabriines. Now someone please help my uncle find a wife (sic). The couples story began when Ahmed first saw Ng perform at a comedy show in Miami. A friend described him as the guy who jokes about rice, but she soon noticed there was more to him. Beyond the glare of the orange shirt he was actually very cute, she recalled. At the time, Ahmed was not considering dating due to family health issues. Later, when she returned to a dating app, she matched with Ng. The first thing I felt was how elegant and beautiful she looked, Ng said. I got the sense quickly we would get along. Their first meeting in person came at Boston Airports Terminal 3, where both their flights landed at exactly the same time. Everything felt destined and easy, Ahmed remembered. Ng added: I was full of anticipation that week, and when I saw her, she was even more stunning in person and so effortless to talk to. Within a few months, in March 2023, I realised already that I loved her and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. He proposed in July 2024 during a trip to Tokyo. Vogue, which featured the wedding, reported that the Portugal celebrations began on 17 July and were a blend of Malaysian, Chinese and Bengali traditions. When Singha Durbar, the grand palace housing government offices in Kathmandu, went up in flames last week, Gen Z protesters hung across its golden gates a manga pirate flag showing a skull in a straw hat. For Gen Z protesters, demanding the prime ministers ouster, the Straw Hat Jolly Roger carried a message far deeper than cartoon rebellion. Why the manga pirate flag matters The manga pirate flag used by the Gen Z protesters comes from One Piece, the long-running Japanese manga created in 1997 by Eiichiro Oda. According to the Guinness World Records, it has also broken the world record for most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author. One Piece follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate captain who fights oppressive rulers and sets out to achieve his dream of becoming the Pirate King. This manga pirate flag, Straw Hat Jolly Roger, has since traveled far beyond anime circles, surfacing in rallies from Indonesia to the streets of Paris, according to The Straits Times. In Nepal, youth organizers said it spoke directly to Gen Z. A lot of youths in Nepal love anime, organizer Bikhyat Khatri told CNN. We wanted the movement to feel like a Gen Z movement, so the slogans and symbols used during the protest were linked with things that Gen Z youths could relate to. Pop culture as protest language Protest symbols are not new. Hong Kong activists once painted Pepe the Frog on walls, while Thai youth raised a three-finger salute from The Hunger Games. The manga pirate flag works because it is instantly recognisable and flexible, CNN reported. Nuurrianti Jalli, a media professor, told CNN that pop culture symbols can help elevate what the people are trying to say without having to say it word for word. Andrea Horbinski, who researches Japanese comics, explained to the outlet that fans see Luffy as a fighter who never gives up. Luffy, he is very determined. He has this quest. He and his crew have certainly gone through setbacks, but theyve continued pursuing it. Thats what people are responding to and thinking about when they are bringing the flag to these kinds of protests, she said. Spread across Asia In Indonesia, murals of the flag appeared around Independence Day, prompting officials to call it divisive. Amnesty International later criticized the crackdown. CNN reported that local artist Kemas Muhammad Firdaus told reporters the symbol was a warning. The government must look at its people, he said. A Gen Z mark Alongside the flag in Nepal, signs read unmute our voice and The time is now. For many, the manga pirate flag has become shorthand for their frustration with corruption and inequality. The sight of a manga pirate flag flying over government gates shows how deeply pop culture resonates with Gen Z. FAQs What is the manga pirate flag used by protesters? It is the Straw Hat Jolly Roger from One Piece, featuring a skull in a straw hat. Why are Gen Z protesters using this symbol? The flag represents resilience, freedom, and defiance against authority, values linked to One Pieces main character, Monkey D. Luffy. Where has the flag appeared in protests? The symbol has been seen in Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, and even in the Paris demonstrations. The life cycle of a teenagers self-esteem is nothing if not a turbulent one. No one knows this better than Granard student and Garda Youth Award nominee, 18 year old Jack Fagan. Just 6 years ago, Jacks confidence was so low that even the idea of speaking to people was bordering on the unthinkable. 12-year-old me would have been shaking at the thought of talking to you, he laughs. In fact, I wouldnt have spoken to you at all; Id have probably just stayed in the corner, hiding. I hated talking to people. After I joined Foroige though, I gained so much confidence. When I started with the club at 12 years of age, I was struggling with my mental health. The club however gave me so much more confidence in myself; its been life changing. Jack - son of Martin and Ber Fagan and brother of Dervla and Tara - is currently a Leaving Cert student in Granards Ard Scoil Phadraig. His local Foroige club is Lus na Greine, and the starting point of what has been a remarkable success journey for Jack in more ways than one. Recalling how the club first came on his radar, Jack explains, My mother, Ber, had noticed I wasnt happy. Mammy instincts! I was unhappy because of COVID and a few different things that were going on in my life; my mental health was on a bit of a decline; these things happen. My mum volunteers with Foroige so when she noticed I wasnt myself, she suggested that I give the club a go. I said sure why not, Ill at least try it! So I went in and just loved it from day one. I knew I wanted to stay with it and keep at it. I didn't know how far I would get with it, but when I started to go further, I couldnt believe it. He adds, I represented Longford, Westmeath, and Roscommon on the Foroige Reference Panel, which is made up of 62 young people from around Ireland. From there, I was nominated to represent those 62 members on a panel of 16 called the National Council. I was so lucky to then be elected as one of two people to represent Foroiges 50,000 young people on the board of directors. The way I think of it, Foroige is a company led by young people for young people. Read more: Smashing glass ceilings - the Garda Youth Awards in Longford and Roscommon For Jack, it was specifically Foroiges Leadership For Life course that really propelled him on the path that would transform his entire outlook. It almost makes me emotional, just thinking back on the type of person I was before getting bullied a lot, not wanting to leave my room, always stuck behind a screen. I didn't even want to go out, but the Leadership For Life course with Foroige really set me forward. It was that course that made me realise, first and foremost, I had to make a change because it wasn't healthy, and secondly, I could also help make a change for other people who are where I was a few years ago. He adds, Through Foroige, I've had so many opportunities. I've gone on to work with organisations like Spun Out, and the National Youth Assembly of Ireland, which is a government run project. I've also done a days work experience with TD Micheal Carrigy. Theres no way I would have gone for that if it hadnt been for Foroige. The Garda Youth Awards, which took place in the Longford County Council building last week, saw Jack deservedly being nominated for an award in the Individual category. His fellow Lus na Greine club members received a Community Safety Award for their incredible work in raising money to fund art therapy sessions for children. Speaking about the awards and the results achieved by his friends, Jack said, Im so proud of them! They worked really well as a team, it was amazing. Foroige has taught us all so much. My friends (from Lus na Greine) Mark, Blathin, and Niamh, are doing the Leadership For Life module three. We started off together in module one and then I went on to complete modules two and three before graduating level six from University of Galway. Now the guys will go on to graduate with their level six qualification in November. Having just begun his Leaving Cert year of secondary school, Jack is naturally looking ahead to what the future might hold. He doesnt know what career path he will take but hes also quite comfortable with this uncertainty. The origins of Jacks wonderfully calm approach can all be traced back to the Lus na Greine Foroige Club. I haven't a clue what I want to do, but what Foroige has taught me is that I don't need to know because there's so many opportunities out there. Yes exams help, but they're not the be-all-and-end-all, they're really not, and they don't define you as a person either. There's always a way around something." He adds, "I know Id like to work with young people, so paediatric nursing and teaching are high up on my list. Also, youth work, social care, occupational therapy, maybe something along those lines? I'd love to work with kids because I really do want to help make that positive change, especially in the younger generations. As well as having a network of good friends in Foroige, Jack is also blessed with the support of a close family. He explains, My mum Ber has such a good work ethic, and likewise my dad Martin is unbelievable. He ran the Busking Festival in Edgeworthstown; I was really young at the time but I remember looking around and being in awe of what he had created. My parents would definitely be an inspiration to me. I got my networking skills from my dad, and my empathy from my mother. My work ethic, I got from both of them. My family have really helped set me up for the future. SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical assistance teams have provided medical services to 6.7 million Moroccan patients since 1975, according to an event marking the 50th anniversary of China dispatching medical teams to Morocco, held Saturday in Shanghai. In September 1975, at the invitation of Morocco, the Chinese government started sending medical teams to work in the country. Over the past five decades, China has dispatched a total of 2,025 medical workers in 197 batches to Morocco. Chinese teams donated medical equipment to local recipient hospitals, supported the establishment of standardized diagnosis and treatment procedures, and conducted training on technologies, thereby contributing to the enhancement of accessibility and sustainability of Moroccan medical services. Li Juan, an official with the National Health Commission, said China is willing to deepen health cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. At the event site, a ceremony was held for the departure of the 198th batch of Chinese medical team aiding Morocco. A 48-year-old computer science student appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens in Longford District Court accused of having stolen two t-shirts worth a total of 30 from Dunnes Stores, Dublin Road, Longford. Mr Karol Skowronski, of 12 The Fairways, Dromod, Leitrim, was arrested and charged on August 10 this year with having stolen the items of clothing. The court heard that Garda Declan OGrady of Longford Garda Station had arrested the accused at Dunnes Stores in respect of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 before charging him later that same day. Representing the accused, solicitor Diarmuid Quinn described the incident as a misunderstanding, and said Mr Skowronski had put both T-shirts in the basket ahead of going grocery shopping. It was only afterwards he realised his error. Mr Quinn said his client had foolishly removed the tags from the items, although it was with a view to paying for them. When he returned to Dunnes Stores however, the matter could not be resolved. He had hoped to rectify it, Mr Quinn told the court, but security said Gardai had been called. The Longford-based solicitor said Mr Skowronski was a married father of two with no previous convictions. He said his client was not working, but was studying computer science in Maynooth. Striking out the charge, Judge Bernadette Owens ordered Mr Skowronski to pay 200 to the Bridgeways Resource Centre, Ballymahon. READ NEXT: Carrigy and Cllr Nolan call for dialysis services to be provided at St. Josephs Hospital, Longford READ NEXT: Longford's Cnoc Mhuire, Granard celebrates Leaving Cert excellence A meat factory worker has been given six months to pay a fine of 450, as imposed during a recent sitting of Longford District Court. Jose Sobrinho of Ballybranigan, Ballymahon, County Longford, stood accused of driving a car without insurance on February 24 this year at Rathmore, Ballymahon, as well as failure to produce a certificate of insurance for the car he was driving on that occasion, within 10 days of the initial offence. Garda Emma Kiernan of Ballymahon Garda Station was the prosecuting garda involved in the matter. The court heard that Mr Sobrinho, who originally comes from Brazil and has no previous convictions, only used the car for emergencies. His solicitor, Mr McGarry, told the court that Mr Sobrinhos 16 year-old daughter was pregnant at the time of the offence and that his client - who currently works in a meat factory - is now responsible for both her and her baby. He said his client was also pleading guilty to the offence. Taking all factors into account, Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a fine of 450 and gave Mr Sobrinho six months to pay. READ NEXT: Former school principal from Longford in court for tweaking roll numbers to keep teacher READ NEXT: Quinn's Supply Stores, Edgeworthstown set for big 150th anniversary celebration A Fine Gael councillor who wants the Government to make a commitment to invest 15 million annually, an extra 5 million than it presently does, into the Irish Post Office Network received strong support at last week's local authority meeting. Cllr Padraig McNamara brought forward a motion calling on Longford County Council to 'write to Minister Patrick ODonovan requesting the Government to commit to investing 15 million annually in the Irish Post Office Network, 'given its central role in delivering essential public services and providing critical financial support' to small businesses. "With 540 post offices located in areas without a bank within 55km radius the network is a lifeline for communities, particularly in rural Ireland and its sustainability is vital for local economies, social inclusion and community wellbeing." Cllr McNamara, a Granard-based postmaster, said the post office network not only provides an important community service but it also looks after vulnerable people. "Some people, as we know ourselves as councillors, we are elected here to represent the people and we all know people who are struggling hand to mouth and we look after those people in those areas. "Without the post office network in the towns and villages what would replace it? Fianna Fail Cllr Pat O'Toole, who seconded the motion, said he was strongly in favour and he described it as being 'excellent' and a motion that should be supported across the country. Fine Gael Cllr Paul Ross stated post offices are a vitally important part of local communities and he wholeheartedly backed it along with his party colleague Cllr Colin Dalton, while Fianna Fail Cllr Seamus Butler stressed the importance of the service for older people in rural areas, in particular. He stated a 15 million investment in the Post Office Network equated to around 28,000 per post office and he asked Cllr McNamara how he envisaged the funding would be spent on rural post offices. Clr McNamara said the money would "help the network to stay alive" with the costs of running the businesses. "If you look at the banking sector they have closed their doors to people, they don't want people going into the banks at all," he added. Cllr McNamara stated if post offices disappear from rural villages and towns "you can say the Government has stepped away from supporting communities" where he said there is a significant economic and social need for post offices in rural Ireland. The motion received strong support from the local representatives in attendance. The local authority will now send a letter to Minister O'Donovan requesting that additional funding is allocated towards post offices. The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) warned in June that 40% of post offices could close unless Government funding for the network is increased. They union called for a 50% State funding increase to 15 million per year over five years. READ NEXT: Longford's Cian McPhillips can win medal if he continues with rich form says dad READ NEXT: Former school principal from Longford in court for tweaking roll numbers to keep teacher Green Ribbon 2025 is running for the month of September and this years theme is Step Up to Stamp Out Stigma - a call to action for everyone across Ireland to speak up, show support and take meaningful steps toward a more open and understanding society. The Green Ribbon Campaign, launched by the HSE in partnership with Shine, aims to raise awareness about mental health difficulties and encourages HSE staff and members of the public to wear a free Green Ribbon to show you are open to having meaningful conversations about mental health. Read more: Save The Date! Orchard Care Group set to hold Recruitment Open Day A Longford launch event took place in St Josephs Health Centre on Tuesday, September 9. Alison Keogh, who is part of the community mental health team, explained about the campaign. We launched it this year at Electric Picnic. Its a symbol of September. Its to remind ourselves of solidarity and how mental health has an impact on us all and how to handle that. She continued by saying that September is a time to open up space to talk and listen, as there is still a stigma around mental health. We also know that mental health is non-discriminatory, she said. The idea of the event was to encourage the wearing of the iconic ribbons and wristbands, the latter said to be very popular with younger people, as it creates discussion. Veronica Brennan described the campaign as 'an important one' and she encouraged attendees at the Longford launch to take the free green ribbons, leaflets and wristbands. Rachael Hughes, who works with Shine, gave an outline of their work. Shine has been around for fifty years. 15 years ago, we changed the name. Shine is what came from the people who work with us. Shine supports people country-wide. Anyone can call. We have peer support groups, recovery education, and its so important. Recent research is showing that stigma is stopping people from seeking treatment. Just a simple campaign to get people talking, raising awareness, chats, families; thats how things spread. Read more: More clarity needed on grant guidelines for Longford homeowners reconfiguring An example was given of a type of stigma, that being societal. Comments like thats crazy or psycho that, despite being terms of phrase or slang, could cause a self-stigmatising response for someone with mental health issues. The idea was called really simple to spread the word and wear a ribbon. Next, Shine will be at the 2025 National Ploughing event, where they want people to get engaged to help make a difference. Ribbons can be ordered for free on: https://www.shine.ie/advocacy/ green-ribbon-campaign HEFEI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese political advisor Wang Yong on Saturday said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with all parties in key areas such as manufacturing. Wang, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention held in east China's Anhui Province. Over the past few years, China, along with all relevant parties, has adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, leveraging the platform of the convention to deepen practical cooperation and provide strong support for the development of global manufacturing sector, Wang said. In the face of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, China is willing to work with all parties to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as manufacturing; break down barriers in various areas such as technology, talent and data; make breakthroughs in critical core technologies; and achieve green and low-carbon development, Wang added. Under the theme of "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," the convention runs from Sept. 20 to 23 in Hefei, capital city of Anhui Province, and is attended by more than 1,000 guests from over 40 countries and regions. SPRINGFIELD Springfield Technical Community College learned in the last week that it will not receive $1.8 million in federal funding flowing from its status as a Hispanic Serving Institution. This $1.8 million was to have been the fifth and final year of a total of $7.3 million STCC was promised back in 2021, said college President John B. Cook. The money funds staff positions and establishes a STEM science, technology, engineering, math center on campus. The federal government told STCC that the money will run out with the end of the current federal fiscal year Sept. 30. We are working hard to certainly limit any impact to student experiences for fall semester, Cook said. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll looks on while Springfield Technical Community College President John B. Cook shows her around space Springfield boosters want to transform into a supply chain base for the burgeoning quantum computing industry on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. The warehouse was once Digital Equipment Corp. but was built to produce the M1 Garand Rifle. (Jim Kinney/ The Republican) The Republican But he is not prepared to, yet, to speculate on what might happen in the next semester. The administration briefed staff on the situation Friday. We are concerned, Cook said. A place like STCC does important work. STCC where 40% of students are Hispanic is also pursuing all avenues for reconsideration and appeal. Colleges and universities qualify as Hispanic Serving Institutions when at least 25% of full-time equivalent undergraduate students self-identify as Hispanic, said the U.S. Department of Education. Other criteria also apply. But there is a lawsuit out of Tennessee opposing the program and the Trump administrations Justice Department has signaled that it wont defend the program in court. Sept. 10, the U.S. The Department of Education announced that it was repurposing some $350 million nationwide from a raft of minority-serving programs including the Hispanic Serving Institution effort and a STEM program. The Department agrees that the racial quotas in the HSI programs are unconstitutional, the DOE release said. Due to similar issues with all MSI programs, the Department is using its statutory authority to reprogram discretionary funds to programs that do not present such concerns. Cook said: We know we are not alone. One New England casino player was celebrating TGIF with a jackpot win. On Sept. 12, a Connecticut resident was playing on a Light & Wonder slot machine game called Triple Blazing 7s Double Jackpot with Quick Hit in Mohegan Suns Casino of the Sky when they spun three Quick Hit symbols. The $10 bet landed them a $107,900.46 jackpot. Earlier this month, another Connecticut resident was playing on an IGT Whitney Houston slot machine at Mohegan Suns Casino of the Sky when they hit the grand progressive jackpot for $659,570.73. The lucky guest was betting $50 per spin at the time the jackpot was won. Overall, there are about 4,000 slot machines, including 22 new ones, and more than 300 table games at the Connecticut casino. There are two areas, Casino of the Sky and Casino of the Earth, that offer slot machines. Players must be 21 years or older. If youre looking to play online casino games, while Massachusetts doesnt currently have any legal online casinos, you can sign up for sweepstakes casinos like PlayFame and play to redeem for cash prizes. In July, a New Hampshire couple walked away with a six-figure jackpot prize after betting $20 at Mohegan Sun. The couple, identified as Samantha L. and Thomas S., were playing the slot machine game Huff N Even More Puff by Light & Wonder in Mohegan Suns Casino of the Sky when they won the jackpot. The prize was worth $131,186.64. And about a week before, one of the largest jackpots ever won at Mohegan Sun was hit. While playing on a Spanish 21 table in Casino of the Earth on July 9, the player made an optional $5 Bonus Spin Xtreme side bet. The bet ended in Triple Diamonds, which landed them the $2,018,742.30 jackpot. Not only is this the biggest jackpot win at Mohegan Sun in 2025, but it also ranks among the top five largest table game payouts ever at Mohegan Sun, a press release from the casino stated. Earlier this year, Mohegan Sun became the best place in the country to play slots, according to USA Today. Experts narrowed down the list from over 1,000 casinos across the country to the top 20. In the list, Mohegan Sun was included. Then the public had a chance to vote on their favorite. These 20 casinos, nominated by a panel of experts, stand out for their exceptional slot offerings. From classic reels and video slots to cutting-edge machines with progressive jackpots, these casinos expansive selections are sure to keep the excitement going. High payout rates, enticing bonuses like free spins, and vibrant, comfortable slots floors make each of these casinos a must-visit for anyone who loves to play, USA Today wrote. Mohegan Sun also placed second for best casino hotel and second for best casino outside Las Vegas. For those who need help with responsible gaming, call the helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or go to GameSenseMA.com or ccpg.org. Several of the 27 dogs that will soon be up for adoption in Massachusetts, rescued from "puppy mills" and now cared for by MSPCA-Angell. (MSPCA-Angell) More than two dozen rescued dogs and puppies that were saved from puppy mills, or commercial breeding facilities, are getting a second chance at life and will soon be up for adoption in Massachusetts. The 27 dogs which are aged from roughly four-months to seven-years-old and include husky mixes, dachshunds, and beagles were rescued through the MSPCA-Angells partnership with the National Mill Dog Rescue. They were saved from commercial facilities where female dogs are bred early and often, puppies are separated from their mothers too soon and many dogs suffer from overbreeding health issues, according to the MSPCA. The dogs are expected to arrive in Massachusetts on Saturday on a flight through the Bissell Pet Foundation, where they will be met at the Hanscom Field airport in Bedford by MSCPA employees. They will undergo a 48-hour quarantine period upon arrival at the Northeast Animal Shelter. That shelter, located in Salem, is where the animals will rest and recuperate before theyre available for adoption. We wont know exactly when the dogs will be up for adoption until theyre in our care, and we have time to assess their condition, said Jamie Garabedian, project manager in theMSPCA-Angells Animal Protection Division. Each dog is unique, so they might have different behavioral and medical needs, meaning theyll be available at different times, Garabedian said. But whatever those needs are, theyll get the best possible care with us before we find them the best possible homes. Those interested in adopting should monitor the MSPCA-Angells available animal page at mspca.org/adoptadog and check its social media pages for updates. A Brockton man was convicted of incest against a child amongst several other charges after he victimized a child over the phone for months while in law enforcement custody. Joseph Martinez, 42, was found guilty after a four-day trial in Brockton Superior Court, the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office said. Martinez was convicted of attempted rape of a child, incest, attempted indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, attempted indecent assault and battery on a person under 14 and reckless endangerment of a child. He will be sentenced at a later date. The charges stem from Martinezs interactions with a child over the phone between June and September 2019, while Martinez was in custody in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. During that time, Martinez would instruct the child over the phone to perform inappropriate acts and would verbally threaten them. The case was investigated by Brockton police and the DOC, and was prosecuted by assistant district attorney Jennifer Schmidt. President Donald Trump speaks as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP With fears over political violence spiking and Americans sweating rising costs, President Donald Trumps approval rating has taken a hit, according to a new poll. Just 39% of respondents to the latest Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll said they approved of the Republican presidents job performance. One clear warning sign for the White House as it pursues its aggressive immigration and tariff regimes: The share of Americans who now say the country is on the wrong track has jumped by 13 points since June, from 62% to 75%, according to the poll That shift has primarily occurred among Republicans, with 51% now saying the country is on the wrong track, up from the 29% who said the same thing in June. Democrats have resolutely maintained the country is headed in the wrong direction since Trump returned to the White House. There are notable differences in age and gender among the polls Republican respondents. Those aged 45 and younger and more likely than older Republicans (61% vs 43%) to say the country is off track. And Republican women were more likely than men (60% vs 43%) to hold that same viewpoint, according to the poll. Trumps handling of specific issues, meanwhile, remains deeply split along partisan lines. His strongest issues were border security (55% approve) and crime (46% approve). Around 4 in 10 respondents said they approved of his handling of health care, trade, the economy, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, foreign policy, and immigration. Roughly 6 in 10 respondents said Trump had overstepped his authority with his tariff regime, using presidential power to achieve his goals, and by deploying the military and federal law enforcement to U.S. cities. That agreement was more unanimous among Democrats, while most Republicans said Trumps actions were about right. Still, nearly a quarter told pollsters they believed deploying the national guard and his using presidential powers were excessive. About a third said they felt imposing new tariffs had gone too far. The poll also found an overall dissatisfaction with the nations elected officials. Fifty-four percent of adults held an unfavorable view of Trump, with more describing their opinion as very unfavorable rather than somewhat unfavorable (44% vs. 10%), according to the poll. Respondents were narrowly split on their unfavorable views of the Democratic and Republican Parties, at 53% and 51% respectively. Voters views of Vice President JD Vance were slightly less negative, with 46% viewing him unfavorably. But the Ohio Republicans favorability was lower at 32%, with 21% saying they didnt know enough to form an opinion. The nationwide poll was conducted September 11-15, with a sample size of 1,183 adults. The overall margin of error was error was 3.8%. WESTFIELD A Springfield man was ordered held without bail after being arraigned Friday for the forcible rape of a child, who told investigators the man had been sexually assaulting her since she was 12, according to court documents. In addition to the rape charge, Coren Tremaine Boyd, 19, of Lebanon Place, Springfield, was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, threat to commit a crime, and assault and battery on a family or household member, according to court documents. Last Sunday, Sept. 14, the victims grandfather called the Westfield Police Department after she told him that the night before Sept. 13 Boyd had sexually assaulted her in the parking lot of the YMCA on Court Street, according to a police report of the incident. When investigators interviewed the victim, now 13, on Thursday, Sept. 18, she said the assault began when Boyd arrived at her home and started texting her to come outside so he could speak to her. After she went outside, Boyd told her to get into his vehicle, she told investigators. When she said no, he showed her a gun and threatened to kill her if she didnt get in, she said. Once inside the vehicle, Boyd drove her to the YMCA and parked. As the assault began, the victim told him to stop, which prompted him to punch and slap her several times, she told investigators. Boyd then held her down, took off her clothes and began raping her, despite the victim pleading with him to stop, she told investigators. After he finished, he raped her again, she said. At the interview, the victim said Boyd forced her to have sex numerous times at his home in Springfield. During those sexual assaults, the victim said Boyd would hit her, and on one occasion he struck her in the head with a baseball bat. She knew Boyd because he was in a relationship with someone she was familiar with. The police report didnt include that persons name. She also told investigators he was wearing a GPS tracking device on his ankle. Investigators confirmed Boyd was in the parking lot by checking his location with the state Probation Services Electronic Monitoring Unit, according to the report. There was also video evidence that Boyd was in the parking lot of the YMCA that Saturday night, according to the report. When arraigned Friday in district court, Judge Tina Carfaro ordered Boyd to be held without bail pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Sept. 26. Boyd is awaiting trial after being charged by the Springfield Police Department on March 23 with armed carjacking, assault and batter with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of property damage, and receiving stolen property, according to the SPD arrest log. The police report also indicated that the investigation continues and additional charges against Boyd are anticipated. Joker is one of many dogs whose adoption fee will be waived during "Mass Saves," a week-long adoption event happening at shelters across Massachusetts from July 15-21. Worcester Animal Rescue League For more than two years, a beloved pit bull waited to find his forever family. Many at Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL) fell in love with the dog named Joker and had hoped to do whatever it takes to find his new family. But as a crisis hit the animal rescue, it became clear: The shelter could no longer house animals considered dangerous. Joker was one of about a dozen dogs from WARL that were euthanized this year. The pit bull, while loved by many staff and volunteers, had multiple incidents that showed he was a danger to the community, even if he could find a loving home, Mike Keiley, vice president of the animal protection division of MSPCA-Angell, told MassLive. Each decision was really painful, Keiley said. Even though everyone could objectively understand that rehoming an animal wasnt going to be successful ... making a decision for euthanasia is always incredibly tough. MSPCA-Angell stepped in to assist and agreed to help WARL after the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) conducted an inspection of WARL between December 2024 and January and almost gave it a cease-and-desist order. One of the big issues was capacity and caring for the animals already in the shelters care. But the issue had started long before the inspection. 13 1 / 13 Dogs rescued by Worcester police in need of families and new homes More than 150 animals were sent out of Worcester from at least November to April as the citys only animal shelter refused new intakes due to reaching capacity, which created a growing crisis for the citys Animal Control. The police department had to find new places to put the 156 animals, including 105 dogs and 51 cats, during this time, Worcester police spokesperson Joseph Cersosimo told MassLive. I would say theyve probably been at capacity for longer than [November], just because theyre really representing one of the only shelter systems in the Worcester area altogether, Keiley said. And Worcester is the second largest city in Massachusetts. Theres no doubt theres incredible need. Pausing animal intake last year was not easy, but it was necessary in order for us to reorganize in the hopes of creating a more sustainable and impactful future for both the animals in our care and the Worcester community, WARL Board Chair Warner Fletcher said in the statement. A no-kill shelter At one point, WARL was one of the largest no-kill shelters in the area. Keiley hopes to get it back to that point but it wont be called a no-kill shelter anymore. There isnt a universally held definition for a no-kill animal shelter. However, that designation is often used to describe a shelter having a 90% placement rate or better. While the MSPCA-Angell placement rate is above 90%, we do not refer to ourselves as a no-kill shelter because we believe that term can be misleading when trying to understand the complex decisions a shelter or owner must make in regards to euthanasia, the MSPCA said in a statement. While capacity was an issue at WARL, none of the euthanasia decisions were based on that. We do not make euthanasia decisions based on breed, age, or time limits within our adoption centers, MSPCA said. Multiple times, Joker had gotten loose from the WARL staff and attacked other dogs significantly to the point of great harm. If they had been smaller dogs, he probably would have killed them, Keiley said, adding that the dog also showed aggression towards children and people of color. Plus, Keiley added, these attacks had happened in a controlled kennel environment. What would happen if it was out in the community? Thats a big responsibility that we cant take lightly, he said. They also spoke with Best Friends Animal Society, a well-known no-kill advocate, about the decision to euthanize the dogs. They would stand behind it, he said. ... because they agree that achieving no-kill is not holding on to animals longer, blocking opportunities for other animals that need to come into care. And its not housing animals that are unplaceable for long periods of time. But he knows it wasnt easy, especially for those who had bonded with Joker over the years, which is why they offer mental health help to their employees. Still, it had to be done, he said. I think anyone who believes that Joker should be placed and take those risks, I have a lot of questions about whether theyre thinking objectively there. Because two dogs were already harmed and do we want to accept a third, he said. And what happens if he made contact with a child? The other dogs had similar issues. Keiley said its rare for a shelter to have this many dogs with the level of behavior issues that they are unsafe to rehome. But thats because a decision to euthanize a dog wouldve usually been made long before the shelter accepted another. Joker was in the shelter more than 50 times longer than the average dog, which is about two weeks. Other dogs at WARL were staying for an average of six months. Going forward, WARL will be aiming to adopt a dog within two weeks of being deemed adoptable. What really has to be factored in and kept in the front of our minds is the longer an animal stays in the shelter, the more stressed they are, the more likely they are to be unsuccessful, he said. And in the worst case scenarios, you can start to see stereotypic behavior issues happening from over kenneling. Moving forward While WARL was overwhelmed and in crisis, they were doing whatever they could to help them get through the day, Keiley said. But he was able to help them step back and create a better long-term solution. This includes open adoption hours, a system for euthanasia decisions and facilitating adoption applications. Those tend to get a backseat when youre in an overwhelmed state, he said. Earlier this month, WARL announced a new executive director, Aimee Contois. Previously, she was the animal control officer and animal health inspector in Auburn since 2015. Im excited to move to the nonprofit sector where I believe my experience will benefit more animals, as well as the community in general, which is something thats deeply personal to me as a Worcester native, said Contois in a statement. Im really looking forward to joining the immensely dedicated team at WARL, helping rebuild our reputation and working together to make sure that we are the resource needed for people and animals in Worcester. In April, Kristin Mullins LinkedIn page stated she was the executive director and a recorded voicemail message to the executive directors phone number still said her name. But the shelter confirmed with MassLive that she was no longer in that role after more than five years. As of Thursday, the LinkedIn page states she ended being the nonprofits executive director in January. Kathy Jamieson was the interim executive director of the Worcester Animal Rescue League for the past few months. In June, WARL said it was undergoing a full transformation aimed at improving operations and outcomes for animals in need right here in Worcester. The shelter noted that as part of its rebuilding, a new contract between WARL and Worcester Animal Control will be made. The new contract is expected to yield better outcomes for stray animals in Worcester, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities that will help prevent overcapacity in WARLs kennels and maximize opportunities for reunification of stray animals with their owners. On June 23, walk-in adoptions were allowed back at WARL. And since then, WARL has posted success stories of recent adoptions, including a 12-year-old dog named Gemma. Gemma spent just 12 days with us. From intake to her freedom walk out the front door, it all happened so fast. Its rare. Its beautiful. Its a testament to the power of sharing, caring, and believing that every dog deserves a second chance, no matter their age, the Facebook post read. We were flooded with messages and emails. People weve never met willing to open their hearts and homes to a dog they didnt know. That kind of love it leaves us speechless. All we can say is Thank you. WARL previously told MassLive it was taking one step at a time. Once stray animals were allowed to be accepted, WARL will also look to start accepting voluntary surrenders, Keiley said. Were taking things slowly to ensure that everything runs smoothly and is sustainable, which is necessary for WARL to once again be the vital resource the community needs, Keiley said in the statement. Open hours at the shelter are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 to 4 p.m. As of Thursday afternoon, the shelter has three dogs available for adoption, two of which are in foster homes, and seven cats. Video News: [Video news] Talk Series #8 : Lassiette de demain : quels sont les enjeux au menu ? 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The statement came from Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), detailing the outcomes of a meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian. During the meeting, the SNSC discussed what it called the "ill-considered" actions by France, Britain, and Germany -- collectively known as the E3 -- regarding Iran's nuclear program. The council declared that Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be effectively suspended in response to the European countries' actions, despite Iran's ongoing cooperation with the agency and proposals to resolve the nuclear issue. The SNSC tasked the Iranian Foreign Ministry with continuing consultations to safeguard national interests in line with the council's decisions. On Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would extend sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Last month, the E3 triggered the deal's "snapback" mechanism, which allows UN sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is judged in breach of the accord. The sanctions are expected to take effect later this month. The JCPOA has been under strain since the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018, prompting Iran to gradually reduce compliance. Patrick Kielty has shared a message online for fellow talk show host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel after his show was pulled in the US following his comments about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. Jimmy Kimmel, one of the biggest talk show hosts in America, said on his own show: "The Maga gang are desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them." The comments saw the TV network ABC pull it from the schedules, causing major controversy surrounding free speech. Now, the Late Late Show's Patrick Kielty has weighed in, leaving some divided. In a video shared online on the Late Late Show's social media platforms, the show's host recorded a "special message of support" for Kimmel. READ NEXT: 'I've seen children die' - Late Late Show viewers heartbroken by parents of Harvey Morrison In the video, Kielty says: "Hi Jimmy, it's Patrick Kielty saying a big hello from Studio 4 of RTE here in Dublin, Ireland, home to the Late Late Show for over 60 years. Now, during that time there have of course been many in power who wanted our show off air and yet our bosses have never considered shutting us down. "Tonight, we're extending the hand of free speech and friendship to let you know that you're always welcome here. So, if you ever need a studio or a desk or an audience or a band, we're here for you. And most importantly of all, Jimmy, this is Ireland so we can promise that you can say whatever the f**k you want." The video has received a lot of praise online, with many in the comments applauding Kielty for the message. There have been many comments such as "Well done Patrick" and "A lot of us are standing with you in Ireland Jimmy Kimmel." Even some Irish-Americans and people living in the US shared their praise in the comments. However, there has also been many which have criticised the message and defended the talk show host being removed from the air for his comments, saying it was a "tone deaf opening." The loss will hit key sectors including food, agriculture, built environment, health, and healthcare the hardest. Trusted Source Climate Health Risks Put $1.5 Trillion in Productivity at Stake by 2050 Go to source Trusted Source TOP INSIGHT #Climatechange isn't just an environmental issue, it's a business one. From extreme #heat to new #infectiousdiseases, adapting to these health risks is now a strategic imperative for companies. Are you prepared? #ClimateAction #Environmental_Health #PublicHealth Health at the Core of Climate-Driven Productivity Loss Food and Agriculture: Rising heat and disease outbreaks could lead to a $740 billion loss in output, undermining food security worldwide. undermining food security worldwide. Built Environment: Productivity losses from extreme weather and worker health risks could amount to $570 billion. Health and Healthcare: Workforce illnesses driven by climate conditions may result in $200 billion in productivity losses, while increasing disease burdens will intensify pressure on already strained healthcare systems. while increasing disease burdens will intensify pressure on already strained healthcare systems. Insurance: Climate-linked health claims are expected to rise sharply, threatening financial stability within the insurance industry. A Call for Proactive Climate Health Adaptation Climate-resilient crops to safeguard food systems. Heat-stable medications that expand access to essential treatments. Cooling technologies to protect construction and outdoor workers. Innovative insurance models to shield communities from climate-health shocks. Climate Health Risks Put $1.5 Trillion in Productivity at Stake by 2050 - (https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/09/climate-health-risks-put-1-5-trillion-in-productivity-at-stake-by-2050/) Risingaccording to a new report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) ().The study, published ahead of the WEFs Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025 and in the run-up to COP30 in Belem, Brazil, warns that urgent action is needed to embed climate resilience into business and policy decisions.The report identifies four key sectors that will bear the brunt of climate-related health risks: food and agriculture , the built environment , health, and healthcare Protecting worker health is no longer just a welfare issueits becoming central to business continuity and long-term resilience, said Eric White, Head of Climate Resilience at the WEF. Every year we delay embedding resilience into business decisions, the risks to human health and productivity climb, and the costs of adaptation rise.The WEF report stresses that investing early in climate health adaptation is not just about reducing risksit could also unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.Potential areas of opportunity include:The report concludes that tacklingstrengthen operational resilience, and support global adaptation efforts.Source-Medindia Cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, tooth loss, mouth sores, bad breath, and infections are common oral health issues. Trusted Source Indian Society For Dental Research ISDR - IADR Indian Division Go to source Trusted Source TOP INSIGHT From the very first sip, #alcohol silently erodes #oralhealth. Experts are highlighting the need to be aware of how #drinking impacts your #teeth and #gums. #OralHealth #DentalCare #HealthAwareness The Preventable Crisis: Tackling Oral Disease in India Alcohol and Tobacco: A Silent Threat to Oral Health Advertisement Advertisement Indian Society For Dental Research ISDR - IADR Indian Division - (https://www.isdrindia.com/) Nearlyaccording to experts at the 35th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Dental Research (ISDR) ().The three-day event, held in New Delhi, brought together more than 600 delegates, including 150 international participants from 20 countries. Over 30 national and global keynote speakers highlighted the urgent need for research-driven collaboration in oral and craniofacial sciences.Oral diseases may not always be fatal, but they silently erode the quality of life, said Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and organizing chairman of the conference. Bridging this gap through innovation is our biggest challenge.Verma further stressed the importance of prioritizing oral health in the national healthcare agenda. He pointed out that dental research can span across 36 categories, including regenerative therapies, revitalizing dead tissues, advanced material sciences, and public health approaches.Experts at the conference also raised alarm over lifestyle habits such asDr. Aswini Y.B. from the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences explained how alcohol begins damaging the mouth from the very first sip. Our mouth is lined with a delicate protective layer called the mucosa. Alcohol dries it instantly, leading to blisters, infections, and long-term damage. It also reduces saliva flow, which is the mouths natural defense system. Without saliva, bacteria thrive, infections spread quickly, and the chances of oral cancer rise dramatically, she said.Warning about the deadly combination of alcohol and tobacco, Dr. Aswini added, This mix multiplies the risk of serious oral diseases, including cancers. Unfortunately, its a habit still common across India.Other experts at the conclave urged people to pay attention toThey emphasized that maintaining oral health goes beyond brushing twice a dayit requires informed lifestyle choices, preventive care, and timely medical attention.The conference concluded with a collective call for stronger public awareness campaigns, research collaborations, and integration of oral health into broader wellness initiatives.Source-Medindia BAGHDAD, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani announced Saturday the launch of a national development vision, stressing that the country "cannot continue relying solely on fossil fuels as the cornerstone of its national economy." According to a statement by al-Sudani's media office, the prime minister attended a launching ceremony of the Iraq Vision 2050 for Development and the Future, an event also joined by senior government officials, diplomats, and private sector representatives, among others. The vision aims to diversify Iraq's economy, reduce oil dependency, and increase private sector participation through structural reforms, read the statement. Key projects include positioning Iraq as a transit hub for 20 percent of Asia-Europe trade through the Al-Faw Grand Port and the Development Road project, which is expected to create 1.5 million jobs, read the statement. The vision also targets 70 percent self-sufficiency in food, water and energy through sustainable green initiatives, read the statement, adding that an upcoming development roadmap for the vision will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval. As technological transformations and artificial intelligence are reshaping global economies, "Iraq aspires in the coming decades to be liberated from oil dependency, with a diversified and stable economy," al-Sudani said. "Iraq Vision 2050 represents a unifying national orientation, with the participation of state institutions, the private sector, universities, civil society, and youth," he said. Japanese researchers build a mathematical model to decode swallowing difficulties, offering new insights into esophageal motility disorders. TOP INSIGHT Did You Know? #Dysphagia affects millions, leading to #malnutrition, #dehydration, and even #pneumonia. Now, a breakthrough #mathematical model is helping scientists uncover hidden causes of #esophageal disorders and offering new #hope for patients worldwide. #swallowingdisorders #digestivehealth #medindia Advertisement What Really Happens When We Swallow? Advertisement How Did Scientists Build the Model? Advertisement What Could This Mean for Patients? For most of us, swallowing feels natural and effortless. But for millions worldwide, this basic act becomes a daily struggle. Now, researchers athave developed athat recreates how theduring swallowing and reveals what goes wrong inPublished inthe model not only mirrors normal swallowing but also simulates the disordered muscle activity seen in conditions like, giving doctors new insights into their root causes and potential treatment approaches.A major symptom of esophageal motility disorders is difficulty in swallowing, known clinically as, which affects millions worldwide. Dysphagia greatly impacts quality of life, sometimes resulting in, or even life-threatening complications such asWhen we swallow, it triggers esophageal peristalsis, a process in which the muscles of the esophagus involuntarily contract and relax in a wave-like motion, pushing the swallowed contents toward the stomach. Although seemingly simple, recent advances in observational techniques, such as high-resolution manometry which measures esophageal pressure, have revealed a hidden complexity to these movements.says first authorfromHowever, we didnt have a model that could recreate all these complex esophageal movements or esophageal motility disorders.In a collaboration with Josai University and Hokkaido University, the research team used simple mathematical equations in combination with high-resolution manometry to create a model that mimics the entire esophageal motility process. The model includes signaling that occurs in the brain and in the local nerve networks in the esophagus, as well as the contraction and relaxation of the esophageal muscles and lower esophageal sphincter.By adjusting a few key parameters in their equationssuch as the strength of nerve signals, the firing threshold of the nerves, or the strength of the muscle contractionsthe researchers were also able to simulate a wide range of known disorders described in the Chicago Classification, the international classification scheme for esophageal motility disorders.Our model therefore can provide enormous theoretical insight into what could be the underlying causes behind these disorders, says Miura.The implications are far-reaching. In the future, clinicians may be able to use a more advanced version of the model to identify multiple potential root causes for each patient. By systemically changing the model parameters, we could identify numerous potential causes that could give rise to the patients symptoms, whereas a doctor may only be able to suggest one or two, suggests Miura. This expands the number of avenues to try in order to treat the disorder.The model could also help guide drug discovery, by simulating the effects of drugs for different esophageal motility disorders before they reach clinical trials However, the current model still has some limitations for clinical use. For example, the model only examines how swallowing occurs when taking in liquid, rather than food. Once you add in food, there are so many factors to consider, such as the food size, shape, texture and how it deforms the shape of the esophagus. This greatly increases the complexity of the model.The model also only accounts for muscle contraction in one dimension, from the mouth to the gut. The team now plans to expand the model into two dimensions to capture even more complex patterns of esophageal motion, such aswhere the esophagus twists and distorts in shape from the violent muscle contractions.Source-Kyushu University BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday expounded China's views on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict during talks with Foreign Minister of Morocco Nasser Bourita in Beijing. Noting that the international community should unite in the face of the current emergency situation, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said it is necessary to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza with the greatest sense of urgency to alleviate the current humanitarian disaster. Countries that have a special influence on Israel should take their responsibilities earnestly, and the United Nations Security Council and humanitarian agencies should also fulfill their duties. Wang said the principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine" must be truly implemented. Gaza and the West Bank are both inalienable territories of Palestine. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements should respect the will of the Palestinian people and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation. Wang also stressed the necessity to firmly adhere to the two-state solution, pool more international consensus and form a more unified position. Wang called for supporting Palestine's full membership in the United Nations on the basis of recognizing the State of Palestine, seeking feasible paths to advancing the two-state solution, and rejecting any unilateral actions that erode the two-state solution. The conflict has persisted for two years, causing unprecedented humanitarian disaster, Wang said, adding that China is deeply concerned and expresses deep regret. Israel insists on moving forward with its plan to take over Gaza City and accelerates the encroachment on the territory of the West Bank, Wang said, adding that such actions seriously violate the norms of international law. These actions are not only of no benefit to building its own security, but also put the two-state solution at risk and directly undermine the stability of the Middle East region, Wang said. History has repeatedly proven that security should be shared. No country can build its own security on the insecurity of other countries, Wang said. Israel has the right to establish a state, and so does Palestine, Wang said, noting that there should be no double standards on this. The lives of the Israeli people and the lives of the Arab people are equally precious, and they all deserve respect and need care. Using violence to counter violence only creates and accumulates new hatred, Wang added. China has always firmly supported the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, and will remain committed to promoting a ceasefire and end of war in Gaza, and promoting the comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question at an early date based on relevant United Nations resolutions and the two-state solution. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, welcomes customers at the grand opening of the Apple store in downtown Detroit on Friday, September 19, 2025. Photo provided by Apple DETROIT - Who better to open the doors to Detroits first-ever Apple store than the CEO, himself. Tim Cook welcomed customers at the stroke of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19 at the store located at 1430 Woodward Avenue. Detroits very first Apple store is located in the DJ Healy Building, originally built in 1910. It is the seventh Apple store in Michigan. The Detroit Apple store employs 70 people. Apple retail stores reflect the community in which they are at and downtown Detroit is no different than that, said Brandon White, store leader at the Apple store in downtown Detroit. We have over 70 team members that are here to serve Detroit and the surrounding communities. The Detroit store opening coincided with Apples launch of its new iPhone 17 series, which included the razor thin, iPhone Air. Following yesterdays 5:00 p.m. grand opening, the Apple store in downtown Detroit will open daily at 10:00 a.m. It's estimated Michigan has an elk population of 1,146 in the rolling hills and hardwoods of the northeastern Lower Peninsula. (David Kenyon | DNR) MI Dept. of Natural Resources In the quiet of the rolling hills and hardwoods of the northeastern Lower Peninsula you may hear a loud, high-pitched screech in the early morning hours. Dont be alarmed. Its Michigans wild elk looking for a mate. During the fall breeding season, elk are more active while competing for mates. Thats when you hear those distinct bulges from males, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Every other year the DNR flies over the Lower Peninsulas elk country for eight days to count the herds. The last aerial survey, in 2024, estimated the elk population at 1,146. As these elk bulls search for mates, heres three tips to see these massive animals in the wild. Where to look Elk congregate in open fields throughout Otsego, Montmorency, Presque Isle and Cheboygan counties. Michigans Pigeon River Country State Forest in Otsego County is home to one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi, according to the DNR. Bring your binoculars to these 13 designated viewing areas mapped on the DNR website, here. Keep in mind road conditions are variable depending on the weather. This area was also hit hard by the spring ice storm so expect more forest clearings. When to go Elk are most active from September to mid-October. Elk can be elusive but they tend to gather in forest openings at dawn and dusk to feed and socialize. The DNR recommends its best to arrive just before sunrise or sunset and make sure to listen carefully for males bugling. Tracking Michigans elk population: 200 cameras set up to monitor Michigans elusive elk population How to view the herd responsibly First, remember to drive safely at dawn and dusk, when elk (and deer) are active and distracted during the breeding season. Keep a safe distance. These animals weigh between 400 and 900 pounds and stand 5 feet tall at the shoulder theyre nothing to mess with. Elk have been described as "walking stomachs" for their insatiable appetites but thats not an invitation to feed wild elk. The DNR euthanized an elk in Presque Isle County after it became accustom to human food and then demonstrated aggressive behavior including three reports of the elk charging at people. The DNR suggests you bring your binoculars, spotting scope or camera for close-up viewing while remaining a safe distance away. Michigans current elk hunting periods are late August through September and then a second period in December. License are limited and only available through a lottery. The award-winning documentary and a Q&A with the Muskegon chef is coming to The Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts for one night only. 19h ago PRAIA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Friday handed over a batch of medical supplies, including surgical instruments and consumables, to Agostinho Neto Hospital in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, to help strengthen its capacity to deliver health care services. "The friendship that unites us has always been demonstrated through concrete acts of solidarity, such as the one we are witnessing today," said Cape Verdean Health Minister Jorge Figueiredo, expressing gratitude for what he called a "noble gesture" of Chinese cooperation. Figueiredo recalled that since Cape Verde's independence, China has been a "key partner" in the health sector, sending medical teams and training local personnel. For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Cape Verde Zhang Yang described the bilateral cooperation established 49 years ago as "profound." "The support provided to Agostinho Neto Hospital and to the maternity ward of Baptista Sousa Hospital, the Chinese medical teams dispatched, and the donations of medical supplies all demonstrate the continuous expansion of health cooperation and friendly exchanges between the two countries," Zhang said. Family photos of Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter, who disappeared in 1974 in Oregon and whose remains were recently confirmed by DNA from her sister Valerie Nagle, are seen over notes taken by Nagle about McWhorter's disappearance Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) AP PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Valerie Nagle spent decades wondering what happened to her older sister who was last seen in Oregon in 1974. She searched online databases of unidentified persons cases looking for her and sent DNA to a popular ancestry website in the hopes of finding a match. That all changed in June when authorities in Oregon called Nagle out of the blue to ask about comparing her DNA to a cold case known as Swamp Mountain Jane Doe, she said. Nagles DNA ultimately helped confirm that the remains of a woman found near a mountain creek in Oregons Central Cascades in 1976 were that of her sister, Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter. Oregon State Police publicly released the news this week after the remains were identified in June. I was very surprised that they called, Nagle, a 62-year-old who lives in Seattle, told The Associated Press. She was 11 when her sister went missing. I was really glad that they found me through DNA. McWhorter was last seen at a shopping mall in the Portland suburb of Tigard when she was 21. She was the oldest of five siblings, and Nagle was the youngest. Their mother was Alaska Native of the Ahtna Athabascan people, Nagle said, and her big sister had been named for an aunt who died in a boarding school for Indigenous children in Alaska in 1940. High rates of disappearances of Indigenous people, particularly women, have festered for generations amid inadequate public safety resources. Nagle, who lived in New York with her parents and one of her brothers at the time of her sisters disappearance, said her mother may have contacted authorities but that she wasnt sure of the exact extent of the efforts made by her parents to find her sister. I mean, there were, you know, efforts to search, but it was limited, she said. We didnt have that much to go on. She does know her sister had come from California to Oregon with plans to continue on to Seattle and eventually Alaska when she called an aunt who lived near the Tigard shopping mall for a ride in October 1974 but the aunt didnt end up meeting up with her, Nagle said. Nearly 20 years later, the aunt shared another detail with Nagle: When McWhorter called her that day, she told her that a man in a white pickup truck had offered to give her a ride. It was unclear why her aunt waited that long to share that information. Nagle said that when she learned this puzzle piece, she started in earnest with more searching, including by checking databases with unidentified persons cases. I remember spending a lot of time on those pages, just scrolling through and trying to look, she said. In 2010, a bone sample from McWhorters remains was sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, and a profile was created in the national missing persons database NamUs, state police said. An additional bone sample was submitted for DNA extraction in 2020, allowing for a unique genetic marker profile to be produced. In 2023, Nagle did a DNA test when she signed up for Ancestry, a genealogy company with a DNA database, hoping it would yield a clue about her sister, she said. But the breakthrough came in April when a first cousin once removed uploaded their genetic profile to FamilyTreeDNA, another genealogy company with a DNA database, Oregon State Police spokesperson Jolene Kelley said in an email Thursday. That allowed genealogists to get a better idea of McWhorters family tree and led them to find that Nagle was a surviving family member. This case was cold for 49 years. That means that family members lived and died without ever knowing what happened to their missing loved one, State Forensic Anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder said in a statement, adding that McWhorter likely did not go missing voluntarily. The Linn County Sheriffs Office is working to determine the circumstances of McWhorters death, state police said. For Nagle, an important piece of the puzzle is solved. I never forgot about her, she said. Residents of the community donated to have the playground built two years ago, but the fire completely destroyed the equipment. CENTER LINE, MI -- A playground that was built thanks to donations from the community was destroyed by a fire Wednesday in what law enforcement says might be a case of arson. According to Fox 2 Detroit, Center Line Public Safety says two children and their parents were interviewed following the fire, but further details were not provided because the possible charges would involve minors. The incident began around 6:35 p.m. Wednesday when a fire broke out at a playground in the Kramer Home Co-operative located at 8830 E. 10 Mile Road. Witnesses saw smoke billowing out from the area where the playground was located. A group of minors were spotted running away from the area as the playground burned. When crews arrived on scene, the playscape was fully engulfed and the fire totally destroyed the playground. WXYZ-Detroit reports the playground was built two years ago after residents donated $20,000. An investigation is ongoing. Fire crews were responding Wednesday afternoon to a reported fire at an apartment complex near Bishop Street in the north side of Ann Arbor. Jordyn Pair ANN ARBOR, MI Fire at University of Michigan housing displaced 20 residents Wednesday, Sept. 17, Public Affairs Director Kay Jarvis said. Michigan Housing placed the Northwood II residents in temporary housing accommodation while Student Life works to ensure the building is safe for occupants return. The 2:42 p.m. fire was determined to be accidental, Jarvis said. No injuries were reported, she said, but the building suffered extensive fire and water damage in four units and smoke damage in 16. Firefighters from both the city and Ann Arbor Township fire departments arrived on the scene in three minutes, MLive reported previously. Flames were visible through the roof of the building when firefighters arrived, Jarvis said, with smoke conditions showing from the second floor and the attic space. Firefighters prepared to leave around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday -- about an hour and a half after they received the call. LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI Hamburg Township police are searching for the man who robbed a Dairy Queen about 16 miles north of Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The masked suspect arrived at 6450 East M-36 around 9:30 p.m., per a Hamburg Township Public Safety Department Facebook post. He held three employees at gunpoint with a handgun while he took money and other personal items. During the robbery, the suspect also punched two of the employees. The man fled through the parking lot on foot, police said. Police were unable to locate the suspect despite a drone and K9 search, though evidence of the crime was recovered. Anyone with information on this incident may contact Detective Kim Leeds at (810) 231-9391, ext. 462 or via email at kleeds@hamburg.mi.us GENESEE TOWNSHIP, MI A second man has been sentenced to life in the 2022 murder of Jesse Loomis in Thetford Township. Brian Colden, 54, was found guilty of felony murder, first-degree home invasion, conspiracy to commit first-degree home invasion and two firearm charges. Troy Bilkovsky, 54, the other man sentenced in the murder, was sentenced to life in prison in August. Two separate juries found the co-defendants guilty of murder in August. According to police and trial testimony, Loomis was shot and killed after Colden and Bilkovsky broke into his Thetford Township home on Feb. 15, 2022, shortly after 6:30 a.m. Loomis body was discovered lying in the driveway of his home by a friend. A trail of blood led from Loomis body to the kitchen inside of the home. Before he was shot, Loomis confronted Colden about an ongoing feud over money. The dispute was well known and led investigators to Colden and Bilkovsky, who was known to be a friend of Coldens. Additionally, Coldens son reported in a 911 call several months ago that his father admitted to shooting Loomis. The case has been dismissed twice in Genesee County District Court since the murder occurred, according to the Genesee County Prosecutors Office. Following an appeal by the prosecutors office, the rulings were overturned, and the case was reinstated. File photo of a police vehicle in Michigan. Alyte Katilius file photo | For MLive.com ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI A former Allegan High School student enrolled in the Allegan Online program was arrested after police investigated a threat. School officials were alerted by Allegan law enforcement about the potential threat on Friday morning, according to a letter from Superintendent James Antoine posted on the districts website. The arrest was made before the beginning of the school day, according to the letter. Federal authorities became aware of the situation after learning of concerning online conversations that involved the student, according to the letter. We are deeply grateful to the Allegan City Police Department and their partners for their swift response and for ensuring the safety of our students and staff, Antoine wrote. There was no danger to students or any of the districts schools, Antoine wrote. The safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority, Antoine wrote. We will continue to partner closely with law enforcement and remain vigilant in maintaining a safe learning environment. The Wyoming City Commission has approved tax exemptions for a senior and low-income housing development at 2300 Newstead Ave. SW. Melissa Frick WYOMING, MI Wyoming has approved a tax break for a low-income and senior housing development to renovate and expand its facilities. Pinery Park Apartments, located at 2300 Newstead Ave. SW, serves some of the lowest-income individuals in the city of Wyoming, with over 90% of residents earning less than $25,000. The Wyoming City Commission approved a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) ordinance and municipal services agreement (MSA) for the proposed project on Monday, Sept. 15. Pinery Park plans to renovate its existing 105-unit building that serves elderly and disabled residents and was built in 1979. City officials say 24% of the residents are both elderly disabled, while an additional 45% of residents are just elderly and 30% are just disabled. The median resident age is 66. The renovation, estimated to cost $5.5 million, will include new roofing, siding and windows, and updated kitchen cabinets and appliances, bathroom fixtures, unit flooring and lighting, air conditioning units and common areas, according to information presented to the city commission at a Sept. 8 work session. The parking lot will also be repaved. The project will also include the replacement of four townhouse buildings with 20 total units. They will be replaced with a new 37-unit multifamily building, adding 17 low-income units for residents at or below 80% of area median income. The median age of current residents in the townhouses is 37, with 41% of the residents being disabled or elderly, according to project documents. The construction of the new building is expected to cost over $12 million and will include new community room facilities and a picnic area for residents, according to a document submitted to the city commission. To help pay for the project, Pinery Park requested a property tax exemption from the city in addition to other assistance from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Under a PILOT resolution, developers agree to pay a fixed rate to the city each year to cover essential utility and safety services instead of the propertys tax value. The tax break helps close the gap between construction costs and the affordable rents at which units will be offered. Pinery Park will pay the city 1% of total rents in lieu of taxes and 3% of the total shelter rents under the MSA. These payments will be made and the tax exemption will remain in effect as long as the 45-year MSHDA loan funding agreement is in existence. Without the exemption, the property will have paid $213,310 in property taxes in 2025, and the city will receive $40,063 in revenue. Under the PILOT and MSA agreement, Pinery Park will pay a total of $57,305 in 2026, and the city will receive $45,694. City Manager John Shay said helping Pinery Park Apartments update its facilities aligns with the citys goals to address affordable housing. He called it a win-win for the city and Pinery Park. Here we have an existing affordable housing unit, and I think its in our communitys best interest that its in the best physical condition possible, not just for the residents that live there, but for the surrounding neighbors, he said at the Sept. 8 meeting. In this case, it can be done in a way where the tax revenues that come to the city will still increase over time, as opposed to going down. Four victims are in stable condition in local hospitals, police said. (Courtesy | KDPS) (Courtesy | KDPS) KALAMAZOO, MI Four victims are in stable condition at local hospitals following a Saturday morning shooting just west of Western Michigan Universitys campus. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of West Michigan Avenue around 3:16 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, per a KDPS Facebook post. The shooting followed a physical altercation, police said, not a random act of violence. Officers found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his heel and a grazing wound upon arrival, per the post. Shortly after, a 23-year-old man arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach, police said. Two more 23-year-old men arrived with gunshot wounds to their feet. None of the victims are associated with nearby colleges or universities, police said. One person has been arrested on a weapons charge, police said. KDPS is asking the public to help identify two people of interest in the case. Anyone with information regarding this incident may call 269-337-8139. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Kalamazoo Silent Observer tip line at 269-343-2100, via the P3Tips app or online at www.KalamazooSilentObserver.com. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. Unlike standard firefighting foam, Soy Foam is certified biodegradable and contains no PFAS or fluorines. Kelly Leach KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI Patrick Butler retired from the Kalamazoo Township Fire Department in 2009 after almost 35 years of fighting fires. I figured, Im home free, he said. His next fight was with cancer. Three years ago, Butler was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Since recovering, he attributes the cancer to his exposure to PFAS-laden firefighting foam. Butler discovered a plant-based, PFAS-free firefighting foam. His latest mission is to convince Michigan fire departments to swap out the harmful foam for the biodegradable foam. PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are known to cause cancer, liver damage, birth defects and autoimmune diseases. The synthetic chemical is widely used to make products resistant to stains, grease and water. PFOs, PFNAs and PFNBs are just a few of the thousands of PFAS forever chemicals that build up in the air, water, soil, fish and wildlife instead of breaking down over time. PFAS is found in aqueous film-forming foam, historically used to extinguish fires at airports and fire departments. Its the kind of foam used at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda for decades before PFAS was detected in nearby wells. In 34 years, no one ever told me that the foam had a chemical in it that was going to cause me to maybe have bladder cancer, Butler said. Butler is passionate about safety. During his 18 years as fire chief, he said none of his firefighters had to spend the night in the hospital. Even in retirement, he continues to train firefighters and attend conferences. I didnt want to see any more firefighters come down with cancers of any sort, Butler said. We need to have a product out there thats safe for them to use. The new firefighting foam Butler discovered at a conference in South Dakota is called Soy Foam. The plant-based foam is a win for first responders, the environment and farmers, he said. Butler started his own company, PK Foam Solutions, in April to distribute the product, he said. Hes since traveled all over Michigan, Indiana and Ohio to promote it. The foam was originally developed for training drills, Butler said. Then, experts realized it worked. Soy Foam is produced by Cross Plains Solutions in Georgia and distributed across the U.S. Its made from a 100% U.S.-grown soybean paste. Its certified biodegradable and contains no PFAS or detectable fluorines, Butler said. The foam can put out Class A and B fires -- fires involving materials like wood, paper, gasoline, oil and propane. Its been certified by the National Fire Protection Association for that purpose, Butler said. Switching to Soy Foam doesnt require new equipment, Butler said. At $179.00 per 5-gallon pail, Butler said it costs about the same as traditional foam, which contains PFAS. Hes sold 260 gallons of Soy Foam so far, he said, to fire departments in Caro Township, Inland Township and Fredonia Township. The rural areas seem more interested than the more urban areas, Butler said, because those residents want to support soybean farmers who make up their communities. About 2 1/2 bushels of soybeans go into 50 gallons of Soy Foam, he said. For the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), the PFAS-free foam is a tool that fits its conservation-driven mission. SWMLC will test the foam on controlled burns this fall, said Stewardship Specialist Dave Brown. During a controlled burn, experts carefully use fire to burn up leaves, dry logs and other excess wildfire fuel. In addition to preventing wildfires, the process can improve wildlife and plant habitats and control invasive species. Conservation workers typically have to carry water with them or pump it into a controlled burn site in addition to using traditional foam, Brown said. Its labor- and resource-intensive. Soy Foam will reduce the amount of water needed to facilitate a controlled burn, he said, without adding harmful chemicals to the equation. Were using all kinds of chemicals all the time in conservation work, Brown said. One less petroleum-based chemical that were using for habitat management is always an upside for me. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. PHNOM PENH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three new millipede species for the world have been found in the karst landscapes of Battambang and Kampot provinces in Cambodia, a conservationist group said on Saturday. In a joint press release from the Ministry of Environment and Fauna & Flora, the new species are Orthomorpha efefai and Orthomorpha battambangiensis discovered in Battambang in 2024, and Orthomorpha tergoaurantia found in Kampot. "These discoveries bring the total number of Orthomorpha species documented in Cambodia from three to six," the press release said. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys, mark a major milestone in the study of Cambodia and Southeast Asian biodiversity, it added. "The discovery of this new species highlights the importance of protecting Cambodia's karst landscapes, which serve as vital habitats for biodiversity and may provide experts with opportunities to discover more species new to science," the press release said. However, these landscapes are increasingly threatened by mining, agricultural expansion, and unsustainable development, it said. "Protecting these areas is essential not only for biodiversity conservation but also for preserving critical ecosystems and cultural heritage," the press release said. Ladki Bahin Yojana e-KYC: Steps to complete it online and documents required; check details 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. Archisha Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. 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I Accept Firoz Nadiadwala sends Rs 25 Crore legal notice to Netflix's The Great Indian Kapil Show: Hes the soul of Hera Pheri... Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Satwik Jaiswal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept SYDNEY, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australian federal and state governments on Saturday condemned the country's second-largest telecommunications company Optus, after three people died during a network outage that affected emergency calls. Stephen Rue, the chief executive officer of Optus, revealed at a snap press conference in Sydney on Friday night that three people died after about 600 customers were unable to make calls to Australia's emergency telephone number, triple-0, on Thursday. Authorities on Saturday identified those who died as an eight-week-old baby and a 68-year-old woman from South Australia (SA) and a 74-year-old man from Western Australia (WA). Only Optus customers in SA, WA and the Northern Territory (NT) were affected by the outage, which was caused by a technical fault during a network upgrade. Australia's Minister for Communications Anika Wells said on Saturday that Optus had "let Australians down." "It would've been incredibly distressing for people to call triple-0 in their time of need and not be able to get through," she said. "The impact of this failure has had tragic consequences, and personally, my thoughts are with those families today." Optus, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singaporean conglomerate Singtel, was in November 2024 fined more than 12 million Australian dollars (7.9 million U.S. dollars) for a similar national outage that occurred in November 2023. Shreya Ghoshal mourns the loss of Zubeen Garg: Had the greatest fortune of working with him... Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Delegation led by Piyush Goyal to visit US for trade talks on September 22 The minister will visit New York and will be accompanied with special secretary in the ministry Rajesh Agrawal and other officials. 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept H-1B fee hike unlikely to impact Indian IT as top firms reduce dependency Reshab Shaw USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept There is a pattern in the protests that happened in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka: Sanjeev Sanyal Shweta Punj is an award winning journalist. She has reported on economic policy for over two decades in India and the US. She is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. Author of Why I Failed, translated into 5 languages, published by Penguin-Random House. Priyansh Verma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The official said the deal will allow American users to continue using the popular app safely and securely. Hemant Abhishek USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept KABUL, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A senior Afghan official has slammed recent remarks of U.S. President Donald Trump on recapturing Bagram airbase in postwar Afghanistan, saying Afghans never accept foreign military presence in their country, reported the state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) on Friday. "Afghans have never accepted foreign military presence in their land throughout history. Afghanistan and America need engagement on economic and political relations based on bilateral respect and common interests," the state-owned media outlet cited Jalali, a senior diplomat with the foreign ministry, as saying. Trump, who has been criticizing his predecessor Joe Biden over giving up Bagram airbase during the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, told reporters in London on Thursday that "We want to retake it." The Bagram airbase, 50 km north of Kabul, had served as the main military base of U.S. troops in Afghanistan during the 20-year military presence of U.S.-led military coalition forces, which ended in August 2021 and paved the way for the collapse of the western-backed regime and takeover of power by the current Afghan government. The move may also have a chilling effect on international students seeking admission to US universities, since many of them hope to find jobs through the H-1B process upon graduation, she said. Hemant Abhishek USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept 'Birthday wishes are not foreign policy successes': Owaisi slams Centre as Trump announces hike on H1B visa 'Birthday wishes are not foreign policy successes': Owaisi slams Centre as Trump announces hike on H1B visa Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept COLOMBO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police have seized nearly a metric ton of heroin and 13 tons of cannabis during raids carried out so far in 2025, a spokesman for the police said on Saturday. Police Media spokesperson F.U. Wootler, addressing a press conference in Colombo, said 955 kg of heroin, 1,422 kg of crystal methamphetamine, 471 kg of hashish, 29 kg of cocaine, and 13,773 kg of cannabis had been confiscated. Police have also seized 3.5 million narcotic pills, he said. During these operations, 1,721 firearms were also seized, he said. Wootler added that 328 suspects have been arrested in connection with shooting incidents. These include 38 gunmen, 27 getaway riders, and 263 accused of aiding and abetting these crimes. He added that, since Jan. 12, police have conducted daily special operations and searched a total of 5,101,516 individuals, arresting 104,602 suspects, according to the police spokesperson. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Pothole form of govt': BJP slams Karnataka Congress over Bengaluru's potholes, says tech firms forced to leave Instead of guarantees, the people of Karnataka are only getting potholes, crumbling infrastructure and civic woes especially in Bengaluru despite paying high taxes," Shehzad Poonawalla claimed. Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Protestors under the banner of 'Adivasi Kurmi Samaj' walk on railway tracks during a rail blockade, demanding Scheduled Tribe status, at Muri railway station, in Ranchi district of Jharkhand on Saturday. (PTI) Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept MANILA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines is considering extending its rice import suspension by 15 to 30 days as farmgate prices of palay, or unhusked rice, improve, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said Friday. Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos earlier imposed a 60-day ban from September to October to protect local farmers during the peak harvest season. Laurel said the Department of Agriculture will recommend to Marcos by the end of September whether to prolong the moratorium. "Pending data validation, I am now inclined to recommend that he extend the ban for at least 15 to 30 days," he added. According to preliminary data, wet palay prices rose from as low as 8-10 pesos (0.14-0.17 U.S. dollars) per kilo before the ban to 17 pesos (0.29 dollars) in some parts of Mindanao, and 13-14 pesos (0.22-0.24 dollars) in major rice-growing provinces. The cost of producing a kilo of palay is estimated at 12-14 pesos (0.21-0.24 dollars), Laurel said. What are Jore Sahib? Sacred Sikh relics under Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's family custodianship for 300 years Hemant Abhishek USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Vivek Wadhwa is the CEO of Vionix Biosciences and has held academic appointments at institutions including Harvard Law School, Stanford, and Duke University. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Donald Trump responded by referring to his legal battles and past settlements with media companies. Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The GBA has yet to address the wave of criticism that followed its post. Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Maryam Farooqui is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol covering media and entertainment, travel and hospitality. She has 11 years of experience in reporting. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Maryam Farooqui USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept H-1B visa fee hike: Tech giants Microsoft, Meta, Amazon urge employees to be back in US before Sep 21 deadline 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 The move may also have a chilling effect on international students seeking admission to US universities, since many of them hope to find jobs through the H-1B process upon graduation, she said. Vikas SN USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept This Himalayan Village Is the Best Place in India to See the Milky Way This Himalayan Village Is the Best Place in India to See the Milky Way (Image: Canva) Nivritti Khatri USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A visitor shakes hands with a humanoid robot during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Wednesday. HU QIUSI/XINHUA China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are committed to deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence and advancing common prosperity across the region, officials said. They spoke at the 2025 China-ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence held on Thursday in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, during the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo. The event was co-hosted by China's National Development and Reform Commission and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, which was attended by officials from both China and ASEAN countries. During the meeting, the China-ASEAN Countries Artificial Intelligence Application Cooperation Center was inaugurated to strengthen the foundation for AI development and offer open-source services. Participants also proposed the launch of a China-ASEAN "AI +"action, the establishment of a China-ASEAN ministerial cooperation mechanism on AI, and released a series of key cooperation outcomes. Wang Changlin, deputy head of the NDRC, said that China-ASEAN cooperation in AI carries tremendous potential, with both sides expected to advance AI technology as a driving force for regional economic growth, improved livelihoods, and the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future. As the trade volume between China and ASEAN countries has been growing in recent years, "abundant data resources and diverse application scenarios have created favorable conditions for AI to empower economic and social development," he said. This year's expo focuses on AI empowerment and innovation, and the roundtable aligns with ASEAN countries' key objective of strengthening international cooperation in AI, further building consensus, and accelerating practical collaboration between China and ASEAN, Wang said. According to the World Trade Report 2025 released by the World Trade Organization on Wednesday, AI could boost global trade by 34 to 37 percent and raise global GDP by 12 to 13 percent by 2040, under scenarios where the digital infrastructure gap is narrowed and supportive policies are enacted. Parulian George Andreas Silalahi, deputy chief of mission of the embassy of Indonesia in China, said that China and ASEAN countries share great opportunities in AI collaborations to support regional economic growth. "Taking into account China as a leading player in AI development and innovation, and ASEAN as the fertile ground for AI development and innovation, as it continues to emerge as the key driver for the region's digital and AI transformation," he said. He said the Indonesian government has launched its National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence 2020-45, which outlines the focus and priorities in AI development, including the health sector, bureaucratic reform, education, smart city development, and food security. "To realize this vision, Indonesia must also tackle pressing challenges, including the need to develop robust digital and AI infrastructure that demands adequate funding and investment, as well as the growing requirement for a skilled workforce in the digital and AI sectors," he added. "Therefore, cooperation among ASEAN members and China is the key to addressing those challenges," the Indonesian official said. Similar views were shared by Low Yen Ling, senior minister of state for Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth of Singapore. She said that cooperation between China and ASEAN will help boost AI empowerment in this region. By leveraging the institutional strengths of the China-ASEAN Expo, China's expertise in AI-driven digital economic transformation can be translated into tangible cooperative projects. Sok Puthyvuth, secretary of state of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia, said that China's expertise in AI presents valuable opportunities for ASEAN countries to accelerate progress. "Cambodia has placed digital transformation at the heart of its national development agenda, and we are now entering a new phase by integrating artificial intelligence into our digital transformation journey," he said. KABUL, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that Washington is "trying to take back" Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. However, Afghan officials swiftly rejected the idea, saying there will be no negotiation on this matter. The remark has drawn wide international attention and prompted speculation about whether the United States intends to deploy troops to Afghanistan again. Analysts say that re-establishing a full U.S. military presence -- especially at Bagram -- would be extraordinarily difficult and is not currently feasible. AFGHANISTAN EXCLUDES U.S. MILITARY RETURN The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the United States might be discussing with the Afghan government a limited U.S. counter-terrorism presence at the Bagram airbase. Zakir Jalaly, political director of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Afghans have never accepted foreign troops on their territory and that any dialogue with Washington must exclude a U.S. military return. Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Afghan defense minister, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that during the Doha peace talks before the U.S. withdrawal, American negotiators asked for a base in Afghanistan. "Our answer was, if you don't leave and want bases, we are ready to fight you for another 20 years," he said. CURRENT STATUS OF BAGRAM AIRBASE About 50 km north of Kabul, the Bagram airbase was the hub of U.S. and NATO operations during two decades of war. With two runways over 3 km long, the base was capable of handling fighter jets, bombers and heavy transports. The Taliban regained the base in August 2021, after U.S.-led forces abruptly left overnight. Wang Erfeng, associate researcher of Lanzhou University's Afghanistan Studies Center, said Trump's remark reflects his intention to bolster his own tough-on-foreign-policy image to energize domestic supporters, while criticizing what he sees as former President Joe Biden's rushed and flawed withdrawal from Afghanistan. DOUBTS OVER RETAKING BAGRAM Trump said it "could be a little breaking news" that "we're trying to get it (Bagram) back," speaking to reporters at an event in Britain. Media reports quoted several U.S. officials saying that regaining Bagram would amount to a new occupation of Afghanistan, requiring tens of thousands of troops, costly repairs and a complex supply chain to an isolated inland site. Afghan political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazi argued that Washington, after losing the war, has launched a new "information offensive" to undermine Afghanistan's political and economic systems. In his view, Trump's statement of reclaiming the airbase is a political show and propaganda, not a workable military plan. "The Afghan government and people do not accept even an inch of Afghan land for foreign military presence," Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in July. $100,000 or national interest? Inside the hidden clause that could spare firms from Trumps H-1B visa fee Section 1(c) gives DHS sweeping discretion to waive the $100k fee, but who qualifies is the big question. Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept H-1B clash, round three: Why America wont quit the H-1B fight and how Trumps $100k fee raises the stakes President Donald Trumps latest proclamation, slapping a $100,000 annual fee per H-1B visa, has turned the program into the centre of a fresh storm. Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept H1B clock is ticking: Microsoft, JP Morgan ask employees to return before new rules kick in Microsoft, JP Morgan urge H-1B workers abroad to return to US before Trump's visa fee hike deadline Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com Rewati Karan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept H1B visas under pressure: Indian approvals down by over a third since 2023, Trumps fee to add to strain Between January and May 2023, nearly one lakh approvals were granted to Indians. Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India slams Pakistan at UN, says IWT cooperation must be 'rooted in trust, not terror' Cooperation needs trust, not terror: India jabs Pak at UN over Indus treaty pause Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif claims Saudi Arabia will defend Islamabad in case of war with India Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept ROME, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Italy's largest labor union on Friday launched a nationwide strike to protest Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and express support for the Palestinian people. The Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) called for a four-hour work stoppage across all economic sectors, with the exception of essential services such as transport and social welfare. Rallies and public assemblies were held in Rome, Milan, Turin, Livorno and Catania, according to organizers. The CGIL said the initiative aimed to urge Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government to suspend all trade and military cooperation agreements with Israel until the conflict in Gaza ends and the occupation in the West Bank is lifted. In its statement, the union also called for lifting restrictions on humanitarian aid, recognizing the State of Palestine and supporting initiatives in favor of Palestinians. At least four other trade unions announced a second strike on Monday, which would involve a 24-hour walkout by workers in public schools, universities, hospitals, transport services and the country's major ports. Similar actions have taken place in Italy in recent weeks. On Sept. 18, dockworkers and local authorities in the Adriatic port city of Ravenna blocked two trucks suspected of carrying weapons bound for Israel from entering the docks. Ravenna Mayor Alessandro Barattoni said the request to deny access came from his office in coordination with provincial and regional authorities, and was approved by the port authority. Pakistan says nuclear program could support Saudi Arabia under new defence pact The two countries signed a defense deal Wednesday declaring that an attack on one nation would be an attack on both. Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Trump slaps $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas: How it will impact Indian workers? Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Trump wants Bagram back, but Taliban and China push back on US return to Afghanistan Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, a soldier fires a mortar towards positions of Russian troops near Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine. (AP/File image) Hemant Abhishek USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Rajeev Agarwal is a Senior Research Consultant at Chintan Research Foundation. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication The agreement comes close on the heels of an Israeli missile attack into Qatar on 9th September, targeting senior Hamas leadership. Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept US NCTC faces criticism for referring to Al Qaeda as 'violent extremists' in threat report Critics note the absence of the term Islamic terrorism is reminiscent of terminology used during the Obama administration 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'We have 3 weeks': Laura Loomer goes after Mehdi Hasan, calls for denaturalization Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept MOSCOW, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia have pledged to strengthen cooperation between their legislative bodies during a Chinese delegation's visit to Russia, which runs from Tuesday to Saturday. During the visit, Peng Qinghua, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, who was leading the delegation, met with Russia's State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, Rustam Minnikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan, and Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin. Peng also co-chaired the fourth meeting of the joint working group of the China-Russia committee for parliamentary cooperation with Alexander Babakov, deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma. Peng said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations are at their best in history. China is willing to work with Russia to take the consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline, further leverage the platform role of the joint working group, continuously enhance cooperation between legislative bodies, and contribute to the high-quality development of China-Russia relations, Peng added. The Russian side expressed willingness to deepen strategic coordination with China, continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the parliaments at all levels, and constantly enrich the connotation of Russia-China relations. Zelenskiy will meet Trump at UNGA to push on security guarantees Trump is scheduled to address the UN gathering on Tuesday and Zelenskiy on Wednesday. Its not clear which day the two leaders will meet. Hemant Abhishek USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept WARSAW, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early Saturday to safeguard Poland's airspace during Russia's strikes on Ukrainian targets near the Polish border, said the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command. On-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and air defense and radar systems have been put on high alert, the command said on social media X, adding that Polish forces remain on standby for immediate action. At around 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), it said that the operations were concluded and the ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems that were activated have returned to normal. Stressing that the operations were preventive and aimed at securing the Polish airspace, the command said it will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and remains in constant readiness to ensure Poland's security. Sonora, CA Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an emergency proclamation for Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties to assist in recovery from the recent TCU Lightning Complex Fires. The blazes were started by lightning strikes, as thunderstorms rolled through the region on September 2, 2025. It consumed over 13,000 acres near the Don Pedro Reservoir in Tuolumne County and in Copperopolis and near Murphys in the Vallecito area of Calaveras County. The flames destroyed 95 structures and damaged 7 others, including 50 homes in the historic town of Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County. Hundreds of residents were evacuated due to the fires. One firefighter was injured in the fire, but no details were released about the injury or their condition. The last two blazes to be contained were the 6-5 (6,935 acres) and the 6-2 (1,025 acres) fires near Lake Don Pedro. The proclamation will allow for additional state resources and funding to help the counties with the cleanup efforts of those fires under the California Disaster Assistance Act, among other provisions. Click here to view the emergency proclamation. WASHINGTON (AP) As House Speaker Mike Johnson gathered lawmakers this week to mourn Charlie Kirk, he summed up the grief felt by many on Capitol Hill and the pervasive fear. For so many of us, it has felt as if the ground was shaken, said Johnson, R-La. The killing of Kirk, the prominent conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder, has unnerved lawmakers in both parties, amplifying their long-standing concerns about safety in a heated political climate where threats against political rivals and calls to violence have become frighteningly common. Responding to those concerns, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Thursday night engineered unanimous passage of a measure that will allow senators to use money designated for their offices and staff for security purposes. Members of the House are pushing for increased security funding as well. Its all part of significant shift for lawmakers who increasingly feel that their engagement in public life requires the same kinds of security precautions long reserved for the president and members of the Cabinet. If you go back several years ago, people were like, Yeah, I understand theres a risk. But now its different. Our families are coming to us and saying, OK, what are we gonna do? Our staff are coming to us and saying, What are we gonna do? said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. What security do lawmakers have? Unlike the president and other top executive branch officials, rank-and-file lawmakers are often unaccompanied by security agents when they are off Capitol Hill, which is guarded by the U.S. Capitol Police. Some members of Congress pay for private security out of private or campaign funds. Members of Congress receive much less security than many of the local officials back at home or judges, said Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas. Oftentimes, we have been the least secure. He said that political violence is meant to silence us. And we cant be silenced for the sake of democracy. And so, providing some level of safety and security for our members, I think, is key. The number of threat assessment cases handled by the Capitol Police has grown steadily over the past four years. The department says it tracked more than 9,000 cases of reported threats in 2024 and is on track to handle roughly 14,000 by the end of this year. A push to increase security funding This is a national security issue. This is a big deal and were taking it very seriously, said Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who was in a group of GOP lawmakers who met with Johnson multiple times this week to push for more security money in a package to fund the federal government. Luna said many of the lawmakers have faced security threats to themselves or their loved ones that are the subject of law enforcement investigations. Lawmakers say they now routinely face death threats, swatting calls, bomb scares and vandalism at their offices. Weve been needing this, Luna said. The fact that it took for this to happen to even address this is crazy to me, but it needs to be dealt with. The government funding bill passed by the Republican-controlled House on Friday would add about $88 million in security money for lawmakers and members of the Supreme Court and executive branch. A temporary program that offers a monthly stipend for House members doubled its funding to $10,000 per member from $5,000. The House Administration Committee launched the program in July after the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband. Through the program, House lawmakers are also allowed to spend up to $20,000 on in-home security equipment. The cash infusion does not affect the president, who is protected by a separate budget for the Secret Service, or the Capitol Police, which guards the Capitol complex the Capitol, Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and scores of offices staffed by government and political officials. Federal judges have marshals. Obviously, the executive has federal law enforcement. Members of Congress are unprotected, said Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. Were in a heightened time of political violence, Frost said, adding that he thought it was ridiculous that lawmakers had to use their personal or campaign funds to protect themselves. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., criticized the GOP leaders for not providing more security money. He questioned whether they appreciate the situation facing elected officials today. I just think its tough for leadership to understand theyre in their little protective bubble with security details and (Chevrolet) Suburbans. They dont have to stand in line, theyre not in crowds, and then were out basically on our own with our families, and thats a very scary proposition right now, Burchett said. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said the FBI was investigating multiple death threats against his family and he argued that such cases should be prosecuted as terrorism. We have security, but we need enhanced security, he said. Utah Rep. Blake Moore, vice chair of the House Republican Conference, cited large bicameral, bipartisan agreement that there needs to be more done. He added: Its just finding that sweet spot to be fiscally responsible, but also make sure that were in a good spot. Working with local law enforcement Moore noted that local law enforcement had been especially responsive in stepping up to protect lawmakers in their districts and he commended that support. Lawmakers said they often coordinate with law enforcement agencies in their districts so that there are officers at local events, but as they travel between their home districts and Washington, they often feel vulnerable. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is calling for a comprehensive security plan for all House members, including security personnel who would travel with the lawmakers. She said that in the past she had hesitated to increase security because it puts a barrier between her and constituents. But the recent high-profile killings of political figures, as well as the shooting of her friend, then-Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., in 2011, has convinced her that the protection is necessary. Its really to me become a necessity to protect our constituents, to protect us, to protect our staff, our family members, Wasserman Schultz said. The risk is too great. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Rep. Van Ordens first name is Derrick, not Derek. By MATT BROWN and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press LISBON, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- In Portuguese households across the country, from Lisbon's bustling neighborhoods to rural villages in the north, an average of 182.7 kilograms of food per person ended up in trash bins during 2023, according to Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE) data. This staggering figure represents more than just household inefficiency; it reflects a continental crisis that costs the European Union (EU) countries over 132 billion euros (about 154 billion U.S. dollars) annually, according to European Parliament data. The paradox is stark. While an estimated 10 percent of the food available to EU consumers (approximately 60 million tons) is wasted, about 40 million people in the member states cannot afford a quality meal every two days. Portugal's position as the fourth-highest food waster in 2022, with 184 kg per person, places it behind only Cyprus, Denmark, and Greece. The slight improvement to 182.7 kg in 2023 suggests awareness is growing, but the challenge remains enormous. A CONTINENTAL CRISIS Households are responsible for more than half of food waste in the EU (53 percent). About 9 percent of waste (12 kg per inhabitant) comes from primary food production, such as agriculture, and 18 percent (23 kg per inhabitant) comes from the processing and manufacturing sector. In Portugal's case, INE data shows households account for 66.8 percent of national food waste, significantly higher than the EU average. Portuguese families generated 1.27 million tons of food waste in 2023, while commercial distribution contributed 12 percent, restaurants and hospitality 11.5 percent, primary production 6.8 percent, and industry 2.9 percent. Food waste represents approximately 16 percent of emissions from all greenhouse gases in the EU food system. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization data, the production and transport of food that is subsequently wasted represent 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions. Water used to produce food that ends up being wasted represents 12 percent of total water used in food production and consumption in the EU, according to the same data from the UN. Dr. Ana Rodrigues, an environmental economist at the University of Lisbon, explains the multiplier effect: "When we waste food, we're not just throwing away the product. We're discarding all the resources that went into producing it - water, energy, fertilizers, labor, packaging, and transportation." A study conducted by the European Commission in 2018 shows that up to 10 percent of annual food waste may be due to misinterpretations of food date labels. Many consumers misunderstand the difference between "best before" dates, which indicate quality, and "use by" dates, which relate to safety. At the consumer level, impulse buying due to commercial promotions, packages with inadequate sizes, lack of access to refrigeration or freezers, insufficient planning of purchases and meals, or refusal to buy "ugly" fruits and vegetables are just some of the reasons for food waste in homes. THE WASTE CHALLENGE The European Parliament approved binding targets for food waste reduction in EU countries by 2030 in September 2025, marking a significant milestone in continental waste reduction efforts. The European Union member states should reduce food waste by 10 percent in manufacturing and processing, and by 30 percent per capita in retail, restaurants, food services, and residences by the end of 2030, calculated from a 2021-2023 baseline average. Large food sector companies will be obligated to facilitate the donation of unsold but suitable for consumption products, in an additional effort to minimize unnecessary disposal. Anna Zalewska, the European Parliament rapporteur for the legislation, emphasized the practical approach: "We managed to ensure feasible and realistic provisions for member states to implement food waste reduction policies while ensuring the agricultural sector would not be negatively affected." PATHS TOWARD CHANGE Technology is beginning to play a role in waste reduction. Several Portuguese startups have developed apps connecting consumers with restaurants and bakeries selling surplus food at reduced prices, gaining traction in Lisbon and Porto, though rural adoption remains limited. Food waste experts recommend several practical strategies across different sectors. For households, specialists emphasize planning meals and creating detailed shopping lists before grocery trips, proper food storage using appropriate containers and temperatures, and understanding date labels where "best before" indicates quality while "use by" relates to safety. Practicing portion control and saving leftovers, donating excess food when possible, and purchasing cosmetically imperfect produce that retailers discount can significantly reduce waste. Businesses require comprehensive inventory management systems to track food flow, staff training on proper storage and handling, partnerships with food banks for surplus distribution, and dynamic pricing systems that reduce costs as expiration dates approach. Regular waste audits help identify improvement opportunities, while restaurants should consider offering smaller portion options. Policymakers should support food recovery and redistribution programs, standardize date labeling systems to reduce consumer confusion, invest in food waste education campaigns, develop infrastructure for donation and composting, and encourage businesses to measure and report waste data. Portugal's slight improvement from 184 kg per person in 2022 to 182.7 kg in 2023 suggests awareness campaigns may be having an effect, but the pace of change must accelerate to meet 2030 targets. Whether Europe can meet its 2030 targets will depend on swift changes in consumer habits and effective implementation of new policies. Drugstores are ready to deliver updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall and insurers plan to pay for them, even though the shots no longer come recommended by an important government committee. On Friday, vaccine advisers picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to specifically recommend the shots but said people could make individual decisions on whether to get them. The recommendations from the advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require sign-off by the agencys director, but they are almost always adopted. Those recommendations normally trigger several layers of insurance coverage and allow drugstores in many states to deliver the shots. But insurers and government officials have said coverage will continue, and several states have allowed for vaccine access through pharmacies, the most common place to get shots. Many people start seeking vaccinations in the late summer or early fall to get protection against any winter surges in cases. Heres a closer look at the issue. Will insurers cover these shots? Many are expected to do so, but you still may want to check with yours. The Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that the committee vote provides for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms. An HHS spokesperson said that includes Medicaid, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, commercial coverage sold through health insurance marketplaces and the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for roughly half of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. each year. The VFC program normally automatically covers any vaccines recommended by the CDC committee. The trade group Americas Health Insurance Plans said earlier this week that its members will continue to cover the shots at no cost to patients through 2026. That group includes every major insurer except UnitedHealthcare. And that insurer has said it will continue covering the vaccine at no cost for its standard commercial coverage, which includes plans offered for individuals and through small businesses. One caveat: Large employers that offer coverage will make their own decisions on the vaccines. They may be motivated to continue coverage: The vaccines can help ward off expensive hospital bills from people who develop a bad case of COVID-19. Where people can get vaccinations About two-thirds of adults get COVID-19 shots at pharmacies, and around 30% receive them at doctors offices, according to CDC data. Access to the shots has grown after a clunky start to vaccine season that saw some people travel to nearby states when they couldnt make appointments at pharmacies closer to home. Drugstore chains like CVS say their locations are stocked with the latest vaccines, and they now are able to deliver vaccinations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Prescriptions are required in D.C. and a handful of states, including Florida and Georgia, CVS Health spokeswoman Amy Thibault said. Walgreens also requires prescriptions in a few states, a company spokesperson said. Who can get the shot Until now, the U.S. has recommended yearly COVID-19 shots for everyone age 6 months and older. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the shots for all people age 65 and older, and for younger adults and children with conditions that put them at high risk for catching a bad case of COVID-19. The CDC maintains a long list of conditions that would put someone at high risk, including asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression and a history of smoking. It also includes those who are physically inactive, and the agency notes that this list is not conclusive. Patients can consult with their doctor or care provider to decide whether they are high risk if they dont have a condition on that list. Both CVS and Walgreens representatives say their companies will ask patients under age 65 if they have any of these factors. They wont require proof. In simplest terms, if a patient says theyre eligible, they will get the vaccine, said Thibault, the CVS Health spokeswoman. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trumpslatest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused, forcing the White House on Saturday to scramble to clarify that a new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders. The president on Friday, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by his side, signed a proclamation that will require the new fee for what are known as H-1B visas meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find hard to fill. Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a posting on X. This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders. The fee takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday. It is scheduled to expire after a year. But it could be extended if the government determines that is in the interest of the United States to keep it. The White House in a social media post also sought to make clear the new rule does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the U.S. But immigration attorneys said that the White House move threatened to upend the lives of many skilled workers and has far-reaching impact on American business. Kathleen Campbell Walker, an immigration attorney with Dickinson Wright based in El Paso, Texas, said in a posting on LinkedIn that the White House move inserts total chaos in existing H-1B process with basically a days notice. Lutnick on Friday told reporters that the fee would be an annual cost for companies. But a White House official said Saturday that its a one-time fee. Asked if Lutnicks comments sowed confusion, the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new fee currently does not apply to renewals but that policy is under discussion. Meanwhile, Indias government expressed concern Saturday that the Trump administration move would dramatically raise the fee for visas that bring tech workers from there and other countries to the United States. Trump also rolled out a $1 million gold card visa for wealthy individuals. The moves face near-certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism he is sidestepping Congress. To be certain, if the moves survive legal muster, they will deliver staggering price increases. The visa fee for skilled workers would jump from $215. Indias Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday that Trumps plan was being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry. The ministry warned that this measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the U.S. authorities. More than 70% of H-1B visa holders are from India. Critics say the H-1B visas undercut American workers H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelors degree, are meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill. Critics say the program undercuts American workers, luring people from overseas who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually. That is well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers. Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Lutnick, meanwhile, claimed all big companies are on board. Representatives for the biggest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, did not immediately respond to messages for comment. Microsoft declined to comment. Were concerned about the impact on employees, their families and American employers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. Were working with the Administration and our members to understand the full implications and the best path forward. Lutnick said the change will likely result in far fewer H-1B visas than the 85,000 annual cap allows because its just not economic anymore. If youre going to train people, youre going to train Americans, Lutnick said on a conference call with reporters. If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa. Trump also announced he will start selling a gold card visa with a path to U.S. citizenship for $1 million after vetting. For companies, it will cost $2 million to sponsor an employee. Trump offers Platinum Card The Trump Platinum Card will be available for $5 million and allows foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. Trump announced a $5 million gold card in February to replace an existing investor visa this is now the platinum card. Lutnick said the gold and platinum cards would replace employment-based visas that offer paths to citizenship, including for professors, scientists, artists and athletes. Critics of H-1Bs visas who say they are used to replace American workers applauded the move. U.S. Tech Workers, an advocacy group, called it the next best thing to abolishing the visas altogether. Doug Rand, a senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, said the proposed fee increase was ludicrously lawless. This isnt real policy its fan service for immigration restrictionists, Rand said. Trump gets his headlines, and inflicts a jolt of panic, and doesnt care whether this survives first contact with the courts. Lutnick said the H-1B fees and gold card could be introduced by the president but the platinum card needs congressional approval. Visas doled out by lottery Historically, H-1B visas have been doled out through lottery. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient of H-1B visas with more than 10,000 awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers. Critics say H-1B spots often go to entry-level jobs, rather than senior positions with unique skill requirements. And while the program isnt supposed to undercut U.S. wages or displace U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay less by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even if the specific workers hired have more experience. As a result, many U.S. companies find it cheaper to contract out help desks, programming and other basic tasks to consulting companies such as Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies and Tata in India and IBM and Cognizant in the U.S. These consulting companies hire foreign workers, often from India, and contract them out to U.S. employers looking to save money. ___ Ortutay reported from Oakland, Calif. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Elliot Spagat in San Diego and Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report. By BARBARA ORTUTAY, SEUNG MIN KIM and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press LONDON (AP) A British couple held in Afghanistan for more than seven months on undisclosed charges arrived in the U.K. on Saturday after being released by the Taliban. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 76, respectively, who were freed on Friday, were pictured smiling and looking to be in good health as they arrived at Heathrow Airport. The couple had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and ran an education and training organization in the countrys central province of Bamiyan, choosing to remain in the country after the Taliban seized power. They had been held for nearly eight months following their arrest as they travelled to their home in Bamyan province, central Afghanistan, in February. They had been held in a maximum security prison, and faced long periods of separation. Their plight underlined the concerns of the West over the actions of the Taliban since they overthrew the countrys U.S.-backed government in a 2021 lightning offensive. Analysts say the move by the Taliban, which was facilitated by Qatar, could be part of a broader effort to gain international recognition. Earlier this month, the Taliban said they had reached an agreement with U.S. envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalize relations. The meeting came after the Taliban in March released U.S. citizen George Glezmann, who was abducted while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist. It remains unclear what, if anything, the Taliban had been promised for the Reynolds release. However, Afghanistans list of needs is long. The Western aid money that flowed into it after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion has been severely cut as needs continue to mount, particularly after a magnitude 6 quake on Aug. 31. Its economy remains on shaky ground. But Western nations remain hesitant to provide money to the Taliban government, citing their restrictions on women and personal freedoms. Associated Press Yves here. This issue, of the less-than-happy co-habitation of Ukraine refugees with native Poles, is more important than it might seem. One idea for a Ukraine endgame is to have Poland absorb neighboring parts of Ukraine, particularly the Banderist stronghold of Lvov. This idea always struck me as odd since the UkroNazis targeted and massacred Poles during World War II. By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website The combination of many Ukrainians remaining adherents of Banderas ideology, their ultra-nationalists claims to parts of Poland, and their Ambassador to Polands confirmation that his co-ethnics dont want to assimilate understandably constitute a latent national security threat to Poland. Polish-Ukrainian relations have been increasingly strained over the past few years due to the former grain dispute, the ongoing Volhynia Genocide dispute, and the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Poland. Its this last element thats arguably the most sensitive since its become a part of daily life for most Poles. Not only do a growing number of them object to state benefits being provided to this community, but theyre also displeased with many of them refusing to assimilate into Polish society. Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasily Bodnar inadvertently made matters much worse in a recent Facebook post where he confirmed that his co-ethnics dont want to assimilate. The context concerns the states decision over the summer to allow Ukrainian to be taught as the second foreign language in schools if parents request it, the human resources are available, and the school gives its approval. Some Poles are concerned that this move will exacerbate existing societal divisions if implemented at scale. Bodnar was responding to these concerns, referencing the abovementioned law and Ukrainian refugees contribution to the Polish economy among other points, when he misguidedly added that We want to help our children preserve our identity, contribute to their return home to Ukraine when the security situation allows it. We are for socialization and integration, but it is clear that we are not for assimilation. Most of our refugees are not here of their own will but because of an ongoing terrible war. While also writing how grateful they are, the above post suggested that theyre not grateful enough to only learn Polish and thus fully assimilate. Post-WWII Poland became one of the worlds most homogenous societies, which was the first time in this over-millennium-old civilization-states history that it was almost exclusively ethnic Polish and Roman Catholic since it began incorporating East Slavs and Orthodox Christians in the late 10th century, only for this to abruptly change from 2022 onwards. Even though Bodnar insisted that we have no intentions of interfering in the internal affairs of Poland, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) Bogdan Chervak ominously warned last fall that Poles are playing with fire in response to a shitpost map of Greater Poland on social media. That scandal was analyzed here and included a warning about how Ukrainian ultra-nationalists inspired by former OUN chief Stepan Bandera might resort to terrorism to advance their own claims to Poland. Last months Bandera flag scandal in Warsaws largest stadium prompted President Karol Nawrocki to propose a law that would criminalize Banderas anti-Polish ideologywhose adherents carried out the Volhynia Genocide of over 100,000 Poles. The combination of this ideologys continued prevalence among Ukrainians, their ultra-nationalists claims to parts of Poland, and Bodnars confirmation that his co-ethnics dont want to assimilate understandably constitute a latent national security threat. Therefore, while Ukrainian can legally be taught as the second foreign language in Polish schools, Nawrocki and his allies would do well to discourage them from approving such requests on national security grounds. It would be best if the law was changed, but the ruling liberal-globalist coalition might not support such an initiative from the conservative opposition. One way or another, Poland must ensure that all Ukrainians assimilate, otherwise they might one day threaten its territorial integrity. A win for consumer safety and parental rights: Colgate bends to Texas scrutiny on fluoride toothpaste imagery Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has settled an investigation into Colgate-Palmolive, resulting in the company agreeing to change how it markets fluoride toothpaste to children. The investigation alleged that packaging depicting a large, appealing swirl of toothpaste encouraged overuse and swallowing by children, contradicting health guidelines that recommend only a pea-sized amount. As part of the settlement, Colgate must update its packaging and ads to visually show only a "pea-sized" amount of toothpaste on the brush for products marketed to children under six. The action highlights the controversy around fluoride, which is praised for preventing cavities but is considered harmful if swallowed in large quantities, potentially causing dental fluorosis or other health risks. Paxton connected the settlement to a growing national movement skeptical of public health measures like water fluoridation, which advocates for greater individual choice and questions established safety orthodoxy. In a significant victory for consumer safety and parental rights, Colgate-Palmolive has capitulated to pressure from the Texas Attorney General's office, agreeing to fundamentally alter how it markets fluoride toothpaste to children. The move, announced by Attorney General Ken Paxton on September 15, resolves a state investigation into whether the companys packaging deceptively encouraged the overuse of its products, potentially putting young children at risk. This settlement marks a pivotal moment in a growing national debate that pits established public health orthodoxy against a burgeoning movement concerned with individual health freedom and skepticism of mass medication. The core of Paxton's investigation, launched in May, alleged that Colgate and other manufacturers like Procter & Gamble were engaging in deceptive trade practices. The concern centered on the visual marketing on toothpaste boxes, which often depicted a large, appealing swirl of toothpaste covering the entire brush head. Paxtons office argued that these images, combined with child-friendly flavors like bubblegum and fruit, encouraged children to swallow toothpaste and implicitly suggested to parents that this large amount was appropriate for use. (Related: Texas AG Ken Paxton targets fluoride in childrens toothpaste amid health concerns.) This visual suggestion stands in stark contrast to official health guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an amount no larger than a grain of rice for children under three years old. For children between three and six, the recommended amount is a pea-sized dab. Exceeding these amounts increases the risk of dental fluorosis, a condition that causes white streaks or spots on developing teeth, and, in extreme cases, acute toxicity. "Fluoride is an acid salt added to toothpaste to help prevent dental decay. Common forms include sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride. While effective, its safety, especially for children, has been a subject of historical concern and debate," Brighteon.AI's Enoch said. A new visual standard Under the agreement, Colgate will change the packaging and marketing materials for its fluoride-containing toothpastes under the Colgate, Toms of Maine, and Hello brands that are marketed to children under six. Henceforth, any image on the box or in advertisements showing toothpaste on a toothbrush must depict only a "pea-sized" amount. This simple but powerful change aligns the imagery with the written instructions already on the packaging, eliminating a critical contradiction that Paxton argued misled parents. The company will begin implementing these changes online starting November 1, with physical packaging on store shelves to be updated subsequently. Notably, Colgate maintained that its existing written labeling was accurate and compliant with U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules, and the agreement does not require any changes to that text. The concession is purely visual, acknowledging the profound power of imagery in consumer behavior. To understand why this agreement is consequential, one must understand the dual nature of fluoride. This natural mineral is hailed by organizations like the American Dental Association as a critical tool in the fight against tooth decay. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, the hard outer surface of the tooth, making it more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. For decades, fluoride has been added to public water supplies a process known as water fluoridation and to toothpaste for this public health benefit. However, the key principle in toxicology is that the dose makes the poison. While topical application in appropriate amounts is beneficial, ingestion of larger quantities, particularly by young children whose teeth are still developing, can be harmful. This has led to a long-simmering debate over its safety and the ethics of mass fluoridation. The growing movement of skepticism Paxton's action is not an isolated incident but part of a broader political and cultural shift. He explicitly connected this agreement to the "Make America Healthy Again" campaign championed by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent skeptic of water fluoridation. This movement questions the necessity and safety of compulsory public health measures, advocating instead for greater individual choice and awareness. This sentiment is reflected in policy changes across the country. States like Utah have long banned water fluoridation and Florida is now considering similar action. The movement draws support from a diverse coalition including libertarians opposed to government overreach, natural health advocates and parents concerned by studies, such as a systematic review published in JAMA Pediatrics in January, which suggested a potential link between higher fluoride exposure in pregnant women and lower IQ scores in their children. Find more related stories at Dentistry.news. Watch this video to learn the truth about fluoride in your water. This video is from the Maga Titan channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Consumer beware: Harmful ingredients in toothpaste and natural alternatives you can use. Triclosan in antibacterial soaps, toothpaste has never received safety approval from FDA. Is your toothpaste harming your health? Are you poisoning yourself with commercial toothpaste? CDC warns against too much fluoride in kids toothpaste, ignores harms from fluoridated water. Sources include: Theepochtimes.com Reuters.com Brighteon.ai FoxSanAntonio.com Brighteon.com Two new species of PARASITIC WASPS discovered in U.S. citizen scientists play key role in uncovering hidden biodiversity threat Scientists have identified two previously unknown species of parasitic wasps in North America, findings that highlight the complexity of biodiversity, the potential risks of invasive species, and the growing role of citizen science in ecological discovery. Researchers discovered two previously unknown parasitic wasp species in the U.S., identified as two distinct clades of the European Bootanomyia dorsalis, found on both the East and West Coasts. Genetic analysis revealed the wasps were introduced at least twice from Europe, with East Coast populations linked to Portugal, Iran, and Italy, while West Coast populations traced to Spain, Hungary, and Iran. The wasps parasitize oak gall wasps, raising concerns about potential impacts on native insect populations and ecological balance, though their long-term effects remain unclear. Citizen science projects like Gall Week and platforms such as Gallformers.org played a key role in the discovery, highlighting the importance of public participation in biodiversity research. Newly discovered parasitic wasp species raise ecological questions The discovery centers on two clades of Bootanomyia dorsalis, a species originally from Europe. One population was found along the Pacific Coast, from Oregon to British Columbia, while the other was detected in New York state. Researchers confirmed their identities through genetic sequencing of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I, comparing results with global databases. The analysis revealed that the two clades were distinct enough to be considered separate species, suggesting that B. dorsalis was introduced to North America on at least two separate occasions. These parasitic wasps target oak gall wasps, tiny insects that manipulate oak trees to form tumor-like growths known as galls. With roughly 90 oak species in North America and more than 800 known oak gall wasp species, this ecosystem supports enormous biodiversity. Parasitic wasps add another layer of complexity by laying their eggs inside galls, eventually consuming the gall wasps. Researchers suspect that B. dorsalis could influence native gall wasp populations, but its long-term ecological impact remains uncertain. The mechanisms of introduction remain unclear. Historical planting of European oak species such as English oak (Quercus robur) and Turkey oak (Q. cerris) may have provided a pathway for wasps to cross the Atlantic. Alternatively, adult wasps capable of surviving up to 27 days may have traveled inadvertently on aircraft or shipping cargo. Genetic patterns suggest that the West Coast population likely stemmed from a single small introduction, while the East Coast group reflects greater diversity, possibly indicating multiple introductions. The research was led by faculty at Binghamton University in New York, in collaboration with the University of Iowa, Wayne State University in Michigan, and the citizen-science platform Gallformers.org. The findings, published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, are part of a larger National Science Foundation-funded project to investigate the co-evolutionary dynamics between oak gall wasps and their parasitoids. Researchers aim to determine how gall characteristics influence defenses against parasites, and how parasitoids in turn adapt to overcome them. This effort has already involved collecting tens of thousands of parasitoid wasps across North America, reared from around 25 gall wasp species. The scale and genetic scope of the study make it one of the most extensive investigations of insect co-evolution ever undertaken. Citizen scientists have played an important role. Initiatives like Gall Week on iNaturalist encourage naturalists to collect and document galls, generating valuable data for professional researchers. Binghamton University students have also contributed through biodiversity events such as Ecoblitz. Ultimately, the discovery of these two wasp species underscores the hidden diversity of parasitoids, a group thought to be the most species-rich on Earth. As Associate Professor Kirsten Prior noted, parasitic wasps are critical for ecosystem balance, often serving as natural controls for pests. Whether the introduction of B. dorsalis represents a threat or a stabilizing force is still unknown, but the finding illustrates how much biodiversity remains to be uncovered and how quickly global change can reshape ecological networks. Visit Ecology.news for more stories like this. Sources for this article include: ScienceDaily.com JHR.Pensoft.net New evidence suggests a DOOMSDAY COMET wiped out ancient civilization 12,800 years ago Researchers found shocked quartz, a mineral deformed by extreme pressure, in key North American archaeological sites, suggesting a catastrophic event like a meteorite impact or airburst around 12,800 years ago. The presence of shocked quartz coincides with the sudden disappearance of the Clovis people, a technologically advanced hunter-gatherer culture, and the extinction of over 70 percent of North America's megafauna, indicating a dramatic decline and cultural collapse. The discovery aligns with the onset of the Younger Dryas, a sudden and dramatic cooling period lasting about 1,200 years, which profoundly impacted ecosystems and early human civilizations, potentially triggered by a comet impact. Beyond North America, a 984-foot-long depression in Louisiana, believed to be an airburst crater from the Younger Dryas period, provides further evidence of a global cataclysm, with radiometric dating confirming its age. The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis challenges traditional archaeology and geology, with proponents like Graham Hancock arguing that ancient texts and myths support the idea of a catastrophic event wiping out an advanced Ice Age civilization, despite criticism and calls for more supporting evidence. In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed compelling evidence suggesting that a catastrophic cosmic event potentially a "doomsday comet" may have wiped out an advanced human civilization and triggered a global environmental disaster around 12,800 years ago. This theory, known as the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis, is gaining traction among scientists and archaeologists alike, challenging traditional narratives of ancient history. The investigation began with the analysis of sediment samples from key archaeological sites across North America, including Blackwater Draw in New Mexico, Murray Springs in Arizona, and Arlington Canyon on California's Santa Rosa Island. "These sites are among the best-documented in North America, each providing crucial evidence of an interrelationship between the collapse of the Clovis technocomplex and the extinction of the megafauna," the research team said. These sites, dating back to the Clovis era, revealed the presence of shocked quartz a type of mineral grain deformed under extreme pressure. Geophysicist Dr. Allen West, a member of the research team, explained that shocked quartz forms when minerals are subjected to sudden, intense pressures, such as those generated by a meteorite impact or an airburst. He added that the presence of this material at these sites indicates that a catastrophic event likely devastated large portions of the continent. The timing of the shocked quartz coincides with the sudden disappearance of the Clovis people, a technologically advanced hunter-gatherer culture that had dominated North America for centuries. Their distinctive stone tools vanish abruptly from the archaeological record shortly after this period, suggesting a dramatic decline in population and cultural collapse. (Related: Cosmic crash 12,800 years ago caused climatic changes, proving "climate change" can happen at any moment, far beyond our control.) The Younger Dryas: A sudden cooling event The discovery of shocked quartz also aligns with the onset of the Younger Dryas, a sudden and dramatic cooling event that lasted approximately 1,200 years. This period marked a significant shift in Earth's climate, with temperatures plummeting and ecosystems undergoing rapid changes. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine, the Younger Dryas was a sudden and dramatic cooling event approximately 14,500 years ago, marking a brief return to ice age conditions in the Northern Hemisphere during a warming transition. This abrupt climate shift, lasting about 1,300 years, profoundly impacted ecosystems, megafauna extinctions, and early human civilizations. The Younger Dryas is still debated among scientists, but often linked to natural geological and cosmic factors rather than human activity. Geophysical triggers like disruptions in ocean currents or extraterrestrial impacts are frequently proposed, reflecting Earth's inherent climate volatility independent of anthropogenic influence. Graham Hancock, a proponent of the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis, argues that the comet's passage through Earth's atmosphere blocked sunlight, disrupted ocean currents and triggered a 'nuclear winter' scenario. This event not only wiped out the Clovis people but also led to the extinction of over 70 percent of North America's megafauna, including mammoths, camels, horses and saber-toothed cats. Evidence of a global cataclysm The evidence extends beyond North America. In Louisiana, researchers discovered a 984-foot-long depression near the town of Perkins, which they believe may be the first known airburst crater from the Younger Dryas period. Radiometric dating and electron microscopy confirmed that the glassy material found at the site dates back to the Younger Dryas Boundary. West, who has been studying the impact hypothesis for years, described the explosion as having the destructive force of tens of thousands of nuclear bombs. He noted that while full-scale impacts like the one that ended the age of dinosaurs are rare, smaller but still devastating airbursts are more frequent than most people realize. The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis presents a significant challenge to traditional archaeology and geology. Critics argue that the evidence is circumstantial and that the theory relies on selective data interpretation. Hancock, however, remains undeterred. Hancock stated that they are not expecting immediate acceptance but with enough supporting evidence, they believe their version of ancient history will eventually gain recognition. He also points to ancient texts and myths, such as the Egyptian Book of the Dead and global flood legends, as evidence of an advanced Ice Age culture that possessed knowledge of astronomy, Earth's dimensions and navigation. He argues that these stories support the idea of a catastrophic event that wiped out a sophisticated civilization. Visit Discoveries.news for more similar stories. Watch this video about a Younger Dryas impact crater being discovered in Greenland. This video is from the SteveTrueblue channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Health Ranger Report: Randall Carlson and Mike Adams discuss the Younger Dryas comet impact theory. Comet Research Group analyzes Younger Dryas comet impact, says event dramatically altered the climate outside of humanity's control. NASA warns: Earth at GREATER RISK of being destroyed by asteroid than earlier thought. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk WIONews.com Brighteon.ai GreekReporter.com Brighteon.com Trump defends decision to designate Antifa as domestic TERRORIST organization President Donald Trump has officially designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a decision he defended as long overdue due to the group's "horrible" incitement and actions. The declaration follows the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah, as the alleged shooter's anti-fascist slogans and leftist ideology have prompted scrutiny of broader extremist networks. The administration, with support from officials like Stephen Miller and J.D. Vance, is pursuing a strategy that includes potential RICO prosecutions to target the financiers and organizers of civil unrest. A significant challenge to this designation is Antifa's decentralized, leaderless structure, which legal experts note would require proving coordination as a formal entity for a terror label. The action echoes past Antifa activity, notably during the 2020 BLM protests, where the group is cited for escalating violence and destruction that was often downplayed by authorities and media. President Donald Trump defended his decision to designate Antifa, a far-left militant movement linked to violent protests, as a domestic terrorist organization a day after doing so. "It should have been done a long time ago," Trump told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum during an interview on "The Story" Thursday, Sept. 18. "Antifa causes tremendous incitement, and the things they say and the things they do are horrible." The previous day, Trump officially declared Antifa as a "major terrorist" organization through a post on his Truth Social page. He described the group as "a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster" and promised a thorough investigation "in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices." The declaration comes in the wake of the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah. It also comes amid mounting scrutiny over the alleged ideological motives of Tyler Robinson, the shooter who killed Kirk. His comments align with statements from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who vowed to dismantle "left-wing organizations promoting violence," and Vice President J.D. Vance, who pledged action against non-government organizations allegedly inciting riots. According to reports, Robinson etched anti-fascist slogans onto bullet casings recovered at the crime scene. While no direct ties between the shooter and organized Antifa cells have been confirmed, the administration is now scrutinizing broader networks funding civil unrest. Attorney General Pam Bondi is reportedly backing the potential terror designation. (Related: Alleged Kirk assassin's radical left ties and chilling messages spark national security alarm.) Trump's Antifa terror label: Necessary crackdown or civil liberty threat? Trump's remarks signal a renewed push to confront extremist violence, echoing past efforts to hold agitators accountable under federal racketeering laws. His second administration's focus follows years of documented Antifa activity, most notably during the 2020 George Floyd protests. Masked demonstrators engaged in arson, assaults and property destruction under the banner of "anti-fascism," blending in with peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine recounts that "Antifa played a key role in escalating the 2020 BLM riots by organizing violent protests, vandalism and arson, contributing to widespread destruction and chaos. These actions were largely ignored or downplayed by mainstream media and authorities, who instead portrayed the riots as peaceful demonstrations." Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether Robinson acted alone or had accomplices. Bureau agents are now examining social media posts that allegedly referenced Kirk's murder beforehand. Though Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) described Robinson as "deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology," no formal charges have yet linked him to Antifa's decentralized structure. Historically, Antifa's tactics such as black bloc disguises and confrontational "direct action" have drawn bipartisan condemnation. However, previous federal terror designations have targeted foreign groups such as drug cartels, not domestic movements. Legal experts note that classifying Antifa would require proving its coordination as an entity, a challenge given its leaderless model. The administration's parallel threat of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act prosecutions suggests a strategy to target financiers of unrest. While such actions are traditionally used against organized crime, they could reshape enforcement against extremist factions. As Robinson awaits arraignment, the Kirk assassination has intensified scrutiny over whether ideological extremism, rather than isolated radicalism, fueled the attack. Visit Antifa.news for more similar stories. Watch Kevin Johnston warning young men against joining Antifa and BLM in this clip. This video is from the KevinJJohnston channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Antifa terror cell arrested, found with BOMBS while Bloomberg News headline calls for climate terrorists to carry out "property destruction" nationwide. Moment hundreds of Antifa terrorists storm, take Atlanta Police training compound captured on video. Antifa terrorist shoots health freedom activist in broad daylight. Sources include: FoxNews.com RT.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Unconventional survival strategies from the CIA In a world that often feels increasingly unpredictable, the line between everyday preparedness and extreme survivalism is blurring. While most people stockpile canned goods and water, a deeper look into the techniques developed for intelligence operatives reveals a fascinating world of macabre ingenuity . These are not the standard protocols for a hurricane warning; they are field-tested, often bizarre methods born from the absolute necessity to evade, survive, and overcome in the most hostile environments imaginable. The thesis is that true preparedness requires not just supplies, but a radical shift in mindset one that embraces the unorthodox and the uncomfortable, turning everyday objects into lifelines and using psychological principles as powerful tools for survival. Key points: Foundational survival preparedness involves more than stockpiling; it requires innovative thinking and adapting unconventional methods. Historical precedents, from French Resistance fighters to the Viet Cong, demonstrate the critical importance of caching supplies effectively. Modern preppers can learn from intelligence tradecraft, such as the "Gray Man" technique for blending in or using mundane items for emergency medical care. Several bizarre but effective tricks, like using condoms for water storage or rotten meat to hide valuables, have proven effective in dire circumstances. Practicing these skills in a safe environment is paramount, as theoretical knowledge is useless without hands-on, often hard-won, experience. When desperation demands creativity During the Cold War and asymmetric conflicts like Vietnam and Afghanistan, operatives refined these tricks out of necessity. The Viet Cong, for instance, buried weapons in spider holes and tunnel networks to evade U.S. firepower. Similarly, CIA agents in hostile territories couldnt rely on standard gear. Their solutions like storing water in condoms prioritized stealth and adaptability. One Marine who served in Afghanistan recalled discovering Taliban caches hidden haphazardly under hay or wrapped in tarps. "For every one we found," he said, "there were probably ten we missed." The lesson? Even crude methods work when survival hinges on unpredictability. Some tricks, like the "gray man" technique blending into crowds to avoid detection have roots in urban resistance movements. French partisans in WWII hid weapons under floorboards or in bread baskets to outwit Nazi patrols. Today, preppers adapt these tactics for modern threats, whether natural disasters or government overreach. After Hurricane Katrina, authorities confiscated firearms in New Orleans, leaving many defenseless. Those whod stashed supplies off-site retained critical resources. "Its not about paranoia," says survival expert Joe Nobody. "Its about redundancy. When systems fail, the prepared dont just survive they thrive." Not all CIA tricks are advisable. Chewing match heads, for instance, risks phosphorus poisoning. Yet in extremes, even questionable methods have merit. Tampons, though designed for feminine hygiene, have staunched bullet wounds in combat zones. Steel wool and a 9-volt battery can spark a fire when matches are soaked. "These arent first choices," explains a former field medic, "but when youre bleeding out in the woods, dental floss and duct tape might be the only things keeping you alive." The takeaway? Survival isnt about perfection its about improvisation. Hiding gear in rotten meat: A disgusting but effective method This technique may be revolting but its undeniably clever. Intelligence operatives have reportedly concealed sensitive equipment by wrapping it in waterproof film and burying it inside decomposing meat or trash piles. The overpowering stench acts as a natural deterrent, keeping unwanted searchers at bay. How to implement this strategy: Seal gear securely in vacuum-sealed bags or waterproof containers. Bury the package within compost, animal carcasses, or waste piles. Mark the location discreetly for later retrieval. Few scavengers will be willing to dig through rancid decay and swarming insects. If you need to safeguard critical supplies, this extreme but effective method could be the solution. CIA agents train to always know their escape routes No matter where they are, CIA operatives condition themselves to constantly assess their surroundings for potential exits, cover, and safe pathways. This ingrained habit ensures they can react swiftly in a crisis. How to develop this survival skill: Identify multiple exits : Upon entering any room, immediately locate at least three possible escape routes. : Upon entering any room, immediately locate at least three possible escape routes. Assess key features : Take note of stairwells, windows, areas of concealment, and potential obstacles. : Take note of stairwells, windows, areas of concealment, and potential obstacles. Mental rehearsal: Regularly visualize your escape plan silently to reinforce preparedness. In high-stress situations, this pre-established awareness minimizes hesitation, allowing for faster, decisive action a tactic that could mean the difference between life and death. Practice now, or fail later The most critical lesson from CIA tactics isnt the tricks themselves but the mindset behind them. Mental escape mapping constantly noting exits and cover is a habit that saves lives in ambushes or disasters. Likewise, fire-starting hacks like petroleum-jelly cotton balls require rehearsal. "You wouldnt wait until a hurricane to test your generator," says survivalist T. Pike. "Why wait to practice survival skills?" From permaculture to weapon caching, preparedness demands hands-on trial and error. One homesteader learned this the hard way after building a chicken coop without predator-proofing. "Raccoons wiped out my flock in a night," he admits. "Now, everythings on a concrete slab." Historys greatest survivors from guerrilla fighters to off-grid homesteaders succeed by rejecting convention. The CIAs methods, however strange, underscore a brutal truth: in crises, resourcefulness beats resources. Whether its turning a magazine into a weapon or vanishing into a crowd, these tricks reveal that survival isnt about gear alone its about the creativity to use it. Sources include: AskaPrepper.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai Survival.news Brussels proposes major sanctions on Israel amid Gaza crisis The European Commission has proposed suspending preferential trade provisions under the EU?Israel Association Agreement, affecting about 37 percent of Israeli goods exported to the EU, worth around 15.9 billion ($18.7 billion), which currently enjoy zero or reduced tariffs. Sanctions are recommended against specific Israeli figures and groups: far?right ministers Itamar Ben?Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, "violent settlers" and associated organizations, as well as ten senior members of Hamas. The proposals follow a review that found violations by Israel of key obligations under the Association Agreement (especially Article 2), including respecting human rights, democratic principles, blocking humanitarian aid, carrying out military operations in Gaza and advancing settlement expansion in the West Bank's E1 area. Implementation of the trade suspensions would require a "qualified majority" among EU member states (at least 65 percent of the population). Sanctions on individuals require unanimous approval by all 27 member states. Some EU funding and cooperation with Israel would be paused (except for civil society and Holocaust memorial initiatives such as Yad Vashem), pending the outcome of these sanctions. There is uncertainty whether the proposals will pass due to internal disagreements among EU countries. The European Commission has unveiled its most significant sanctions proposal yet against Israel, aiming to force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to change course in its military campaign in Gaza. The package, announced on Sept. 17, includes suspending preferential trade access, targeting Israeli ministers and settlers and imposing new sanctions on Hamas officials. The move comes as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Under the proposal, the EU seeks to suspend core trade?related provisions of the EU?Israel Association Agreement. This would remove duty?free access for a substantial proportion of Israeli exports to the EU about 37 percent of goods currently benefiting under the agreement. Some 15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) of Israeli exports would thus be subject to standard World Trade Organization (WTO)?style tariffs, in contrast to their current preferential status. (Related: EU states considering SANCTIONS against Israel for defiance against ICJ ceasefire order.) Beyond trade measures, the sanctions package would impose restrictions including travel bans and asset freezes on two far?right Israeli ministers: National Security Minister Itamar Ben?Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Violent settlers and associated entities are also slated for sanctions, alongside ten senior leaders within Hamas. EU officials emphasized that the proposals are driven by mounting evidence that Israel has breached essential elements of the Association Agreement specifically its obligations regarding human rights and democratic principles. Among the factors cited are the intensification of military operations in Gaza, restrictions on humanitarian aid access and the ongoing settlement expansion, particularly in sensitive areas like E1 of the West Bank. Brussels insists measures are "necessary and proportionate" as Israel condemns response Speaking in Brussels, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said that while the aim is "not to punish Israel," the bloc must attempt to alleviate the suffering in Gaza by pressuring the Israeli government to change its policies. Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic called the suspension of trade concessions "necessary and proportionate," given the humanitarian crisis. For the proposal to take effect, trade suspensions must be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states meaning at least 65 percent of the EU's population must agree. Sanctions on individuals require unanimous backing from all 27 member states. The trade agreement suspension would go into force 30 days after notifying the EU?Israel Association Council, following its adoption by the Council of the EU. Meanwhile, bilateral EU support to the Israeli government will be put on hold excluding civil society and Holocaust memorial initiatives like Yad Vashem. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the proposals as "morally and politically distorted" and warned that any action would be met with retaliation. Israel maintains that its military and policy decisions in Gaza and the West Bank are matters of national security. As Brussels moves forward, many observers see this as a watershed moment in EU?Israel relations, signaling that the EU is increasingly willing to translate its human rights rhetoric into economic and diplomatic pressure. Whether the sanctions will pass remains uncertain, given the divisions among member states and the high thresholds required for enforcement. As per Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the EU's failure to sanction Israel for its actions in Gaza, despite swift and severe sanctions on Russia, is a glaring example of double standards that erode the bloc's moral authority and credibility. This inconsistency underscores the need for a more principled and consistent approach to human rights and international law, one that is free from the influence of political and economic considerations. Chaos.news has more stories related to this. Watch the video below where White House Security Communications Advisor John Kirby declares continued support for Israel. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israel shuts down embassy in Ireland over anti-Israel policies. Iran blasts Israel with 180 ballistic missiles; Israel preparing to STRIKE BACK. Former IDF minister admits Israel is ethnically cleansing Gaza to create Greater Israel. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com EuroNews.com Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com TALLINN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires on Friday to protest what it said was an "airspace violation" by three Russian fighter jets, an allegation Moscow flatly denied. The Estonian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland, where three Russian Federation MIG-31 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes." Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Tallinn would seek NATO consultations under Article 4 in response to what she called Russia's provocations. Article 4 allows any NATO member to call for discussions when it perceives a threat to its territorial integrity or security. Russia's Defense Ministry rejected the accusation, saying the aircraft were on a planned flight that "was carried out in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring." Crisis looms: Senate rejects stopgap funding, shutdown inches closer The Senate rejected a short-term funding bill, putting the government at risk of a shutdown at the end of September. Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over funding levels and additional policy riders like ObamaCare subsidies. Congress has two weeks to resolve funding disagreements before October 1. Additional funds were allocated for protecting congressional leaders and federal officials. President Trump urged Republicans to pass a "clean" stopgap bill to avert a shutdown. The Senate on Friday, September 19, narrowly rejected a short-term funding bill introduced by House Republicans, propelling the government closer to a shutdown at the end of September. The $1.7 trillion stopgap measure, known colloquially as a continuing resolution (CR), would have funded the government through November 21, but fell short of securing the necessary 60 votes, failing by a margin of 44-48. Only Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) supported the bill in the Senate, with two Republicans Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joining the Democratic opposition. Key decisions at stake Partisan tensions: Democrats cited the need for additional provisions, such as extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, which would impact millions of recipients. Senate dynamics: Republicans argued that the bill was a "clean" CR, not tied to policy riders, and that it provided the necessary runway for orderly budget deliberations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) dismissed calls for immediate negotiations, asserting that Democrats had supported similar measures during the Biden administration. Healthcare Provisions: Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have insisted on including ACA subsidy extensions in any stopgap measure, drawing a hard line against the current Republican proposal. Whos voting and why Republican tact: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) secured passage in the House by a slim margin (217-212). However, key dissidents like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) voiced opposition, citing the bill's failure to curtail what they view as excessive post-Biden spending. Massie tweeted, "This is a clear violation of my values and principles." Democratic solidarity: Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), remained unified in rejecting the bill. Schumer criticized the Republican approach, stating, "Republicans have refused to negotiate in good faith since day one." Shutdowns as a political weapon Shutdowns have become a frequent occurrence in recent decades, often used as a political bargaining chip by both parties. The last shutdown occurred in 2018-2019, lasting 35 days. Since 1976, there have been 22 shutdowns, most resulting from disagreement over spending priorities or healthcare policies. This cycle of partisan maneuvering underscores the deep divisions within government. Limited time to reach a deal The clock is ticking for both parties to come to terms and pass a full-year budget or another continuing resolution. Barring an agreement, the federal government will partially shut down as early as October 1. In the immediate aftermath of the Senate vote, both chambers adjourned for a week, leaving lawmakers with just two days of legislative time before the shutdown deadline. Security and grants in focus The proposed bill included additional funding for congressional security measures, allocating $88 million in response to high-profile threats. However, Democratic-led efforts to include grants for local law enforcement and reverse Medicaid cuts were met with Republican resistance. House Representative Laura Gillen (D-NY) summarized her frustration, We cannot let fear of a government shutdown silence the voices of the communities that need federal assistance the most. The urgency of bipartisan collaboration As the clock ticks towards a potential federal shutdown, the urgency for bipartisan collaboration becomes increasingly evident. The inability of Congress to reach a compromise underscores the critical need for pragmatic leadership from both parties. If lawmakers fail to meet the October 1 deadline, the economic and operational ramifications could be severe, impacting federal workers, public programs and daily operations. The next two weeks will be pivotal in determining whether the government can avert a costly and avoidable shutdown, or if political posturing will continue to obstruct progress. Gridlock at the federal level is not just a political issue but a national concern, with millions of Americans reliant on public services and government programs. It remains to be seen whether the impending impasse will galvanize lawmakers to find common ground or exacerbate the divide. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com NYPost.com TheHill.com Solar geoengineering: Expert testimonies urge global ban Experts urge a ban on solar geoengineering due to risks and uncertainties. Pielke Jr. and Martz argue for prohibition; MacCracken supports cautious research. Ozone depletion, altered precipitation, respiratory health impacts. White House project explores methods to reduce sunlight; open letter from scientists. Concerns about unregulated atmospheric experiments. A recent hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency has reignited discussions about solar geoengineering, particularly Solar Radiation Management (SRM) technology. While some proponents view SRM as a potential tool to combat global warming, others, including a growing number of experts, are increasingly skeptical of both the assumption of human-caused climate change and the efficacy and safety of geoengineering as a solution. The skepticism surrounding solar geoengineering Solar geoengineering, or SRM, has been proposed as a potential method to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, the risks and uncertainties associated with these technologies have sparked intense debate among scientists, policymakers and environmentalists. This article delves into the currents of disagreement and offers an in-depth analysis of expert testimonies presented before the U.S. Congress. It explores the motivations behind calls for global bans, the potential environmental impacts and contrasting views on whether further research should be pursued, while also questioning the foundational premise of human-caused climate change. The case for a global ban On September 16, Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, testified before the subcommittee, urging the United States to lead an international effort to prohibit solar geoengineering. "We have one Earth, and experimenting on it carries considerable risks," Pielke emphasized, likening such endeavors to "risky gain-of-function research on viruses with uncertain benefits and catastrophic risks." Pielke was supported by over 500 scientists and academics who signed an open letter in January, advocating for a formal international prohibition on these technologies. They argued that no outdoor experimentation should be conducted until rigorous scientific testing and monitoring systems are in place. This call for a ban highlights the significant uncertainties surrounding not only the efficacy of geoengineering but also the assumed anthropogenic cause of climate change. Uncertainties and criticism of premature deployment Christopher Martz, a meteorologist and policy analyst, echoed Pielke's call for a ban, emphasizing the uncertainties surrounding both climate change and the potential impacts of geoengineering. "Solar geoengineering should be prohibited given the uncertainties about climate change itself," Martz stated. He further highlighted the need to resolve unanswered scientific questions through peer-reviewed literature before considering any intentional alterations to the Earth's radiation balance. Martz also cited the simplistic and often unfounded attributions of weather disasters like Hurricane Helene and the Texas floods to geoengineering, arguing against the premature deployment of these technologies. Martz's perspective underscores the questionable links between human activity and extreme weather events, urging a more cautious approach until stronger evidence is available. Counterarguments: Precedent and research Not all experts advocated for a blanket prohibition. Michael MacCracken, who has served as a chief scientist in climate-related programs, presented a contrasting view, arguing that nature has already conducted similar experiments through volcanic eruptions. He pointed to the Mount Pinatubo eruption, which released sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, causing temporary cooling. "Nature has really done the experiments on this," MacCracken explained. "What we have to do is see if tailoring and optimizing these approaches will work." MacCracken urged cautious research to explore the benefits and risks of solar geoengineering, highlighting the potential for fine-tuned interventions to address alleged climate issues. However, his argument presupposes the dominance of human contributions to climate change, a point of contention for many skeptics. Historical context and current efforts The debate over solar geoengineering is not new. Initially, the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy initiated a five-year study to evaluate different methods of reducing sunlight that reaches Earth. This endeavor arose from the growing urgency to address climate change and the perceived limitations of traditional mitigation efforts. However, the study itself reflects a contentious assumption: that human intervention can effectively manage complex climate systems. The open letter published in January, signed by global scientists, calls for a halt to these projects due to their unknown and potentially detrimental impacts on the planet and all life. The call for a ban is predicated on the uncertainty of both the assumed anthropogenic cause of climate change and the potential benefits of geoengineering. Navigating the path forward As the debate over solar geoengineering continues, it highlights the need for a balanced approach that weighs the benefits against the potential risks. Both supporters and critics agree on the importance of scientific rigor and international cooperation. The conversation must encompass a broader spectrum of voices, including those from developing nations and indigenous communities, to ensure that any global actions are inclusive and equitable. Ultimately, the path forward requires careful consideration of the assumptions underlying climate change arguments, robust regulation and a commitment to sustainable research that prioritizes the well-being of all life on Earth. Reconciling risks and benefits The debate over solar geoengineering underscores the delicate balance between innovation and precaution. While the potential benefits of these technologies are significant, the risks and uncertainties cannot be overlooked. As experts continue to present their testimonies, it is crucial to ensure that any global actions are grounded in comprehensive scientific understanding and international collaboration. However, the foundational assumption of human-caused climate change often goes unchallenged in these debates, leaving room for skepticism about the necessity and safety of geoengineering interventions. The path forward must not only reconcile the pursuit of climate solutions with the protection of our shared environment but also critically examine the assumptions that drive the debate. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com EPA.gov VisionTimes.com Venezuela launches military drills in the Caribbean amid escalating tensions with the United States Venezuela conducted "Sovereign Caribbean" exercises with Russian-backed warships, jets and electronic warfare units, directly countering U.S. naval expansion after a drug-smuggling vessel seizure. The U.S. brands Maduro a "narcoterrorist" with a $50M bounty, while Maduro warns of war if provoked, vowing Venezuela will become a "republic in arms." Venezuela showcased Russian Su-30MK2 jets with anti-ship missiles, as the U.S. alleges Venezuela harbors transnational cartels like Tren de Aragua (TdA). Venezuela claims record 2024 drug busts (60+ tons), dismissed as propaganda by critics. U.S. insists its Caribbean ops target cartels, not Venezuela's government. Historical tensions (Bay of Pigs, Panama) and Russia/China's support fuel fears of conflict. UN condemns U.S. strikes, but neither side is backing down, raising Caribbean instability. In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Caracas and Washington, the Venezuelan military has launched a three-day military exercise on La Orchila island. The "Sovereign Caribbean" drills saw warships, fighter jets and electronic warfare units being mobilized in response to recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels. The drills announced by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez involve 12 naval ships, 22 aircraft and 20 militia boats a direct challenge to Washington's expanding military presence in the region. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's confirmation of a "kinetic" strike on a Venezuelan-linked vessel accused of transporting narcotics, an action Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has condemned as an act of aggression. (Related: U.S. military strikes Venezuelan boat, killing 11 Tren de Aragua members.) The confrontation highlights a deepening geopolitical rift, with the U.S. labeling Maduro a "narcoterrorist" and offering a $50 million bounty for his capture while Caracas accuses Washington of orchestrating a destabilization campaign. Maduro warned that further U.S. military action could trigger a full-scale confrontation, declaring Venezuela would become a "republic in arms" if directly attacked. The exercises, featuring Russian-made Su-30MK2 fighter jets armed with Kh-31 anti-ship missiles, underscore Venezuela's reliance on foreign military partnerships amid deteriorating relations with the West. But the crisis has broader implications beyond military posturing. U.S. officials claim Venezuela serves as a hub for transnational crime syndicates, including Tren de Aragua (TdA). The criminal group which has expanded into various U.S. cities under the Biden administration has engaged in drug trafficking, extortion and violent crime while on American soil. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine notes that TdA "originated in Venezuela as a violent criminal gang and has since expanded across Latin America and the U.S., exploiting the Venezuelan refugee crisis to grow its operations. Known for its brutality, the gang poses a serious threat to security." Caribbean standoff: U.S. warships vs. Venezuela's defiance Meanwhile, Caracas insists it is cracking down on narcotics, seizing over 60 tons of drugs this year its largest haul since 2010. Yet skepticism remains, with critics arguing Maduro's military displays are a distraction from Venezuela's economic collapse and political turmoil. The U.S. Southern Command maintains its Caribbean operations target drug cartels, not Venezuela's government. But Caracas views Washington's naval deployments including destroyers and a nuclear submarine as an intimidation tactic. Adm. Ashraf Suleiman Gutierrez, speaking from a Venezuelan warship during the drills, insisted his nation seeks peace but is prepared to defend itself. Meanwhile, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Richard Grenell urged diplomacy to avert war, though prospects for de-escalation appear slim as both sides dig in. Historical context adds urgency to the standoff. Since the Cold War, the Caribbean has been a flashpoint for U.S.-Latin American tensions, from the Bay of Pigs to the 1989 invasion of Panama. Today, with Russia and China deepening ties with Venezuela, the risk of proxy conflict looms. The La Orchila exercises, though framed as defensive, signal Caracas' willingness to resist U.S. pressure even at the risk of open confrontation. As military maneuvers unfold, regional observers warn of miscalculation. The United Nations has condemned U.S. boat strikes as "extrajudicial executions," while Venezuela's opaque military readiness raises doubts about its capacity for sustained conflict. With neither side backing down, the Caribbean's fragile peace hangs in the balance. Watch Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reiterating that Caracas won't back down from Trump's threats. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: U.S. escalates military pressure on Venezuela: 4,000 troops, destroyers deployed amid cartel crackdownbut is Maduro really the target? Maduro: Venezuela will resort to ARMED STRUGGLE if U.S. threatens its sovereignty. Gustavo Petro condemns U.S. military strike on Venezuelan vessel as "murder." Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com ColombiaOne.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com A military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag is held in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) BELGRADE, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. The event opened with the Serbian national anthem performed by the Guard Orchestra of the Army. Cadets of the Military Academy then carried a 300-meter-long Serbian national flag across the square, underscoring the spirit of national unity. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the event symbolized "the pride of Serbia." "We worked on this together - soldiers and citizens, state and people. This is both the survival and the victory of Serbia, which wants peace and prosperity and knows how to protect its dignity, territory and future," Vucic said on social media. A military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag is held in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attends a military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attends a military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) A military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag is held in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attends a military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) People interact with military personnel during a military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) A military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag is held in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) A military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag is held in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) A military parade marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag is held in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 20, 2025. Serbia showcased its military strength on Saturday with the "Power of Unity" parade held in front of the Palace of Serbia, marking the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. According to the Ministry of Defence, the parade brought together about 10,000 personnel and featured some 2,500 pieces of weaponry and equipment, including more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) Public health officials watched with dread as a panel shaped by the Trump administration took up an agenda to begin dismantling six decades of vaccination development and progress. But while the result seemed foretold, the debate was far from unanimous. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, met at a satellite campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because the agency's headquarters were still smashed up from a deadly gun attack last month by a man who said the covid vaccine had made him depressed and suicidal. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made it clear he wants the panel to change the CDC's childhood immunization schedule, which establishes, sometimes with legal authority, which vaccines are to be mandated, paid for, and administered by states, insurers, and doctors across the country. Kennedy fired the 17-member panel in June and has so far restocked it with 12 people, including outspoken critics of vaccination. On Sept. 18, the new panel's discussions reflected its thin expertise and ignorance of how the vaccination schedule came to be. Scientific questions answered decades ago were asked as if they were brand-new. We are rookies, said biostatistician Martin Kulldorff, the committee's chair, noting many "technical issues that we might not grasp as of yet." Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, watched the telecast anxiously. "It reminds me when as children we would have a mock United Nations meeting," he said. "This would be like that, except we would have actually made decisions for the United Nations." Kennedy's CDC accomplished what 30 years of public health attempts to fight anti-vaccine sentiment hadnt: a head-to-head comparison of evidence and arguments. But while the winner was clear in the eyes of most experts, some doubted the result would be good. "The whole purpose of the people on this committee is to circulate these old recycled anti-vax talking points," said Sean O'Leary, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado who previously was a liaison from the American Academy of Pediatrics to ACIP. On Friday morning, he said, a colleague had a mother in his practice who refused the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine "because she heard something bad in the news about it last night." Until now, public health owned places like ACIP, while vaccine foes and skeptics dominated social media. At this meeting, the skeptics had moved onto public health's turf where sometimes flimsy arguments and expertise were exposed. Pharmacist Hillary Blackburn, for example, asked why children needed two measles, mumps, and rubella shots. ACIP began recommending a second shot in 1989 during a deadly measles outbreak. The two-shot regimen provided more than 95% immunity and led to the virtual elimination of measles from the United States. This year under the Trump administration more than 1,400 cases have been reported, mostly in unvaccinated people. In one noteworthy gaffe, ACIP member Retsef Levi, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology operations management professor, misinterpreted data from a graph showing declines in hepatitis B in the United States since the 1980s. While rates had fallen in older groups, Levi said, cases in babies hadn't declined substantially since 2005, when he inaccurately said a birth dose was first recommended. "Where's the argument to vaccinate even younger children at all," he said. "Where is the benefit?" In fact, the recommendation for a newborn shot began in 1991 and was reinforced and expanded in 2005. The first generation of hepatitis B-vaccinated babies are well into their 30s now. "As time goes on," CDC scientist Adam Langer patiently explained, "the people who benefited from the change in policy at the very beginning of the policy are moving into different age groups." Kulldorff, Levi, and committee member Evelyn Griffin, a gynecologist, also suggested that vaccines shouldn't be recommended unless they are tested in placebo trials, which would require certain children not to be vaccinated a practice considered unethical. Kulldorff began the meeting defiantly. He did not mention the CDC shooting, but disparaged former agency officials Kennedy had forced out and challenged nine former CDC directors to a debate. He also asked if anyone in the audience would eat a hot dog laced with thimerosal, the mercury-containing preservative the committee banned from influenza vaccines at its last meeting. (No one has ever offered thimerosal as a condiment, but years of study showed the minuscule amounts in vaccines did no harm). At the June meeting, HHS censored a CDC appraisal of thimerosal while inviting an anti-vaccine activist to present an error-filled criticism of the substance. But on Sept. 18 the panel got what looked like straight science from CDC professionals. As the committee prepared to debate ending a 34-year-old ACIP recommendation for babies to get a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, CDC career scientists Langer and John Su presented evidence of the vaccine's safety and benefits. Langer also laid out the history of the fight against hepatitis B including the failed effort to control the disease by vaccinating people most at risk, including people who use drugs, sex workers, and pregnant women who tested positive for the virus. Years of trial and error showed that in the U.S., at least, it was necessary to vaccinate newborns to really knock down the disease. Levi, who frequently mentions the vaccination status of his own six children, challenged the idea that a healthy baby from a "normal" household one with no history of drug use or prostitution needed the vaccine. Cody Meissner, one of three panel members who put up a spirited defense of the status quo in the hepatitis debate, noted that when it comes to vaccination campaigns, "the more we try and define a target group to vaccinate, the less successful we are." Meissner, a Dartmouth College professor, has published studies of vaccines and the diseases they fight since the 1970s. Long-observed tropes of vaccine skepticism were abundant on the first day of the meeting. Levi praised a 2004 study from Guinea-Bissau, an outlier that suggested that babies, especially females, were more likely to die if they got a hepatitis B shot. Other panelists said the study, performed in a poor country with high infant mortality where children got an outdated vaccine, wasn't relevant. But more studies were needed in general, Levi said. "We sit here with very lousy evidence," he said. Nurse Vicky Pebsworth of the National Vaccine Information Center, which opposes all vaccine mandates, frequently brought her own selective research into the meeting. She read off the names of studies other panelists hadn't received to back her arguments that vaccines under discussion were not safe. But while "too many, too soon" is a common anti-vaccine refrain, Judith Shlay from the National Association of County and City Health Officials, which had a nonvoting chair at the meeting, used it to support the current schedule. She pointed out that the panel's debate over a combination measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella shot for children would result in a separate shot for the virus that causes chickenpox, adding to the number of inoculations on the childhood schedule. "Some parents want to have fewer injections," she said. With an 8-3 vote at the end of the day, the committee nonetheless recommended separate vaccinations for MMR and chickenpox. Everyone seemed puzzled about what had transpired with an ensuing vote on whether the Vaccines for Children Program, which pays for more than half of childhood vaccinations, should respond to ACIP's new recommendation. The panel revoted on the issue on Sept. 19. Nor could anyone provide a clear answer as to what prompted the committee's discussion and planned vote on the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine, since there was no new evidence suggesting any harm from it. Two of Kennedy's senior aides, both vaccine skeptics, pushed the hepatitis B discussion onto the ACIP schedule, according to testimony at a Sept. 17 Senate hearing by former CDC chief medical officer Debra Houry, who resigned to protest administration policies. ACIP member Robert Malone, who has claimed that mRNA vaccines are dangerous, said hepatitis B was on the agenda because it is given to newborns at birth and of special concern to parents newly awakened to vaccine doubt. He appeared to nod off during a CDC staff presentation on the safety of the hepatitis B shot. Vaccination of babies has always triggered parents. The 19th-century poet Alexander Hope Hume described evil vaccinators who turned "the rosy darling" who "crows with glee" into "a wailing infant" whose every vein "ferments with poison." The agenda item was not really about the merit of the hepatitis B vaccine, Malone acknowledged. The signal that is prompting this is not one of safety; it's one of trust, he said. But in the end, the committee reconsidered what would have been its first drastic move to reverse a successful U.S. vaccination campaign. It postponed its vote on the hepatitis B birth dose. As wildfires grow larger and more frequent across the West, researchers from Colorado, Utah, and California are digging into how smoke affects the air-and our health. In a new study published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, the team shows that large wildfires, like those we've seen in Colorado, Oregon, and California in recent years, produce large amounts of ozone into the atmosphere. This not only impacts our lungs and other health concerns but also contributes to the warming of the planet. CU Denver mathematics professor emeritus Jan Mandel was part of the research team, which included faculty from the University of Utah (UT) and San Jose State University. The study was led by Derek Mallia, a research assistant professor of Atmospheric Sciences at UT, who has long collaborated with Mandel on wildfire modeling. The team focused on large wildfires in 2020 that affected much of the Western United States. From Aug. 15-26, 2020, wildfires burned more than 1 million acres across seven northern California counties, causing $12 billion in damage. Dozens of fires raged elsewhere, including Utah's 90,000-acre East Fork fire and Oregon's Lionshead and Beachie Creek fires that burned a combined 400,000 acres. During that same time, multiple air quality and pollutant alerts were issued in Colorado as residents dealt with smoke-filled skies. Mandel developed most of the computer code used to model the wildfire chemical emissions that ended up in the atmosphere. He worked alongside Mallia and Adam Kochanski, associate professor at San Jose State University, both longtime collaborators. Wildfires do not emit ozone directly. Wildfire smoke contains chemical compounds that react with sunlight to produce ozone, often far from the fire itself. Modeling this requires sophisticated atmospheric chemistry and weather prediction software, which we integrated with our wildfire model." Jan Mandel, CU Denver mathematics professor emeritus The research paper concludes that, on average, the presence of wildfire smoke increases ozone concentrations by 21 parts per billion (ppb). That is on top of already high ozone levels in the West, pushing concentrations beyond the 70-ppb health standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ozone is a health hazard. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment states that symptoms can range from coughing to lung and cardiovascular disease and, in some cases, premature death. Mandel's area of expertise includes applied and computational mathematics, high-performance computing, data assimilation, and wildfire modeling. He has multiple mathematics degrees from Charles University in Prague including in computer science, mathematical models in economics, and numerical mathematics. Before joining CU Denver in 1986, Mandel was a senior scientist at Charles University. He has almost 200 published articles and has served on several National Science Foundation advisory panels. He also has provided consulting services to industry, including for the design of the Swedish Grippen jet fighter, and developed a computational method used in Japan in the analysis of Fukushima nuclear reactors on the then fastest supercomputer in the world. In 2025, Mandel was named among the top 2% of highly cited scientists in the world, according to Stanford University and Elsevier. In 2021, he was rated by research.com among the top 1000 mathematics scientists globally and top 2,000 in Technology and Engineering. He retired from CU Denver in 2024 but continues at the university as professor emeritus working on NASA-related research. He also serves as a high-performance computing system administrator. Other co-authors of the study include undergraduate student Cambria White and Research Scientist Angel Farguell, who was previously a postdoc at CU Denver, both from San Jose State University's Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center. The Utah Division of Air Quality, NASA's FireSense Project, and the University of Utah's Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy provided funding for the research. Use of medical cannabis has been on the rise since it first became available to Utah patients in 2020. A medical cannabis card, which can be prescribed for difficult-to-treat conditions including PTSD and chronic pain, allows a patient to access licensed cannabis products in designated pharmacies. But some people whose medical conditions permit use of medical cannabis use unregulated products instead, which can lead to unforeseen health risks due to additives and contaminants. A new survey of over 200 people enrolled in Utah's medical cannabis program reveals why some people turn to unregulated cannabis to treat their medical conditions, providing a first step toward reducing barriers to safer, licensed products. The results are published in Journal of Cannabis Research. The high cost of health The cost of legal cannabis is a significant barrier for many participants who use illicit cannabis. Monitoring and regulating cannabis costs money, which means that illicit cannabis can be much cheaper than regulated products. The high cost of legal cannabis products can perpetuate a vicious cycle of economic and health consequences, the researchers say. The chronic conditions treated by medical cannabis, such as chronic pain or PTSD, can often make it harder to work and hold down a job, so patients seeking relief from these conditions may be more likely to experience economic hardship. But buying cheaper, unregulated products can put patients at risk of making their health condition worse. There's this trade-off. It's like, 'OK, I have a chronic illness which makes it hard for me to work, and so I have limited resources. I can more easily afford the stuff from my friend on the street, but that stuff on the street might make me sicker in the long run.' It creates this catch-22 where it becomes a health disparity." Jerry Cochran, PhD, senior author on the study, professor of epidemiology and director of the Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA), University of Utah Without an established quality assurance process, under-the-table products may vary unpredictably in the levels of CBD and THC they contain. Illicit products may also contain unlabeled additives or contaminants, such as mold, pesticides, or heavy metals, which can make chronic conditions worse. Given the dangers of illicit cannabis and the recency of Utah's medical cannabis program, it's especially critical to do research to understand how people use the program, says Lirit Franks, PhD, author on the study and a research development associate in PARCKA. "It engenders accountability," Franks says. "You can see areas to improve, you can see what's working, and you can see areas for future research that might be very important." Knowledge is power While cost presented a barrier, access to high-quality information appears to strongly help people avoid illicit products, the researchers found. People who primarily use the state website for information about cannabis are much more likely to use legal cannabis products. The authors say that this is a promising sign: when people are provided with accurate, unbiased information rather than relying on cannabis marketing materials, they'll generally choose safer products. "If you can get rid of all the bias and just give people good, accurate information about medical cannabis, people will use the medical cannabis program," Cochran says. The results suggest that better communication of unbiased information could help people make safer decisions. If providers can ensure that patients have access to information resources, Cochran says, "they do a good job of keeping patients safe and using safe products." Boosting safety by lowering barriers The researchers say that understanding patients' difficulties in accessing the products they need can guide strategies to make the process easier. For instance, given that cost is a primary barrier to access legal cannabis, reducing the cost to renew an existing cannabis card could help patients continue to purchase regulated, safe products. "If we pay attention to what is standing in the way, maybe we can reduce those barriers and allow people access to safer products," Franks says. The results are published in Journal of Cannabis Research as "Understanding motives for illicit medicinal cannabis use: an exploratory analysis in a medical cannabis program". The funds to support this exploratory analysis were allocated by the Utah Department of Health, under contract #236204 titled "Utah Medical Cannabis: A Prospective Cohort Evaluation." The funder had no role in the design, data collection, or data analysis. The content of this analysis does not reflect the views of the funder. 5-tribes CoRPP to launch indefinite shutdown from Oct 1 Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 22:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kohima, Sep 20 (PTI) The Five Tribes Committee on Review Reservation Policy (CoRRP) on Saturday announced to launch an indefinite shutdown in eight districts to press for the formation of the proposed commission to review the reservation policy in the state. Briefing media after a meeting of CoRPP with apex bodies and frontal organisations of 5 tribes Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma and Sema here, CoRRP convener Tesinlo Semy said, We have decided to write to the government, giving 10 days time to set up the commission, which is still pending. We cannot wait any longer. Government said the commission will be set up in a month, which is still 100 days away." He said that if the government fails to set up the commission in 10 days, then they will take up a total shutdown, which will take place from October 1 in eight districts Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung, Wokha, Dimapur, Chumoukedima, Niuland, Zunheboto inhabited by the five tribes. Recommended Stories Member secretary G K Zhimomisaid on June 12, the state cabinet had agreed in principle to set up a commission, and now its exactly 100 days as of now. The government wanted to have a nomination from civil societies, which we have vehemently opposed from the very beginning. But then as of today, after 100 days also, the government, for reasons best known to them, kept delaying the formation of this commission," Zhimomi said. It was not a demand in the first place, he said, adding it was the outcome of the June 3 meeting with the state government, which was a meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton. The government assured us to set up a commission within a month, and its now 100 days," he said. The CoRPP has been pressing for a total review of the reservation policy, which has been in existence since 1977. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Initially, 25 per cent for the backward tribes of Eastern Nagaland, but it has increased to 37 per cent, including other backward tribes of the state. CoRRP has held various agitations and protests since April this year and has declared non-cooperation with the government. PTI NBS RG Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 20, 2025, 22:15 IST News agency-feeds 5-tribes CoRPP to launch indefinite shutdown from Oct 1 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Saturday that he had signed a package of laws aimed at protecting immigrants in the U.S. state, with the No Secret Police Act being a first-in-the-nation measure that prohibits officers from wearing masks. Speaking at a high school in Los Angeles, Newsom said he signed five bills into law. The No Secret Police Act broadly bars federal and local law enforcement officers from wearing face masks while performing their duties. Newsom also signed a bill requiring state and federal law enforcement officers to identify themselves by displaying their badge numbers or names while on duty, unless working undercover. The other three bills signed Saturday restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to schools and daycare facilities, ban hospitals and health care providers from sharing sensitive information or allowing agents to enter emergency rooms without a warrant, and require family notification when agents appear on school campuses. "It's like a dystopian sci-fi movie," Newsom said at the event. "Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing." "No due process, no rights. Immigrants have rights and we have the right to stand up and push back," he added. This law package was signed during U.S. President Donald Trump's wide-ranging deportation program. The governor later posted on X that the new laws were "a direct response" to Trump's "lawless immigration raids and arrests in California." California Democrats began drafting the immigration-related bills soon after Trump took office this January. Their efforts intensified after aggressive immigration crackdowns in Southern California sparked weeks of protests in Los Angeles and led to a National Guard deployment. "All of this legislative resistance is to protect Angelenos from their own federal government. That is profound," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at Saturday's event, where she joined Newsom and other local Democratic leaders. ICE has faced criticism from residents and communities in California for allowing agents to wear face-covering masks and plain clothes, citing threats to officers and their families. In a statement Saturday, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin denounced the new laws signed by Newsom as "despicable" and "a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers." Legal experts said the measures may offer limited protection to immigrants and will likely face constitutional challenges from the federal government. Kevin Johnson, an immigration law professor and former dean of the UC Davis School of Law, stated that the legislation may have a marginal impact on federal enforcement operations. He noted that a 2018 California law restricting immigration arrests at superior court buildings did not stop the Trump administration from detaining people at courts this year. "The federal government is going to continue doing what it's doing, in one form or another," Johnson said. "I do think the legislation gives some hope and optimism to communities that feel under fire, vulnerable and basically hated by the federal government." Bengaluru: Residents protest on Varthur Road demanding urgent pothole repairs Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 22:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bengaluru, Sep 20 (PTI) Residents of several societies staged a peaceful protest along Varthur Road here on Saturday, demanding immediate action to repair potholes and improve infrastructure." Holding placards calling for safe roads, protesters, including children and senior citizens, gathered in front of Prestige Lakeside Habitat. They also urged urgent development of the VarthurGunjur stretch, which they said has become unsafe due to neglect." Citing previous accidents along the stretch, the demonstrators pressed for resurfacing of the road, installation of traffic signals and turn-overs, and long-term infrastructure upgrades to ensure safe commuting. Recommended Stories A protester said the roads were so full of potholes that parents feared letting their children cycle on them for safety reasons." While the protest remained peaceful, police intervened, citing a lack of permission and noting that Freedom Park is the only designated venue for protests in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar reiterated the governments commitment to addressing Bengalurus pothole problem, calling it a priority. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said work was being carried out systematically and urged political opponents not to politicise the issue." No one intentionally creates potholes, but they surface due to excessive rain," he added. More than 7,000 potholes have already been filled, and about 5,000 more are yet to be addressed. A report has been sought from the Police Commissioner, and a system has been put in place for the public to report potholes whenever they notice them," Shivakumar further said. PTI AMP SSK Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 20, 2025, 22:15 IST News agency-feeds Bengaluru: Residents protest on Varthur Road demanding urgent pothole repairs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Criminal linked to Anil Dujana gang killed in police encounter in Ghaziabad Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 23:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Ghaziabad (UP), Sep 20 (PTI) A wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head was killed in a police encounter here on Saturday, officials said. According to a press statement issued by the Ghaziabad police commissionerate, Balram (50), the deceased, was an active member of Anil Dujana gang. Recommended Stories The encounter took place near Dasna following a series of extortion demands made to businessmen in Masuri, Sihanigate, and Kavinagar areas of Ghaziabad, the statement said. Acting on a tip-off, a police team spotted Balram and his associates in a car near Dasna. When police attempted to intercept them, the criminals opened fire at the cops. Police returned the fire in self-defence, injuring Balram. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His accomplices managed to flee the scene. Police are conducting a search operation to arrest them," the statement said. Police launched the investigation after a transport businessman filed a complaint on September 16, claiming that he received a WhatsApp call on July 9 demanding Rs 25 lakh in extortion money. The caller, who identified himself as Guru Balram, threatened the businessman with serious consequences if the money was not paid. When the victim failed to comply, he was abducted on July 13 by 8-10 men. They held him captive in Dujana village and released him only after he paid approximately Rs 2 lakh along with some jewellery, the statement said. Balram allegedly continued to call the victim, demanding more money and threatening him with dire consequences. A sweet shop owner in Sihanigate received a similar WhatsApp call on September 17, demanding Rs 50 lakh. The same day, a businessman from the Loha Mandi market in Kavinagar was also called and threatened with a Rs 25 lakh demand. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police traced the phone number to Balram, a resident of Rogan village in Bulandshahr who reportedly took control of the Dujanas gangs operations after the death of its leader, Anil Dujana. Balram is a professional criminal with a history of nearly three dozen cases, including for robbery, murder, extortion, and gangster-related offences, the statement added. PTI CDN ARI Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 20, 2025, 23:45 IST News agency-feeds Criminal linked to Anil Dujana gang killed in police encounter in Ghaziabad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Fire breaks out at factory in Delhis Gandhi Nagar; no casualties Last Updated: September 21, 2025, 00:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], September 21 (ANI): A fire broke out in a factory located in Gyan Mohalla, Gandhi Nagar area of Shahdara on Saturday evening. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and no casualties have been reported so far, the official informed.Speaking to ANI, Fire Officer Bhimsen said, We received a fire call from Gyan Mohalla Gali No.1. When we reached, we saw that the situation was very bad. The QRV reached here with a lot of difficulty because of the narrow lanes here The fire is under control and there has been no loss of life"Further details are awaited. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 21, 2025, 00:45 IST News agency-feeds Fire breaks out at factory in Delhis Gandhi Nagar; no casualties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... France halts counterterrorism cooperation with Mali after envoys arrest Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Paris [France], September 20 (ANI): France has suspended counterterrorism cooperation with Mali and ordered two Malian consular staff members to leave the country, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said, according to Al Jazeera.The French foreign ministry said the two officials from Malis embassy and consulate in Paris had been declared persona non grata. In retaliation, Mali declared five French embassy staff members persona non grata, Al Jazeera reported.The move comes after French national Yann Vezilier was arrested in Mali last month on charges of plotting a coup. Malis army said at the time that some civilians and soldiers had obtained the help of foreign states" in their attempt to destabilise the country.Malis security minister, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, alleged that Vezilier had acted on behalf of the French intelligence service, which mobilised political leaders, civil society actors and military personnel" in Mali.Paris rejected the accusations, saying the charges were unfounded". The French foreign ministry stated that Vezilier was a member of its embassy in the capital Bamako. The ministry added that other measures" would be implemented soon, if our national is not released quickly", Al Jazeera reported.France said in August that it was holding talks with Mali to clear up any misunderstanding" and secure the immediate release" of the arrested envoy.Once close allies, relations between France and Mali have deteriorated since soldiers took power nearly four years ago. Under President Assimi Goita, the military leadership has distanced itself from France, expelled French forces, and sought security support from Russia, Al Jazeera reported.Mali has been battling a prolonged security crisis since 2012, driven by violence from armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), along with local criminal networks.In June, Goita extended his rule for another five years after dissolving political parties in May, despite earlier promises to return the country to civilian leadership by March 2024. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 20, 2025, 10:00 IST News agency-feeds France halts counterterrorism cooperation with Mali after envoys arrest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... MEA cautions Indian citizens over fake job offers in Iran Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 06:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], September 20 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory after several cases of fake employment offers to kidnap Indians were reported in Iran. MEA cautioned citizens not to fall into such traps and exercise strictest vigilance."There have been a number of recent cases involving Indian citizens who have been lured to travel to Iran on false promises of employment, or with assurances that they would be sent further to third-countries for employment. Upon reaching Iran, these Indian nationals have been kidnapped by criminal gangs and ransoms have been demanded from their families for securing their release," MEA said in a statement. In this context, all Indian citizens are strongly cautioned to exercise the strictest vigilance regarding such employment promises or offers. In particular, it may be noted that the Government of Iran allows visa-free entry to Indians only for tourism purposes. Any agents promising visa-free entry into Iran for employment or other purposes may well be in connivance with criminal gangs. Indian citizens are therefore advised not to fall prey to such offers," MEA further cautioned. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 20, 2025, 06:30 IST News agency-feeds MEA cautions Indian citizens over fake job offers in Iran Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Senior Uttarakhand official chairs meeting on rain damage assessment Last Updated: September 21, 2025, 00:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 21 (ANI): In line with the directives of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the State Disaster Management Department has intensified efforts to secure a special package from the Government of India to compensate for the damages caused during the 2025 monsoon season, an official release said. From coming Wednesday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will launch the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process to conduct a realistic evaluation of the losses suffered by the state.On Saturday, a crucial meeting was held at the State Emergency Operations Centre, Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, under the chairmanship of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.The meeting was attended by District Magistrates and heads of various departments, focusing on providing detailed reports of damages covered and not covered under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Participants were briefed on the latest SDRF standards and the prescribed reporting formats.Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman informed that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the PDNA process to be expedited so that a detailed proposal can be submitted to the Government of India at the earliest. The CM is personally monitoring progress on a regular basis.All departments have been instructed to clearly indicate the extent of compensation possible under SDRF and the remaining amount, which will be requested through a special package from the Union Government. He emphasised that the scale of damages this monsoon season is far beyond what can be covered under SDRF alone, hence the urgent need for a special package.The Secretary further stated that the CM has instructed the immediate reopening of blocked roads without any delay, with patchwork repairs to begin promptly after the rains subside. Restoration of damaged power and water supply lines has also been prioritised.On Saturday morning, the Chief Minister directed the Secretary to coordinate with districts and departments to normalise life in disaster-affected areas as quickly as possible. Essential supplies must remain available in affected regions until normalcy is fully restored.He added that Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has instructed all department heads to conduct field visits from next week to assess damages and review reconstruction work. During the first week, HODs themselves will visit and stay for two days in the districts. In the second week, second-level senior officers will visit, followed by third-level senior officers in the third week.Department heads will also meet District Magistrates to strengthen coordination and accelerate departmental work. Any issues arising will be discussed with DMs for immediate resolution, ensuring smooth progress of recovery tasks.The PDNA process to assess post-disaster needs will formally begin on Wednesday with the arrival of the central team in Uttarakhand. Four teams have been constituted, each covering all districts to evaluate actual damages.District Magistrates will lead the teams at the district level, while HODs will serve as nodal officers. Some officials have been nominated by DMs, and others by HODs, to assist in this work. Every scheme will undergo PDNA, and based on this, a detailed proposal will be prepared and submitted to the Union Government. The teams include officials from all departments to ensure a comprehensive assessment. (ANI) Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 21, 2025, 00:30 IST News agency-feeds Senior Uttarakhand official chairs meeting on rain damage assessment Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Wanted criminal nabbed after gunfight in Kurukshetra Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Kurukshetra, Sep 20 (PTI) A wanted criminal was nabbed after a gunfight near Sonti village on the Ladwa-Pipli Road here, police said on Saturday. Aman, a native of Jainpur Jatan village, carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his capture, they said. Recommended Stories He was shot in the legs and taken to a hospital, they said. A country-made pistol was recovered from him. Police had received information that a man was roaming on a motorcycle without a number plate and that he was carrying a weapon. A police team responded to the tip-off and spotted the suspect. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When he was challenged to surrender, Aman fired two rounds at the police team. In retaliation, the team opened fire, injuring him in the legs, police said. Inspector Surender Kumar said Aman was also involved in a firing incident at a jewellery store in Yamunanagar. PTI COR CHS VN VN Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Join the fun, play games on News18 First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:15 IST News agency-feeds Wanted criminal nabbed after gunfight in Kurukshetra Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Amazon, Meta, Apple Lead H-1B Sponsorship As Trump Administration Hikes Visa Cost By $100,000 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:39 IST President Donald Trump hikes H-1B visa fee to 100000, impacting US firms like Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft, with Indian workers most affected. US Firms Boost H-1B Sponsorship Even as Trump Makes Hiring Costlier Amid the US President Donald Trump-led Administrations move to make it costlier for US firms to hire foreign workers, companies are reportedly increasing sponsorship for H-1B visas. Trump administration has hiked the annual fee for H-1B visas to a staggering $100,000, a decision expected to significantly impact businesses that rely on high-skilled foreign talent, particularly from India and China. Recommended Stories Coincidentally, US companies are pushing to sponsor more H-1B visas than before in history, according to a report by Newsweek. The report states that consulting, finance, and tech firms were the main beneficiaries of year-on-year gains via sponsorship, although it has spread across different industries. The rising sponsorship of H-1B visas by US companies has caused worries among US employees, who have fears of being replaced by from cheap foreign workers like Indians or Chinese. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations that require technical or theoretical expertise, such as in IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, and science. It is one of the most common ways for skilled workers from countries like India and China to work in the U.S. temporarily. Amazon is the largest H-1B sponsor with approvals increasing from 9,257 in 2024 to 10,044 in 2025, as per the report. Amazon is followed by Meta, Apple and Microsoft in promoting the sponsorships of H-1B visas. The Newsweek report said that even those companies that have announced layoffs are pushing harder to hire more H-1B visas workers as an attempt to cut costs. The White House proclamation restricts the entry of foreign nationals under the H-1B category used to employ skilled professionals in specialised occupations unless a USD 100,000 payment accompanies each petition. Employers will now be required to retain proof of payment, which will be verified by the Secretary of State during the visa process. Announcing the move at the Oval Office, Trump said the hefty fee would ensure that only the very highly skilled" are brought into the country and would prevent companies from replacing American workers with cheaper foreign talent. We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that thats whats going to happen," the President remarked while signing the proclamation in the presence of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The administration claims the move will protect American jobs and ensure only the most skilled" foreign workers enter. But the sharp increase is set to hit Indians the hardest. India accounts for the overwhelming majority of H-1B holders, and the new costs could reshape hiring patterns in both Silicon Valley and Indian IT. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Until now, H-1B visas have carried various administrative fees totalling around $1,500, as per BBC. Under the new system, sponsoring a worker could cost as much as $300,000 over a typical three-year H-1B term. 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: September 20, 2025, 09:36 IST News business Amazon, Meta, Apple Lead H-1B Sponsorship As Trump Administration Hikes Visa Cost By $100,000 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... H-1B Visas For TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL: Indian IT Majors Secure 13% Permits, Who Topped The List? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 21, 2025, 11:41 IST Several leading IT giants in India like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Technologies have consistently been among the top employers of the H-1B visa holders Under a proclamation that takes effect on 21 September 2025, employers will now need to pay a $100,000 fee for every H-1B worker entering the US. H1b Latest News: Indian IT companies have mainly relied on the US market for their business, and the H-1B visa is of significant importance for them. Though the Indian tech companies dependence on H-1B visas have fallen in the past few years, the firms still account for nearly 13% of all such visas issued by the US. According to the latest data available on the website of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Indian tech companies secured 13,870 or nearly 13 per cent of all H-1B visas issued in FY25 till June 30, 2025. According to the data, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys emerged as the top recipients of H-1B visas. Recommended Stories Data from the US Immigration Department showed that of the total 1,06,922 H-1B visas issued to various employers in FY25 till June 30, 2025, about 13,870 (or 13% of the total) went to companies of Indian origin. TCS led the way with 5,505 beneficiaries, followed by Infosys with 2,004, LTIMindtree with 1,807, and HCL America with 1,728. Among others, Wipros H-1B visa beneficiaries stood at 1,523, followed by Tech Mahindra Americas with 951, and L&T Technology Services with 352. H-1B dependency of Indian IT companies falls However, the number (13,870 H-1B visas for Indian companies) is significantly lower now as compared with about 24,766 H-1B visas went to the Indian companies till September 2024. Which company got the most H1B visas? Amazon.com Services LLC, an American company, received the highest number of US visas, obtaining 10,044 H1B visas. The Indian company, TCS, secured the second position, while Microsoft ranked third with 5,189 visas. Although Cognizant was founded in Chennai, its headquarters is now located in New Jersey, USA. Indian Companies Benefit from H1B Visa Programme The H1B visa programme permits companies to temporarily employ foreign professionals in specialised roles. Indias technology companies have particularly benefited from this programme. Major Indian IT service companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Technologies have consistently ranked among the top employers of H1B visa holders. H-1B visa fee hiked to $100,000: Donald Trumps latest move In a move that could adversely impact Indian professionals on visas in the US, President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will raise the fee for H1-B visas to a staggering $100,000 annually, the latest in the administrations efforts to crack down on immigration. Until now, H-1B visas have carried various administrative fees totalling around $1,500. The proclamation said that the number of foreign STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workers in the United States has more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, increasing from 1.2 million to almost 2.5 million, while overall STEM employment has only increased 44.5 per cent during that time. Among computer and math occupations, the foreign share of the workforce grew from 17.7 per cent in 2000 to 26.1 per cent in 2019. The key facilitator for this influx of foreign STEM labour has been the abuse of the H-1B visa, it said. In July, USCIS had said that it has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the masters cap, for fiscal year 2026. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the H1B non-immigrant visa programme is one of the most abused visa" systems in the countrys current immigration system, and it is supposed to allow highly skilled labourers, who work in fields that Americans dont work in, to come into the United States. The Trump administration said that the $100,000 fee is aimed at ensuring that the people being brought into the country are actually very highly skilled" and do not replace American workers. Lutnick said that historically, the employment-based Green Card programme let in 281,000 people a year, and those people earned $66,000 a year on average, and were five times more likely to participate in assistance programmes of the government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Infosys, Wipro ADRs fall Falling the move, Infosys ADRs dropped as much as 4.5% in Fridays trade, while Wipro slid 3.4%. Other leading users of the H-1B programme also lost ground, with Cognizant Technology down 4.3% and consulting giant Accenture slipping 1.3%. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalis... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 09:27 IST News business economy H-1B Visas For TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL: Indian IT Majors Secure 13% Permits, Who Topped The List? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Indian IT Companies, Workers Unlikely To Be Hit As Dependence Gradually Reduces Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 18:07 IST TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Tech face challenges as the Trump administration hikes H-1B visa fees to 100000, impacting Indian IT workers and US operations. The latest move is expected to break "American dream" for many Indian IT workers, as they are among the largest users of H-1B visas. H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Indian IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCL Tech, and more will be in focus in the coming days, following the Trump administrations move to hike the annual H-1B visa fee hike from $1000 to a staggering $100,000. The proclamation said that the number of STEM workers doubled between 2000 and 2019, while total STEM job growth lagged. Moreover, it alleged that US firms have replaced American workers with H-1B visa holders, calling it a systematic abuse". Recommended Stories How Will It Impact Indian IT Companies And Workers? Indian IT giants like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCLTech heavily rely on the H-1B visa program to deploy skilled professionals to the US. With Indian nationals accounting for 70% of H-1B visa holders, the new fee structure poses a substantial financial burden. The increased costs may lead companies to reconsider their US operations, potentially shifting focus to other regions or reducing their US workforce. Infosys ADRs dropped as much as 4.5% in Fridays trade, while Wipro slid 3.4%. Other leading users of the H-1B programme also lost ground, with Cognizant Technology down 4.3% and consulting giant Accenture slipping 1.3%. However, India IT services firms have reduced their reliance on H-1B visas in the past few years. TCS, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Wipro, LTIMindtree and Tech Mahindra have cut H-1B visa issuance by an average of 46 per cent approximately, according to an FE report. The latest move is expected to break American dream" for many Indian IT workers, as they are among the largest users of H-1B visas. The programme, which allows employment in the US for three years with a possible three-year extension, has long been a key gateway for Indian technology workers. With Indian nationals already facing a decades-long backlog for permanent residency, the new annual cost raises doubts over the continued viability of companies sponsoring such workers. The proclamation was accompanied by the unveiling of a new Gold Card" visa, which offers a fast-track path to US residency for foreigners of extraordinary ability" willing to invest $12 million into the US Treasury. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It will create disincentives to attract the worlds smartest talent to the US, says Deedy Das, co-founder of Menlo Ventures. If the US ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy. It makes US global competitiveness a lot worse," he adds. 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: September 20, 2025, 11:51 IST News business H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Indian IT Companies, Workers Unlikely To Be Hit As Dependence Gradually Reduces Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... For many people, being retired is almost synonymous with being frugal. With little control over your monthly income, its natural that your attention might be more focused on controlling expenses. Must Read In fact, 52% of American seniors on Social Security said they were cutting back on discretionary items like dining out and travel due to rising living costs outpacing benefits, according to a recent Nationwide survey [1]. Over 30% said they were pulling back on essentials like groceries and medicines. However, there is one big expense that rarely gets mentioned and could be one of the easiest to cut without impacting your lifestyle: investment fees. Heres why this silent drain on your finances could be cutting thousands of dollars from your nest egg. Avoidable investment fees Paying a relatively high fee for investment advice or actively managed investment strategies seems like a savvy move on paper. First the fees usually sound deceptively low. The average expense ratio for all active U.S. funds was 1% in 2024, according to Morningstar [2]. Meanwhile, professional financial advisors usually charge a percentage of assets under management (AUM), often ranging from 0.5% to 1.5%, according to Yahoo Finance [3]. Paying 1% for a professional to execute sophisticated strategies that involve options or exotic assets like private credit could seem justified. But the after-fee performance of many of these funds and strategies may fail to live up to the hype. Only 33% of actively managed mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) survived and outperformed their average passive peer over the 12 months through June 2025, according to Morningstar [4]. Headlines about active managers superiority in navigating turbulence often decorate market declines. The data rarely backs this upat least for the average active manager, said the report. Put simply, these expenses are avoidable. And cutting them out could save you a lot of money in retirement. That's why billionaire investor Warren Buffett recommends average investors stick to low-cost index funds. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Overpaying could be a costly mistake Cutting out even a few basis points from the fees you pay for investing could make a big difference over the long-term. Microsoft, JP Morgan Advise H-1B Workers Abroad To Return To US By Tomorrow As Trump Hikes Visa Fees Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:57 IST Microsoft advises H-1B and H-4 visa holders to remain in the United States after the US administration's annual H-1B visa fee hike. Visa Fee Hike Pushes Microsoft to Call Back H-1B, H-4 Workers Abroad H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Following the H-1B visa annual fee hike by the US administration, tech giant Microsoft has issued an advisory to its H-1B and H-4 visa holders to stay in the United States in the foreseeable, according to a Reuters report citing the internal email. JP Morgan, an asset management giant, also advised its employees to return to the US before the visa fee hike deadline. Recommended Stories Microsoft also advised employees currently abroad to return to the US by September 21, ahead of the deadline. In the internal email to employees, Microsoft noted as cited by Reuters, We strongly recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline." Trump administration has hiked the annual fee for H-1B visas to a staggering $100,000, a decision expected to significantly impact businesses that rely on high-skilled foreign talent, particularly from India and China. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations that require technical or theoretical expertise, such as in IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, and science. It is one of the most common ways for skilled workers from countries like India and China to work in the U.S. temporarily. The H-4 visa is a dependent visa issued by the United States to immediate family membersspouses and unmarried children under 21 yearsof H-1B visa holders. It allows them to live in the US for the duration of the H-1B workers stay. Trumps proclamation takes effect from 12:01 am EDT on September 21, 2025 (9:31 am IST), the same day. From that moment, no H-1B worker can enter the US unless the sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 fee. Employers must provide proof of this fee, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security have been directed to reject any petition that does not include it. The restriction will remain in force for 12 months, unless extended. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, w... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 10:16 IST News business Microsoft, JP Morgan Advise H-1B Workers Abroad To Return To US By Tomorrow As Trump Hikes Visa Fees Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Snapdeal Founder Kunal Bahl Shares His H-1B Rejection Story To Inspire Amid Fee Hike Woes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 17:38 IST Kunal Bahl shared how his 2007 H-1B visa rejection at Microsoft led him to return to India and eventually build Snapdeal, inspiring others amid the recent visa fee hike. Kunal Bhal is the founder of Snapdeal. Amid the turbulence caused by the recent hike in H-1B visa fees, Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl shared his own story of rejection to inspire those impacted. Recommended Stories Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Bahl recalled how, in 2007, while working at Microsoft, he received an email that his H-1B visa application had been denied. The experience, he said, was crushing and numbing" at the time but eventually became a turning point in his life. Life-changing eventually when I moved back to India," Bahl wrote, adding that the setback ultimately opened the path for him to build Snapdeal, one of Indias leading e-commerce platforms. In 2007, sitting at my desk in Microsoft I got an email that my H1B visa was rejected. It was crushing and numbing at that moment, but life-changing eventually when I moved back to . To those impacted today, be positive. There is something much bigger & better in store for you. Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) September 20, 2025 US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a sweeping change to the H-1B visa programme, arguing that it has been abused for years by outsourcing companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour. Under a proclamation that takes effect on 21 September 2025, employers will now need to pay a $100,000 fee for every H-1B worker entering the US. The order has triggered alarm among H-1B holders, particularly those already in the US who may need to travel abroad. The proclamation restricts the entry of new H-1B non-immigrant workers unless their sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 petition fee. It takes effect at 12:01 am EDT on 21 September 2025 (9:31 am IST) and will remain in force for 12 months, until September 2026, unless extended. Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, recently shared her reflections on the changing landscape of opportunities for Indian students in the United States. In a heartfelt tweet, Gupta recalled graduating in 2005, when H-1B visa norms were far more favorable for international students. Gupta empathized with students currently on American campuses who may feel shaken or disheartened" by the challenges abroad. However, she encouraged them to see opportunities back home, noting that India of 2025 offers far more potential than it did two decades ago. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chin up. Aao, ab laut chalen!" Gupta urged, signaling a call for students to consider returning to India and exploring its evolving professional landscape. 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: September 20, 2025, 17:38 IST News business Snapdeal Founder Kunal Bahl Shares His H-1B Rejection Story To Inspire Amid Fee Hike Woes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... All In A Day's Work: Mumbai Customs Foils Foreign Currency Smuggling, Seizes Narcotics Worth Rs 20 Cr Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 05:37 IST The cases underline how Mumbai continues to be a crucial checkpoint for illegal financial and narcotics movement Together, the two drug seizures alone added up to nearly Rs 20 crore worth of narcotics, making it one of the largest single-day busts at the airport in recent months. Images/Mumbai customs Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport turned into a key battleground for customs officers earlier this week as they cracked down on two separate attempts to smuggle valuables through the city. Recommended Stories In the first instance, officials acting on specific intelligence intercepted a passenger headed to Bangkok on flight SL-219. A thorough examination of his baggage revealed foreign currency equivalent to Rs 26.37 lakh, carefully concealed inside a trolley bag. The seizure, though modest compared to the drug cases that followed, highlighted the vigilance of Mumbai customs in curbing illegal financial transactions that often feed into larger criminal networks. Barely hours later, customs officers at the same airport made a much larger breakthrough. Acting on another intelligence tip-off, they intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight AI-338. Hidden inside the travellers checked-in trolley bag was nearly 10 kilograms of hydroponic weed (a potent form of marijuana), valued at approximately Rs 9.98 crore in the illicit market. The contraband was carefully packed to escape detection, but trained officials spotted the irregularities during inspection. The passenger was arrested under the stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, marking yet another success in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking. As the day unfolded, yet another passenger on the same flight was caught in possession of 10.08 kilograms of hydroponic weed, with an estimated market value of Rs 10.08 crore. This second bust, coming so soon after the first, underscored the scale of the smuggling network attempting to use Mumbai as a gateway. Customs officers confirmed that the drugs were concealed in a similar manner, hidden inside a trolley bag. The passenger, too, was arrested under the NDPS Act. Together, the two drug seizures alone added up to nearly Rs 20 crore worth of narcotics, making it one of the largest single-day busts at the airport in recent months. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The twin arrests, coupled with the foreign currency recovery, underline how Mumbai continues to be a crucial checkpoint for illegal financial and narcotics movement. For the officers on duty, the successful interceptions were not just about numbers but about ensuring that illicit money and drugs do not slip into wider circulation. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 05:37 IST News cities All In A Day's Work: Mumbai Customs Foils Foreign Currency Smuggling, Seizes Narcotics Worth Rs 20 Cr Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bengaluru's Traffic Nightmare Forces Emergency Meeting As Protests, Business Threats Escalate Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:32 IST At the centre of this crisis is Bengaluru, but one prominent pressure point is the 19-kilometre Outer Ring Road stretch between KR Puram Metro station and Silk Board Rapid Read + Follow us On Google The Outer Ring Road stretch between KR Puram Metro station and Silk Board alone is home to more than 500 IT firms, providing employment to nearly 9.5 lakh professionals. (PTI) The Karnataka government has convened an emergency high-level meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday, given the mounting complaints, protests, and even threats from companies to relocate from the city. The high-level emergency meeting will involve top officers of the newly formed Greater Bengaluru authority and will address issues along the IT corridor, including Sarjapur and Iblur junctions. Recommended Stories It is a serious problem and is being addressed, but it looks like it needs more paced action. Citizens are up in arms and with social media being used, there is a need to work faster and more efficiently. The monsoon also has been hampering work, but the government is doing its best to resolve the issue. The DCM has already announced a deadline of November. It will be met," said a source in the government to News18. Business leaders have repeatedly highlighted how Bengalurus poor roads and inadequate civic amenities are crippling daily life. Veteran figures such as Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, alongside senior executives of firms located in the citys IT clusters, have consistently flagged the problems. Employees face endless traffic snarls and delays in reaching their offices, with some companies openly considering moving operations elsewhere. Andhra Pradesh, in fact, has been wooing potential investors away from the city by promising smoother infrastructure. Karnatakas deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar insists the government is committed to fixing the issue. We are working to make Bengaluru pothole-free. Citizens and police are helping us by reporting problem spots. Funds have been released, and we are ensuring work is completed." But opposition leaders disagree. BJP leaders have accused the Congress government of destroying Brand Bengaluru" with mismanagement and corruption. One spell of rain and Bengaluru is flooded, potholes reappear, ambulances are stranded, and citizens suffer. This is the face of Congress misrule," leader of opposition R Ashok charged. At the centre of this crisis is Bengaluru, but one prominent pressure point is the 19-kilometre Outer Ring Road stretch between KR Puram Metro station and Silk Board. This corridor alone is home to more than 500 IT firms, providing employment to nearly 9.5 lakh professionals in high-paying jobs. It generates close to Rs 1.5 lakh crore in IT exports every year, contributing billions in foreign exchange. Industry insiders emphasise that every single kilometre of this road is worth nearly a billion dollars in forexan unmatched contribution by any other 1520 km stretch in the country. Yet, despite such economic significance, Outer Ring Road remains crippled by basic failures. Congested roads, flooding during rains, and lack of reliable public transport continue to frustrate both companies and their employees. Experts caution that without urgent corrective measures, Bengaluru risks losing its standing as Indias IT capital, with businesses already scouting for alternatives in rival states. Industry veterans say that ORR itself has eight lakh people use this stretch, which holds 93 million square feet of office space. There is no other road in the world with 93 million square feet of workspace and eight lakh employees. Nothing like this exists anywhere elseand yet, despite this scale, governance has completely failed. The discontent was amplified after Pai and Mazumdar-Shaw raised fresh concerns about the state of roads around Google Indias campus. Taking to social media, Pai appealed directly to IT Minister Priyank Kharge: Minister @PriyankKharge please intervene and help. @GoogleIndia campus here is the pride of Bengaluru. Please help that area," he wrote, tagging Shaw, Shivakumar, and Yulu co-founder RK Misra. Industry voices argue that neither the state nor the Centre has kept pace with the corridors rapid growth. Their demands include fast-tracking metro work, strengthening arterial links to ease traffic, implementing flood-control systems, and creating dependable world-class bus services. Some have even suggested chopper services from the airport and tax rebates for carpooling as short-term measures. People dont seem to realise how vital this road is. Many are too caught up in their own work, while the government looks away. The chief minister and his so-called guarantee government have handed out Rs 60,000 crore in freebies, but when it comes to fixing infrastructure, theres no money. Everyone is angry, everyone is upset. This government has turned into a total disaster," explained Pai. Highlighting the cost of inaction, Zippee CEO Madhav Kasturia claimed in a viral LinkedIn post that India loses over Rs 60,000 crore annually to traffic jams and pothole-ridden roads, more than the country spends on its defence against Pakistan. Governments can keep tweeting smart cities. The truth is, were running on dumb roads," Kasturia wrote, pointing to how delays and logistical breakdowns are draining the economy. He further cited the letter by BlackBuck co-founder Rajesh Yabaji, claiming to exit from Outer Ring Road after nine years due to the unbearable" commute. Thats business, leaving a city," he remarked. Later, Yabaji clarified that he was relocating within Bengaluru and not leaving. Data reinforces these concerns. Bengaluru is ranked the third-slowest city in the world, with average travel speeds of 10 km in 34 minutes. Mumbai and Delhi fare little better, while Tokyo covers the same distance in just 12 minutes. The average Indian urban commute is nearly 59 minutes one way, amounting to close to two hours lost every day per worker. Multiplied across 100 million professionals, the productivity losses stretch into several tens of thousands of crores. Shivakumar, meanwhile, has maintained that his government is committed to solving Bengalurus pothole issues". Defending his administration, he declared that the state would not be pressured into action by threats of companies moving out. If they are uncomfortable investing or being here, not happy with the work, they are free to go, but they cannot hold the government to ransom," Shivakumar said, responding to remarks by BlackBucks founder. Shivakumar also pointed to ongoing efforts. While the Opposition is busy with politics, we are working on easing the daily struggles of Bengalureans. Nearly 7,000 potholes have already been repaired and work continues on over 5,000 more. Citizens and the police are actively helping us by reporting problem spots across the city. Our government has released funds without bias, including Rs 25 crore to BJP MLAs for road works. But they choose blame games instead of getting the work done. Our government is committed to solutions that make life safer and smoother for our people. Namma Bengaluru was great, is great and will always be great." The Opposition, however, remains unrelenting in its criticism. Its leaders have declared that Brand Bengaluru is bleeding under CM @siddaramaiah & DCM @DKShivakumar." One statement read: Just one spell of rain and DCM DK Shivakumars Brand Bengaluru is reduced to flooded roads, potholes, stranded citizens, stalled ambulances, and fleeing companies. This is the true face of @INCKarnataka governancecorruption in contracts, zero planning, no scientific roadwork, and total negligence. Citizens suffer, economy suffers, image suffers. But CM & DCM are busy with only vote-bank politics. Bengaluru deserves world-class infrastructure, not this shameless misrule." For Bengalureans, the political blame game means little. Every day, they continue to inch through gridlocked traffic, dodging potholes that have become as much a part of the city as its tech parks. The uproar over the citys collapsing infrastructure has reached a point where alarm bells are ringing not only among citizens but also across the tech industry, which sustains the states economy. This entire monsoon season I have sought three days in a row of work from home. The roads are so bad, potholed roads making it worse. I lose energy by the time I am in office and back," explained Prassana Rao, who works in the ORR IT cluster. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Praveen Malik, who moved to Bengaluru just a few weeks ago with a new job, is trying to figure out his commute time. I end later in office each day as I am unable to predict the traffic congestion near Marathahalli. Sometimes I stare at the signal for nearly 30 mins, and when it does go green, its just 2 minutes and most vehicles are unable to pass within that time. If you look around, everybody is complaining, because its mayhem," he said. A group of residents from the SarjapurChikkabellandur area had planned a silent protest as they said enough was enough, but lack of permission forced them to withdraw it. We are planning a walk to office or cycle to office as a means of last hope because the roads are so bad and unmotorable now," said members of Cameralaram United Citizens forum. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously wor... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:32 IST News bengaluru-news Bengaluru's Traffic Nightmare Forces Emergency Meeting As Protests, Business Threats Escalate Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Karnataka Plans 'Rate Card' For Maids & Cooks; Fixed Wages, Medical Benefits & Pension On Agenda Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:20 IST The number of hours worked and the specific chores undertaken will be matched with a minimum wage programme. Each task will be assigned a price, which will then determine salary Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Top officials say as of now, many workers continue to operate under unfair conditions, receiving salaries far below what they deserve. (AI-generated image) Karnataka households will soon have a rate card to determine the salaries of their domestic help. This will be monitored and updated by the state government and will form a key part of the Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, which seeks to provide social security coverage, minimum wage protection, and welfare benefits for domestic workers across urban areas in the state. A five per cent welfare fee will also be levied if the Bill gets the green signal. As of now, there is no single fixed rate card" for domestic help in Karnataka. Wages vary widely between cities and rural areas, and top officials say many workers continue to operate under unfair conditions, receiving salaries far below what they deserve. Recommended Stories Karnataka is planning to introduce the Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill to address this. The legislation aims to extend social security coverage, ensure minimum wage protection, and provide welfare benefits for domestic workers in urban areas, Karnataka labour minister Santosh Lad told News18. Under the proposed framework, the number of hours worked and the specific chores undertaken will be matched with a minimum wage programme. Each task will be assigned a price, which will then determine the salary of the domestic worker, explained a senior government source working closely on the draft Bill. The Bill is expected to be presented to the cabinet within the next two weeks. There is a random determination of how much each task and number of hours worked is valued. The domestic worker must get what they deserve. There are workers who also face a lot of abuse. There are also instances where we have seen that there needs to be checks on domestic helps as well. There are a rising number of senior citizens in the state, who also have help, but we have seen unforeseen situations," explained the minister to News18. The effort is to have the workforce registered. The government should know how many are working, what they needmedical or other assistance. It can also serve as a data bank to provide these services with proper background verification," added Lad. This draft Bill lays out a rights-based, contributory framework requiring mandatory registration for every domestic worker, including maids, cooks, drivers, and nannies, as well as their employers and service providers. It also proposes the creation of a Karnataka State Domestic Workers Social Security and Welfare Board to oversee implementation, frame welfare schemes, and handle grievance redressal. One key feature of the Bill is the introduction of a welfare fee. Telangana had introduced a similar Bill for domestic workers, but Karnatakas version will be tailored to suit the states needs, the minister explained. The state government had earlier rolled out the Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Bill, 2024, and the Cine and Cultural Activists Welfare Bill, 2024, both establishing dedicated funds for worker benefits. The welfare fee levied shall be paid into the fund quarterly or every six months, with employers submitting a wage calculation sheet in the prescribed format and uploading it to the digital portal annually. If the annual statements do not match the actual welfare fee paid, the employer will be liable for penalties under the Act," the draft Bill states. Employers, service providers, and placement agencies, including digital platforms, will be required to contribute up to five per cent of the domestic workers wages or remuneration as the welfare fee. Payments will be made through digital transactions into the fund created under the Bill. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The tripartite welfare board will manage this fund, roll out welfare schemes, and conduct inspections. Benefits under the scheme will include compensation for workplace injuries, medical expenses, pensions, education support, and funeral assistance. The board will have equal representation from state government officials, domestic workers and their unions, employers and service providers (including platforms), and members of resident welfare associations. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously wor... Read More Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:20 IST News bengaluru-news Karnataka Plans 'Rate Card' For Maids & Cooks; Fixed Wages, Medical Benefits & Pension On Agenda Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi Riots Case: SC Again Defers Bail Hearing Of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam And Others Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 07:07 IST This marks the second consecutive adjournment for the petitioners, who are seeking bail under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) The outcome of the next hearing will be crucial, as the petitioners are making a last-ditch effort to challenge a series of lower court orders that have repeatedly denied them bail. File pic/PTI The Supreme Court on Friday once again adjourned the hearing on the bail pleas of activist Umar Khalid, activist Sharjeel Imam, and others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The matter, listed before a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Manmohan, was deferred to Monday, September 22. This marks the second consecutive adjournment for the petitioners, who are seeking bail under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Recommended Stories The petitions challenge a Delhi High Court order from September 2, which had denied bail to nine individuals, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The High Court had upheld the prosecutions argument that the violence was not a spontaneous event but a premeditated and well-orchestrated conspiracy". In its ruling, the High Court noted that the roles of the accused were prima facie grave" and that conspiratorial violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens" could not be allowed. Umar Khalid, who was arrested on September 13, 2020, has been in jail for over five years. His lawyers, along with those of Sharjeel Imam, have argued that their prolonged pre-trial detention is a violation of their fundamental right to a speedy trial and liberty. They have also sought bail on the grounds of parity, citing that some other co-accused in the case have previously been granted bail. The Delhi Police, however, has consistently opposed their release, maintaining that the accused were the masterminds" behind the communal violence that left 53 people dead and hundreds injured. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The outcome of the next hearing will be crucial, as the petitioners are making a last-ditch effort to challenge a series of lower court orders that have repeatedly denied them bail. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 07:06 IST News cities Delhi Riots Case: SC Again Defers Bail Hearing Of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam And Others Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbai Cruise Terminal, Indias Largest, Will Host THESE Ships Whens Next Scheduled Cruise Arrival Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 13:36 IST Located at Indira Dock, the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal is expected to become a major hub and is set to welcome millions of travellers in the coming years. Mumbai International Cruise Terminal will welcome international and regional cruises. (Photo Credits: X) Mumbai is ready to take a big step in tourism as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal today, September 20. Located at Indira Dock, this modern terminal is expected to become a major hub and is set to welcome millions of travellers in the coming years. With world-class infrastructure and services, the terminal will attract large ships from around the world. Ahead of its official launch, many now wonder how many ships it can manage together and when the next cruise is scheduled to arrive. The terminal is gearing up to welcome both international and regional cruises, including Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Millennium, Regent Seven Seas Seven Seas Navigator, Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, Oceania Cruises Sirena and Nautica, as well as Silverseas Silver Muse. Alongside these global names, Indias own Cordelia Cruises will continue to offer routes to destinations like Goa, Lakshadweep and Kochi. Recommended Stories How Many Cruise Ships Can The Mumbai Terminal Handle Simultaneously The Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, which covers a total area of 415,000 square feet, has the capacity to dock up to five cruise liners at the same time, which will be useful during the busy travel seasons. For passenger convenience, the terminal has 72 counters to handle check-in and immigration processes smoothly. On the other hand, a large parking facility with space for more than 300 vehicles has been provided for travellers and visitors to access the terminal without hassle. When Is The Next Scheduled Cruise Arrival In Mumbai top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The next cruise scheduled to arrive at the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal is the Cordelia Empress on September 22. The ship will dock in Mumbai and depart to Goa and Lakshadweep on the same day before returning to Mumbai on 27 September. The Mumbai International Cruise Terminal has been designed to handle up to 7 lakh passengers, can accommodate cruise ships carrying up to 500 passengers and has the capacity to manage nearly 200 cruise ships every year. It is part of the Cruise Bharat Mission, which focuses on cruise tourism in India. The goal of this programme is to raise interest in cruise travel and make India a major hub for it. As part of the plan, the government wants to see the number of cruise passengers in the country increase in the next five years, reaching this target by 2029. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 13:36 IST News mumbai-news Mumbai Cruise Terminal, Indias Largest, Will Host THESE Ships Whens Next Scheduled Cruise Arrival Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Multiple Delhi Schools, Including DPS Dwarka, Receive Bomb Threats; Students Evacuated Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 08:19 IST Recently, there has been a rise in cases of bomb threat across the country. Delhi Schools Bomb Threat (Pexels/Representative Image) Several schools in Delhi received bomb threat calls on Saturday morning, creating an environment of panic. The schools that were targeted include DPS Dwarka, Krishna Model Public School and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. On receiving the information, police teams along with bomb disposal squads were rushed to the schools. Recommended Stories The students and staff members were safely evacuated as precautionary measures, and thorough searches of the premises are underway. In a separate incident, a school in the national capital also received a bomb threat on August 22. The information regarding the bomb threat was received by the Delhi Fire Service at 7 AM, prompting the police and fire department teams to rush to the spot. Even on August 21, at least six schools in the city had received bomb threats through email, including Andhra School in Prasad Nagar, BGS International School, Rao Man Singh School, Convent School, Max Fort School, and Indraprastha International School, Dwarka. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On August 20, nearly 50 schools in Delhi received bomb threats again through email. Searches were conducted before the cops declared them a hoax". On August 18, as many as 32 schools across the national capital had received similar threats, which later turned out to be hoax. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 08:11 IST News new-delhi-news Multiple Delhi Schools, Including DPS Dwarka, Receive Bomb Threats; Students Evacuated Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Defying Digital Dependency: Himachal Bans Mobile Phone Use By Students, Teachers In Govt Schools Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 06:37 IST Schools have been directed to ensure the availability of a functional landline telephone and to provide its number to parents and guardians According to the Department of Education, the rationale behind the ban is to address a range of issues, from academic underperformance to mental and physical health concerns. (Representational photo) In a significant policy decision aimed at enhancing the academic environment and curbing digital distractions, the Himachal Pradesh government has imposed a complete ban on the use of mobile phones by both students and teachers during school hours. The directive, issued on Friday by the Directorate of School Education, applies to all government schools across the state. Recommended Stories The official order explicitly states that students are completely prohibited from bringing mobile phones to school. For teachers, the ban is a measure to ensure focused instruction and meaningful interaction with students. The directive requires teachers to deposit their mobile devices in the staff room or a designated secure location under CCTV surveillance before entering classrooms. The move comes as a response to growing concerns over the negative impacts of excessive mobile phone use, which officials have identified as a major cause of distraction, not just for students but for educators as well. According to the Department of Education, the rationale behind the ban is to address a range of issues, from academic underperformance to mental and physical health concerns. The order highlighted that constant use of mobile phones can lead to psychological issues such as anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. Furthermore, it cited physical problems like eye strain, hearing issues, and a sedentary lifestyle as direct consequences of prolonged gadget use. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To address the practical concerns of communication during emergencies, schools have been directed to ensure the availability of a functional landline telephone and to provide its number to parents and guardians. This ensures that a crucial channel of communication remains open without compromising the integrity of the new policy. The successful implementation of this ban will depend on the cooperation of all stakeholders and will be closely monitored by deputy directors of education, with schools required to prominently display the new rules on their notice boards. This policy positions Himachal Pradesh among a growing number of regions globally that are actively working to reclaim classrooms from digital dependency. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 06:37 IST News education-career Defying Digital Dependency: Himachal Bans Mobile Phone Use By Students, Teachers In Govt Schools Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... EMRS Recruitment 2025: Application Begins For 7,267 Teacher Posts; Check Details Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 17:15 IST Interested and eligible candidates can apply by visiting the official website of the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) at emrs.tribal.gov.in. The application process for EMRS recruitment will conclude on October 23, 2025. (Representative/Getty Images) The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has begun the recruitment drive for various teaching and non-teaching positions at Eklavya Model Residential Schools. This initiative by the Government of India aims to provide modern education and facilities to students in remote areas. A total of 7,267 positions will be filled at the Eklavya Schools. Eklavya Model Schools are recruiting both teaching and non-teaching staff. Eligible candidates, including teachers and hostel wardens, can apply online at emrs.tribal.gov.in. Before applying for positions like Principal, PGT, TGT, and Hostel Warden, it is advisable to read the teacher recruitment notification to understand the eligibility criteria, application fees, and process details. Recommended Stories The application process which began on October 19 will conclude on October 23, 2025. Candidates for the Eklavya Model School teacher recruitment will be selected based on a written examination conducted by NESTS. Eklavya Model School Recruitment 2025: Vacancy Details A total of 7,267 vacant posts will be filled through this recruitment drive, categorised as follows: Post Graduate Teachers (PGT): 1,460 posts (in subjects like Hindi, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Commerce, Economics, and Computer Science) Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT): 2,550 posts (in subjects like Hindi, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science) TGT for Regional Languages: 223 posts Music, Art, Physical Education Teachers (PET), and Librarians: 1,189 posts Hostel Warden: 635 posts Teacher Selection Process and Eligibility Criteria TGT and PGT posts require a graduate and post-graduate degree in the relevant subject along with a teaching qualification like B.Ed. Positions like hostel warden have different educational qualifications. Detailed educational qualifications and age limits for each position are provided in the official notification. How To Apply For Eklavya School Teacher Recruitment? Step 1 Interested and eligible candidates can apply by visiting the official website of the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) at emrs.tribal.gov.in. Step 2 Click on the recruitment application form. Step 3 Fill out the required details. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Step 4 Pay the application fees. Step 5 Submit the form and take a print out for further use. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 17:12 IST News education-career EMRS Recruitment 2025: Application Begins For 7,267 Teacher Posts; Check Details Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... The big news on Wednesday was the quarter-point interest cut by the Federal Reserve. While the White House was looking for a half-point cut, the markets dont seem fazed by the move, primarily because the Fed is likely to cut rates in the final two Fed meetings of 2025. As a result, premarket trading on Thursday showed the S&P 500 futures hitting a record high. More News from Barchart There were 862 calls and 433 puts in yesterday's unusual options activity. The put/call volume ratio of 0.50 is extremely bullish. Scrolling through the 1,295 unusually active options from yesterdays action, the stocks with 30-day DTEs (days to expiration) jumped out at me. According to Barchart data, there were 11 stocks with an Oct. 17 expiration that had both calls and puts, the building blocks for long and short strangles. Here are two worth considering, one long and one short. Lyft (LYFT) Lyft (LYFT) had six unusually active options yesterday, with four calls and two puts. The $25 call strike expiring on Oct. 17 had the highest Vol/OI (volume-to-open-interest) ratio at 25.90, the fifth-highest of options expiring in 30 days. The long strangle involves buying a call option and buying a put option at a lower strike price. The strategy is used when you expect increased volatility resulting in a big move in either direction between now and expiration, in this case, 30 days. The short strangle involves selling a call option and selling a put option at a lower strike price. The strategy is used when you expect decreased volatility, resulting in the share price remaining within a specific range between now and expiration. Ill use the $25 call because of its Vol/OI ratio. Now I need to pair it with a put from the two yesterday. Lyfts stock is up 21% in the past five days and 73% year-to-date. It is trading at its highest level since April 2022. The question is whether the latest move, which resulted from yesterdays big announcement that it would launch autonomous ride-hailing services with Waymo in Nashville by 2026, will increase or decrease the stocks volatility over the next 30 days. As Barchart contributor Elizabeth Volk wrote yesterday, Lyft has already met and exceeded Wall Streets 12-month price target of $16.88; investors should proceed with caution at these prices. H-1B Workers Leaving The US: Does Trumps $100,000 Fee Apply On Re-Entry? | FAQs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 13:24 IST Trumps proclamation takes effect on 21 September 2025. Heres what it means if you are already in the US on H-1B and plan to travel abroad Under a proclamation that takes effect on 21 September 2025, employers will now need to pay a $100,000 fee for every H-1B worker entering the US. US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a sweeping change to the H-1B visa programme, arguing that it has been abused for years by outsourcing companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour. Under a proclamation that takes effect on 21 September 2025, employers will now need to pay a $100,000 fee for every H-1B worker entering the US. The order has triggered alarm among H-1B holders, particularly those already in the US who may need to travel abroad. The big question is: if you leave the US and come back, does this fee hit you too? Heres what the proclamation actually says. Recommended Stories What Exactly Does Trumps Proclamation Say? The proclamation restricts the entry of new H-1B non-immigrant workers unless their sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 petition fee. It takes effect at 12:01 am EDT on 21 September 2025 (9:31 am IST) and will remain in force for 12 months, until September 2026, unless extended. It also directs: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to block petitions not accompanied by the $100,000 payment for workers outside the US. The State Department to ensure H-1B beneficiaries do not sidestep the new rule by using B-1/B-2 visas (business/tourist visas). For example, if someone has an H-1B job in the US starting before 1 October 2026, they cannot first enter on a visitor visa to avoid the $100,000 requirement. Trump said the measure is necessary because the H-1B programme has been deliberately exploited" by IT outsourcing companies, leading to wage suppression, layoffs of American workers, and what he described as threats to economic and national security. If You Leave US And Return, Does The $100,000 Fee Apply? Yes. The proclamation states that the restriction applies to anyone who enters or attempts to enter" the US after the rule takes effect. The text does not explicitly mention each crossing" or multiple trips." What it requires is that the H-1B petition covering the workers entry must carry the $100,000 payment. If a worker is already inside the US, they are not blocked. But if that worker travels abroad and seeks to re-enter, their admission will be judged under this rule. If the petition supporting their visa stamp has not been accompanied or supplemented by the $100,000, they cannot be admitted. Re-entry uncertainty: The proclamation does not say whether the fee applies to every single trip. It only ties the requirement to entry," which could mean employers may be asked to show that the petition used for re-entry has the payment attached. How this will be enforced for frequent travellers is not yet clear. Renewal/annual uncertainty: The proclamation also does not specify whether the fee must be paid once per petition or on a recurring basis. But according to Reuters, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said it would cost $100,000 a year for each of the three years of its duration," while also admitting details were still being considered." What About Visa Extensions Inside The US? The new fee does not apply to extensions or status changes filed while the worker remains in the country, since they are not entering" again. However, once that worker travels abroad and seeks to return, the petition will need the $100,000 payment. Are There Any Exemptions? Yes. The proclamation states that the restriction shall not apply to any individual alien, all aliens working for a company, or all aliens working in an industry" if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that hiring them is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States. In practice, this means the Secretary has wide discretion to exempt individual workers, specific companies, or even entire industries. High-skilled or critical roles could therefore bypass the $100,000 fee if they are judged essential. Why Has Trump Imposed This Cost? The proclamation argues that the H-1B programme has been deliberately exploited" to replace American workers rather than supplement them. It cites several trends to justify the new $100,000 fee: The foreign share of US computer and math jobs grew from 17.7 per cent in 2000 to 26.1 per cent in 2019, with the number of foreign STEM workers doubling in that period. IT outsourcing firms now dominate the programme, with their share of H-1B approvals rising from 32 per cent in 2003 to more than 65 per cent in recent years. A study is quoted showing that H-1B entry-level" jobs come at a 36 per cent discount compared to traditional American roles, creating pressure to shut local IT divisions and outsource instead. Companies have laid off thousands of American workers while securing thousands of H-1B approvals. One example cited was a software company that cut 15,000 jobs while receiving approval for over 5,000 H-1Bs in 2025. American workers reported being forced to train their H-1B replacements and sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of severance. The proclamation concludes that these abuses undermine wages, limit opportunities for new graduates, and even threaten national security. By imposing a steep cost, Trump says companies will be compelled to use the visa only for the best of the best" foreign workers rather than for bulk hiring at lower wages. How Long Will This Rule Last? The restriction is set for 12 months, expiring in September 2026 unless extended. The proclamation requires that, within 30 days after the next H-1B lottery, the Secretaries of State, Labour, and Homeland Security, along with the Attorney General, jointly advise the President on whether to extend or modify it. What Does This Mean For H-1B Workers And Employers? For employers, the rule dramatically increases the cost of bringing in workers from abroad, especially if employees need to travel frequently. For workers: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Already in the US: You can continue working. But if you leave, re-entry will depend on your petition having the $100,000 payment attached. New applicants abroad: Entry is blocked unless your employer pays the fee upfront. The coming months will show whether exemptions are used widely, how compliance is enforced, and whether the rule remains temporary or is extended. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 11:24 IST News explainers H-1B Workers Leaving The US: Does Trumps $100,000 Fee Apply On Re-Entry? | FAQs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Is Machu Picchu At Risk Of Losing Its 'New 7 Wonders' Title? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 12:43 IST Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel situated 7,970 feet above sea level, is located approximately 80 kilometres from Cuzco, Peru. (Getty images) Machu Picchu, the famous Inca city high in the Andes of Peru, has been one of the New Seven Wonders of the World for nearly 20 years. Now, the Swiss group New7Wonders, which organised the vote in 2007, says the site could lose this title because of growing problems. The concerns stem from mounting challenges, including overtourism, inadequate conservation policies, and escalating local conflicts. Recommended Stories The designation implies a shared commitment to the conservation and responsible management of the site, as well as the implementation of international preservation and management standards," the organisation said in a statement. A Global Icon Under Pressure Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel situated 7,970 feet above sea level, is located approximately 80 kilometres from Cuzco, Peru. It was introduced to the wider world in 1911 by Yale University professor Hiram Bingham, guided by locals. Although often mistakenly called the lost city of the Incas," the site has long been recognised as a cultural treasure. In 1983, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By 2007, after garnering over 100 million votes, it secured its place among the New Seven Wonders of the World. Today, Machu Picchu remains Perus top tourist draw, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annuallyaround 5,000 people a day. But this popularity has come at a cost. Tourism Strain And Conservation Efforts The sheer volume of visitors has accelerated wear and tear on the site. Tourists often leave behind waste, while residents struggle with rising costs and overcrowded streets. In response, the Peruvian government has introduced new measures: Annual closures of the Inca Trail for maintenance. Mandatory advance ticketing. Group limits of 10 people per guide. Strict four-hour visitation windows. Expanded bathroom and waste disposal facilities. Yet, experts warn these steps may not be enough. The risk of permanent damage remains high, and some travel outlets have begun advising against visiting. Earlier this year, Travel and Tour World even downgraded Machu Picchu, calling it no longer worth the hassle." Local Conflicts Add To The Struggle The situation is further complicated by unrest in the region. Just this week, the US Embassy in Peru advised against visiting Machu Picchu after nearly 1,000 tourists were stranded. On Monday, protests erupted over control of the route to the site, with locals blocking train tracks using logs and rocks. This led to PeruRail suspending services, leaving hundreds stranded. Around 1,400 tourists were evacuated, followed by another 156 in later operations. Although demonstrators agreed to pause protests temporarily, tensions remain high. The US State Department has also placed Peru under a Level 2 travel advisory, citing risks of crime, civil unrest, and even kidnapping. Could Machu Picchu Lose Its Wonder Status? According to New7Wonders, the answer is maybe." In a letter to Perus government, the organisation warned that if unrest escalates and conservation challenges remain unresolved, Machu Picchu could lose its spot among the New Seven Wonders. This is premature, especially as we believe all stakeholders can and should consider this a wake-up call to get the house of Machu Picchu in order," New7Wonders director Jean-Paul de la Fuente told CNN. He added that the foundation has an adviser in Peru ready to support short- and long-term solutions. UNESCO Status Remains Safe Despite the warning, Machu Picchus UNESCO heritage status is not under threat. Perus Ministry of Culture stressed on X that UNESCO is the only competent body to promote the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage." It added that Machu Picchu remains firmly on UNESCOs World Heritage List and is not being violated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At the 47th meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris this July, UNESCO praised Peru for improvements in visitor management and the introduction of new conservation tools at the site. For now, Machu Picchu continues to balance its role as a global tourist magnet with the urgent need for preservation and stability. Whether it retains its New Seven Wonders title depends on how effectively authorities, locals, and international bodies can work together to protect this ancient jewel of the Andes. 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: September 20, 2025, 12:43 IST News explainers Is Machu Picchu At Risk Of Losing Its 'New 7 Wonders' Title? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trumps $100K H-1B Fee: How It Impacts India And Why The US Isn't Immune Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:08 IST The new fee hits Indians hardest, but experts warn it also undercuts Americas innovation edge, hurting startups, Big Tech, and research labs that depend on global talent Trump H1-B Visa News: US President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order on gold card visa in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that fundamentally alters the H-1B visa regime. Starting this year, anyone applying for an H-1B visa must pay a $100,000 fee for their application to be processed. The administration claims the move will protect American jobs and ensure only the most skilled" foreign workers enter. But the sharp increase is set to hit Indians the hardest. India accounts for the overwhelming majority of H-1B holders, and the new costs could reshape hiring patterns in both Silicon Valley and Indian IT. Recommended Stories What Has Trump Announced On H-1B Visas? Trumps proclamation takes effect from 12:01 am EDT on September 21, 2025 (9:31 am IST), the same day. From that moment, no H-1B worker can enter the US unless the sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 fee. Employers must provide proof of this fee, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security have been directed to reject any petition that does not include it. The restriction will remain in force for 12 months, unless extended. The order specifies that it applies only to those entering or attempting to enter the US after the effective date. This means the levy primarily targets new applicants abroad, not workers already in the US filing routine extensions. However, existing H-1B holders would also be caught if they travel overseas and require visa stamping to return. Until now, H-1B visas have carried various administrative fees totalling around $1,500, as per BBC. The new requirement therefore marks a massive jump. If enforced at every re-entry, such as when a worker leaves and needs a fresh visa stamp, the cost of a typical three-year stay could run into several hundred thousand dollars. Exemptions will be rare, left to the discretion of the Homeland Security Secretary, who may waive the levy for individuals, companies, or even entire industries if deemed in the national interest." Why Indians Will Be The Most Hit Indians dominate the H-1B program. Roughly 7173 per cent of all approvals in recent years have gone to Indians, compared with 1112 per cent for China. In FY 2023, India received 191,000 H-1B visas; in FY 2024, that rose to about 207,000. That means over 200,000 Indian professionals currently on H-1Bs could be directly impacted. The financial exposure is staggering. Even if a conservative 60,000 Indians are hit immediately, the annual burden is $6 billion (about Rs 53,000 crore). A full sweep could push Indias annual bill to Rs 1.8 lakh crore. For individuals, the math is even harsher. A mid-level Indian engineer in the US earning $120,000 annually would see the $100,000 visa levy swallow over 80 per cent of their pay, making migration unviable for all but the highest-paid. Indians also dominate the pool of international students in the US who transition to H-1Bs after completing a masters or PhD. For them, the six-figure levy could shut the door on career prospects in America. How US Tech And Indian IT Firms Are Affected The impact will ripple across industries. Indian IT consultancies such as Infosys, TCS, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Cognizant have historically relied on H-1B visas to post thousands of engineers onsite at American client locations. This delivery model is now under strain: the $100,000 levy makes it prohibitively expensive to send junior or mid-level staff to the US. Companies will be forced to rethink their operating model. More work will shift back to India or to near-shore hubs in Canada and Mexico," said a senior executive at a Bengaluru-based IT firm. The Trump administration insists the fee is both justified and widely accepted. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed that all the big companies are on board" but American big tech players are equally exposed. According to Reuters, in just the first half of 2025, Amazon and AWS secured approvals for more than 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta each cleared over 5,000. The exposure extends well beyond tech. Bloomberg recently reported that banks such as Citigroup and Capital One, along with telecom giants Verizon and AT&T, have quietly become some of the largest end-users of H-1B contractors. For these companies, the $100,000 fee is not an easy compromise but a direct threat to critical talent pipelines in cloud computing, AI, and semiconductors. Startups and research labs, which rely on attracting niche talent from abroad, may find it nearly impossible to justify the new costs. The legality of the levy is also contested. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council noted that Congress has only authorised the government to set fees to recover the cost of adjudicating an application," questioning whether a six-figure charge can withstand legal scrutiny. What Is The Rationale Behind The Fee Hike? The White House frames the move as a job protection measure. Staff secretary Will Scharf described H-1B as one of the most abused visa systems" and argued the fee will ensure only genuinely highly skilled professionals are brought in. Howard Lutnick was more blunt: No more will big tech companies train foreign workers at low cost. They have to pay the government $100,000 and then pay the employee. Its simply not economical. The priority now is to train Americans from our universities and stop outsourcing jobs." Trump himself said the step would reduce overuse" of the program, insisting companies should train one of the recent graduates from the great universities across our land" instead of hiring cheaper foreign talent. How This Fits Into Trumps Wider Immigration Crackdown The H-1B order is part of a broader immigration overhaul Trump has pursued since taking office in January. The administration has already rolled out other sweeping changes that reshape how foreigners enter and work in the US. One is the so-called Gold Card" visa, an investor scheme designed to attract ultra-wealthy applicants. Under the order, permanent residency can be granted to individuals who invest $5 million or more, or to companies that pay $2 million to fast-track a sponsored worker. Another is the rollback of pandemic-era interview waivers. Since 2 September, nearly all non-immigrant visa applicants have been asked to attend in-person consular interviews, adding delays to an already backlogged system and making routine renewals more cumbersome. Put together, the three steps the $100,000 H-1B fee, the end of interview waivers, and the Gold Card residency scheme signal a consistent philosophy: make entry tougher for skilled workers and students while easing pathways for wealthy investors. What Happens Next For Indian Workers And US Companies? The United States issues 85,000 H-1Bs annually through a lottery, 65,000 general and 20,000 for advanced degree holders. With the new $100,000 fee, the lottery may see fewer applications, as smaller firms and new graduates pull back. For Indian workers already on H-1Bs, the same annual charge will also apply at renewal. Lutnick even suggested the levy could be imposed each year of a visas validity, meaning a single worker might cost an employer as much as $300,000 over a three-year term, but he also said that the details were still being considered.". That prospect could force some to return home, disrupt career plans, and make the path to green cards even steeper. Large employers may selectively sponsor only the most specialised, high-paying roles. That would narrow opportunities for Indian juniors, while reinforcing wage-based prioritisation. The levy could transform H-1B from a broad skilled-worker pathway into an exclusive channel for only the most highly specialised and well-paid jobs. The Bottom Line top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With Indians holding nearly three-quarters of these visas, they stand to lose the most, whether through fewer opportunities, prohibitive costs, or disrupted career paths. The policy may raise short-term revenue and appeal to domestic workers. But eMarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman told Reuters it risks taxing away [Americas] innovation edge," while Menlo Ventures partner Deedy Das warned on X that imposing such fees will deter top global talent. Together, their concerns underscore fears that the measure could ultimately push more jobs offshore, hurting both the US economy and the Indian professionals who have long powered its growth. About the Author Amit Shukla Amit Shukla, Executive Editor at CNN-News18, heads the Input Desk, overseeing news gathering, editorial planning, and news coordination. First Published: September 20, 2025, 08:58 IST News explainers Trumps $100K H-1B Fee: How It Impacts India And Why The US Isn't Immune Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 1 Army Soldier Injured After Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces And Terrorists In Udhampur Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 11:24 IST The White Knight Corps established contact with terrorists on Friday, after which an encounter broke out. An exchange of fire took place between security forces and terrorists (Representative image) An Indian Army soldier was injured during an encounter that broke out between security forces and terrorists in Udhampur on Friday. The injured official was rushed to the nearby Command Hospital and is currently undergoing treatment in the Seoj Dhar area of Udhampur. According to a post by the White Knight Corps on Friday, a contact was established with the terrorists at the Doda-Udhampur border. Nearly two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped. Recommended Stories Update | Contact Site of the ongoing operation is Doda-Udhampur border. Operation continues.." said the White Knight Corps, in a post on X. After almost an hour, in a second post, the White Night Corps gave an update about the encounter in the Kishtwar area. #WhiteKnightCorps | #OpUpdate*Contact with Terrorists* In an intelligence-based operation in the general area of Kishtwar, alert troops of #WhiteKnightCorps established contact with terrorists at around 8 pm on 19 Sep 25. Exchange of fire took place. Operations are currently White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) September 19, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In an intelligence-based operation in the general area of Kishtwar, alert troops of #WhiteKnightCorps established contact with terrorists at around 8 pm on 19 Sep 25. Exchange of fire took place. Operations are currently in progress," White Knight Corps had said in a post on X at 10.33 pm on Friday. IGP Jammu also confirmed about the encounter i s post on X,"On actionable intelligence, contact established with terrorists at Seoj Dhar. Encounter in progress. Joint teams of SOG-JKP and Indian Army on ground." About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 11:06 IST News india 1 Army Soldier Injured After Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces And Terrorists In Udhampur Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 384 IDs Linked To Delhi Schools Get Threat Mails From 'Terror Group Owner', Probe On | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:00 IST Cops consider the emails to be non-credible, likely sent to incite fear and confusion Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Police personnel keep vigil outside Sarvodaya (Co-Ed) Senior Secondary school after it received a bomb threat. (PTI) A series of threatening emails targeted Delhis schools yet again, with messages sent to more than 350 email IDs directly or indirectly linked to educational institutions. According to sources, as many as 384 unique IDs were targeted, including those belonging to principals, administrators, and general school contact addresses. Investigators said of these, nearly 192 belonged directly to schoolswith domains ending in school.org, .edu, or .ac.inwhile others were a mix of staff, alumni, and associated contacts. An initial probe has revealed that the emails were sent from an IP address using Google servers, and Google has been approached to provide technical details of the sender. Recommended Stories The threatening messages, many carrying similar wording, were delivered in the early hours of the school day, sparking panic among staff and parents. The schools that reported receiving the threat emails included Air Force Bal Bharati School, Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute, Alwar Public School, Amity International School, Delhi Police Public School, Modern Convent School, Mothers International School, and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya. So far, cops consider the emails to be non-credible, likely sent to incite fear and confusion. Security Stepped Up Delhi Police immediately dispatched teams to the affected schools and increased deployment on campus gates. Bomb disposal squads were pressed into service, and additional patrolling was carried out around vulnerable areas. Investigation Underway top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Along with Delhi Police, central agencies are now involved in tracing the source of the emails. Investigators are examining digital trails and IP addresses, though officials noted that the messages appear to have been routed through both domestic and international servers, complicating efforts to pinpoint the sender. So far, the threats appear to be part of a coordinated spam or hoax campaign, but we are treating them with utmost seriousness," said a senior police officer. About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, p... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 10:00 IST News india 384 IDs Linked To Delhi Schools Get Threat Mails From 'Terror Group Owner', Probe On | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Piyush Goyal Likely To Visit Washington Soon For Trade Talks: Report Published By : PTI Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 08:15 IST Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks. He held deliberations with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks.(Image: Piyush Goyal Office/file photo) With the India-US trade talks moving in the right direction, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington soon, sources said. The visit comes in the backdrop of recently concluded daylong discussions here between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. Recommended Stories The commerce ministers visit is likely soon may be in the next few days for the trade talks," they said. On September 16, the commerce ministry stated that daylong discussions with the visiting US team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, and both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," the ministry said in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US officials. The talks were important as the US has imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. The visit of the high-ranking US trade officials was first after the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market for buying Russian crude oil. In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025. So far, five rounds of negotiations have been held. The pact is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion. Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks. He held deliberations with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US remained Indias largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports). The US accounts for about 18 per cent of Indias total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the countrys total merchandise trade. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 07:01 IST News india Piyush Goyal Likely To Visit Washington Soon For Trade Talks: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Biggest Enemy Is Dependence': PM Modi's Big Remark Amid Tariff, H-1B Visa Concerns Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 13:15 IST The Prime Minister further said that we cannot leave India's development on other countries, and put the future generations at stake. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone for several developmental projects in Gujarat. After the inauguration, the prime minister addressed a rally in Bhavnagar and reiterated the need for self-reliance. Today, India is moving forward with the spirit of Vishwabandhu. We have no major enemy in the world. Our biggest enemy is our dependence on other countries. This is our biggest enemy, and together we must defeat this enemy of India, the enemy of dependence," he said. Recommended Stories The greater the foreign dependence, the greater the countrys failure. For global peace, stability, and prosperity, the country with the worlds largest population must become Atmanirbhar. If we remain dependent on others, our self-respect will be hurt. We cannot leave the future of 1.4 billion countrymen to others," added the Prime Minister. #WATCH | Gujarat | Addressing a public rally in Bhavnagar, PM Modi says, Duniya mein koi hamara bada dushman nahi hai. Agar hamara koi dushman hai toh woh hai dusre deshon par hamari nirbharta"Today, India is moving forward with the spirit of Vishwabandhu. We have no pic.twitter.com/f6zNRbN9Rc ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2025 The Prime Minister further said that we cannot leave Indias development on other countries, and put the future generations at stake There is only one medicine for a hundred sorrows, and that is a self-reliant India," he said. PM Modis remark comes amid the growing concern after US President Donald Trump announced a change in the application fee for H-1B visa. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Anyone who will be applying for the H-1B visa now will have to pay $100,000 as an application fee, an amount which is reportedly more than the median annual salary of a fresh H-1B visa holder. About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : Gujarat, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 12:37 IST News india 'Biggest Enemy Is Dependence': PM Modi's Big Remark Amid Tariff, H-1B Visa Concerns Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Clash Breaks Out In Vadodara Over Social Media Post, 50 Detained; Authorities On Alert Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 14:13 IST The officials are taking action against those involved in the case and have so far detained more than 50 people. Screengrab of video of clash in Vadodara (Credits: News18) A communal clash broke out in Vadodaras Junigarhi area after an AI-generated post allegedly targeting a Muslim place of worship went viral on social media. The post shared by a Hindu youth triggered tensions in the area, leading to stone pelting. Several vehicles and shops were vandalised during the incident, and a large crowd from the minority community gathered outside the city police station, blocked the road, and demanded action against the youth responsible for the post. Recommended Stories The situation was brought under control after the police reached the spot, acting promptly. Speaking about the incident, DCP Andrew Macwan said, The situation is overall peaceful and under control. An objectionable post appeared on social media, prompting people to protest near the City Police Station (last night). During this time, stone-pelting also occurred in the Junigarhi area. Police took immediate action and brought the situation under control." The official informed that they are taking action against those involved and have so far detained more than 50 people in connection with the clash and the stone-pelting incident. Police are monitoring the situation and are filing an FIR. Police appeal to the public not to pay attention to any rumours. We will take the strictest possible action," said the officer. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There will be police patrolling in Vadodara city so that everyone can celebrate the upcoming festivals peacefully. On Social media, an objectionable post was placed, due to which people protested. Two separate FIRs have been filed. The injured include civilians and police," he added. A further probe into the matter is underway. About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More Location : Vadodara, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 14:12 IST News india Clash Breaks Out In Vadodara Over Social Media Post, 50 Detained; Authorities On Alert Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Heaps Praises On PM Modi, Calls Him 'Strong Father, Caring Mother' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:21 IST Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described PM Modi a "saint" and described his humble demeanour towards other politicians. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Delhi CM Rekha Gupta convened a special meeting of the Department of Trade and Taxes at her camp office in Civil Lines. (Image: PTI/File) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his down-to-earth behaviour with his party workers, saying that he behaved like a strong father" at one moment and a caring mother" in the next. In an interview with NDTV, Gupta called PM Modi a saint" and described his humble demeanour towards other politicians. Hes so down-to-earth that one feels he is like a strong father who can make all kinds of decisions. The next moment, he feels like a caring mother, telling us to take care of ourselves, eat on time, meditate and practice yoga, and study," she said. Recommended Stories Her remarks come days after Prime Minister Modi celebrated his 75th birthday on September 17. Several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Italian PM Georgia Meloni, and others, extended their greetings on his birthday. Many of these wishes highlighted Indias growing global influence. In response, the BJP leader expressed his gratitude to the world leaders for greetings on his 75th birthday. Delhis Issues, Focus On Women Meanwhile, Rekha Gupta also discussed issues of waterlogging, the Yamuna River and women-centred initiatives in the national capital after over six months of her government in Delhi. She told NDTV that efforts are underway to clean the polluted Yamuna River, which was never done by the previous government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Speaking on the BJPs focus on women, Gupta said, No other party gives women as much opportunity in electoral politics as they do in the BJP. Im not saying this because the BJP made workers like me Chief Ministers. Im saying this as a common man." She also spoke about the August 20 incident, when she was attacked by a man during a Jan Sunwai event, asserting that it would not keep her from meeting the public. I didnt listen to my security and was always with the people during public hearings. There was no checking. Thousands of people came to meet me, and I stood with everyone," she said. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:21 IST News india Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Heaps Praises On PM Modi, Calls Him 'Strong Father, Caring Mother' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Madhya Pradesh Man Paraded With Shoe Garland Over 'Unnatural Act With Cow' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 22:52 IST Police identified the accused as Mohammad Shahid, who was booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and section 170 of the BNSS Madhya Pradesh Police launched a probe | Image: Representative A 55-year-old man was allegedly paraded through a village in Madhya Pradeshs Agar Malwa district on Saturday with a garland of shoes around his neck, after being accused of committing an unnatural act with a cow. The incident took place in the village market under the Nalakheda police station limits, officials said. Recommended Stories Police identified the accused as Mohammad Shahid, who was booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and section 170 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), which allows preventive detention in cognisable cases. Sub-Inspector Sardar Singh Parmar said Shahid was taken to the Baragaon police outpost as soon as officers received information. He denied reports that Shahid was paraded in the presence of police. He was shifted immediately once we got the information," Parmar said. Nalakheda Station House Officer Nagesh Yadav confirmed that Shahid was issued a notice and produced before the Tehsildars court, which later sent him to judicial custody under the BNSS. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to police, Shahid allegedly committed the act on September 9 near an Eidgah in the village, where he was seen by some locals. On Saturday, they informed members of a local Hindu organisation, who then paraded him while raising slogans. Location : Madhya Pradesh, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 22:52 IST News india Madhya Pradesh Man Paraded With Shoe Garland Over 'Unnatural Act With Cow' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... New trade and tariff policies, geopolitical spats, and a race to monetize AI is making for some unique tech-sector dance partners in 2025 and the latest one's a real eye-opener. Exhibit A is Nvidias September 18 alignment with computer networking giant Intel, in a partnership that pairs two of the best-known names in tech. Under the terms of the deal, Nvidia plans to take a $5 billion stake in network computing kingpin Intel as the two companies have agreed to co-develop data center and PC chips. The news comes on the heels of the U.S. government acquiring a 9.9% stake in Intel via an $8.9 billion investment last month. Nvidia will buy Intel shares for $23.28, slightly less than the company's closing price on Wednesday, but more than the $20.47 per share the government paid. The deal will require regulatory approvals and will make Nvidia a 4% owner of Intel. The Intel news was immediately followed by a separate $2 billion Nvidia deal with the United Kingdom to expand the UKs AI startup ecosystem and accelerate the creation of innovative companies and jobs. This deal aims to bring advanced AI infrastructure to major hubs such as London, Oxford, and Cambridge, empowering researchers and developers nationwide to lead the next wave of globally transformative AI businesses, Nvidia said in a statement. These issues should resonate after the Nvidia-Intel deal With a multi-billion-dollar deal in place, and hundreds of billions of dollars on the table in the burgeoning artificial data center market, its the Intel deal that has the technology and financial markets sectors chattering. So what are potentially the biggest impactors with the deal? Business and financial-market gurus advise, focusing on the following partnership factors. Its the first volley in the semiconductor sectors decoupling, with clear winners in sight Stock market mavens say theres more than meets the eye beyond data-center investments and beefier stock prices for both companies. Nvidia's "$5B investment in INTC is exactly what we suggested would be good for the company, country, and consumer when the U.S. government announced its 9.9% ownership in INTC," said Nancy Tengler, CEO at Laffer Tengler Investments. "The private sector can and will solve the INTC technology problem, one way or another, and the government has an abysmal record in trying to do so." Tenglers best guess on larger deal ramifications is a big one. This may be the first step of an acquisition or break-up of the company among U.S. chip makers, though it is entirely possible the company will remain a shadow of its former self but will survive, she said. Right now, we are long NVDA, Broadcom (AVGO), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Lam Research Corp. (LRCX). These are the winners." Mathura Man Arrested For Threatening To Kill UP CM Yogi Adityanath On Social Media Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:20 IST A 27-year-old man was arrested in Mathura for allegedly threatening to kill Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on a social media video over an alleged land dispute. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google UP CM Yogi Adityanath (File) A 27-year-old man was arrested on Friday evening in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura after he allegedly threatened to kill Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a video posted on a social media site, according to Mathura police. Mathura Superintendent of Police (Rural), Suresh Chandra Rawat, told The Indian Express that a police team had come across a video uploaded at 2 pm where the suspect, with a pistol in his hand, threatened to kill the UP Chief Minister. Recommended Stories After confirming the mans name and address, a police team was dispatched to arrest the man. When the team reached his residence, the man climbed up to the terrace of his three-storeyed building with a pistol in hand and threatened to shoot himself if he was apprehended, and also fired in the air three times. The incident occurred in Nagla Hardayal village, in the Mant police station area of Mathura. It took us three to four hours to arrest him. The team initially tried convincing him to come down, but he remained adamant. The team then used a ladder to climb up the backside of the terrace, caught hold of him, and recovered the pistol," Rawat told The Indian Express. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After interrogation, it was revealed that the man held a grudge against the government, as he claimed that no action was taken in his complaint over an alleged land dispute with a relative. Police said there was no registered case of a land dispute and were probing how the man got access to the country-made pistol. We have arrested him and registered an FIR under relevant sections, and the probe has begun to look into all possibilities," said Rawat. Meanwhile, Security agencies remain active and cordoned off the Nagla Hardayal village after the suspect was taken into custody. 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 : Mathura, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:20 IST News india Mathura Man Arrested For Threatening To Kill UP CM Yogi Adityanath On Social Media Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Humanitarian Consequences': India Says It Hopes US Will Address H-1B Visa Fee Disruptions Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:06 IST India warns US President Donald Trumps new 100000 H-1B visa fee may disrupt families and impact India-US tech ties, urging US authorities to address humanitarian concerns. US President Donald Trump (AFP Photo) India expressed concern over US President Donald Trumps proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on every H-1B worker entering the United States, warning that the move could have humanitarian consequences by disrupting families. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had taken note of reports about the sweeping changes to the H-1B visa programme and that the full implications of the measure are being studied in consultation with all stakeholders, including Indian industry. Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India," the MEA said. Recommended Stories Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries," the statement added. The ministry cautioned, however, that the new rule was likely to create distress for families of Indian professionals working in the US. This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities," it said. Donald Trumps New Visa Wall Under the order signed by Donald Trump, no petition filed for an H-1B worker outside the US will be approved unless the sponsoring employer pays $100,000 upfront. Without proof of payment, stamping will be refused and entry blocked. The proclamation, which takes effect on September 21, has already been dubbed a visa wall" that could reset the flow of talent, technology and jobs between India and the US. Workers already inside the US on valid H-1B status are not directly affected, but those travelling abroad will be required to comply with the new fee on re-entry. Mutual Stakes In Innovation, MEA Says top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The MEA emphasised that industry in both India and the US had a shared stake in fostering innovation and would continue consultations to chart the best path forward. It stressed that the movement of skilled professionals has long been central to India-US cooperation in technology and trade. The MEA noted, Industry in both India and the US has a stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward." Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:01 IST News india 'Humanitarian Consequences': India Says It Hopes US Will Address H-1B Visa Fee Disruptions Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: First Phase Set To Start In December 2027 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 15:26 IST Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the first section of the high-speed corridor on the Surat-Bilimora section will start in December 2027. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Called it a "landmark achievement" A major breakthrough has been achieved in the MumbaiAhmedabad Bullet Train project with the completion of around 5 km ( 4.88 km) tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was also present on the site on Saturday morning, called it a landmark achievement". He also said that the first section of the high-speed corridor on the Surat-Bilimora section will start in December 2027. Recommended Stories Vaishnaw hailed the project while speaking to the reporters and said that the bullet train will be the transport for the middle class", and the fares will be reasonable". Today, an important milestone has been achieved in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. An undersea tunnel is being constructed beneath the creek between Mumbai and Thane A crucial 4.8-kilometre section has achieved a breakthrough today This is a very important milestone for the entire project," Railway minister told reporters. #WATCH | Mumbai | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, Today, an important milestone has been achieved in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. An undersea tunnel is being constructed beneath the creek between Mumbai and Thane A crucial 4.8-kilometre section has pic.twitter.com/Ya4BM5HLbU ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2025 Mumbai to Ahmedabad In Just 2 Hours! Railway minister cited Google maps and shared that the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad usually takes nine hours, but on the bullet train, people will be able to cover the distance in just two hours and seven minutes. The first phase of the bullet train project will be first launched on the Surat-Bilimora section in 2027, covering Thane in 2028 and the Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029, Vaishnaw said. The services are designed such that a train will depart every half hour during the morning and evening peak hours. Once the entire network stabilises, there will be a train every 10 minutes during peak hours," he said. No Need For Ticket Reservation Vaishnaw further shared details of the bullet train and said passengers would not require a reservation to travel between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. They can just arrive at the station and board the train. He further shared details of the frequency of bullet train and said, During peak hours, morning and evening, trains will run every half hour. Initially, trains will run every half hour during peak hours. Later, when the entire network stabilizes, service will be available every ten minutes during peak hours." Standing at one of the openings of the tunnel, Vaishnaw pushed the button and triggered a controlled dynamite blast to break through its final layer, completing five km of excavation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said that the tunnel, excavated using the New Austrian Tunnel Method (NATM), is part of the 21 km underground stretch between the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata, including a 7-km segment beneath Thane Creek. With the latest breakthrough, the bullet train tunnel now connects the Savali shaft to the tunnel portal at Shilphata, linking it to the viaduct portion of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, the NHSRCL stated in a release. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 14:54 IST News india Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: First Phase Set To Start In December 2027 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Muslim Man Cant Keep Multiple Wives If Unable To Financially Support Them: Kerala High Court Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:02 IST Kerala High Court ruled that a Muslim man lacking financial means cannot have multiple marriages. The court stressed that Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour. The Kerala High Court held that multiple marriages by a Muslim man cannot be accepted if he lacks the financial capacity to maintain his wives, particularly when one of them approaches the court seeking maintenance. The observation was made by Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan while hearing a petition filed by a 39-year-old woman from Perinthalmanna, who sought a monthly maintenance of 10,000 from her 46-year-old husband, a blind man surviving primarily on alms. Earlier, a Family Court had dismissed her plea, reasoning that the husband, who earns his livelihood by begging, could not be directed to pay maintenance. Recommended Stories What Kerala High Court Said In his order, Justice Kunhikrishnan employed a satirical Malayalam phrase- Dont put your hand into a begging bowl"- to highlight the futility of expecting sustenance from someone dependent on alms. The judge noted that the husband, described as a beggar by the petitioner, was not a saint" either. Despite his blindness, he was allegedly threatening his second wife that he intended to contract a third marriage. Upon examining the petition, the court recorded that the respondent had a notional income of about 25,000 from various sources, including begging, while continuing to live with his first wife. The court also expressed disbelief at the wifes claim that her blind husband had regularly assaulted her. The court stressed that Muslim personal law itself did not justify such behaviour as the judge noted, A person who has no capacity to maintain a second or third wife cannot marry again, even as per the customary law of Muslims." Citing verses from the Quran, the court said the holy text propagates monogamy, allowing polygamy only as an exception. If a Muslim man can give justice to his first wife, second wife, third wife and fourth wife, then only marriage more than once is permissible," it said, adding that most Muslims follow monogamy in keeping with the spirit of the Quran. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court further remarked that successive marriages among the poor often stem from lack of education and awareness. Religious leaders and society, it said, must take responsibility to educate communities on the true principles of customary law. It is the duty of the state to protect the destitute wives who are victims of polygamy in the Muslim community," the court observed as it directed the Social Welfare Department to counsel the respondent, with assistance from qualified counsellors and religious leaders. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:02 IST News india Muslim Man Cant Keep Multiple Wives If Unable To Financially Support Them: Kerala High Court Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Odisha Man Travels 175 Km To Reconcile With Estranged Wife, Slits Her Throat In Public Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 18:21 IST The man travelled from Cuttack to Balasore to reconcile with his estranged wife but brutally attacked her in public. Eyewitnesses said Sheikh Amjad suddenly pulled out a knife and slit his wifes throat. A man who travelled nearly 175 km in an attempt to reconcile with his estranged wife ended up attacking her brutally in public, leaving her critically injured. The shocking incident took place in Balasore on Thursday afternoon. According to police, the accused, identified as Sheikh Amjad, had journeyed from Cuttack to Balasore to meet his wife, with whom he had been living separately due to ongoing marital disputes. Eyewitnesses said that during their roadside conversation, Sheikh Amjad suddenly pulled out a knife and slit his wifes throat. The attack, recorded on a bystanders mobile phone, has since gone viral on social media. The disturbing footage shows Sheikh Amjad speaking to the woman, at times grabbing her face, before dragging her along the road. Moments later, he is seen pulling her by the hair and slashing her throat, as onlookers scream in horror. Recommended Stories Bystanders managed to overpower Sheikh Amjad immediately after the attack, preventing him from fleeing. He was handed over to the police, who have taken him into custody. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Locals rushed the victim to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors managed to stabilise her. However, due to the severity of her injuries, she was referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where her condition remains critical. Police said further investigation into the case is underway. Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:21 IST News india Odisha Man Travels 175 Km To Reconcile With Estranged Wife, Slits Her Throat In Public Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Piyush Goyal To Visit US Next Week To Push For Early Conclusion Of India-US Trade Deal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 21:03 IST The visit follows the recent meeting of officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in India on September 16 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks.(Image: Piyush Goyal Office/file photo) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is set to visit the United States on September 22 to advance talks on a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US, according to an official statement. The visit follows the recent one-day discussions between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal in India on September 16, where discussions were held on various aspects of the proposed trade deal. Recommended Stories During the meeting, both sides agreed to intensify efforts to reach an agreement, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. During his US visit, Goyal will lead a delegation to continue discussions with American counterparts, aiming for the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement." The commerce ministry said on September 16 that talks with a visiting US delegation on a proposed bilateral trade agreement were constructive," with both sides expressing commitment to an early and mutually beneficial conclusion. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," the ministry noted in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US representatives. The talks were significant as they came in the backdrop of Washington imposing a 50% duty on Indian goods, a combination of a 25% base tariff and an additional 25% levy citing Indias continued purchase of Russian oil. Following the tariff hike, US President Donald Trump recently struck a friendly tone, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a friend." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all PM Modi responded positively, setting the stage for trade negotiations to move forward. In May, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had also held discussions in Washington with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, aimed at bridging differences on key trade issues. First Published: September 20, 2025, 20:45 IST News india Piyush Goyal To Visit US Next Week To Push For Early Conclusion Of India-US Trade Deal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modi Congratulates Mohanlal For Winning Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023: 'Epitomises Excellence' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 21:11 IST The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 at the 71st National Film Awards. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google PM Modi congratulated Mohanlal for winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. (Narendra Modi/X) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who is set to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, calling him a leading light" of Malayalam cinema and theatre. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 at the 71st National Film Awards on September 23, 2025, for his contribution to Indian cinema. Recommended Stories Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films," said PM Modi on X. Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, https://t.co/4MWI1oFJsJ pic.twitter.com/P0DkKg1FWL Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2025 His cinematic and theatrical brilliance across mediums is truly inspiring. Congratulations to him on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. May his accomplishments continue to inspire generations to come." Political Leaders Congratulate Mohanlal Mohanlal, a veteran actor, director and producer, is among the most celebrated artists in India, with a career spanning four decades. He has acted in more than 350 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages, including Spadikam (1995), Drishyam (2013) and Pulimurugan (2016). He is the recipient of multiple National Film Awards, Kerala State Film Awards and international accolades. Mohanlal has also been conferred with a Padma Shri and a Padma Bhushan. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed his wishes to the Malayalam star, calling it a befitting honour" for his invaluable contribution to Indian cinema. This is a befitting honour for the invaluable contributions you have made to Indian cinema, elevating the stature of our craft of filmmaking to a whole new level. May this honour pave the path of inspiration for artistes and encourage the film fraternity in Kerala to innovate even more," he said. Congratulations to @Mohanlal Ji on being conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. This is a befitting honour for the invaluable contributions you have made to Indian cinema, elevating the stature of our craft of filmmaking to a whole new level. May this honour pave the path of Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 20, 2025 A true Malayali icon! This honor is not only for him but for all Malayalees and a recognition of Keralas film industry and its creativity over the years," said Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A true Malayali icon! This honor is not only for him but for all Malayalees and a recognition of Keralas film industry and its creativity over the years. , , pic.twitter.com/HIAkZO05W0 Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@RajeevRC_X) September 20, 2025 Congratulations dear Lalettan (Mohanlals name in Kerala), pride of every Malayali across the spectrum and globe for being conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his iconic contribution to Indian cinema," said BJPs AK Antony. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:59 IST News india PM Modi Congratulates Mohanlal For Winning Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023: 'Epitomises Excellence' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... PM Modi To Inaugurate India's Largest Cruise Terminal In Mumbai Today | Updates Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 12:49 IST Made at a cost of Rs 556 crore, the cruise terminal is located near prominent Mumbai landmarks like Colaba and the Gateway of India. The state-of-the-art Mumbai International Cruise Terminal Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the state-of-the-art Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) today. Spanning over 415,000, the MICT can accommodate 1 million passengers annually. The project, which places Mumbai as a global cruise hub, has been made under the Cruise Bharat Mission. Giving a boost to Indias maritime infrastructure, it will offer a smooth travel experience for the tourists. Recommended Stories Made at a cost of Rs 556 crore, the cruise terminal is located near prominent Mumbai landmarks like Colaba and the Gateway of India. Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate several projects in Gujarat today as he will attend the Samudra se Samriddhi event. PHOTO | Mumbai: PM Modi will inaugurate the state-of-the-art Mumbai International Cruise Terminal on September 20, marking a new era for modern cruise travel in the city.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/BaZ6VHrpei Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 19, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Among the projects to be launched today, projects of the maritime sector alone are valued at over Rs 7,800 crore. This includes major projects like a new cruise terminal in Mumbai, new container facilities at key ports in Kolkata and Paradip, and a green bio-methanol plant at Deendayal Port, which are set to improve cargo movement and trade, according to an official statement from PMO. In Gujarat, the Prime Minister inaugurated the HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, the Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at the Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, the PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, and the complete solarization of Dhordo village, among others. About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 09:34 IST News india PM Modi To Inaugurate India's Largest Cruise Terminal In Mumbai Today | Updates Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Water From Suspended Indus Treaty With Pakistan May Come To Delhi, Other Parched States: Khattar Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 06:51 IST The diversion of this water could be a major step towards addressing the acute drinking water shortages in Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan Speaking at a programme to unveil Delhis drainage master plan on Friday, Khattar described the situation as 'aapda mein bhi avsar', or an opportunity in a disaster. File pic/ANI Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced that water previously flowing to Pakistan will be diverted to Delhi and neighbouring states within the next one and a half years. This move comes after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a decision made by India in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 deaths. Recommended Stories Speaking at a programme to unveil Delhis drainage master plan on Friday, Khattar described the situation as aapda mein bhi avsar, or an opportunity in a disaster. He explained that following the terror attack, India suspended the decades-old treaty, which had allowed a large quantity of water from the western riversIndus, Jhelum, and Chenabto flow into Pakistan. This volume, which amounts to an average annual flow of 135 million acre-feet (MAF), is now available for Indias use. The diversion of this water could be a major step towards addressing the acute drinking water shortages in Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan. However, it also has significant geopolitical implications. While the treaty has not been formally abrogated, Indias actions to fully utilise its share of the water and halt its flow to Pakistan are seen as a powerful diplomatic and strategic tool. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To make this plan a reality, India is accelerating several key infrastructure projects. These include the construction of the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, and a feasibility study for a 113-km canal that would link the Chenab with the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system. This ambitious inter-basin water transfer project aims to channel surplus flows to states in need, ensuring regional water resilience in the face of growing climate variability. The successful implementation of these projects is crucial for securing Indias water resources and will have a lasting impact on the regions geopolitical landscape. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 06:51 IST News india Water From Suspended Indus Treaty With Pakistan May Come To Delhi, Other Parched States: Khattar Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Understanding How Sleep, Stress, And Memory Can Impact Your Brain Health Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 13:43 IST Sleep, stress, and memory are a closely connected trio in our lifestyle. Simple lifestyle changes can significantly enhance your brain's sharpness, alertness, and overall health. Good sleep hygiene and stress management are crucial for brain health. In todays fast-paced world, our brains are constantly juggling multiple tasks. Amid work deadlines, social commitments, and digital distractions, many of us struggle to clock even six hours of sleep. Over time, this combination of poor sleep and chronic stress can affect not just mood and energy but also memory and cognitive performance. Understanding how these lifestyle factors interact is crucial for maintaining a sharp, healthy mind. Sleep, Stress, and Memory: The Important Lifestyle Trio Recommended Stories Dr. Rohit Pai, Consultant Neurology at KMC Hospital, Mangalore, explains, Stress and sleep interact to consolidate information. Stress affects neural networks responsible for memory processing, like the hippocampus and amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. These structures are responsible for the emotional components of memories. Increased stress with reduced sleep impairs the consolidation of memory, where only the emotional component is stored. A good nights sleep with a good REM component helps in consolidating memory without the emotional aspect, which helps in good retrieval of memory." Dr. Amlan Tapan Mohapatra, Consultant Neurology at Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneswar, adds, Sleep is a fundamental biological need that plays an important role in physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. Lack of sleep impairs cognitive functions such as attention, learning, memory, and decision-making. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to anxiety, depression, and memory loss, like in Alzheimers disease. Similarly, stress, anxiety, and bad lifestyle habits impair overall day-to-day functioning. This creates a vicious cycle as stress decreases sleep, and poor sleep increases stress." Strategies to Protect Your Brain Maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle is essential. Experts recommend scheduling stressful tasks earlier in the day and leaving more relaxing activities like reading or light exercise for the evening. Dr. Pai advises, Regular exercise with yoga helps in relaxing the mind. Reducing caffeine with good hydration also helps in maintaining a healthy sleep-wake cycle." Avoiding late-night screen exposure is another critical step. Dr. Mohapatra notes, Good sleep hygiene includes increasing exposure to natural light during the day, avoiding stimulants like caffeine, and creating a calm, cool bedroom routine. Stress management is also important for a good nights sleep." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Balancing Stress, Sleep, and Memory The takeaway is clear: sleep, stress, and memory form a tightly connected lifestyle trio. Proper sleep consolidates memories efficiently, stress management ensures cognitive resilience, and daily routines that respect both can protect long-term brain health. Simple changes in lifestyle, such as structured days, mindful relaxation, and sleep-friendly habits, can go a long way in keeping your brain sharp, alert, and healthy. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 13:43 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Understanding How Sleep, Stress, And Memory Can Impact Your Brain Health Semiconductor giant Nvidia has relied on ARM Holdings for CPU cores in its superchips for quite some time. The company even tried to acquire chip designer ARM (ARM) , but the FTC blocked the acquisition. Nvidia (NVDA) , currently the world's most valuable company, has more new chips planned based on ARM designs, including a laptop chip named N1, which is based on the GB10 superchip. Considering that, the latest Nvidia move is very surprising. CEO Jensen Huang is always thinking at least a couple of moves ahead, and we can't see the whole picture yet. Nvidia and Intel chips will be combined into system-on-chips.Image source: Shutterstock/TheStreet Nvidia Q2 net income grows 59% to $26.4 billion year over year On Aug. 27, Nvidia reported its results for Q2 of fiscal 2026. Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang stated: "Nvidia NVLink rack-scale computing is revolutionary, arriving just in time as reasoning AI models drive orders-of-magnitude increases in training and inference performance. The AI race is on, and Blackwell is the platform at its center." Nvidia Q2 earnings highlights: Revenue growth of 56% to $46.7 billion YoY Gross margin of 72.4%, compared to 75.1% in Q2 FY 2025 Net income of $26.4 billion, an increase of 59% YoY Nvidia's outlook for Q3 of fiscal year 2026: Revenue is expected to be $54.0 billion, plus or minus 2%. Gross margin is expected to be 73.3%, plus or minus 0.5%. The company has not assumed any H20 shipments to China in the outlook. Nvidia invests $5 billion into Intel On Sept. 18, Nvidia and Intel (INTC) , one of the legendary Silicon Valley players, revealed plans to develop multiple generations of custom data center and PC products together. Nvidia said it would invest $5 billion in Intel's common stock. Nvidia will buy and integrate custom Intel x86 server CPUs into its scaled-up rack architecture using NVLink, which was previously possible only for Nvidia's custom Arm CPUs. Related: Analysts revamp Meta stock outlook before Connect conference Intel will build x86 system-on-chips that integrate Nvidia RTX GPU chiplets for the PC market. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan offered additional details: "Intel's leading data center and client computing platforms, combined with our process technology, manufacturing, and advanced packaging capabilities, will complement Nvidia's AI and accelerated computing leadership to enable new breakthroughs for the industry." The announcement was great news for Intel, whose shares jumped 22.8% for the week, ending at $29.58 are now up 47.5% and are up 47.5% year-to-date. Analysts expect Nvidia to get improved access to enterprise AI deployments Following the Nvidia deal with Intel, Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya and his team updated their opinion on Nvidia shares. Natasha Poonawalla Commands Attention In Schiaparellis Sculptural Red Masterpiece Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 09:05 IST For her appearance in London, Natasha Poonawalla served looks in a sculptural red ensemble that she had picked from Schiaparellis Ready-to-Wear Spring 2025 collection. Natasha Poonawalla's latest look was an interplay between fantasy and structure. Every time Natasha Poonawalla steps out, she reminds us why she is regarded as Indias reigning queen of couture. In London recently, she didnt just attend an event; she orchestrated a fashion spectacle. Her outfit, pulled from Schiaparellis Ready-to-Wear Spring 2025 collection, showcased her ability to turn runway looks into iconic personal statements. Schiaparelli Fantasy Meets Indian Glamour Recommended Stories Designed by Daniel Roseberry, the sculptural red ensemble was the epitome of modern couture: an interplay between fantasy and structure. The cocoon-like outer layer framed a sharply tailored mini dress, making the look both avant-garde and wearable. What truly made it unforgettable was the power of crimson the kind of colour that commands attention in any room. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natasha Poonawalla (@natasha.poonawalla) Natasha Poonawalla understands that fashion drama is not built on clothing alone. Her choice of stacked metallic cuffs on both arms felt like wearable art, echoing the sculptural lines of the dress itself. A polished silver clutch provided a reflective counterpoint, proving that accessories can double as amplifiers of narrative, not just embellishments. Hairstyling and makeup played a crucial role in grounding the drama. Natasha wore her hair in a tousled updo, keeping her face open so the exaggerated collar could shine. Her makeup was equally strategic: think matte skin, sharp contouring, metallic-tinged eyes framed with precision liner, and nude-pink lips. This isnt Natashas first Schiaparelli triumph. At Paris Haute Couture Week 2024, she wore a dress embellished with relics of technology motherboards, chipsets, even old phone parts transformed into couture brilliance. That archival-meets-avant-garde look revealed her appetite for fashion that tells stories, not just trends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Natasha Poonawalla is more than a well-dressed personality. She has become a case study in how Indian fashion icons are shaping global couture conversations. Where most would wear couture, Natasha inhabits it by bringing a sense of theatre, intelligence, and personal identity to every appearance. Her latest Schiaparelli outing only cements that legacy further. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 09:05 IST News lifestyle Natasha Poonawalla Commands Attention In Schiaparellis Sculptural Red Masterpiece Navratri 2025 Colours: 9 Navratri Colours And Their Significance Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 22, 2025, 10:37 IST Navratri 2025 9 Colours List: Celebrate Navratri by wearing 9 colours that honour each form of Goddess Durga. Learn the meaning behind each shade and its spiritual significance. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Navratri 2025: Each day is associated with a different colour. (Image: Shutterstock) Navratri Colours Significance: Navratri, or Shardiya Navratri, a major Hindu festival that is celebrated across India, honours Goddess Durga. Each day of Navratri is associated with a different colour. The colours, which may vary by region and traditions, add a layer of symbolic depth to the festivities. They not only enhance the visual spectacle of the festival but also reflect the diverse attributes of the respective deities. Explained below is the significance of these nine colours of Shardiya Navratri for 2025. Recommended Stories ALSO READ: Happy Navratri 2025: Best Wishes, Images, Quotes, Status And Messages To Share On Shardiya Navratri Navratri 2025 Colours White: White is the colour of the first day. It represents the goddess Shailaputri. It is also associated with peace, warmth and calm. Red: The colour of the second day, or Dwitiya, is red. It symbolises love, passion and vigour. On this day, Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped. Royal Blue: Royal Blue is the colour of Tritiya, the third day. It symbolises balance and calm and is associated with Goddess Chandraghanta, believed to remove obstacles and bring peace. Yellow: Yellow, the colour of Vinayaka Chaturthi, signifies intellect, learning, enlightenment and happiness. Yellow also represents the rising sun, symbolising warmth, hope and vitality. Green: The colour for Chaturthi, or the fourth day of Navratri, is Green. It is associated with the Puja of Kushmanda, the cosmic egg. Green symbolises nature, fertility and growth. Grey: The colour of Panchami, the fifth day, is grey. It symbolises balance and calmness. Grey represents the middle path and equilibrium in life. On this day, goddess Skandamata is worshipped. Orange: The colour for Shashti, the sixth day, is orange, signifying exuberance and positivity. Goddess Katyayani, a fierce form of Maa Durga, is worshipped on this day. Peacock Green: On the seventh day, or Saptami, goddess Kalratri is worshipped. The colour of Saptami this year is peacock green, which symbolises positivity, prosperity and serenity. Pink: Ashtami, or the eighth days colour is pink, and signifies nobility, wisdom, love and spirituality. It is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, who is believed to fulfil her devotees wishes and desires. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ: Navratri Wishes 2025: Ghatasthapana Muhurat, Rituals, Facts And Celebrations Finally, on Navami. Goddess Siddhidatri, is worshipped. Pink represents the nurturing aspect of the goddess. Each of the above colours serve as a visual and spiritual guide for devotees to connect with the divine feminine energy and seek her blessings. About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with nearly three decades of experience, known for his in-depth coverage of events and festivals, as well as his expertise in SEO-driven content at News18.com. A... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 11:15 IST News lifestyle Navratri 2025 Colours: 9 Navratri Colours And Their Significance Dreaming Of Living In Norway? Here's How Indians Can Get PR Easily Under Rs 40K Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:10 IST Norway is offering Indians a simple and affordable way to get permanent residency and live amidst stunning landscapes. Norway offers Indians a path to permanent residency for under Rs 40,000. Many Indians dream of living in a place where snow-capped mountains and the magical Northern Lights light up the sky. Norway, known for its stunning landscapes, peaceful life, and strong welfare system, is now offering a chance for Indians to make that dream a reality by applying for permanent residency (PR). Norway is becoming a popular choice for skilled workers who want a high quality of life. With opportunities for work, studies, or family reunification, Indians can now aim for long-term settlement in this beautiful Scandinavian country. Recommended Stories Route Through Temporary Residence Permit Indians must first get a temporary residence permit. This can be based on work, study, family reunification, or marriage to a Norwegian citizen. This temporary permit is the first step toward applying for permanent residency later. Who Can Apply For A Norway PR? To apply for permanent residency in Norway, you must meet these key conditions: Live in Norway continuously for at least 3 years. Stay outside Norway should not exceed 7 months in total. Always have a valid residence permit during your stay. Maintain a clean criminal record. Be between 16 and 64 years old and pass tests on the Norwegian language and social studies. Show proof of stable income and employment. Do not rely on government financial support in the year before applying. How To Apply For PR? The process is simple but requires preparation: Ensure you have lived continuously in Norway for three years. Gather all required documents, which include a valid residence permit, passport copies, proof of employment and income, and certificates of passing the language and social studies tests. Apply online on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website. Pay a fee of around NOK 4,000 (about Rs 36,000 for adults). Visit the local police service to present your original documents. The processing usually takes two to six months. After approval, you will get a Permanent Residence card, allowing you to live in Norway indefinitely. Why Norway Is A Great Choice top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Norway ranks among the happiest countries in the world and offers universal healthcare, generous parental leave, and clean air. Along with breathtaking landscapes, it promises a peaceful life and job opportunities, especially for those wanting a slower, nature-focused lifestyle. For Indians looking to move abroad, Norways PR path offers an affordable and attractive option, with the total cost of applying less than Rs 40,000. This could be your chance to start a new life under the Northern Lights. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:10 IST News lifestyle travel Dreaming Of Living In Norway? Here's How Indians Can Get PR Easily Under Rs 40K Wellness, Purpose, And AI: The Mega Trends Shaping The Future Of Travel Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 14:34 IST Travellers, today, are more curious, conscious, and purposeful as they seek discovery over destinations, wellness over weariness, and experiences over souvenirs. Wellness tourism, focusing on digital detox and inner balance, has become popular among travellers. The global tourism industry has grown into a $10 trillion giant creating millions of jobs, connecting cultures, and powering economies. But the real excitement lies not just in its size, but in its transformation. Gone are the days of packaged tours and box-ticking itineraries. Todays travellers are more curious, conscious, and purposeful as they are seeking discovery over destinations, wellness over weariness, and experiences over souvenirs. Hidden Gems and the Rise of Coolcations" Recommended Stories Crowded tourist hotspots are losing appeal as travellers search for authenticity and calm. Remote towns, rural retreats, and natural parks are emerging as the new playgrounds. Travellers are choosing discovery over destination and are looking for quiet towns, local rituals, and undiscovered stories off the beaten track," says Emma Le, Inbound Director, Thang Long Tours and Travel. She adds that coolcations" spread tourisms benefits while protecting authenticity. The trend is about small-scale, considerate journeys that preserve the soul of destinations. Event-Led and Purposeful Itineraries From global sporting tournaments to meteor showers, milestone-driven travel is surging. People travel for experiences rather than simply checking the box. Event-driven travel is defined as purposeful and unforgettable. It connects local culture to a global moment," explains Louis DSouza, Managing Partner, Tamarind Global. These short, curated itineraries build urgency, layering unique cultural discovery on top of once-in-a-lifetime events. Experience-First Travel: Beyond Trinkets Travel is no longer about buying souvenirs. Its about collecting moments. Immersive workshops, cultural stays, and experiential journeys have become the new luxury. Todays travellers buy transformation, not trinkets," notes Rana Abu Alhala, CEO, Plan B Travel & Tourism. Experience-first travel is reshaping itineraries around emotion, learning, and storytelling, turning each trip into a personal milestone. Wellness as a Core Travel Driver Wellness travel has moved beyond spa weekends. Now it includes mental resets, stress escapes, sleep retreats, and nature immersions designed for long-term balance. Wellness is no longer a sideline. Its become core to why people travel," says Mir Musa Baghirzade, Sales Director, Turalux. Destinations that prioritise holistic care and safety will build stronger traveller trust, while ensuring people return healthier than when they left. Big Data, AI, and Personalisation Revolution At the heart of modern travel lies data. Airlines, hotels, and booking platforms are using analytics to anticipate needs and personalise itineraries. Great travel experiences are built on great data: preferences predicted, moments anticipated, and surprises mitigated," explains Trishal Rao, Chief Sales Officer, SKIL Travel. Technology now enables bespoke journeys at scale by balancing efficiency with human touch. Connectivity, Innovation, and Skillcations top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Improved transport options regional flights, high-speed rail, electric ferries are shrinking distances and making niche destinations more accessible. Alongside this, skillcations are gaining momentum, blending rest with learning. People increasingly want holidays that teach as well as restore," says Leena Jhugroo, Managing Director, Travel Lounge Leisure & Tours Ltd. Be it culinary residencies, coding camps, or language immersion, travellers are embedding growth into their getaways. For destinations, this shift means building resilient infrastructure and authentic experiences. For businesses, it calls for ethical data use and story-driven design. For travellers, it offers richer journeys with mindfulness about impact and seasonality. The future of travel is not just movement its growth, healing, and connection. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 14:34 IST News lifestyle travel Wellness, Purpose, And AI: The Mega Trends Shaping The Future Of Travel Mohanlal To Be Honoured With Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 At 71st National Film Awards Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 14:53 IST Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 at the 71st National Film Awards on Sept 23, 2025, for his iconic contribution. Mohanlal will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 at the 71st National Film Awards. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will be conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Its a big day for the actor and his fans as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that the actor will be honoured with the prestigious award for his iconic contribution to Indian cinema. The award will be presented to him at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on Sept 23, 2025. Also See: National Film Awards 2025 Live | National Film Awards 2025 Winners List Recommended Stories While sharing it with the world on social media, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on X wrote, On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Mohanlals remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The legendary actor, director, and producer is being honoured for his iconic contribution to Indian cinema. His unmatched talent, versatility, and relentless hard work have set a golden standard in Indian film history. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on Sept 23, 2025." On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023.Mohanlals remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The pic.twitter.com/ZC91jE35rK Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) September 20, 2025 PM Modi congratulates Mohanlal Soon after the news of Mohanlal receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was announced, PM Narendra Modi penned a heartfelt note to congratulate him. Taking to X, the PM of the country wrote, Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre, and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. His cinematic and theatrical brilliance across mediums is truly inspiring. Congratulations to him on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. May his accomplishments continue to inspire generations to come." About Mohanlal Mohanlal is one of the most loved Indian actors, with a prolific career spanning over four decades and more than 340 films to his credit. Regarded as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema history, he has not only ruled Malayalam films but also appeared in several other Indian languages. Over the years, he has won five National Film Awardstwo for Best Actor, a Special Jury Mention, a Special Jury Award for acting, and one for Best Feature Film as a producer. First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:41 IST News movies malayalam-cinema Mohanlal To Be Honoured With Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 At 71st National Film Awards Trumps New H-1B Visa Rules Draw Fire From Industry Voices, Legal Experts: Tariff Bomb Version 2.0 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 13:32 IST New H-1B Visa Rules: Immigration lawyers, brand experts, economists and industry voices said Donald Trumps new H-1B visa rules will lure talent to other nations. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google In this representative AI image, US President Donald Trump appears visibly unsettled as Indian H-1B workers leave in good spirits, while American tech CEOs look on in despair. (IMAGE: IMAGEN 4/NEWS18) Immigration lawyer Loveline Gill on Friday said the H-1B visa helped America emerge as a leader in cutting-edge innovation, but warned that President Donald Trumps new rules could push talent to other countries such as Canada, which offers an easier path to permanent residency. Speaking to CNN-News18, Gill highlighted that the US President remain silent on the future of the H-1B visa when he was on the campaign trail last year. Recommended Stories Earlier, Trumps position on H-1Bs was neutral because he needed the backing of tech companies during the election. This shift comes as a surprise. If restrictions continue, H-1B talent will look at alternative destinations such as Canada, where permanent residency offers a clearer path to jobs," Gill said. The H-1B visa is what made America a leader in cutting-edge technology and innovation. It is highly unlikely that companies will pay $100,000 for just one employee," she further added. VIDEO | Harish Bijoor, Brand Guru & Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc, on H-1B visa issue says, The H-bomb has been dropped and this H-bomb is really the H-1B VISA bomb. The United States of America is telling Indian IT and possibly India, we dont want you, we dont need pic.twitter.com/s3AhONeIyh Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 20, 2025 US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation hiking H-1B visa fees to $100,000 a year, calling it a move to curb misuse of the programme. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the visa system, meant for highly skilled roles that Americans do not take up, has become one of the most abused" in the immigration process. The administration argued the steep fee will ensure only top talent enters the US without displacing local workers. Tariff Bomb 2.0 Founder of Dissident Project and Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino appeared to offer the same point of view and highlighted that the new rules will destroy the health care, higher education and technology sectors as we know them" in a tweet that is going viral. This will effectively end the H-1B program completely. No one, even the highest paid at 500K will be paying an extra 100K a year to the government," Martino said, adding that the courts in the US could provide a recourse. Calling it an H-bomb, brand guru Harish Bijoor said the executive order hit Indian IT with the same sense of sudden shock that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki once carried. SUMMARY OF H-1B EXECUTIVE ORDER ENTRY BAN: No H-1B visa holder may enter the United States beginning Sunday September 21st, including current visa holders, unles they pay $100K to enter. VISA FEE: New H-1B and H-1B extensions must pay 100K to be processed and 100K per year Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) September 20, 2025 The H-bomb has been dropped and this H-bomb is really the H-1B VISA bomb. The United States of America is telling Indian IT and possibly India, we dont want you, we dont need you," he said while speaking to news agency PTI. He said that this could be the tariff bomb, the 2.0 version". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This is serious messaging coming at India, how to react to it and how to actually manage it with diplomacy I do believe this is version 2.0 of the tariff bomb," he further added. Trump had invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law crafted for sanctions and financial controls in times of foreign emergencies, to impose reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries. India was slapped with 25 per cent tariffs, but the rate of tariffs was increased to 50 per cent for buying Russian crude. However, officials from both nations continue trade and tariff negotiations. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 13:18 IST News usa Trumps New H-1B Visa Rules Draw Fire From Industry Voices, Legal Experts: Tariff Bomb Version 2.0 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... How Will Trump's $100,000 Visa Fees Impact H-1B Workers? 5 Key Points You Must Know Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:49 IST US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order hiking the fees for H-1B visas to $100,000. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Trump H1-B Visa News: US President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order on gold card visa in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump on Friday hiked the fees for H-1B visas after signing an executive order. The executive order said the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program was created to bring temporary workers into the United States to perform additive, high-skilled functions" and claimed it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor". The recent announcement is expected to impact Indian IT industries. Shares of Infosys and Wipro fell by up to 4.5 percent in the U.S. after President Trump took steps targeting Indian IT firms, affecting their American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Recommended Stories Donald Trump also targeted IT firms and said: Information technology (IT) firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Heres how the new rule impacts those who are H-1B visa: Trump announced that H-1B visa petitions will now require a payment of $100,000. For Indian workers, this adds another hurdle in an already challenging process. While applying for a Green Card is an option, the wait times are typically long, meaning many will have to keep renewing their visas and shell out over 88 lakh each time. Employers will need to maintain proof of payment, the Secretary of State must verify that its been received, and both the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department are responsible for denying entry to anyone whose employer hasnt paid. Several major tech companies have sent internal advisories to their H-1B and H-4 visa employees, urging those already in the US to remain in the country for the foreseeable future. Employees were cautioned against travelling abroad, as leaving could result in denial of reentry, sources told News18. While the proclamation does not explicitly reference H-4 dependents, companies have recommended that H-4 visa holders also stay put, the sources added. For employees currently outside the US, the advisories strongly encourage returning as soon as possible, ideally before the deadline, even if last-minute travel arrangements are required. The order goes into effect at 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on September 21, 2025, and applies only to those entering or attempting to enter the United States after this date. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 08:43 IST News nri usa How Will Trump's $100,000 Visa Fees Impact H-1B Workers? 5 Key Points You Must Know Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Rewiring The Northeast: The Quiet Rail Revolution In Bharats Border States Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 13:49 IST From Aizawl to Kohima, long-delayed railway projects are linking Northeast capitals to the national grid, reshaping mobility, trade, & integration in Bharats remotest region The final stretch of the BairabiSairang New Line Railway Project, from Hortoki to Sairang, was thoroughly inspected by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Northeast Frontier Circle, in June. (Image: ANI) On the morning of 15 September, a new train chugged into Anand Vihar station in New Delhi. It was no ordinary train. Numbered 20507, it had departed from Sairang, the newest station in the Indian railway grid, on Saturday morning and reached Delhi after more than 42 hours, covering a distance of 2,512 kilometres. This arrival was a milestone moment for Bharat. It connected the previously inaccessible state of Mizoram to the rest of the nation, bringing its capital onto the railway map. Sairang lies on the outskirts of Aizawl, Mizorams capital. Recommended Stories A Moment Of Reckoning Two days earlier, on 13 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 51.38-kilometre railway line linking Bairabi station to the newly built Sairang station, about 20 km from Aizawl. It marked a major step in reimagining Bharats Northeast and accelerating Mizorams integration with the rest of the country. The occasion also saw the flagging off of three new train services: SairangDelhi Rajdhani Express SairangGuwahati Express SairangKolkata Express With this, Mizoram, once a remote and impenetrable region at the countrys edge, is now connected not only by railway but also by opportunity. This development heralds a new era of tourism, commerce, mobility, and deeper national integration. Better Late Than Never A rail link connecting Mizoram to the rest of the country had long been overdue. The idea dates back to 1979, when it was decided that every Northeast state would get at least one railway line. The post of General Manager (Construction), Northeast Frontier Railway was created to realise that vision in mission mode. However, the dream remained unrealised for decades. Bairabi station in Mizoram, located about five kilometres inside the state near the Assam border, was built in the late 1980s as a metre-gauge station, but further progress stalled for various reasons. Hope resurfaced in 2016 when Bairabi was upgraded to broad gauge under the 83.55 km KatakhalBairabi Gauge Conversion Project. It received its first freight train carrying 42 wagons of rice, and passenger services up to Bairabi were flagged off by PM Modi. That was the beginning. A quiet rail revolution soon followed. In his first term, PM Modi revived the construction of the 51.38 km BairabiSairang section. He laid the foundation in 2014, land acquisition followed in 2015, and execution began in 201516. The line was completed and commissioned within ten years despite numerous challenges. It now links Mizoram to the national network via Silchar in Assam, and forms part of the ambitious 223 km SairangHmawngbuchhuah railway line that aims to extend connectivity to Mizorams southern border, opening direct trade routes to Myanmar and Southeast Asia through the Sittwe Port. The Boon The new line has drastically reduced both travel time and costs for Mizorams residents. The AizawlGuwahati journey now takes 12 hours by train instead of 16 by road. Travel between Aizawl and Silchar is cut from seven hours to just three. The road travel cost from Silchar to Aizawl, a distance of about 150 km, has dropped from Rs 1,000 to under Rs 80. Meanwhile, the AC 3-tier fare to Delhi is now Rs 3,625. Indubitably, this is a boon for Mizorams people, who can now access better opportunities for travel, education, employment, business, and healthcare in hubs like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Silchar like never before. Challenges Galore It was a project that tested the resolve of railway personnel due to the sheer scale of challenges. The most significant among them were: Firstly, the Survey Conundrum: With the terrain passing through towering mountains, deep gorges, and dense forests, extending the line beyond Bairabi was a humongous task. The survey work alone took more than a decade to complete. The Preliminary Engineering cum Traffic (PET) Survey, sanctioned in September 1999, was jinxed due to thick forest cover, poor visibility, and agitation by local communities. The Reconnaissance Engineering cum Traffic (RET) Survey was carried out by NF Railway between 2003 and 2006. Pre-construction surveys and geotechnical investigations were conducted by RITES between 2006 and 2011. The entire project took ten years to complete, at a final cost of Rs 8,070 crore. Secondly, Undulating Terrain and Construction Difficulties: Piercing tall mountains and deep valleys with steep gradients, in undulating terrain surrounded by dense forests, proved to be a serious challenge. Engineers had to first construct over 200 km of roads just to access the construction site. The magnitude of the terrains difficulty is evident from the fact that, to construct just 51.38 km of railway line, 45 tunnels were bored the longest measuring 1.87 km and 153 bridges were built, including 55 major bridges. The longest bridge spans 1.3 km, while the tallest reaches 114 metres from the base, higher than the Qutub Minar. Thirdly, the Tyranny of Weather: Climatic conditions posed severe constraints, with only four months in a financial year from November to March suitable for construction activity. Fourthly, the Logistics Conundrum: Due to the unavailability of critical construction materials such as steel, cement, earth, sand, and stone in Mizoram, the Railways had to source them from neighbouring states, including Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya. Here is a glimpse of the logistical effort involved. Crushed stones were brought from Assam, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, while sand was sourced from Assam. Reinforcement rods came from Kolkata, and steel girders were transported from Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. Labourers came from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Transporting the girders to the construction sites posed a huge logistical challenge. Engineers had to carry them by rail up to Bairabi, and from there to various sites using specially arranged transportation. As Vinod Kumar, Principal Chief Engineer of NFR, aptly summed it up, Sometimes it took more than a month to complete a days work due to the logistic issues." Fifth, the Labour Trouble: The terrain was so hostile that it was extremely difficult to find construction labour, let alone retain those who arrived. Poor mobile connectivity and harsh site conditions made workers unwilling to stay. Many who went home for a break never returned. Despite these formidable challenges, railway connectivity to Mizoram has finally arrived, and grandly so, as a boon to the residents and economy of the state. With this, Mizoram becomes the fourth Northeastern state with its capital city connected to the national railway network. The other three are Assam, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. History Recapitulated According to a PIB note dated 4 February 2011, the BairabiSairang project was originally scheduled for completion by March 2015. In reality, its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi only in late September 2014, land acquisition followed in 2015, construction commenced in 2016, and the line was finally commissioned a decade later on 15 September 2025. The laying of the foundation itself had to wait until 2014, when PM Modi finally cast it in stone. And the actualisation of the dream had to wait another ten years. This delay brings forth a broader question: why have the Northeastern states remained disconnected from the mainland for so long, where do things stand today, and where are we headed? Here is a brief recapitulation of that journey: One, Long Dependent on the Chickens Neck: Since the time of colonial isolation, the sole lifeline to the Northeast has been the narrow Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chickens Neck" a narrow strip of land in West Bengal, about 2022 km wide at its narrowest point. This corridor, bordered by Nepal to the north and Bangladesh to the south, is the only land route for transporting goods, people, and military assets between the Northeast and the rest of India. The Chickens Neck handles about 95 per cent of all land-based movement of people and goods to and from the region. Its extreme narrowness makes it highly vulnerable to disruptions, whether caused by natural calamity, political instability, or military conflict. Any such disruption could effectively sever the Northeast from the mainland. Its proximity to Chinas Chumbi Valley, at the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China, also gives it immense strategic significance. Any conflict in this area is widely seen as a potential threat to Indias territorial integrity. Because all land-based access depends on this single, slender corridor, the Northeast has often felt both physically and psychologically isolated. Any bottleneck, blockade, or hostile action has a disproportionate impact on the regions economy, accessibility, and security. This isolation has, for decades, hampered investment, trade, and social integration, significantly affecting regional development. Two, Limited to Assam: Before independence, Assam was the only Northeastern state with a railway network. The British constructed railways in Assam in the late 19th century primarily to transport coal and tea for export via the port of Chittagong. The Assam Railways and Trading Company built the first metre-gauge line from the Dibrugarh steamer port to Jaipur, opened on 1 May 1882, which was later extended to Chabua. The Assam Bengal Railway, incorporated in 1892, created a vital link from Chittagong to Tinsukia, connecting Assams tea and coal regions to global markets. By the early 20th century, Assam had a substantial railway network. But that connectivity was soon disrupted. Three, Disruption and Disconnection: Before 1947, Assams main rail link to Calcutta ran via East Bengal (later East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). Partition severed that corridor overnight, cutting Assam off from the rest of India. The situation worsened after the July 1947 referendum led to the transfer of Sylhet to East Bengal, further altering alignment and accessibility. Four, The Grand Project: This disconnection led to the emergency sanctioning of the Assam Rail Link Project (ARLP), carried out between 1948 and 1950. Despite the difficult terrain, Assams rail connectivity to the rest of India was restored on 26 January 1950. The grand project was completed under the leadership of Indian Railways Chief Engineer, Sardar Karnail Singh. Five, Neglected for Decades: Though the Assam Rail Link Project was completed in less than two years a record it did not lead to broader momentum for rail development in the Northeast. Progress remained minimal for decades. Whatever little development took place was largely confined to Assam. Six, Rays of Hope: The setting up of the North Eastern Council (NEC) by an Act of Parliament in 1971 brought renewed hope. The NECs single biggest budget head for years was transport connectivity. Encouraged by the Council, the Government of India decided to construct at least one railway line in each of the six hill states Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. The Railway Ministry created a dedicated NFR Construction Organisation in Maligaon to execute these projects. Seven, Stalled: In the decades that followed, many railway projects were announced, but progress on the ground remained negligible. As of 4 February 2011, a Government of India statement listed the following Northeast railway projects along with their targeted completion dates: Mizoram BairabiSairang: March 2015 BairabiSairang: March 2015 Arunachal Pradesh HarmutiItanagar: March 2012 HarmutiItanagar: March 2012 Manipur JiribamTupul: March 2014 and TupulImphal: March 2016 JiribamTupul: March 2014 and TupulImphal: March 2016 Meghalaya AzraByrnihat: March 2014 and ByrnihatShillong: March 2017 AzraByrnihat: March 2014 and ByrnihatShillong: March 2017 Nagaland DimapurZubza: March 2015 DimapurZubza: March 2015 Sikkim SivokRangpo: December 2015 While reasons cited may vary, from terrain challenges to administrative delays, the truth remains that nearly all these projects were stalled. The principal reason was a lack of political will and ownership at the highest levels. A New Dawn Moving beyond the political optics, and unsurprisingly so, the Narendra Modi era, with its laser-sharp attention to detail, has marked a new dawn for the transformation of the Northeast through the laying of steel tracks, thereby integrating the region with the rest of the country. I have already outlined the story of the BairabiSairang project. Narrated below is the 11-year story of railway progress across the other Northeastern states. Firstly, Nagaland: From One Station to a Capital Link Dimapur, opened in the early 20th century, remained Nagalands lone railhead for over 100 years. In 2022, Shokhuvi ended that isolation by becoming the states second station. The 82.5 km DimapurKohima new line is progressing steadily, with the DhansiriShokhuvi section commissioned in October 2021 and the first passenger service, the Donyi Polo Express, rolling out in August 2022. The ShokhuviMolvom section was completed in March 2025, while the remaining MolvomZubza stretch, near Kohima, is in progress. By October 2026, the 14.09 km MolvomPherima stretch is expected to open, followed by the 37.57 km PherimaZubza section in December 2029 a milestone that will finally bring rail connectivity to Nagalands capital, Kohima. Secondly, Arunachal Pradesh: Rails Beyond Frontiers Naharlagun station, which connects to Itanagar, was commissioned in April 2014 under the 21.75 km HarmutiNaharlagun New Line Project. The BaliparaBhalukpong line was converted to broad gauge in May 2015 as part of the larger 505 km RangiyaMurkongselek project. The MurkongselekPasighat line is currently under construction: the MurkongselekSille (15.6 km) section is due in October 2025, and the SillePasighat (10.55 km) stretch is expected by February 2026. Final Location Surveys (FLS) have been completed for new lines to Tawang, PasighatParashuram KundWakro, and BameAaloMechuka. Thirdly, Tripura: Connecting Border and Beyond The 152 km BadarpurAgartala line was converted to broad gauge in April 2016. The AgartalaSabroom line (112 km) extended railways to the southernmost part of Tripura, close to the Bangladesh border, in phases between 2016 and 2019. The entire railway network in Tripura has now been electrified. Fourthly, Manipur: Linking Hills and Valleys to the Nation Jiribam station, close to the Assam border, was converted from metre gauge to broad gauge in March 2016 under the 49.61 km ArunachalJiribam project. The 110.625 km JiribamImphal line is under progress. The JiribamVangaichungpao (11.8 km) section was commissioned in February 2017, followed by the VangaichungpaoKhongsang (43.56 km) stretch. The KhongsangAwangkhul (9.1 km) section is slated for completion by March 2026, AwangkhulNoney (9.15 km) by March 2027, and the NoneyImphal (37.02 km) segment by March 2028. Beyond The Above There is fast-track movement in the remaining two states as well. In Sikkim, the 44.96 km SevokRangpo line, set to provide the states first railway connectivity, is targeted for completion by December 2027. In Meghalaya, Mendipathar became the first railway station in 2014 under the 19.62 km DudhnoiMendipathar project, with 8.67 km of railway track lying inside Meghalaya. Beyond The Obvious Undoubtedly, the targets mentioned above are official estimates. But given the pace of construction and commissioning of railway projects since 2014, and the strategic imperative of improving connectivity in the post-Doklam scenario, delays if any are likely to be a matter of months, or at worst, a year or two. They are unlikely to stretch into decades, as had been the case earlier. The New Horizons With more railway projects on the horizon, the Northeast is clearly witnessing a quiet revolution through steel tracks. As the government has repeatedly asserted, in just over a decade the region has seen century-old metre-gauge lines upgraded, long-delayed projects revived, and capital cities like Aizawl and Imphal finally placed on the railway map. While Assam, the old rail bastion, has emerged as the backbone through electrification and track-doubling, frontier states like Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh are pushing rail lines towards the borders and trade gateways. Tripura has already extended connectivity to Bangladesh, and Meghalaya and Sikkim await their turn. Together, these milestones are more than engineering achievements; they symbolise a Northeast steadily moving from isolation to integration, with steel tracks carrying the promise of growth, connectivity, and new horizons. The Key Learning In the past decade, Indian Railways has proven its mettle, not only by completing the difficult Kashmir rail project but also by fast-tracking railway construction through the impenetrable hills, valleys, and forests of the Northeast. For Bharat to become a developed nation by 2047, it will need the rapid and time-bound construction of tens of thousands of kilometres of railway lines, including high-speed corridors across the country. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It is time to raise the bar and bring the same discipline and sense of urgency to the rest of the nation. The author is a multidisciplinary thought leader with Action Bias, India-based international impact consultant, and keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as president, advisory services of consulting company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: September 20, 2025, 13:49 IST News opinion Opinion | Rewiring The Northeast: The Quiet Rail Revolution In Bharats Border States Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | The $100,000 H-1B Fee: A Blessing In Disguise For Viksit Bharat Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 18:49 IST For India, this is the moment to turn a historical leakage into a virtuous cycle On September 19, 2025, the Trump administration announced a $100,000 payment attached to H-1B visas. (Representational Image) The White Houses move to slap a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas looks, at first blush, like a blow to Indian talent and the companies that rely on it. In reality, it is an inflection point that will prompt the end of brain drain, force a faster pivot to build in India, for the world", and strengthen the foundations of Viksit Bharat. Meanwhile, the United States will find that a paywall cannot conjure up a domestic Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline overnight and that throttling high-skill immigration chokes a key pillar of its own innovation engine. Recommended Stories First, the facts. On September 19, 2025, the administration announced a $100,000 payment attached to H-1B visas. Whether it survives court scrutiny is uncertain; its deterrent effect on the talent pool and employers is not. For India, this is the moment to turn a historical leakage into a virtuous cycle. Indian nationals have long dominated the H-1B pipelineroughly 70% of approvals in many yearswhich means any steep fee impacts Indian-origin talent and their prospective employers the hardest. But it also means that the default option of move to America" just became economically irrational for tens of thousands of young engineers and researchers. If the tap to the US narrows, the pool at home deepens, and that is precisely where Indias digital public infrastructure, manufacturing push, and startup ecosystem can turn quantity into compounding quality. Remember the macro context. India already produces one of the worlds largest numbers of Science and Engineering (S&E) graduates, about 2.25 million, nearly triple the US number. That gap has only widened with the surge of affordable engineering and computer science programs, along with the governments heavy focus on skilling. The United States, by contrast, graduates far fewer S&E majors and relies disproportionately on imported skills, especially in software, semiconductor technology, and AI. You cannot impose a $100,000 toll and expect a domestic pipeline to materialise in months. Education systems develop over decades, not quarters. The adverse consequence to US innovation is not speculative. Research shows that high-skill immigrants are powerful contributors to patents, startups, and frontier R&D. Hence, curbing H-1B flows reduces firm-level invention and regional innovation capacity. History shows that when you restrict high-skill visas, you do not seamlessly replace those workers with equally productive domestic hires; you shrink or offshore the work. Which brings us to Indias immediate upside: production and R&D relocation. If hiring in the US is suddenly $100,000 per head more expensive, CFOs will do the math. The smart choice is not to leave roles unfilled; it is to move teams to where the talent is, at scale and speed. Indias Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are already booming, with 1,900 centres employing approximately 2.2 million professionals. A punitive US paywall simply pulls more design, product, data, and shared-services work into Indias cities. We are not talking about the call centres of yesteryears; we are talking about mission-critical engineering: chip design, AI/ML, cybersecurity, Development Operations (DevOps), risk analytics, and full-stack product ownership. Zinnov-NASSCOM data shows that hundreds of GCCs are scaling their headcount and scope; this fee shock will accelerate that migration and increase the value-added mix of work done in India. Add ONDC for commerce rails, UPI + Account Aggregator for finance rails, and a fast-maturing hardware ecosystem (semiconductors, electronics, EVs), and you have the ingredients for Brain Gain 2.0". The commonly touted US rationale is that a high fee will force companies to hire American". That assumes the US has a bench of ready, equally productive STEM workers waiting to be slotted in. The data and employers disagree. The fee doesnt upskill a high-school pipeline; it doesnt expand graduate seats in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering; it doesnt fix math proficiency or teacher shortages. For Indias young professionals, the calculus is shifting in our favour: Total career ROI: A $100,000 hurdle for your US employer is an implicit nudge to build your career at home, maybe with the same global company, but on Indian soil. Faster responsibility: As teams shift, India-based engineers and Project Managers will own products end-to-end, not just modules. Startup spillovers: Talent concentration plus lower opportunity cost of entrepreneurship equals more high-quality startups. Policy tailwinds: GST 2.0 simplification, faster refunds, DPI-enabled compliance, and ease-of-doing-business will improve cash flow for MSMEs and startups serving global markets from India. For policymakers, the playbook is straightforward: Make India the default landing pad: fast-track approvals for new GCCs, offer predictable SEZ-like regimes, and guarantee power and network quality in designated tech clusters. Double down on advanced skilling: AI, chip design, robotics, cybersecurity, biotech, etc. via industry-designed apprenticeships and micro-credentials stackable toward degrees. Deepen capital pools: Expand Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)/National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) anchored funds-of-funds; catalyse pension and insurance money into patient venture and growth equity. Smooth global work: Make it trivial for MNCs to remotely employ India-based staff compliantly; simplify IP ownership for India-led product teams. Protect talent mobility: Ensure non-compete enforcement does not hinder switching, while strengthening IP protection and data regimes to ensure global work remains confident in India. And finally, for Indian companies: go on the offensive. If your US competitors are about to face talent shortages and soaring costs, this is your chance to capture market share. Expand domestic hiring, invest in training, and establish long-term client relationships as partners who can deliver quickly and cost-effectively. The same approach applies to universities: increase high-quality masters seats in CS/EE/AI, integrate co-op programs with GCCs, and invite top faculty to teach intensive modules. The old script of brain drainace JEE/GRE, move to the US, and hope for a visawill be rewritten as building here and leading globally. The default flow of Indian students to the US will slow, because the policy has deliberately turned a tap into a trickle. That, in turn, will starve the US innovation pipeline at the margin: fewer immigrant-founded startups, thinner patenting in key hubs, and less diversity in research labs. Even if mega corporations absorb the fee for a subset of roles, the long tail of startups and mid-sized companiesthe true engine of breakthrough innovationwill not. They will build teams where the talent is affordable and abundant. Increasingly, thats India. Theres a deeper point here about national strategy. For decades, Americas openness to global talent masked deficits in its K-12 math and science pipeline and the cost structure of higher education. High-skill immigration papered over those cracks and powered US hegemony in tech and science. A sudden $100,000 wall exposes those weaknesses. You cannot fee your way to a semiconductor renaissance or an AI leadership moat. You must educate, attract, and retain talent. India, by contrast, has quietly built one of the worlds largest S&E undergraduate bases and the digital rails that let that base transact, sell, and ship to the world So yes, the announcement will cause anxiety. Families will worry, some offers will be rescinded, and a few plans will be paused. But step back, and you see a long-term strategic boon: talent retained, work relocated, GCCs upgraded, and startups energised. If the US insists on closing a door, India must open ten windows: to capital, to markets, to research partnerships, and to world-class jobs in India. History will likely record this fee not as the day Indian dreams dimmed, but as the day India stopped exporting its future to the US and the day the Viksit Bharat flywheel spun faster. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The author is an angel investor and startup mentor for the Atal Innovation Mission, Government of India, and the Atal Incubation Centre-Rambhau Mhalgi Prabhodhini. He is presently the Convenor (Western Maharashtra) of the BJP Intellectual Cell and has recently co-edited the book Modis North East Story. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:49 IST News opinion Opinion | The $100,000 H-1B Fee: A Blessing In Disguise For Viksit Bharat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Why Is Arvind Kejriwal Attacking Congresss Gandhi Brand? Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:38 IST The real challenge for the AAP is to create its own space at a time when the country is polarised between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and Congress-led INDIA bloc Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Arvind Kejriwal has alleged a nexus between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress. (PTI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal is back in news after launching a scathing attack on the Congress party, particularly on the Gandhi familythe brand of the Grand Old Party. Addressing party MLAs and councillors on August 28 at Delhis Constitution Club, the former chief minister of Delhi alleged a nexus between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress. According to him, if that werent the case, the Gandhi family would have been arrested in the National Herald case. Impact Of Delhi Elections? Recommended Stories In this years assembly elections, both AAP and Congress, though part of the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, fought separately, with the AAP alleging that Congress hurt its prospects. During the campaign, bitterness rose after Congresss top leader Rahul Gandhi equated Arvind Kejriwal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also questioned Kejriwals common man" imagehis core political USP. Later, AAP included Rahul Gandhi in a social media post about dishonest politicians, which invited sharp criticisms from the Congress. This anti-Congress stance has only hardened as the AAP now faces the challenge of retaining Punjab after losing Delhi to the BJP this year. In Punjab, BJP isnt a strong force, and Congress, the main opposition party, remains AAPs key challenger. Attempt To Reassert Itself With the Punjab state elections still two years away, a pertinent question arises: Why has the party chosen to sharpen its anti-Congress stance now? The answer lies in the prevailing political realities that are forcing the party to rethink its strategy. Last year, the party had to abandon its initial political strategy of opposing both the Congress and the BJP for the sake of political survival. It officially joined hands with Congress through the INDIA bloc to contest the Lok Sabha elections 2024 to counter the juggernaut BJP. This political strategy backfired on the party. AAP-Congress alliance failed to defeat BJP in all the seven Lok Sabha constituencies of Delhi while in Punjab, where there was no alliance, it won only three seats out of 13 compared to Congresss seven. Within eight months of this lacklustre performance, the party suffered its biggest electoral setback when it lost its bastion Delhi, where it was in power since 2015. Since its defeat in Delhi, there has been a shift in the partys political strategy. The party has increasingly focussed on Punjab, where Congress remains its main challenger. In July, the party announced its decision to quit the INDIA bloc, signalling an attempt to reassert its political identity independent of the Congress and position itself as the main challenger to the BJP. Challenging Rahul Gandhis Emergence Since the last Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi, now also the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has emerged as the most prominent Opposition face. This is another key setback to Kejriwal, who launched the AAP to fulfill his own dreams of occupying the prime ministers post. Although the party hasnt expanded as expected, it is a national party with legislators in Gujarat and Goa, apart from Delhi and Punjab. With Delhi gone, Rahul Gandhis arrival as the main opposition leader and the looming challenge of retaining Punjab, AAP understood that it is the time to revert to its main goalemerging as a national alternative to both Congress and BJP. It is out of this strategy that Kejriwal has mentioned the National Herald case and the involvement of the Gandhis in the case. His purpose was not only to allege a nexus between the BJP and the Congress but also to portray the latter as a corrupt party whose top leadership faces allegations of financial wrongdoing. Kejriwal is reminding voters about Congresss corruption at a time when various leaders of AAP, including him, were jailed over charges of corruption. These charges of corruption were one of the major contributors for AAP loss in Delhi. By reminding of the corruption allegationswhether the National Herald case or the 2G spectrum caseagainst Congress, Kejriwal is now trying to convince voters that opposition Congress isnt a credible alternative, especially with Rahul Gandhi facing graft charges. Signal To Disillusioned Section Within BJP After 11 years in power, signs of discontent are visible within a section of the support base of the saffron party. Sensing the opportunity, Kejriwal is trying to woo them by reminding them that BJP has failed to punish the perpetrators of the various corruption cases linked with the Congress, including the Gandhi family. For AAP, the BJP remains the main challenger in Delhi, Goa and Gujarat. The battle of Punjab is crucial for AAP in 2027 but the battles for Goa and Gujarat in the same year also carry significance for the party. In these two states, besides competing with the Congress for the opposition space, it also has to put up a credible fight against the incumbent BJPif it really wants to emerge as a credible opposition party. Ideologically speaking, AAPs right-centrist stance on religion and culture makes it a suitable tent for the disillusioned saffron supporters. On the other hand, its opposition towards BJP is likely to get them the votes of religious minorities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The real challenge, however, for the AAP is to create its own space at a time when the country is polarised between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Congress-led INDIA bloc. Compounding this challenge, AAPs alternative style of governance itself is facing a crisis after the partys defeat in Delhi and growing scrutiny in Punjab. The author is a political commentator. His X ID is @SagarneelSinha. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:38 IST News opinion Opinion | Why Is Arvind Kejriwal Attacking Congresss Gandhi Brand? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... By Karin Strohecker and Libby George LONDON (Reuters) - Angola will decide by November whether to roll over its $1 billion total return swap deal with JPMorgan, or potentially raise the money on international capital markets, a senior debt official told Reuters. JPMorgan and Angola agreed in December a $1 billion, one-year derivative contract known as a total return swap, backed by $1.9 billion in government dollar bonds, which will expire at the end of this year. "We have some options," Dorivaldo Teixeira, General Director of the Public Debt Management Unit at Angola's finance ministry, told Reuters on the sidelines of investor meetings in London. If market conditions were right, Angola could issue debt to raise the funds, repay partially, or extend the current arrangement. "It depends on the cost," he said. While he said the market conditions for smaller, riskier issuers were improving, with yields "going in the right direction", he noted that the JPMorgan facility cost was lower than the country's Eurobonds and "if I can extend it, probably I will use it." CONTAINING THE COSTS The yield on Angola's international bonds currently stands at roughly 10%, according to JPMorgan EMBI data. Still, he said Angola would push for a better deal than the current 9% it was paying on the arrangement, whether that was from the bank or from markets. The full terms of the total return swap have never been published. The deal grabbed headlines in April, when Angola had to pay $200 million to JPMorgan as additional security for its collateralised bond in a margin call after U.S. tariff turmoil pushed oil prices - and Angola's bonds - sharply lower. In November, the country also has to pay back just over $860 million it has outstanding on a dollar-denominated bond it sold in 2015. Finance officials are also working to increase transparency by publishing debt statistics more regularly, Teixeira said. The finance ministry has started issuing its debt bulletin quarterly, and it is aiming to publish monthly starting next year, while ensuring key information and statistics are available in English as well as Portuguese. "The perception of risk of Angola was heightened a little bit because we didn't communicate as much. People need more information about what's going on," Teixeira said in an interview late on Thursday, adding he hoped this would help lower Angola's borrowing costs. CAUTIOUS ON CRUDE Teixeira said finance officials are pressing for a more conservative oil price assumption in the 2026 budget after the government had to stress-test its 2025 spending due to a drop in prices below their $70 per barrel assumption. Opinion | Why The Bengal Files Is Important Written By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:25 IST For Hindus, this is a reminder of what happened and what could happen. For Muslims, it is a moment to accept the cruel atrocities that their forebearers visited upon the Hindus Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Critics who pan this film as an exercise in hate are missing the point or deliberately trying to avoid confronting an ugly and uncomfortable past. The story of our past is as important as our present for it determines our future. Historical atrocities when scrutinised with hindsight prove to be great teachers; they remind our fickle, distracted minds of evils that occurred and warn us of similar dangers lurking in the shadows ready to strike us in our moment of weakness. The Bengal Files, despite its supposed deficiencies and controversies, does great justice to our society by bringing to the fore an unfortunate but edifying chapter of our past-Direct Action Day 1946. Direct Action Day, which began on August 16, 1946, along with the pogrom at Noakhali, stands out as a gruesome, barbaric and diabolic act of unprecedented depravity even by the standards of pre-Partition violence. Direct Action Day was not a spontaneous violent confrontation between two communities or in other words, a simple communal riot. It was the culmination of a deep-set ideological hatred for the Hindu that found expression in a strategically planned and brutally executed exercise of violence that had administrative sanction. When it was all over, more than 4,000 people had been slaughtered to death in Calcutta. Recommended Stories It is important to recall the events leading up to that fateful day in August 1946. In February of that year, the British, sensing the increasing frustration and anger among Indians, dispatched a high-powered Cabinet Mission consisting of Lord Pethic-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and AV Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty) to temper the unrest. The specific purpose of the mission was to discuss the transfer of power from Britain to Indians without compromising Indias unity. However, the Cabinet Mission failed to bridge the differences between the Congress Party and the Muslim League, with the latter insisting on a separate country-Pakistan. Eventually the Mission came up with a plan of its own which was presented as a fait accompli to the two warring parties. The important elements of this plan included the establishment of a Constituent Assembly and a three-tiered federal structure: Group A consisted of 8 Hindu majority provinces; Group B was what would become West Pakistan and Group C was Bengal and Assam. The States would have the right to secede from the Union. The Muslim League initially welcomed this proposal because it saw in this format the emergence of amenable Muslim-dominated areas that could secede from India at a later stage to create an Islamic State: Muslim-minority Assam would be overwhelmed by Muslim-majority Bengal and the non-league NWFP would be rendered helpless by the surrounding Muslim League dominated provinces. But when the Congress Party rejected the idea of a three-tiered federation, the Muslim League reversed its decision and fell back on what had been its original game plan: political blackmail and violent religious disruption to achieve its goal. On July 27, Jinnah peevishly declared: Today we bid good bye to Constitutional methods I am also going to make trouble now." The intentions of the League were clear-violence at any cost. Even prior to Jinnahs declaration, the Muslim League had made its intentions clear: violence against Hindus would be its modus operandi. In preparation, leaders from across the sub-continent had continued to vitiate the atmosphere with political and religious rhetoric that was aimed at inciting Muslim masses. MJ Akbar in his book Tinderbox. The Past and Future Of Pakistan recounts: On 26 March 1946, the League newspaper Dawn quoted Abdur Rab Nishtar, who would be nominated by Jinnah to join the Cabinet in the interim government in Delhi in August 1946, as saying, The real fact is that Musalmans belong to a martial race and are no believers of the non-violent principles of Mr. Gandhi; while League leader from the Frontier Abdul Qaiyum Khan pointed out that his people were well armed and ready to rebel at a sign from Jinnah. The same paper quoted Sir Feroz Khan Noon (who would later on become the 7th Prime Minister of Pakistan) on April 11 as saying that if Muslims were forced to live under Hindu raj the havoc which the Muslims will play will put to shame what Chengiz Khan and Halaku did. Yasmin Khan, the noted scholar in her book, The Great Partition. The Making of India and Pakistan (Yale University Press. 2007), describes in detail the efforts to whip up mob frenzy in the days leading up to Direct Action Day: During the build-up, handbills and fly posters using religious language urged Muslims to act and linked the earliest Muslims with the contemporary situation, announcing that, In this holy month of Ramzan, Mecca was conquered from the infidels and in this month again a Jehad for the establishment of Pakistan has been declared. This kind of Islamic populism drew on older myths and stories, reworking history and compressing time. The Mayor of Calcutta himself commanded: We Muslims have had the crown and have ruled. Do not lose heart, be ready and take swords. Oh Kafir! Your doom is not far and the greater massacre will come. The key player and commander-in-chief on the ground of Direct Action Day was undoubtedly HS Suhrawardy, the Oxford educated, unscrupulous Chief Minister of Bengal Province at that time. He was on record by Calcuttas Statesman newspaper as saying, bloodshed and disorder are not necessarily evil in themselves, if resorted to for a noble cause". It was his covert signal on August 16 that unleashed the violent bloodletting that was to grip Calcutta for days. On the morning of the 16th, thousands of Muslims, many of them armed with lathis and brickbats, processed to a mammoth meeting at the Ochterlony Monument in Calcutta to hear speeches made by Husseyn Suhrawardy, the Provincial League Chief Minister, who, if he did not explicitly incite violence, certainly gave the crowds the impression that they could act with impunity, that neither the police nor the military would be called out and that the ministry would turn a blind eye to any action that they unleashed in the city." (Yasmin Khan. The Great Partition. The Making of India and Pakistan). The military report (Military report on the riots in Calcutta. 24 August 1946) by the British government confirmed Suhrawardys notorious role: There is hardly a person in Calcutta who has a good word for Suhrawardy, respectable Muslims Included. For years he has been known as The king of the goondas" and my own private opinion Is, that he fully anticipated what was going to happen, and allowed it to work itself up, and probably organised the disturbance with his goonda gangs" Other historical sources have also documented the organised nature of this assault on Hindus and the role of Suhrawardy: Prominent Muslim League leaders spent a great deal of time in police control rooms directing operations, and the role of H.S. Suhrawardy in obstructing police duties is well documented. S.K. Bhattacharya, a sub-inspector at the Lalbazar police station in 1946, recalls how they were not allowed to take any action for two days under the Muslim League Government; he also named a number of bad characters with political connections who had directed mob frenzy. The notorious criminal Bombaiya, living in the New Market area Mina Punjabi of the Cornwallis basti and Munna Choudhuri in the Harrison Road area. Police intelligence reports stated that well before the Direct-Action Day rally, Muslim League volunteers had acted on directives to mobilise ambulances; special petrol coupons, issued in the name of ministers, were used by League officials. These direct links with institutional politics ensured that the outbreaks of violence were highly organised". In summary, Direct Action Day was a despicable, horrific act of religious bestiality that was carefully planned for months with incendiary statements to whip up Muslim frenzy and logistically implemented by a free supply of petrol to Muslim goons and transfer of Hindu police officers; in addition, it was administratively facilitated by stalling military and police action for days so that Muslim goons would have a free hand to decimate the Hindus of Calcutta. There is no denying that the Hindus retaliated with equal force. But the point to be clearly and unequivocally noted is that it was the Muslim League that was solely responsible for initiating this inhuman carnage. Finally coming to the movie, The Bengal Files. Is Vivek Agnihotri merely raking up old wounds? Or is he trying to present Indians with a relevant snapshot of our past? And if so, does it serve any purpose? Critics who pan this film as an exercise in hate are missing the point or deliberately trying to avoid confronting an ugly and uncomfortable past that has serious implications for our future. For the Hindus, this is a reminder of what happened and what could happen especially in light of what is happening in Bangladesh today and the ethnic cleansing that occurred in Kashmir in the 1990s. To forget the past is to be unprepared for the future: an open invitation for self-destruction. There is a lesson in this for right thinking Muslims as well. This is a moment to introspect, to honestly confront and accept the cruel atrocities that their forebearers visited upon the Hindus. This is also an opportunity for Muslims to disassociate themselves from this dubious past and make amends, instead of living in denial. Such a change in mindset will go a long way in fostering Hindu-Muslim amity and nurturing a truly secular India. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The existing Hindu amnesia and Muslim denial cannot be the panacea to resolve Hindu-Muslim rupture. The writer is a US-based author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:25 IST News opinion Opinion | Why The Bengal Files Is Important Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 17:09 IST 1 / 12 Gold prices in India have reached a record high, causing confusion among buyers as the festive and wedding seasons approach. There is uncertainty about whether to purchase jewellery now or wait for a potential price drop. However, many global brokerage firms predict that the gold boom will continue, with prices potentially rising by 229 percent in the coming years. + Follow us On Google 2 / 12 Global uncertainties combined with traditional buying habits by Indians are driving this boom. Darshan Desai, CEO of Aspect Bullion & Refinery, states, "There will be some ups and downs, but the demand for safe investments and the global economic situation will continue to support prices. " ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 12 Aksha Kamboj, vice president of the Indian Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA), advises that it is challenging to pinpoint the market's lowest point. She suggests that purchasing gradually would be prudent, as a significant decline is unlikely . 4 / 12 Former IBJA president Mohit Kamboj asserts that even if the market stabilises temporarily, festive demand and the flow of safe investments will prevent a significant drop in gold prices . ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 12 Somen Bhowmik, managing director of CaratLane , highlights that gold is not merely an investment for Indians; it is deeply intertwined with emotions and traditions. He notes that any price reduction prompts immediate buying . 6 / 12 Mangesh Chauhan of Skygold & Diamonds recommends that buyers opt for low-carat gold or 24-carat gold to balance affordability and investment . ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 12 Gold is currently priced at $3650 per ounce. Rajul Kothari of Capital League predicts that gold could reach $3700-3800 shortly, although a short-term decline of 2 to 5 percent is also possible . 8 / 12 The current price of gold is Rs 1.10 lakh per 10 grams. Swiss Asia has made the boldest prediction, suggesting gold prices could increase by 119 to 229 percent by 2032. If gold prices rise by 119 percent, the new price could be around Rs 2,40,900 per 10 grams. Should the increase reach 229 percent, the price could climb to Rs 3,61,900 per 10 grams, meaning gold could range from Rs 2.40 lakh to Rs 3.61 lakhs per 10 grams in the next seven years . ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 12 Juerg Kiener , Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Swiss Asia Capital, anticipates a 37 to 120 percent increase in gold prices over the next few years. Citigroup estimates a 9.6 percent rise, potentially bringing gold to around Rs 1,20,560 per 10 grams, while Goldman Sachs forecasts a 37 percent increase, which could elevate gold prices to Rs 1,50,700 per 10 grams . 10 / 12 Experts advise against making large gold purchases at once. Darshan Desai from Aspect Bullion & Refinery suggests buying in the coming weeks is considered auspicious . ADVERTISEMENT 11 / 12 Investors are advised to adopt a gradual approach while investing. One strategy is to allocate about 25% of the total budget initially and buy more if prices fall by 2-5%, planning the rest according to future strategies. A prudent move would be to begin with a modest investment in gold, around 20-30% at current levels, while keeping the remainder in cash reserves. Since gold prices are expected to rise in the medium term, continuing with incremental investments is considered a wise approach. Actor Vijay Praises Rajiv Gandhi's Killer: 'Showed Motherly Love To Sri Lankan Tamils' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 18:14 IST Vijay said late LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was the mastermind behind former PM Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, was "like a mother" to Sri Lankan Tamils. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay in Nagapattinam. (PTI) Actor-turned-politician Vijay, the leader of Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), made a shocking remark by praising the late chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Velupillai Prabhakaran, the mastermind behind former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis assassination in 1991. Vijay was addressing a crowd in Nagapattinam as part of his statewide political campaign for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, and reached out to the Sri Lankan Tamil community, reported NDTV. Vijay suggested that Prabhakaran was like a mother" to Sri Lankan Tamils. Recommended Stories At the same time, our umbilical-cord kin, the Eelam Tamils, whether they are in Sri Lanka or anywhere else in the world, are suffering after losing a leader who showed them motherly affection. It is our duty to raise our voice for them," he was quoted as saying in the report. The issue of Sri Lankan Tamils remains a sensitive and politically charged issue in Tamil Nadu, especially in coastal districts like Nagapattinam, where frequent fishing disputes occur. More than 50,000 Sri Lankan Tamils live in refugee camps across Tamil Nadu, most of whom fled after the Sri Lankan Civil War broke out in 1983. Who Was Prabhakaran? Velupillai Prabhakaran was the leader of the Tamil New Tigers (TNT), which was later renamed as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE had run a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009. Prabhakaran was reportedly angered by previous Sri Lankan administrations discrimination towards Tamils, and waged a civil war against the Sri Lankan military. On July 23, 1983, the LTTE ambushed an army patrol in Thirunelveli, Sri Lanka, killing 13 Sri Lankan soldiers, triggering violent riots that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Tamils and the displacement of over 150,000 people. The LTTE was allegedly engaged in the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, Indias former prime minister, in 1991. Prabhakaran was motivated to kill Gandhi after his decision to deploy the Indian peacekeeping force troops to Sri Lanka amid the civil war. Rajiv Gandhi was blown up by a Sri Lankan Tamil woman suicide bomber at an election rally in Tamil Nadu in 1991. India officially banned the LTTE in 1992 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and declared Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief, Pottu Amman, proclaimed offenders. Prabhakaran was killed in 2009 when the Sri Lankan military advanced rapidly into the last LTTE-held territory, bringing the civil war to an end. Vijay Rages Against DMK Govt This is not the first time that Vijay has expressed support for Sri Lankan Tamils. He had earlier joined a hunger strike in Chennai to protest the killing of the community members in Sri Lanka in 2008, according to NDTV. He also asserted that one of the top priorities for his party is to resolve the issues faced by fishermen caught by Sri Lankan authorities. We are not like the DMK government that writes a long letter about the fishermens issue and then remains silent. Finding a solution to the fishermens problem is one of our key agendas," he told the crowd in Nagapattinam. He also lashed out at the DMK administration for allegedly imposing numerous conditions on his political meetings and asked if the government would dare to impose such conditions during the visits of the Prime Minister or Home Minister. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Why do you impose conditions on me who wants to meet the people. Whats your intention? Let me tell you again, the contest in 2026 is only between the TVK and the DMK," he said. Vijay also criticised Chief Minister MK Stalin for remaining silent on the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen after writing letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (with inputs from PTI) 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 : Nagapattinam, India, India First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:14 IST News politics Actor Vijay Praises Rajiv Gandhi's Killer: 'Showed Motherly Love To Sri Lankan Tamils' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tilak, Raksha Sutra: VHP's 'Hindus Only' Diktat For Garba Entry Stirs Political Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 23:41 IST The VHP issued a directive requiring a tilak, sacred thread, and puja for entry into garba events, aiming to restrict non-Hindus from participating in the festivities. The VHP has issued a directive to restrict the entry of non-Muslims in Garba events. (Representative Image) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come up with a set of requirements, including a tilak on the forehead and a raksha sutra (sacred thread), in order for Navratri devotees to get entry into Garba events. This step has been taken to ensure that only Hindus attend these events. As part of the VHPs Hindus Only diktat, garba event organisers will check Aadhaar cards at entry points, apply tilak on their foreheads and ensure that they offer prayers before they are allowed to enter the Garba events. This step has been taken to prevent Love Jihad, a term used for the alleged conversion of Hindu women by Muslim men. Recommended Stories Cow urine, or gaumutra, will also be sprinkled on attendees, NDTV reported, citing the organisations Vidarbha general secretary Prashant Titre. Furthermore, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers will monitor the events to prevent the entry of non-Hindus during garba. Garba is not merely a dance but a form of worship to please the goddess. They (apparent reference to Muslims) do not believe in idol worship. Only those having faith in the rituals must be allowed to participate," VHP national spokesperson told news agency PTI. VHPs Vidarbha convenor, Navin Jain, said garba was not merely a dance programme or a cultural event but also a form of sacred worship. Every participant should be asked to bow before the goddess picture at the entrance," he told reporters in Nagpur on Saturday. Any kind of intoxication or smoking will also be banned from the programmes. In the last few years, it has been seen that Hindu girls have been targeted for love jihad, prompting us to appeal to garba organisers to not allow such people," Jain said. ALSO READ: Wont Be Spared: Bhopal BJP MPs Warning To Love Jihadis Over Garba Participation BJP vs Congress Over VHP Move Reacting to the VHPs stand, Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule said organisers have the right to set such conditions of entry at an event. The only decisive factor is whether the event has police permission. The organising committees must take decisions based on that," he said. Maharashtra BJP media chief Navnath Ban also echoed the statements of VHP leaders, saying those from other religions should not interfere while Hindus perform garba and worship the goddess." However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the VHP was attempting to create a communal atmosphere in the country. Creating a communal atmosphere and this country is their livelihood. I am not talking about equal respect for all religions, but the way this poison is being spread does not behove Maharashtra or the country," he said. Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the VHP of dividing the society for political benefits. They want to divide society over religion and reap political benefits out of it. What VHP has said is nothing new. The organisation is born with an intention to destabilise the country," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all BJPs Ban hit back at Wadettiwar, saying, They (Congress) are the ones who caused rifts in society. The Maha Vikas Aghadi government (of which the Congress was a part) failed to protect Maratha reservation." (with inputs from PTI) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 23:41 IST News politics Tilak, Raksha Sutra: VHP's 'Hindus Only' Diktat For Garba Entry Stirs Political Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Deep-Sea Silverpit Crater Under North Sea Created By Asteroid Strike, Say Scientists Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 22:47 IST Silverpit crater, 80 miles off Yorkshire, was formed 43 million years ago by an asteroid impact, says Scientists, ending decades of debate over its origin beneath the North Sea. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Illustration of a large asteroid colliding with Earth. (AI Generated Image) Buried deep beneath the seabed, about 80 miles off Yorkshires coast, lies an extraordinary crater that has split scientific opinion. Was it dramatically formed by an asteroid impact, or more simply caused by shifting geological salt deposits? Today, scientists believe they have finally resolved the decades-old debate: the Silverpit crater, lying 700 metres beneath the North Sea seabed, was most likely formed over 43 million years ago by an asteroid or comet roughly the size of York Minster striking the Earth. Recommended Stories The 160-metre-wide asteroid smashed into the sea, causing a 100-metre-high tsunami, say scientists. It was probably a very bad day for any early mammals in the area, but not as bad as the consequences of the asteroid smash that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Experts note that while the Silverpit crater is far smaller than Mexicos Chicxulub crater, formed when a 6- to 9-mile-wide asteroid struck Earth and wiped out about 75% of plant and animal life, it remains fascinating and highly significant as the only known impact crater near the present-day UK. A sedimentologist from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Uisdean Nicholson, who led the research team, said new seismic imaging had given them an unprecedented look at the crater. Getting the proof was definitely an exciting moment", he said, describing the investigation as a needle in the haystack approach". Petroleum geoscientists discovered the crater in 2002, a two-mile-wide depression encircled by a 12-mile-wide ring of circular faults. Those who found it believed it was indeed a hypervelocity impact crater, pointing to characteristics often associated with them, including a central peak, circular shape and concentric faults. Initially, it was estimated to be more than 60 million years old, and it made headlines. Crater could be asteroid strike," read a Guardian report from the time. However, some scientists were not convinced, arguing that it had a far less interesting origin story and it was most likely caused by the movement of salt rocks at depth. I feel like Im spoiling the party," the Guardian quoted the geologist Prof John Underhill, from the University of Edinburgh, who led the doubters at the time, as saying. Its a less glamorous explanation, but thats what the scientific data is saying." In 2009, there was a debate at the Geological Society that Nicholson remembers. I was a PhD student at the time, and it was quite a well-known debate, within geological circles at least. They had the big debate, and then they had a vote. It was overwhelmingly decided that it was a non-impact origin. Most people favoured the mundane explanation and I think that reflects a tendency to reject the more spectacular explanation." The vote ended 80-20 against the impact hypothesis, prompting questions about whether geologists tend to be naturally conservative. There are different types of geologists," Nicholson remarked. Some say I get overly excited about certain ideas." Nicholson was asked to look at Silverpit because of his experience discovering another impact crater in West Africa. Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, Nicholsons team employed seismic imaging, microscopic examination of rock cuttings, and numerical modelling to present what they claim is the strongest evidence to date that Silverpit is an impact crater on Earth. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Asteroid impacts are thankfully rare, with none recorded in human history. The craters they leave behind are also uncommon, as plate tectonics and erosion erase nearly all evidence of most of these events," Nicholson explained. There are about 200 confirmed impact craters on land and only 33 identified beneath the ocean." Silverpit is exceptionally preserved and important, he said. We can use these findings to understand how asteroid impacts shaped our planet throughout history, as well as predict what could happen should we have an asteroid collision in future." Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: September 20, 2025, 22:47 IST News viral Deep-Sea Silverpit Crater Under North Sea Created By Asteroid Strike, Say Scientists Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... FBI Chief Kash Patels Handwritten Pep Talk Notes To Himself Go Viral, Netizens Call Him Loser Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 12:05 IST FBI Director Kash Patels pep talk notes to himself during the congressional gave netizens a field day as pictures of the notes went viral. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google FBI Director Kash Patel holds his notes as he testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Netizens mocked US FBI Director Kash Patel after cameras captured his pep talk notes that he scribbled to keep with himself during the congressional hearing over political violence and Jeffrey Epsteins case files. A report by the Daily Mail said that the notes, written by Kash Patel himself, on personalized stationery labeled Director Patel, read like affirmations". Recommended Stories The notes, shared by the newspaper via Getty Images, said: Good fight with Swalwell. Hold the line. Brush off their attacks. Rise above next line of partisan attacks". Lmfao hes writing words of affirmation to himself," one X user commented. This reads like the pep talk I give myself before every holiday with my family," wrote another. What an absolute loser having to write himself motivational notes because no one loves him, a third user said. Lmao this is so sad. Its like hes hyping himself up in the mirror before the hearing, another user chimed in. The notes quickly went viral, with critics mocking Patel for using a personalized notepad with his own letterhead. They came to light during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where Patel repeatedly clashed with Democrats, most notably California Congressman Eric Swalwell, over the handling of Jeffrey Epsteins files. Kash Patel's notes during his congressional testimony as photographed by Getty: "Good fight with Swalwell" pic.twitter.com/7SyV9bZAQ9 Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) September 19, 2025 Swalwell pressed Patel on the Justice Departments reluctance to unseal certain grand jury documents related to the late financier, asking whether any of the files mentioned former US President Donald Trump, who had socialized with Epstein. Your fixation on this matter and baseless accusations that Im hiding child pedophiles is disgusting," Patel said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Democrat Swalwell peppered Patel with questions about whether he told Attorney General Pam Bondi that Trumps name was included in the Epstein files. When Patel didnt immediately answer, Swalwell asked again more slowly, prompting Patel to snap back: Why dont you try to spell it out if youre going to mock me? Use the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F." About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 12:05 IST News viral FBI Chief Kash Patels Handwritten Pep Talk Notes To Himself Go Viral, Netizens Call Him Loser Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... It Wasnt About Friends, Language, City Delhi Man Explains Why He Left Mumbai After 100 Days Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 21:48 IST Deshav Kumar left Mumbai after 100 days, choosing Delhi for its comfort and familiarity. His post sparked debate on growth, comfort zones, and the Delhi Mumbai rivalry. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Delhi Man Explains Why He Left Mumbai After 100 Days. (LinkedIn) After spending just 100 days in Mumbai, Indias bustling financial hub, a social media user has shared why they decided to leave the city. Their post reignites the long-running, light-hearted rivalry between Delhi and Mumbai, two of the countrys most iconic urban centres, each fiercely loved by its residents for its own unique character. In a LinkedIn post, a user named Deshav Kumar stated that he was fascinated by the idea of moving to a new city, as it felt exciting to step out of his comfort zone. However, upon his return to Delhi, he was flooded with questions about why he chose to come back, even though Mumbai seemed to offer everything the national capital did. Recommended Stories Well, after living in Mumbai for around 100 days, I did decide to move back to Delhi. And the truth isit wasnt about friends, language, or even the city," wrote Kumar, adding that he needed the comfort zone in his career. But looking back, that logic wasnt the best. See, people often romanticise the idea of stepping out of your comfort zone. Were told that growth only comes when you do that. And yes, sometimes its true. But I realised that growth is not about being uncomfortable all the time," he added. He stated that Delhi is where he felt rooted and needed the familiar surroundings to grow further in his professional and personal life. Delhi is where I feel rooted. Its not that Mumbai isnt amazing; it truly is. But my journey needed a base where I could focus, build, and scale without battling every little thing outside of work," he said. Maybe the takeaway is this: Comfort zone isnt always the enemy. Sometimes, its the soil you need to grow stronger roots before you branch out again." Responding to the post, many social media users echoed the sentiment, emphasising that finding inner peace is most important. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all So true and also a place where you can just focus on yourself and be at peace with yourself," said one user, while another added, Glad you made the right decision for yourself." A third commented: Completely agree with you. One must know what works best for them, irrespective of their comfort zone." First Published: September 20, 2025, 21:48 IST News viral It Wasnt About Friends, Language, City Delhi Man Explains Why He Left Mumbai After 100 Days Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Teenagers Height Boost From Body-Lengthening Treatment Lasts Just Two Weeks In China Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 18:35 IST A Chinese teen underwent costly body-lengthening therapy, briefly gained 1.4 cm, but reverted to original height. SCMP reports experts call the practice unscientific. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Representative Image. (AI Generated) A 16-year-old boy in southeastern China who underwent six months of body-lengthening therapy grew 1.4 centimetres in height, only to return to his original stature within two weeks of ending the treatment, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The boy, surnamed Huang from Xiamen in Fujian province, received the therapy between February and August this year for 16,700 yuan ($2,350). According to his father, his height rose from 165 cm to 166.4 cm by August, but quickly returned to 165 cm once the sessions ended. Recommended Stories Huangs father filed a complaint with the institution that provided the treatment. Staff reportedly told him that his son was too old to be corrected" and offered a full refund. The father criticised the institution, stating that they should have informed him of this beforehand. According to SCMP, the boy had been taken for treatment once every one to two weeks. Procedures included leg stretching and the use of medical equipment to activate" the knees. According to Huang, the teenagers height would shrink whenever they missed a session. Medical experts have criticised the practice as unscientific. Wu Xueyan, an endocrinologist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, stated that forced stretching cannot fundamentally increase a persons height. A person is half to one centimetre taller in the morning than in the afternoon," Wu said, according to SCMP, noting that daily spinal compression and relaxation can account for minor changes. Humans are not noodles. It is unscientific to stretch a person longer." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Wu stated that exercise, good-quality sleep, and natural growth factors are the only effective ways to support height development, emphasising that genetics plays the most significant role. The story drew widespread online reactions, with many condemning institutions for taking advantage of parental anxiety. The name of the institution has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether it was qualified to carry out such treatments. Location : China First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:35 IST News viral Teenagers Height Boost From Body-Lengthening Treatment Lasts Just Two Weeks In China Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'We Don't Need Indians': Charlie Kirk's Tweet On Migrants And H-1B Visas Resurfaces Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 17:06 IST Charlie Kirk's remarks on Indian migrants, days before he got fatally shot, are resurfacing. He stated "America does not need more visas for people from India." Charlie Kirk (AFP photo) Trumps staunch supporter and Conservative US leader Charlie Kirk, who died on September 10 after being shot at an event in Utah, just days before his death said that America does not need more visas for Indians. Kirks controversial post on X resurfaced in which he said America was full" and it was time to put our own people first". The 31-year-old had built a strong following among youth through his posts and podcast. His remarks were termed xenophobic by critics who said they undermined bilateral ties and innovation pipelines. Recommended Stories His post reflected that he had a controversial take on immigration from India, which is mostly that of skilled professionals, particularly in the tech sector. The H-1B visa, that facilitates the stay of Indian techies in the US and helps American tech giants, has been under fire from Trump aides and the MAGA crowd. Kirks post has resurfaced after US president Donald Trump announced major changes to the H1B visa programme on Friday. America has announced $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications, which will come into effect from September 21, 2025. Charlie Kirks Post On X On September 2, Kirk declared on X (formerly Twitter) that the US did not need to provide more visas to Indians, arguing that the country was full" and that Indian workers were displacing" Americans. America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. Were full. Lets finally put our own people first," he wrote. America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. Were full. Lets finally put our own people first. https://t.co/wcOsorvZFE Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 1, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His post was a response to Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who had argued that any US trade deal with India would likely require offering more visas. Id rather not pay them in visas and trade deficits," Ingraham had posted, to which Kirk offered his absolute agreement. 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: September 20, 2025, 17:06 IST News viral 'We Don't Need Indians': Charlie Kirk's Tweet On Migrants And H-1B Visas Resurfaces Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... China Extends Crackdown On Social Media Apps, Announces To Take Measures Against Weibo, Kuaishou Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:35 IST China's Cyberspace Administration warned Kuaishou and Weibo for poor content management, extending its crackdown after similar action against Xiaohongshu. China Announces To Take Measures Against Weibo, Kuaishou Chinas internet regulator on Saturday issued warnings and imposed disciplinary measures" on live-streaming platform Kuaishou and social media platform Weibo. Extending a crackdown on social media applications, China cited failures in content management as a reason behind the step. As per a report by AFP, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) declared that the measures would include summonses for interviews, injunctions to correct breaches within a specified period, warnings and strict sanctions against those responsible". Recommended Stories Weibo, Kuaishou are reportedly under the scanner for highlighting celebrity news and undesirable" content. Notably, CAC took similar action against Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, known as Rednote in English, last week. In a statement, Weibo said it takes the matter very seriously" and sincerely accepts the criticism and disciplinary decisions" from the authorities. A special task force was immediately established to carry out rectification work, aiming to address governance issues around the trending list with the highest standards and strictest requirements, and to fully assume responsibility for content management," the company was cited as saying by Reuters. Sanctions On Xiaohongshu Last week, CAC has said that it had ordered warnings and strict punishment" to bosses at popular social media app Xiaohongshu over its online content, slamming trivial" and negative" posts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As per a report by AFP, the statement criticised Xiaohongshu for hosting numerous posts hyping celebrities personal dynamics and trivial matters and other negative content frequently populating the hot search list". A clear, clean and healthy cyberspace aligns with the interests of the people," it 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 : China First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:35 IST News world China Extends Crackdown On Social Media Apps, Announces To Take Measures Against Weibo, Kuaishou Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBD) is one of the 9 Most Profitable Penny Stocks to Buy Right Now. On September 1, Banco Bradesco S.A.s (NYSE:BBD) indirectly controlled investment firm, Atlantica Hospitais e Participacoes S.A., signed an Investment Agreement with Rede DOr Sao Luiz S.A. Group. Atlanticas agreement with Rede DOr involves the inclusion of Hospital Gloria DOr into the Atlantica DOr network. This inclusion will maintain a partnership structure with 50.01% stake held by Rede DOr and 49.99% by Atlantica. Banco Bradesco's Indirectly Controlled Investment Firm Signs an Investment Agreement with Rede DOr Banco Bradescos investment firms expansion aligns with its strategy to invest in the healthcare value chain. The goal is to collaborate with reputed and established hospital operators. The transaction between Atlantica Hospitais and Rede DOr is subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions of the agreement. Since the announcement of the agreement, BBD shares have soared by almost 9.06% as of September 16. Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBD), along with its subsidiaries, offers various banking products and services to individuals, corporates, and businesses in Brazil and globally. While we acknowledge the potential of BBD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Cyberattack Forces Flight Cancellations At Major European Airports, Including Heathrow Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 15:08 IST The cyber-attack forced airport staff to manually check-in and board passengers as the attack affected check-in and boarding systems. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google A woman points at a flight board at Heathrow Airport as technical snag delays flights. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) Major European airports, including the Heathrow in London, warned of delays following a technical issue" that affected check-in and boarding systems, UK broadcaster Sky News said in a report. Officials from Belgiums Brussels Airport said a cyberattack was causing the disruption, according to the broadcaster. Recommended Stories Other European airports also warned of delays after the technical issue" affected check-in and boarding systems. The Brussels Airport confirmed that 10 flights had been cancelled and 17 flights were experiencing delays of more than one hour. It is still too early to say when the problem will be resolved," airport authorities were quoted as saying by Sky News. This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights," it said in a statement. Berlin Airport was among those experiencing delays. Due to a technical issue at a system providerthere are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution," Berlin Airport said in a banner on its website. Frankfurt Airport, Germanys largest, was not affected, a spokesperson said. The cyber-attack targeted a business that provides check-in and boarding systems to several airlines around the world. This forced airport staff to conduct manual check-in and boarding procedures, Brussels Airport staff said. Londons Heathrow warned of delays caused by the technical issue" at a third-party supplier and told flyers to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport. A separate report by news outlet Reuters said that Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, was the provider that was experiencing the technical issue". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all RTX, Collins Aerospaces parent, said it had become aware of a cyber-related disruption" to its software in select airports, without naming them. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations," the company said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters, adding that it was working to fix the issue as quickly as possible. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: September 20, 2025, 14:56 IST News world Cyberattack Forces Flight Cancellations At Major European Airports, Including Heathrow Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Donald Trump Says US Hit Third Vessel Smuggling Drugs: Carried Out Lethal Kinetic Strike Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 12:48 IST US President Donald Trump said the US strikes killed three "male narcoterrorists" on board vessel allegedly smuggling drugs. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Donald Trump warned against selling fentanyl, narcotics and illegal drugs to Americans. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US President Donald Trump Friday said US forces carried out a lethal kinetic strike" on a vessel following his orders to attack a boat which the US intelligence confirmed was trafficking drugs, according to broadcaster BBC. The boat was in the US Southern Commands area of responsibility and was the third such strike on boats allegedly smuggling drugs into the US in recent weeks. Recommended Stories Trump in a social media post said the strike was carried out against a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility." He did not provide more precise details about the location of the strike. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans," Trump said in the post. Trump also posted a video of the latest strike that shows a vessel speeding through waters before it appears to be struck by a pair of missiles from overhead and sink in a fiery explosion. It was at this moment, the narcoterrorists knew they screwed up," White House communications director Steven Cheung said on X in a posting with the video. "No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!" Trump further added in his social media post. The US Southern Commands area of responsibility spans most of South America and the Caribbean. Two earlier strikes targeted boats allegedly linked to Venezuela, leaving 14 people dead. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has condemned the attacks, accusing Washington of aggression" and warning that his country will defend itself. The US President earlier this week announced the US military had carried out a strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. That strike also killed three on board. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all That followed a September 2 military strike on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat that killed 11. Trump claimed the boat was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, which was listed by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. The Trump administration has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 12:44 IST News world Donald Trump Says US Hit Third Vessel Smuggling Drugs: Carried Out Lethal Kinetic Strike Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Estonia Seeks Urgent NATO Consultations Under Article 4 After Russia Violates Airspace Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 17:14 IST At least three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission in the area of Vaindloo Island amid rising tensions in Europe. Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission. (Representative Image/Reuters) Estonia has requested an urgent consultation with other NATO members after Russian warplanes violated its airspace on Friday, days after drone incursions were reported by Poland and Romania, as tensions in Europe escalate amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. At least three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission in the area of Vaindloo Island, around 100 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital Tallinn and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes, according to several reports. Recommended Stories Italy, Finland and Sweden scrambled military jets attached to NATOs air defence support mission to intercept the Russian jets and warn them off. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATOs ability to respond," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said in a statement. However, Russia has denied violating Estonian airspace. However, Estonia, which shares a border with Russia to the east, says this was the fifth Russian violation of its airspace this year, according to BBC. What Does Estonias Call Mean? Estonia invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty to formally begin urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, bringing the United States and European countries together for collective defence. The military alliance told AFP in Brussels that the talks could take place at the start of next week". This was the second time within a month that a NATO member has called for Article 4 consultations, after Poland did so on September 10 after Russian drone incursions. NATOs response to any provocation must be united and strong. We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps," said Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The government said that its has summoned the top Russian diplomat in the country to lodge a protest and deliver a note. Earlier, Estonias former PM and current EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called the violation an extremely dangerous provocation" and said it further escalated tensions in the region. Putin is testing the Wests resolve. We must not show weakness," she said. The Russian airspace violation has prompted strong reactions from other European countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed support for Estonia, stating, Europe stands with Estonia in the face of Russias latest violation of our airspace." Russia Denies Breaching Airspace Estonian officials told BBC that Russian aircraft entered its airspace from the north-east and were intercepted by Finnish jets over the Gulf of Finland. The Russian jets had no flight plans had their transponders turned off and also did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control. However, the Russian defence ministry said the jets were on a scheduled flight in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring." It further said that the aircraft flew over neutral Baltic waters, over 3 km from Estonias Vaindloo Island. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed displeasure over the incident, saying, I dont love it. I dont like when that happens. Could be big trouble." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country is at war with Russia, accused Russia of deliberately expanding its destabilising activity" with the series of airspace violations in Poland, Romania and Estonia. The alleged Russian incursion came with tensions high on NATOs eastern border, after Poland complained last week that around 20 Russian drones overflew its territory, with three being shot down. Prior to that, Romania announced that one of its fighter jets detected a drone entering the countrys airspace during Russian strikes on Ukraine. 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 : Estonia First Published: September 20, 2025, 17:13 IST News world Estonia Seeks Urgent NATO Consultations Under Article 4 After Russia Violates Airspace Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Former US NSA Says India Proud, Strong Nation, Trumps Tariff Policy Led To Huge Loss Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 08:16 IST Trump Tariffs Impact: Susan Rice while addressing an event said the current US administration may have hurt decades of work to strengthen India-US ties. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google At the SCO summit, PM Modi was seen alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, which is a shift US NSA linked to Donald Trumps tariff policy. (IMAGE: REUTERS) Former US National Security Advisor Susan Rice said India is a strong and proud" nation and that the current administrations policy of tariffs may have led to huge loss" in New Delhi-Washington ties as previous administrations worked hard to strengthen bilateral ties. We have had successive Democratic and Republican administrations, going back 30 years, that have worked assiduously to try to strengthen the US-India relationship, to create some distance between India and Russia, India and China," Rice said, in a video shared by Hindustan Times where Rice is seen addressing the event. Recommended Stories And yet, within a matter of weeksI was going to say months, but its really been weeksweve thrown that away. By virtue of a tariff policy ostensibly aimed at Indias relationship with Russia over Ukraine, but in reality it seems to be more about personal pique," she further added. US President Donald Trump had invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law crafted for sanctions and financial controls in times of foreign emergencies, to impose reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries. India was slapped with 25 per cent tariffs, but the rate of tariffs was increased to 50 per cent for buying Russian crude. What was so striking about what happened at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was, among other things, India being pushed into, or moving into, literally, you know, a grasping of hands with Russia and China. Not long ago, they were at odds," Rice said referring to the images of Prime Minister Narendra Modis interactions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Tianjin SCO. Donald Trump and his administrations remarks targeting India for the war in Ukraine also strained relations. However, officials from both nations continue trade and tariff negotiations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rice also pointed out that when Trump claimed credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire following Operation Sindoor, India didnt rush to embrace" the narrative. India has always maintained that the ceasefire was reached following bilateral discussions involving Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of both nations. The fact is, when the President claimed credit for defusing the conflict between India and Pakistan, India didnt rush to embrace that narrative, for reasons many of us understand. And, as a consequence, we have now seen India, as a proud and strong nation, saying, Were going to go in a different direction. Thats a huge loss," Rice said. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 08:16 IST News world Former US NSA Says India Proud, Strong Nation, Trumps Tariff Policy Led To Huge Loss Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Hamas Releases Farewell Image Of 47 Israeli Hostages, Slams Netanyahu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 19:40 IST Hamas shared a farewell image of 47 Israeli hostages in Gaza, blaming Benjamin Netanyahu and Eyal Zamir for rejecting a ceasefire as Israel intensifies its offensive in Gaza City. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google Hamas Releases Farewell Image Of 47 Israeli Hostages. (X) Hamas released a compilation image showing the 47 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza on Saturday. Hamas described the photo as a farewell picture, labelling each hostage as Ron Arad," the Israeli Air Force navigator captured in 1986, and assigning each a number. Along with it, the hostages were also given a number. The text on the image accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting a ceasefire and hostage deal, while blaming the IDF Chief of Staff for proceeding with the Gaza invasion despite reportedly opposing it. Recommended Stories Because of [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahus refusal, and [IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal] Zamirs capitulation, a parting image as the military operation in Gaza City begins," it said. A report by Ynet, an Israeli publication, quoted officials as saying that out of the 47 hostages, only 20 are believed to be alive. 2 of the remaining hostages are in a grave condition, and the rest are dead. A statement from al-Qassam Brigades said, Your prisoners are distributed within the neighbourhoods of Gaza City, and we will not be concerned for their lives as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them," as reported by CNN. The commencement of this criminal operation and its expansion means that you will not receive any prisoner, neither alive nor dead, and their fate will be the same as that of (Ron Arad)." Hamas released 30 hostages, 20 Israeli civilians, five soldiers, and five Thai nationals during the ceasefire between January and March 2024. They also released the bodies of eight Israeli captives killed. In May, they released an American-Israeli hostage as a gesture" to the United States. Israel, in exchange, released 2,000 prisoners and detainees. According to health officials, Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people overnight in Gaza City, as Israel ramps up its offensive there and urges Palestinians to leave. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The strikes occur as Western nations grow increasingly frustrated with the escalating conflict in Gaza, with some planning to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly next week. The recent Israeli operation, launched earlier this week, has intensified the conflict in the Middle East and likely delays any prospects for a ceasefire. Location : Palestine First Published: September 20, 2025, 19:40 IST News world Hamas Releases Farewell Image Of 47 Israeli Hostages, Slams Netanyahu Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... He Didnt Quit: Trump Fires US Attorney Who Declined To Charge Political Opponents Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 17:17 IST Donald Trump fired Erik Siebert, US attorney for Eastern District of Virginia, after Siebert refused to prosecute James Comey and Letitia James, both political opponents of Trump. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Erik Siebert, interim U.S. Attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, speaks during a news conference, March 27, 2025. (AP) US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he had fired" a federal prosecutor who was reportedly under pressure related to investigations involving two of the Republican leaders political opponents. This comes after Erik Siebert, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, informed his staff of his resignation in an email on Friday, according to reports from the New York Times and other US media outlets. Recommended Stories Siebert had been under pressure to prosecute two of Trumps political adversaries, former FBI director James Comey, whom Trump fired in 2017, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Times reported. According to the Times, some officials in the administration had argued for Siebert to keep his position. Today I withdrew the Nomination of Erik Siebert as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, when I was informed that he received the UNUSUALLY STRONG support of the two absolutely terrible, sleazebag Democrat Senators, from the Great State of Virginia," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He didnt quit, I fired him!" he added. Hours earlier in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters: I want him out." According to officials cited by the Washington Post, the federal prosecutor recently informed Justice Department leaders that he would not pursue charges against Comey for allegedly lying to Congress and determined there was insufficient evidence to charge James with mortgage fraud. Former FBI chief Comey was fired while leading a probe into whether any members of the Trump campaign had colluded with Moscow to sway the 2016 presidential vote, and has been a vocal critic of the Republican president. As New Yorks state prosecutor, James filed a $464 million lawsuit against Trump, accusing him and his company of illegally inflating his assets and manipulating property values to secure favourable bank loans and insurance terms. Like other Democratic officials, she has been accused by a close Trump ally, Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte, of falsifying documents on mortgage applications. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While speaking about the case against James on Friday, Trump said: It looks to me like shes really guilty of something, but I really dont know." Siebert, an alumnus of the Virginia Military Institute and a former Washington police officer, headed a team of around 300 prosecutors in a jurisdiction that frequently manages high-profile national security cases. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 17:17 IST News world He Didnt Quit: Trump Fires US Attorney Who Declined To Charge Political Opponents Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'I Don't Like This': Trump Calls Russian Incursion Into Estonian Airspace A 'Big Trouble' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 09:07 IST Russia has denied violating Estonian airspace, saying it flew over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea. US President Donald Trump. (Reuters file photo) United States President Donald Trump on Saturday reacted to the Russian fighter jets violating Estonian airspace and referred to it as big trouble". I dont love it. I dont like it when that happens. Could be big trouble," Trump told reporters. Recommended Stories His remark comes after the Russian jets violated Estonian airspace on Friday. Trump comments on Russian MiG-31s that entered Estonian airspace today. pic.twitter.com/ecyg8Patut Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 19, 2025 French President Emmanuel Macron too criticised Russia and said on X," strongly condemn the incursions of Russian aircraft into Estonia. They represent yet another step in Russias accumulation of provocations and irresponsible actions. I extend my full support to the Estonian authorities. A security posture will be adopted in response to these repeated violations." However, Moscow has denied the same, saying Russian fighter jets did not violate Estonian airspace and flew over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea in proceeding from northwest Russia to the Russian Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad. The flight was carried out in strict conformity with international rules governing airspace with no violation of the borders of other states as is confirmed by independent checks," the Russian Defence Ministry said of the three MiG-31 fighters in a post on Telegram. During the flight, the Russian aircraft did not deviate from the agreed flight path and did not violate Estonian airspace," added the Defence Minister. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all NATO on Friday intercepted three Russian fighter jets that entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland, according to an official statement by the Estonian Foreign Ministry and a NATO spokesperson. Estonian Prime Minister Krisen Michal said the Russian jets were ultimately forced to flee." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commended the alliances response, describing it as quick and decisive." About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ... Read More First Published: September 20, 2025, 09:03 IST News world 'I Don't Like This': Trump Calls Russian Incursion Into Estonian Airspace A 'Big Trouble' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Israeli Strike On Yemeni Newspaper Is Second-Deadliest Attack On Journalists In History Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 23:03 IST Israeli strikes killed 31 journalists in Sanaa, Yemen, marking the deadliest attack on media in 16 years, as reported by CPJ. Rapid Read Choose News18 on Google People carry the coffins of journalists killed by Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP) Thirty-one journalists and media personnel were killed last week when Israeli strikes hit newspaper offices in Yemen, an attack the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described on Friday as the deadliest against journalists in the past 16 years. Israel targeted a newspaper complex in Sanaa, Yemens capital, on September 10, home to three Houthi-affiliated media outlets. According to the publications editor-in-chief, members of the Yemeni armys press division were completing the weekly print edition at the time, resulting in more journalists being present during the strike. Recommended Stories At least 35 people were killed in the attack, including one child who accompanied a journalist to the office, and 131 were wounded, according to the Houthi Ministry of Health. All of the journalists worked for either the Houthi-affiliated 26 September newspaper or the Yemen newspaper. The CPJ stated that the attack was the second-deadliest on journalists it has ever documented, following the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines. It is a brutal and unjustified attack that targeted innocent people whose only crime was working in the media field, armed with nothing but their pens and words," Nasser al-Khadri, the editor-in-chief of 26 September, told the CPJ. Targeting journalists or media personnel, even if linked to armed groups, violates international humanitarian law unless they are actively participating in hostilities. In a statement, the Israeli military said that it had struck military targets" in Sanaa that included the Houthi public relations department, which distributed psychological terror". It also said the strikes were in retaliation for continued Houthi attacks on Israel, which the Houthis have said are meant as solidarity" with Palestinians during the war in Gaza. Since the onset of the Gaza conflict, the Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea that they consider linked to Israel. The CPJ said the attack in Yemen comes as part of a larger pattern of Israel killing media workers across the Middle East and excusing those killings by attempting to portray journalists as combatants. Since 7 October 2023, Israel has killed 247 journalists in Gaza, according to the UN human rights office. On 10 August, when Israel struck media tents in Gaza City, killing six journalists, including Al Jazeeras Anas al-Sharif, it claimed, without providing evidence, that they were Hamas members. Later, on 26 August, an Israeli double-tap strike on al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of five more journalists. In Lebanon, Israel also killed journalists affiliated with pro-Hezbollah channels, as well as members of Hezbollahs media office, all of whom would be considered civilians under international law. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since 7 October 2023, Israel has emerged as a regional killer of journalists This latest killing spree is not only a grave violation of international law, but also a terrifying warning to journalists across the region: no place is safe," said the CPJ regional programme director, Sara Qudah. There has been widespread international condemnation of Israels systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza, yet Israeli soldiers responsible for these killings appear to face no repercussions. The deaths of Yemeni journalists have largely gone unnoticed by governments, raising concerns about continued impunity. Location : Yemen First Published: September 20, 2025, 23:03 IST News world Israeli Strike On Yemeni Newspaper Is Second-Deadliest Attack On Journalists In History Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mike Waltz, Trumps Former National Security Adviser, Confirmed As US Ambassador To UN Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 06:28 IST Waltzs confirmation comes just in time for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Waltzs stint as Trumps national security adviser was short-lived (Image: Mandel NGAN/AFP) Mike Waltz, who briefly served as Donald Trumps national security adviser earlier this year, has now been confirmed as the United States ambassador to the United Nations. With Waltzs confirmation on September 19, the last key position within the Republican administration has finally been filled, reported Reuters. The Senate vote was 47 in favour and 43 against, largely following party lines. A few Democrats broke ranks to support Waltz, including Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul was the only member of his party to side with Democrats in opposing the nomination. Recommended Stories Waltzs confirmation comes just in time for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, where world leaders gather in New York next week. However, there remains some uncertainty regarding his exact role at the event. While the Senate confirmed him as the US ambassador to the UN and the US representative on the Security Council, it did not approve him as the US representative to the General Assembly. This separate designation was blocked by Democratic senators, according to sources familiar with the Senates discussions. Waltzs stint as Trumps national security adviser was short-lived. He served for only a few weeks during Trumps second term before being removed in May after accidentally adding a journalist to a private Signal chat used to discuss sensitive military plans. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following Waltzs departure, Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as interim national security adviser, a position Rubio continues to hold. Waltz, however, has denied being forced out and has defended the cybersecurity measures of the chat. After the withdrawal of the previous nominee, Representative Elise Stefanik, due to concerns related to the Republican majority in the House, Trump selected Waltz in May to represent the US at the UN. His confirmation now closes a key chapter in filling high-level diplomatic roles within the administration. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 06:28 IST News world Mike Waltz, Trumps Former National Security Adviser, Confirmed As US Ambassador To UN Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Lasting Cooperation Needs Trust, Not Terror: India At UN After Pakistan Raises Indus Waters Treaty Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 07:19 IST India, represented by Anupama Singh, criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council for politicising the Indus Waters Treaty. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google Indian diplomat Anupama Singh told the UNHRC that Pakistans state-sponsored terrorism erodes the very environment needed to uphold the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. (IMAGE: X) India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, accusing it of politicising the forum by raising the Indus Waters Treaty issue. Indian diplomat Anupama Singh said New Delhi was deeply concerned by the persistent and deliberate attempt by a particular delegation to politicise the proceedings of this Council," adding that such actions undermine the platforms integrity and deflect attention from core issues. Recommended Stories Referring to the 1960 treaty, Singh noted it was concluded in a spirit of goodwill and friendship, but the world of 1960 is not the world of today." She said the grim reality of relentless state-sponsored cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan fundamentally erodes the environment required for honouring treaty obligations." She stressed that lasting cooperation is rooted in trust, not terror," and called out Islamabad for what she described as wilful violations of the treatys core tenets. Indian diplomat Anupama Singh brutally exposed Pakistan and Pak sponsored terrorism. Says, The World of 1960 is not the world of today" Pakistan raised the issue of Indus water Treaty abeyance at the UN HR Council in Geneva.#Pakistan #India #UNHCR pic.twitter.com/JEZ2o0wOQC VAISHNAV (@VaishnavSharan7) September 19, 2025 The Council must not allow itself to be used as a platform for diversion and distortion. It must instead recognise that lasting cooperation is rooted in trust, not terror," Singh said. In April 2025, following the Pakistan-backed terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the government placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India decided that it would suspend its obligations under the pact until Pakistan ends its support for cross-border terrorism. A formal note verbale was also sent to Islamabad informing it of the decision, which means no meetings of Indus Waters Commissioners, data-sharing or routine obligations will be carried out while the suspension remains in force. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Geneva, Switzerland First Published: September 20, 2025, 07:13 IST News world Lasting Cooperation Needs Trust, Not Terror: India At UN After Pakistan Raises Indus Waters Treaty Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... FTXs token FTT surged 17% in the last 24 hours, baffling traders as bankruptcy proceedings continue and unlocked tokens re-enter circulation. As of Sept. 18, the token traded at around $0.93, up more than 17% in the past 24 hours. Notably, the token has no utility as of now. Interestingly, most of the trading volume is coming from centralized exchanges like Binance, Toolbit, Pionex and Bitget. A collapsed exchange, a ghost token FTX was once one of the largest global exchanges, offering futures, leveraged tokens and OTC trading. But in November 2022, after a liquidity crisis and revelations about misused customer funds, the company froze withdrawals on Nov. 10 and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the following day, alongside 130 affiliated firms. Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former CEO of collapsed exchange FTX, was sentenced in March 2024 to 25 years in federal prison for orchestrating one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history. Prosecutors accused him of stealing billions in customer deposits to fund political donations, real estate purchases and risky bets at his hedge fund, Alameda Research. The verdict followed his November 2023 conviction on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy after a high-profile trial in New York. Several close associates including former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison testified against him. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who handed down the sentence, said SBF had shown a remarkable lack of remorse for his actions. Alongside prison time, he was ordered to forfeit $14 billion Chapter 11 reogranization plan to help repay victims. FTX's mystery rally FTTs latest rally pushed prices as high as $1.13 on Sept. 18 before retracing. Over the past seven days, the token has traded between $0.78 and $1.06. Its all-time high of $84.18, set in September 2021, is now nearly 99% below current levels. Related: FTX Among the Least Liked Companies in America, Survey Finds This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Sep 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. 'Pakistan Remains Committed To Peace, Regional Stability': Foreign Ministry Official Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 07:48 IST The Pakistan Foreign Spokesperson claimed that the Indian narrative of an alleged nuclear threat by Pakistan is "misleading." Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali (Credits: X) Pakistan on Friday said that it is committed to peace, regional stability and a meaningful dialogue for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The remark by Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan came while he was addressing the media. Recommended Stories Pakistan, as a responsible country, remains committed to peace, regional stability and a meaningful dialogue for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statements on Operation Sindoor, he said that Indian leaders would be well advised to acknowledge the losses incurred by their armed forces." He claimed that the Indian narrative of an alleged nuclear threat by Pakistan is misleading." During the press conference, Khan highlighted that Pakistan is a proud custodian of many religious sites of the Sikh faith and every year, it welcomes thousands of Sikh pilgrims from across the world. As always, we are ready to welcome the pilgrims from the Indian side," he said. His remarks come as India-Pakistan ties have soured following Pahalgam attack on April 22 that left 26 dead. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In response, India launched a military operation called Operation Sindoor on 7 May 2025, targeting terror infrastructure" in Pakistani territory and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. After days of exchanges (including missile, mortar, and artillery fire; cross-border skirmishes), both sides agreed to a ceasefire on 10 May 2025. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More Location : Pakistan First Published: September 20, 2025, 07:04 IST News world 'Pakistan Remains Committed To Peace, Regional Stability': Foreign Ministry Official Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'People Are Disappearing': Pakistani Leader Alleges State Role In Balochistan 'Kidnappings Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 23:18 IST Speaking at a gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the JUI-P leader said people were being disappeared and kidnapped by state authorities Families of the disappeared continue to stage protests and sit-ins demanding the safe return of their loved ones Pakistani politician Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman alleged that authorities are involved in the enforced disappearance and abduction of people in Balochistan, where thousands of youth and activists have gone missing over the years. Families of the disappeared continue to stage protests and sit-ins demanding the safe return of their loved ones. Recommended Stories Speaking at a gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the JUI-P leader said people were being disappeared and kidnapped" by state authorities. His remarks add to long-standing concerns raised by international human rights organisations about widespread abuses in the region. The issue also came into focus at the 7th Balochistan International Conference, held at the Geneva Press Club alongside the 60th UN Human Rights Council session, where activists called for accountability and independent investigations. The event was organised by the Baloch National Movement (BNM). American human rights lawyer Reed Brody voiced strong support for Baloch activists, urging the international community not to ignore the situation. We must press for independent investigations into enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, and the intimidation of women activists," he said, calling on Pakistani authorities to stop the unlawful use of force, release peaceful protesters, and restore internet access in affected areas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Brody emphasised the need for global solidarity, noting that the struggle for truth and accountability can be long, but it is never hopeless." He urged world leaders not to let geopolitical interests overshadow fundamental human rights. Location : Pakistan First Published: September 20, 2025, 23:18 IST News world 'People Are Disappearing': Pakistani Leader Alleges State Role In Balochistan 'Kidnappings Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Portugal Follows UK And France In Recognising Palestinian State Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 15:54 IST Portugal will officially recognise the State of Palestine on Sunday, joining countries like France and the UK, after consulting PM Luis Montenegro, amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Rapid Read + Follow us On Google A boy holds a Palestinian flag during a demonstration against what Palestinians say is Israel's confiscation of their land, as Isareli security forces stand guard, in Raba, near Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank July 18, 2025. (Reuters) The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that Portugal will officially recognise the State of Palestine on Sunday. With this move, Portugal aligns itself with countries such as Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. It added that the Official Declaration of Recognition will take place even before next weeks High-Level Conference, Reuters reported. Recommended Stories During his visit to the UK earlier this week, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel stated that the country was considering recognising a Palestinian state. Unlike neighbouring Spain, whose leftist government recognised Palestinian statehood in May 2024 alongside Ireland and Norway and called on other EU countries to do the same, Portugal has taken a more cautious approach, saying it wanted to work out a common position with other EU countries first. Only a few of the 27 European Union member states recognise Palestine as a state, primarily former Communist nations along with Sweden and Cyprus. According to Portugals Correio da Manha newspaper, the countrys centre-right Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, consulted with the president and parliament before finalising the decision. Portugals announcement comes just days after a landmark UN inquiry concluded that Israels war in Gaza amounts to genocide. At least 65,141 people have been killed and 165,925 wounded since Israels onslaught began in October 2023. Many thousands more are believed to be buried under the rubble. The Portuguese government initially declared its intention to recognise Palestine as a state in July, citing the extremely worrying evolution of the conflict," the worsening humanitarian crisis, and Israels repeated threats to annexe Palestinian territory. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier on Friday, an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron said that Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino plan to recognise the State of Palestine alongside France at the high-level meeting it is co-organising with Saudi Arabia in New York on Monday. In November 2012, the U.N. General Assembly effectively recognised the sovereign state of Palestine by upgrading its status at the world body from entity" to non-member state." Location : Portugal First Published: September 20, 2025, 15:54 IST News world Portugal Follows UK And France In Recognising Palestinian State Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Saudi Could Join Pakistan If India Tensions Escalate: Khawaja Asif's Big Claim After Defence Pact Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 10:49 IST Khawaja Asif hinted that Saudi Arabian forces may join Pakistan under a joint defence pact if tensions with India escalate. Pakistan minister hints Saudi troops could get involved if military tensions with India escalate but framed the bilateral defence pact as a "defensive umbrella". Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview with Geo News, hinted that Saudi Arabian forces could potentially get involved if military tensions with India were to escalate. Asif, when asked if Saudi troops would join Pakistan in a conflict with India, responded, Ji bilkul, isme koi shak nahi hai," emphasizing that the pact provides a joint defence framework. He clarified that neither Pakistan nor Saudi Arabia has explicitly named any country as an aggressor, calling the arrangement an umbrella" to respond to any acts of aggression. Recommended Stories We have not named any country as the aggressor, nor has Saudi Arabia. This is simply an umbrella arrangement provided by both sides. In case of any aggression, from any country, it will be jointly addressed and defended. This is not an aggressive pact or a conventional defence arrangement," he further added when the anchor quizzed him if Saudi forces would intervene if tensions arise between Pakistan and India and if Pakistani forces will step in if Saudi Arabia faces an aggressor. We have no intention of using this pact for any aggression. But if the parties are threatened, then obviously this arrangement will become operative," a separate report by Reuters quoted Asif as saying. The SaudiPakistan agreement, signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, commits both countries to treat an attack on one as an attack on the other. Meanwhile, India on Friday said it expects its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia to continue reflecting mutual interests and sensitivities" following the signing of the Pakistan-Saudi defence pact. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking on the so-called Pakistan-Saudi strategic mutual defence" agreement during a press briefing, highlighted the growing depth of Indias strategic partnership with Riyadh in recent years. India and Saudi Arabia have a wide-ranging strategic partnership which has deepened considerably in the last several years. We expect that this strategic partnership will keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities," the MEA spokesperson told reporters. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c... Read More Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: September 20, 2025, 09:53 IST News world Saudi Could Join Pakistan If India Tensions Escalate: Khawaja Asif's Big Claim After Defence Pact Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Stop Wasting Time: Zelenskyy Tells Allies As He Prepares To Press Trump On Russia Sanctions Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 18:13 IST Zelenskyy said further measures should be introduced if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to hold peace talks or agree to a ceasefire A file photo of Zelenskyy (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday appealed to Kyivs allies to stop wasting time" in responding to Russian aggression. He said that he will urge US President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions on Moscow when the two leaders meet at the UN in New York next week. Recommended Stories Zelenskyy said further measures should be introduced if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to hold peace talks or agree to a ceasefire. If the war continues and there are no moves towards peace, we expect sanctions," he told reporters in Kyiv. Trump has repeatedly threatened strong action against Moscow, but has tied any US move to Europe first cutting its reliance on Russian oil. Zelenskyy criticised that approach, saying it slows international pressure on Putin. President Trump expects strong action from Europe. I think we are wasting a lot of time if sanctions are not imposed or some steps are not taken," he said. Hungary and Slovakia, close allies of Trump, remain the last EU members buying Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Zelenskyy urged the US to push both governments to act, saying everyone is looking to the United States." The Ukrainian leader also said he was open to meeting Putin one to one" or in a three-way format with Trump. The Kremlin has so far insisted that root causes" of the conflict be addressed first, a reference to Ukraine surrendering territory. During his New York visit, Zelenskyy is also expected to press the US for clarity on possible security guarantees as part of any future peace deal. His wife, Olena Zelenska, may meet Melania Trump to discuss the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. The talks come amid escalating violence. Three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace on Friday, while Ukraine expanded drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, hitting the Saratov refinery for the second time in a week. Moscow is already facing fuel shortages, with long queues reported at petrol stations. Russia retaliated overnight with a large-scale missile and drone assault across Ukraine. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At least three people were killed in Dnipro when a cluster munition missile struck an apartment block. Other regions, including Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia, were also hit. Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and infrastructure. A strong international response is needed," he said, calling on Europe to step up air defence support and weapons supplies. Location : Ukraine First Published: September 20, 2025, 18:11 IST News world Stop Wasting Time: Zelenskyy Tells Allies As He Prepares To Press Trump On Russia Sanctions Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump-Backed Health Panel Declines To Endorse COVID-19 Vaccine Shots, Warns Of Risks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:56 IST A federal health advisory committee backed by President Donald Trump drew criticism on Friday after declining to recommend COVID-19 vaccine shots Health panel said obtaining a Covid-19 vaccine shot should be based on individual choice | Image: Representative A federal health advisory committee backed by President Donald Trump drew criticism on Friday after declining to recommend COVID-19 vaccine shots, questioning their safety and efficacy despite scientific evidence presented at the table. The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP), now led by members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken vaccine sceptic, said COVID-19 shots should be left to individual choice" in consultation with doctors. Recommended Stories The panel also endorsed language urging the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to caution patients more strongly about alleged risks from vaccines. Medical experts sharply condemned the shift, warning that the committees approach relied on anecdotes and misinformation rather than science. This was like nothing Ive ever seen," said Sean OLeary of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It looked like clear efforts to sow distrust in vaccines, to instill fear. The discussion focused on myths and case reportsnot on science." Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association, an observer at the meeting, called the move a troubling erosion of the panels integrity. Policy Shifts Under Trump The Biden-era policy of broad access to COVID-19 vaccines has already been rolled back under the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration has restricted eligibility primarily to older adults and those with underlying conditions. Earlier this year, Kennedy announced that the government would no longer recommend shots for children and healthy pregnant women. Public health leaders warn that such decisions risk confusing patients and limiting access to boosters, especially as COVID cases and hospitalisations tick upward. One proposal considered on Friday would have required prescriptions for anyone seeking a COVID-19 vaccine. The measure narrowly failed in a tiebreak vote. Epidemiologist Catherine Stein, an ACIP member who opposed it, warned that the policy would hit vulnerable groups the hardest. The underinsured and those without regular access to health care would be unable to get a prescriptionand those are the people at highest risk," she said. Confusion Over Other Vaccines The meeting also descended into contradictions over childhood immunisations. The panel initially voted that children under four should not receive the combined MMRV vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, citing a small risk of temporary febrile seizures. However, they reversed course the next morning, voting against federal funding for the combined shot while still offering separate MMR and varicella injections. Another contentious issue involved whether to continue recommending that newborns receive a Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all That practice has long been considered the best defence against mother-to-child transmission of the incurable liver disease. Adam Langer, a CDC scientist, warned that any retreat from the policy could increase long-term risks of liver failure and cancer. The committee postponed a final decision. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:56 IST News world Trump-Backed Health Panel Declines To Endorse COVID-19 Vaccine Shots, Warns Of Risks Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Airfares Soar, Indians Flying Home Deplane After Trumps $100k H-1B Fee Move Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:02 IST Immigration experts say the narrow window makes it almost impossible for anyone currently in India to beat the deadline After being informed about the September 21 deadline, a number of Indian H-1B visa holders decided to disembark before departure at San Francisco Airport | Image: X A shock move by US President Donald Trump to raise the H-1B visa fee to a staggering $100,000 (about Rs 88 lakh) has set off scenes of chaos among Indian professionals and travellers. The order, announced with little notice and set to take effect from 12:01 am EDT (9:31 am IST) on September 21, bars H-1B holders from re-entering the United States unless their employers pay the new fee. Recommended Stories The timing has collided with the annual Durga Puja holiday season, when many Indian tech workers traditionally fly home, triggering panic at both US and Indian airports. Airports In Turmoil Social media flooded with reports of Indian passengers deplaning mid-journey at US airports as news of the sudden hike spread. At San Francisco International Airport, for instance, an Emirates flight was delayed for hours when several Indian passengers insisted on disembarking. It was complete chaos many H-1B visa holders just refused to fly once the news broke," posted traveller Masud Rana on X. Similar scenes played out in Dubai and other transit hubs. Kaustav Majumdar, a chartered accountant, described how an international flight packed with Indians from the Bay Area had completed boarding when panic erupted and people pleaded to get off." Extremely sad situationAn international flight packed with Indians(coming for Durga Puja)from Bay Area had completed boarding & was due to leave SFO Airport,when the news about H1 B visa new rules just broke out. Indians aboard panicked,pleaded to get off the plane,but alas CA Kaustav Majumdar (@KaustavMaj94587) September 20, 2025 According to another eyewitness in Dubai, 1015 passengers disembarked within 20 minutes after hearing about the re-entry deadline. Airlines Hike Fares With Indians making up roughly 70 per cent of all H-1B visa recipients, the scramble to return before the cut-off time pushed ticket prices sky-high. Within hours, one-way fares from Delhi to New York jumped from about Rs 37,000 to nearly Rs 70,00080,000, and some last-minute bookings touched $4,500. Tech giants, including Amazon, Microsoft and JP Morgan, quickly advised their H-1B employees to stay put in the US and for those already overseas to return immediatelyif they could. Immigration experts say the narrow window makes it almost impossible for anyone currently in India to beat the deadline. Direct flights from Delhi or Mumbai to New York take 1516 hours, and with India nearly 10 hours ahead of Eastern Time, even travellers boarding on the morning of September 20 IST would land after the US deadline. Anyone still in India has effectively missed the window," said US immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta, warning that H-1B holders abroad will be stranded unless their companies are willing to pay the $100,000 surcharge. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For many, what began as a routine trip home for Durga Puja has turned into a race against time and money. Flights are oversold, fares have doubled, and panic continues to ripple through Indian tech communities worldwide. As of now, unless the Trump administration softens the policy or delays implementation, thousands of Indian professionals risk being locked out of the very country where they live and worka development that could disrupt not just personal plans, but entire teams in the US tech industry. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (De... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:02 IST News world US Airfares Soar, Indians Flying Home Deplane After Trumps $100k H-1B Fee Move Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Will Cyberattack At European Airports Disrupt Your Travel Plans? What Air Indias Advisory Says Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: September 20, 2025, 16:25 IST The advisory follows a cyberattack on a third-party service provider that disrupted check-in and boarding operations at several major European airports, including Londons Heathrow Air India (File photo) Air India issued a travel advisory on Saturday for passengers flying from London, asking them to complete web check-in before heading to the airport. The notice follows a cyberattack on a third-party service provider that disrupted check-in and boarding operations at several major European airports, including Londons Heathrow. Recommended Stories A third-party passenger system disruption at Heathrow may cause delays in the check-in process. Our ground teams in London are working to minimise inconvenience," the airline said in its advisory. It added that passengers departing from London should complete online check-in to help ensure smoother processing at the airport. #TravelAdvisoryA third-party passenger system disruption at Heathrow may cause delays in the check-in process. Our ground teams in London are working to minimise inconvenience. Passengers flying with us from London today are advised to complete their web check-in before Air India (@airindia) September 20, 2025 Cyberattack Hits Key Airports The disruption comes after airports in London, Brussels, and Berlin reported delays and cancellations linked to the cyber attack. According to The Independent, at least four flights were cancelled at Brussels Airport. Aviation regulator Eurocontrol said airlines were asked to cancel half their scheduled flights to and from the Belgian capital between 4 am GMT on Saturday and 2 am GMT on Sunday. Brussels Airport confirmed that the incident forced a shift to manual check-in and boarding. Collins Aerospace, the company providing check-in and baggage systems at multiple global airports, acknowledged that the cyberattack was impacting select airports" and electronic passenger processing. Extent Of Disruption So far, Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports have warned of delays and possible cancellations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Low-cost carrier EasyJet said it was monitoring the situation but did not expect its schedule for the rest of Saturday to be affected. Were aware of an IT system issue affecting a small number of airports," a spokesperson told Reuters. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: September 20, 2025, 16:24 IST News world Will Cyberattack At European Airports Disrupt Your Travel Plans? What Air Indias Advisory Says Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... (Reuters) -BHP Group is likely to appoint Geraldine Slattery, the head of its Australia operations, as its first female chief executive in its 140-year history, the Financial Times reported on Friday. If appointed, Slattery will be one of only a handful of female CEOs at major global mining firms, with a previous notable name being Cynthia Carroll, the first woman to run Anglo American for five years until 2012. BHP CEO Mike Henry is expected to step down by the middle of 2026 after five years at the helm, the report said, citing unnamed people "familiar with the board's thinking". According to the FT report, the company has said its board was "not in a rush" to make a change. BHP declined to comment on the matter in an emailed response to Reuters. Slattery has been at BHP for three decades and previously led the company's U.S. petroleum business. Other notable female mining top bosses include Mpumi Zikalala, CEO of Kumba Iron Ore in South Africa, and Mfikeyi Makayi, CEO of the Zambia copper unit of KoBold Metals. BHP, the world's biggest listed miner, regularly rotates top talent through key roles, with internal CEO candidates being mentored for years by the chair and some board members as a sort of pre-screening, a source familiar with the company told Reuters in May. Peer Rio Tinto also has a new chief executive and appointed insider Simon Trott to the top job in mid-July. Trott earlier headed the company's most profitable iron ore unit. (Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Pooja Desai) Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Obert Manduna has been granted US$100 bail by the High Court of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, pending his appeal of the conviction and sentence. Manduna had been sentenced to an effective two years in jail after being convicted of defrauding a Bulawayo woman of US$5,900 in an alleged botched residential stand deal. In his appeal, Manduna, represented by Mr Tanaka Mungayi of Tanaka Law Chambers in Bulawayo, contends that the case is civil with no criminal element. He argues that the court erred in imposing a custodial sentence of 24 months, which should have allowed for a fine or community service option. Manduna, who represented Nketa/ Emganwini constituency, was arrested last year at his Ascot residence at Kenilworth Towers by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc). He pleaded not guilty to fraud but was convicted by Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea. He was sentenced to 54 months in prison but six months of the sentence were suspended on condition that he does not within the next five years commit a similar offence. A further 24 months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant, Ms Sithulisiwe Sibanda. In his mitigation, Manduna pleaded for leniency, stating that he was a breadwinner and took care of his family. According to court documents, it was alleged that between October 2020 and February 2022, Manduna used a fake power of attorney to convince Ms Sibanda that he could sell her Stand 7278 Cowdray Park for US$6,500. The Bulawayo City Council had reportedly repossessed the stand that Manduna was attempting to sell. Ms Sibanda, who had paid Manduna US$5,900 for the stand, got suspicious and reported him to the authorities. Meanwhile, a South Africa-based businessman Mr Farai Kwenda, who had accused Manduna of defrauding him similarly, has since dropped the charges, after he was restituted. Mr Kwenda has since filed an affidavit to that effect at the magistrates court in Bulawayo. Sunday News New Jersey has become the 14th state to allow the composting of human bodies as an alternative to burial or cremation, the AP reports. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed the legislation on Sept. 11. It authorizes a practice called natural organic reduction, which involves putting a body into a large tank that also holds straw, wood chips, or other natural materials. The human remains and organic materials mix with warm air and are periodically turned until the body is reduced to a soil-like material that can then be given to the dead person's family. Supporters of the practice say it is an environmentally friendly and less costly alternative to traditional burials and cremation that uses less energy and doesn't involve the use of formaldehyde or the release of carbon dioxide and mercury into the atmosphere. They also say it helps reduce the amount of land needed for cemeteries and the amount of timber harvested for caskets. Opponents have argued that human composting is disrespectful or goes against traditional religious beliefs. Still, NJ.com notes the bill received overwhelming support in New Jersey, with just three of 120 Senate and Assembly members voting against it. Its August article noted there were not yet any human composting facilities on the East Coast. (Read more on the process here.) A hydraulic rock drill broke open a tunnel connecting Austria to Italy nearly 4,600 feet beneath the Alps on Thursday, a milestone in a series of major European Union projects that will accelerate passenger train travel between metropolitan centers and shift freight off the roads and onto rails. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker attended the ceremonial breakthrough of the final meter of rock to open the first tunnel beneath the Brenner Pass, a key junction in an EU rail project that will one day run from Helsinki to Palermo, the AP reports. "In the end, there is no project that is too big to be tackled, there is no project too big for us to bet on,'' Meloni told the gathering. The impacts: The Brenner Base Tunnel, which will be the longest underground rail tunnel in the world, is among four infrastructure projects that promise to reshape how Italians travel and ship goods by the early 2030s, while bringing Europe closer together. Tunnels will cut travel times between Verona and Munich by more than half to 2 hours, between Milan and Paris by at least 30% to 4 hours, and put the Ligurian port city of Genoa within commuting distance of Italy's finance and fashion capitalsignificantly remaking the Europe transit map. The boldest of them all, the Straits of Messina Bridge, will finally link the Italian mainland with Sicily, a project first envisioned by the ancient Romans. The projects also aim to reduce truck traffic on highwayswith the biggest impact expected on the Brenner Pass, which is traversed by more than 2.5 million trucks annually; the crucial brings Italian automotive components and small machinery north. The Brenner Base Tunnel aims to shift up to half the heavy road traffic to rail. Officials touted the environmental benefits on Thursday. By reducing road congestion, "air quality will improve, noise will diminish and C02 emission will fall," said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism. The four projects are: Brenner Base tunnel : The longest underground rail tunnel in the world will run for 34 miles between Tulfes, Austria, and Fortezza, Italy, extending to nearly 40 miles with existing tunnels from Tulfes to Innsbruck. It's projected to cost nearly $10.5 billion and be completed by 2031. The project, launched in 2007, is co-funded by Italy, Austria, and the EU. : The longest underground rail tunnel in the world will run for 34 miles between Tulfes, Austria, and Fortezza, Italy, extending to nearly 40 miles with existing tunnels from Tulfes to Innsbruck. It's projected to cost nearly $10.5 billion and be completed by 2031. The project, launched in 2007, is co-funded by Italy, Austria, and the EU. Tortona-Genoa high-speed rail line: The 33-mile line connecting the port city of Genoa with Tortona in Piedmont, with links to Milan, has 23 miles of tunnels. It aims to shift the transport of goods from the Ligurian port cities of Genoa, La Spezia, and Savona to northern Europe from road to rail beginning next year, increasing to 50% by 2050. Passenger train travel time between Milan and Genoa will be cut to about an hour from more than 1 hours. The cost is $10 billion, and the tunnels are 90% complete. Started in 2012, the project was slowed by the geology of the Apennine range, including the discovery of natural asbestos. Lyon-Turin line : The $13 billion tunnel extends more than 40 miles, with nearly 36 miles of the Mont Cenis base tunnel running underground between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France, and Susa, Italy. It's expected to be completed around 2033. The project aims to remove more than 1 million heavy goods vehicles from roads in the western Alps between France and Italy. Passenger travel time between Paris and Milan, Europe's third-largest metropolitan area, will be reduced to 4 hours from 6-7 hours. The project, launched in 2007, was slowed significantly by environmental protests on the Italian side. It's co-funded by France, Italy, and the EU. : The $13 billion tunnel extends more than 40 miles, with nearly 36 miles of the Mont Cenis base tunnel running underground between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France, and Susa, Italy. It's expected to be completed around 2033. The project aims to remove more than 1 million heavy goods vehicles from roads in the western Alps between France and Italy. Passenger travel time between Paris and Milan, Europe's third-largest metropolitan area, will be reduced to 4 hours from 6-7 hours. The project, launched in 2007, was slowed significantly by environmental protests on the Italian side. It's co-funded by France, Italy, and the EU. Strait of Messina Bridge: The $16 billion project, scheduled to be completed by 2032, will speed travel between the Italian mainland and Sicily and incorporate rail connections to Palermo and Catania, which are being upgraded. The single-span bridge itself will connect Messina, Sicily, and Villa San Giovanni, Calabria, with six car lanes and two rail lines. The government is awaiting final approval by the court of audits to launch preliminary work. It's been almost a year and a half since Michael Eisner posted anything on his X account, but this week the ex-Disney CEO broke his silent streak, criticizing his former company's leadership for its decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show on ABC, which Disney owns. In a post on X , Eisner questioned, "Where has all the leadership gone?" and warned that if corporate leaders don't stand up to political pressure, First Amendment protections could further erode. Eisner's comments came after ABC announced Kimmel's show would be suspended "indefinitely," without explanation, per Variety . The move followed statements by major station groups Nexstar and Sinclair, which dropped Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their schedules after Kimmel made controversial remarks on his Sept. 15 show regarding Charlie Kirk's killer. Adding to the pressure, FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned earlier that day that ABC and its affiliates could face regulatory consequences if no action was taken against Kimmel, saying, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." Eisner characterized the situation as a fresh example of "out-of-control intimidation" and questioned whether free speech is being compromised for "political or financial self-interest." Eisner also described Kimmel as "very talented and funny." Disney hasn't responded to requests for comment. Eisner, who led Disney from 1984 to 2005, had previously supported current CEO Bob Iger, endorsing him during last year's boardroom battle. However, his latest remarks signal disappointment with how the company has handled escalating political and regulatory pressures. Kimmel's show launched in 2003, overlapping only briefly with Eisner's time at Disney's helm. Meanwhile, Disney is losing subscribers across the country over the Kimmel commotion, with USA Today reporting that customers were posting about themselves nixing their Disney subs using the hashtags #CancelDisney and #CancelDisneyPlus. "Cancelled my Disney Plus and Hulu bundle," wrote one miffed person on a Reddit thread about the matter. "This isn't a slippery slope, it's a cliff, and Disney just went off it. We won't be going to Disney movies. Not anymore. No more parks. No more Star Wars toys and shirts. Nothing." On Friday, President Trump announced that the US military has destroyed a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, the third such strike in a month's time, reports the New York Times . "On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility," Trump wrote on Truth Social , including a video that showed a boat getting tracked, then blown up, in what he claimed were international waters. The president noted that the strike killed three "male narcoterrorists" who were on a "passage enroute to poison Americans." Trump also said that no US troops were injured during the strike. The Times notes that no further details were offered on the nationalities of those on the boat, or what criminal group they were allegedly a part of. The AP reports that it queried the Pentagon and White House, and that "the Pentagon deferred questions about the strike to the White House, which did not respond to a request for clarity about the origins of the vessel." The first such strike, announced in early September, was said to have killed 11 on what Trump described as a drug-transporting speedboat operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. Another assault followed this past Monday, on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. That attack killed three on board. The Times points out that suspected drug-trafficking operations on the water are typically busted up by the Coast Guard and Navy, with suspects being arrested for prosecution if drugs are found on board. Now, per the paper, Trump is considering drug trafficking as an attack against the US, which means he believes he can, in the name of self-defense, order the military to "summarily kill drug-running suspects as if they were combatants on a battlefield." The Trump administration has justified its actions as required to stop drugs from flowing into the US. But lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, as well as human rights groups, say the military shouldn't be used for law enforcement purposes, and that any such strikes require an OK from Congress. "Blowing up boats in the Caribbean without any legal authority risks dragging the United States into another war, and provoking attacks against American citizens," Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff said in a recent statement. A federal prosecutor in Virginia whose monthslong mortgage fraud investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James hasn't resulted in criminal charges resigned Friday under pressure from the Trump administration. Erik Siebert confirmed his departure in an email to colleagues, reviewed by the AP , in which he praised them as the "finest and most exceptional" of Justice Department employees but made no mention of the political turmoil preceding his resignation. The replacement of Siebert in the prestigious Eastern District of Virginia office comes amid a push by Trump administration officials to indict James, a perceived adversary of the president who has successfully sued him for fraud. President Trump said in the Oval Office on Friday that he wanted Siebert "out." Sources later said that Siebert had informed colleagues of his plan to resign. The administration's effort to oust him represents a further erosion of norms meant to insulate the DOJ from White House influence on prosecutorial decisions. The move is likely to deepen concerns that the departmentalready investigating other public figures Trump regards as foesis being weaponized by a White House seeking to have its prosecutorial powers used for purposes of retribution. Trump administration officials have been aggressively pursuing allegations against James arising from alleged paperwork discrepancies on her Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home. The DOJ has spent months conducting the investigation but has yet to bring charges; there's been no indication that prosecutors have managed to uncover any degree of incriminating evidence that could support an indictment. Asked about the issue at the White House on Friday, Trump, without citing any evidence, said, "It looks to me like she's really guilty of something, but I really don't know." James' lawyers have vigorously denied any allegations and said the investigation is an act of political revenge. James has long been a particular source of outrage for Trump, in part because of a lawsuit she filed against him and his company that resulted in a massive financial penalty last year. It wasn't immediately clear on Friday afternoon who would replace Siebert, nominated by Trump to the top job in the office this year after having worked there for more than a decade. Siebert's top deputy, Maya Song, is leaving her position as first assistant US attorney and will work as a line prosecutor, one source said. The DOJ declined to comment. More here. Customs officials at Tampa International Airport made a gruesome find in a traveler's bag this week. During what started as a standard baggage inspection, agents uncovered a foil-wrapped bundle containing human bones, including part of a skull. The passenger, whose identity and nationality weren't disclosed, reportedly told officers the remains were meant for ritual use. The discovery was made when officersinitially searching for undeclared plants and cigars, among other itemsopened the passenger's duffel bag. Photos released by Customs and Border Protection showed the bones partially wrapped in foil, with officers handling the evidence while wearing gloves. "At @CBP, we never know what baggage may hold, but smugglers should know we'll always have a bone to pick," quipped a CBP field operations director online. The agency cited serious health concerns as the reason for destroying the bones. Federal law requires specific documentation for transporting human remains into the US, including a death certificate and permits, especially when dealing with noncremated or nonembalmed bodies. The CDC sets strict guidelines due to the potential risks posed by blood and bodily fluids, even when infectious disease isn't confirmed. Authorities didn't say whether the traveler would face charges. The Tampa Bay Times reached out to the airport, which steered the paper's reporter to CBP, which directed the reporter to the city's Homeland Security Investigations, whose spokesman simply said an investigation is "ongoing." President Donald Trump's executive order raises H-1B visa fees, affecting tech and finance workers. The order requires a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. Big Tech employees were told to stay put, per employees and internal comms reviewed by Business Insider. Employees at major tech and financial companies on H-1B visas were told to stay in the US following President Donald Trump's surprise executive order that makes it far more expensive and potentially impossible for them to return if they travel abroad. Amazon, Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Meta are among those companies, per employees and internal communications reviewed by Business Insider. On Friday, Trump signed an executive order requiring companies to pay a $100,000 fee for each H-1B application. It is unclear if the order applies only to new applicants or also to renewals. The order, which takes effect on September 21 at 12:01 a.m. ET, effectively bars H-1B workers from reentering the country after that deadline unless their sponsoring employer pays the fee. Amazon's internal guidance, posted just before 9 p.m. Pacific on Friday on its HR portal, warned employees: "If you have H-1B status and are in the US: Stay in the country for now, even if you have travel planned for the immediate future." The guidance also said: "If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the US: Try to return before tomorrow's deadline if possible." Amazon's advisory added that anyone who cannot make it back in time should avoid attempting US reentry "until further guidance is provided." Amazon employed nearly 15,000 workers under H-1B visas in fiscal year 2024, according to federal filings. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Within hours of Trump signing the executive order, employees at Microsoft, Meta, and JPMorgan Chase received similar instructions, employees told Business Insider. Multiple Microsoft employees shared an internal advisory with BI that directed visa holders in the US to stay put "for the foreseeable future" and advised those abroad to make every effort to return before the deadline. "We know this may interrupt your travel plans. But the critical thing is to stay in the US in order to avoid being denied reentry," the guidance said, according to five Microsoft employees. It acknowledged that the sudden order "may not leave much time to make travel arrangements" but encouraged employees to "do your best to return." The memo also sought to address workers' anxiety: "I know these developments are creating uncertainty for many of you. While we don't have all of the answers right now, we ask that you prioritize the recommendations above." Federal agents in riot gear deployed tear gas on demonstrators outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in suburban Chicago on Friday, as protests over the Trump administration's intensified immigration crackdown reached a boiling point. The confrontation erupted after protesters blocked a vehicle from leaving the Broadview ICE site, per NBC News , citing NBC Chicago . Media at the scene reported that tear gas made it difficult to breathe, forcing crowds to disperse. Bushra Amiwala, a Democratic congressional candidate who attended the protest, described the agents' actions as "chaos," claiming there was no justification for what she called violence against peaceful demonstrators. Another Dem congressional candidate at the protest, Kat Abughazaleh, said she she was thrown onto the ground by feds and slammed with tear gas as she stood arm-in-arm with others in front of a driveway that was blocking the vehicle, per the AP. "This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights," Abughazaleh wrote on X, showing a video of her encounter. The Department of Homeland Security, however, labeled the protesters as "rioters," alleging they surrounded the building, assaulted officers, used tear gas themselves, slashed tires, and trespassed on private property, per NBC. DHS claimed local police didn't respond to repeated calls for assistance and said at least three arrests were made. The operation follows a series of high-profile enforcement sweeps in Illinois, which have drawn criticism from state officials, including Gov. JB Pritzker. Last week, an ICE officer shot and killed a man during a traffic stop in the area, sparking demands for greater transparency. Federal authorities have defended their actions, including similar operations in Los Angeles that led to days of unrest and the deployment of National Guard troops. Gregory Bovino, a Customs and Border Protection chief who was spotted at the Broadview site, has faced previous criticism for aggressive tactics in California. A right-wing demonstration in the Netherlands erupted into violence and chaos Saturday as rioters clashed with police and vandalized a political party's office, weeks before the country holds a general election. Police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse rioters who threw objects at officers and torched a police car, the AP reports. There was no immediate word on injuries or arrests. Dutch media showed rioters also attacking an office of a centrist political party, D66. "If you think you can intimidate us, tough luck," the party's leader, Rob Jetten, said in a message on X. "We will never let extremist rioters take our beautiful country away." A smaller group of rioters headed for the Dutch parliament complex, which is fenced off as it undergoes a yearslong renovation. Police prevented them entering the largely deserted area. The violence erupted at a demonstration attended by hundreds of people that called for tougher asylum policies. "Shocking and bizarre images of shameless violence in The Hague, after a demonstration got out of hand," caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof wrote on X. He called the attacks on police and the D66 office unacceptable and expressed confidence that police and prosecutors would bring the rioters to justice. The Oct. 29 general election was called after anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling coalition in a dispute over moves to rein in migration. In a statement, Wilders condemned the rioters for blocking a highway and attacking police, calling them "idiots." The Pentagon has announced new rules restricting journalists' movement in the Department of Defense headquarters and requiring them to sign a pledge to not publish unauthorized information. Violations could lead to revocation of reporters' credentials, the Hill reports. Pentagon officials, who have already kicked news organizations they've criticized out of the building, said the restrictions are necessary to preventing leaks of sensitive material, per Politico . A memo distributed to news organizations stated that approval is required before releasing any information, even if it is unclassified. Those who do not comply may have their access suspended or revoked, per the Hill. The new policy also limits where reporters can go within the Pentagon, making many areas off-limits unless journalists are accompanied by authorized personnel. The department had already barred reporters from certain areas in May unless they had prior approval or an escort. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described the guidelines as consistent with security protocols at other military bases. "The 'press' does not run the Pentagonthe people do," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted Friday night on X. "The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rulesor go home." The president of the National Press Club said the policy should worry all Americans, per the Guardian. "This is a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the US military," Mike Balsamo said. "If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see." Thomas Evans, the top editor at National Public Radio, said the outlet will be "working with other news organizations to push back. We're big fans of the First Amendment and transparency, and we want the American public to understand what's being done in their name." Officials said the rules will take effect in two to three weeks. The New York Times posted the 17-page directive and pledge here. California will be the first state to prohibit most law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday. The ban is California's direct response to a recent series of immigration raids in Los Angeles at which federal agents wore masks while making mass arrests, the AP reports. The raids prompted a dayslong protest across the city; President Trump then deployed National Guard troops and Marines to the area. It's unclear whether the state can enforce the rule on the federal agents who have been carrying out those raids. A Homeland Security official called the legislation "despicable" this week, saying it will put officers in danger. Newsom, a Democrat who has attacked federal agents' use of masks during official business, also signed other legislation intended to limit immigration enforcement in hospitals and schools, per the San Francisco Chronicle. He signed the bills in Los Angeles, flanked by state lawmakers and immigrant community members. In a statement, the governor excoriated Trump's immigration tactics, naming his top aide on immigration policy, Stephen Miller. "Public safety depends on trust between law enforcement and the communities they servebut Trump and Miller have shattered that trust and spread fear across America," Newsom wrote. "California is putting an end to it and making sure schools and hospitals remain what they should be: places of care, not chaos." The Department of Homeland Security said it had sent letters Friday to the attorneys general of California, Illinois, and New York reinforcing previous instructions that the Democrat-run states honor detainers from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for "criminal illegal aliens within their jurisdictions." DHS said in a statement Saturday that if the states failed to comply, it would pursue "all appropriate measures to end their inadvisable and irresponsible obstruction." The new law prohibits neck gaiters, ski masks, and other facial coverings for local and federal officers, including immigration enforcement agents, while they conduct official business. It makes exceptions for undercover agents, medical masks such as N95 respirators, and tactical gear. Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High around 5F. ESE winds shifting to W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low -17F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. On the sidelines of Bahrains National Day celebrations at the Kingdoms pavilion Where the Seas Meet in Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) hosted an official reception under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The event was attended by Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board; Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of BACA and Commissioner General of Bahrains Pavilion; Her Excellency Okai Asako, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Bahrain; alongside ambassadors and pavilion commissioners from the GCC, as well as friendly and brotherly countries. Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed emphasized that Bahrains participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects the Kingdoms deep belief in culture as a powerful tool for human connection, development, and building a brighter, more peaceful future. He noted that the pavilion embodies Bahrains message that culture is a universal language that transcends borders and brings people closer together. The pavilions theme, Where the Seas Meet, highlights Bahrains historic role as a hub of cultural and economic exchange. He also expressed pride in the partnerships and supporters who contributed to shaping Bahrains participation, which collectively enhanced the Kingdoms presence on the global stage. The reception featured a dinner prepared by Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi and traditional Bahraini music performances. The pavilions National Day program runs through September 20, offering global visitors an immersive cultural journey. Highlights include the concert After Twenty Years by artist Hasan Hujairi with musician Kawl Samarkandi, as well as experiences such as Arabic coffee tastings, Arabic calligraphy workshops, and a performance by the Bahrain Police Band under Expos main dome. In the National Day Hall, the headline performance Bahrains Music Through the Ages presented a carefully curated journey through the Kingdoms musical heritage. The program began with traditional sea chants and work songs, moving into Fidjeri performed by the Qalali Folklore Group, followed by Sawta musical form that originated in Bahrain and was developed by pioneers such as Mohamed bin Faris, Dhahi bin Walid, and Mohamed Zuwayed. The evening concluded with a piano solo by Bahraini artist Noor Al Qassim. The showcase also featured emerging Bahraini talents, including Abdulrahman Awadh, Abdullah Haji, and Mohamed Aseri, under the artistic direction of Maestro Ziad Zaiman. Complementing the music, a visual art display highlighted works by prominent Bahraini artists such as Abbas Al Mousawi, Abduljabbar Al Ghadban, Abdullah Al Muharraqi, Abdulkarim Al Basta, Hussain Al Sunni, Rashid Al Oraifi, Rashid Al Suwaid, and Yousif Qassim. The festivities will conclude on September 20 with a program blending Arabic coffee, calligraphy, and diverse musical acts, including Sawt, Bahraini jazz, folk tunes, and traditional songs, offering visitors a final taste of the Kingdoms rich cultural heritage. Larry Ellison is the second richest person in the world. The Oracle co-founder net worth is about $380 billion following a 36% surge in Oracle shares. He has made big moves into big media. Big Media is relevant for political influence but also for data and reach that is useful for winning in AI. Paramount Global, post its August 2025 merger with Skydance Media, trades at a ~$20 billion market cap, encompassing CBS (broadcast TV leader with 20+ million weekly prime-time viewers), Paramount+ (60 million subscribers), and film/studio assets. Ellisons familyprimarily Larry via his Lawrence Investments family officeholds an effective ~80% controlling stake, valued at $16 billion. Holding Structure: Layer 1: Skydance Media Acquisition: Skydance (led by son David Ellison) acquired Paramount for $8 billion in cash/equity, with the Ellison family funding ~$6 billion (75% of the deal). RedBird Capital contributed the balance for a 22.5% voting slice. Layer 2: Voting Superstructure: Post-merger, the Ellisons control ~26% of Class A voting shares outright, but Larry dominates a holding entity (National Amusements) with ~77.5% ownership, granting de facto 80% control over board decisions. This dual-class setup (common in media) dilutes public shareholders while securing content pipelines for Oracles AI ambitions (personalized streaming). Risk/ Upside: At $16 billion, this is ~4% of Ellisons net worth but is useful for synergies (data, news etc.. for AI). Paramounts $30 billion enterprise value offers 20x EBITDA leverage if Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) bid closes ($55 billion rumored). Ellisons TikTok US Holdings The September 2025 US-China TikTok deal divests 80% of US operations into a new entity valued at $35-40 billion (global TikTok at $200+ billion, US 20% by revenue). Oracle, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz takes 80% ($28-32 billion). ByteDance keeps 20% non-voting. Oracles portion isnt public but, as lead it is estimated at 33% of the consortium ($9.3-10.7 billion total for Oracle). Ellison own 41% of Oracle so he has ~$3.8-4.4 billion of TikTok USA. Total Ellison media: ~$20 billion (Paramount $16B + TikTok $4B). ~5% of his net worth but it has high-reach (270M+ users). Below is a table of the new media landscape. Broadcom has turned into one of the markets headline acts. Over the past year, AVGO has ripped higher by nearly 113.5%, surging past the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 18.1% gain and the Semiconductor Ishares ETFs (SOXX) 22.8% uptick. Its products are the unseen foundation of cloud computing, high-performance data centers, smartphones, and industrial automation. Known for stellar revenue and earnings growth, Broadcoms success reflects a wide competitive moat in networking, wireless, and specialized chips. Today, it stands as one of the worlds most valuable companies, driving both connectivity and innovation forward. Palo Alto-based Broadcom, founded in 1961, has grown into a global technology leader over the decades. With a commanding market capitalization of $1.7 trillion, the company powers the modern digital world through a blend of advanced semiconductors and enterprise software. So, does AVGO stock have the firepower to punch through $420 in 2025? Each new chip cycle demands more power, denser packaging, and higher bandwidth, and Broadcom is the quiet architect making that leap possible, with selling prices often doubling. No surprise, then, that analysts are turning confident. Macquarie just planted the flag with a Street-high $420 price target, underscoring the belief that Broadcoms AI moat only deepens from here. In the world of Wall Street, momentum feeds on headlines, and Broadcom just handed investors a feast. The semiconductor and software powerhouse recently reignited investor excitement with blowout earnings and a $10 billion custom chip order linked to OpenAIvalidation that Broadcom isnt just another supplier but a cornerstone of next-gen infrastructure. Its dominance in the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) market gives it an edge where performance, efficiency, and customization now outshine general-purpose GPUs. Broadcom (AVGO) is no stranger to Wall Streets spotlight, but in 2025, it is playing a different game altogether. While much of the tech sector is still recalibrating after years of turbulence, Broadcom is sprinting ahead, positioning itself as indispensable infrastructure for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Story Continues Over the past three months alone, the chip stock had a blistering 46.4% run with 24 fresh highs stamped into the chart. Momentum hit overdrive after Q3 earnings unveiled a $10 billion custom-chip order, igniting traders appetite. On the technical front, the stock is still flexingthe 14-day RSI hovers around 72, brushing overbought territory, while price action stays firmly above key moving averages. www.barchart.com Broadcoms valuation leaves little room for doubtit trades at a rich 66.35 times forward earnings and nearly 33 times forward sales, well above industry averages. Investors, however, appear unfazed, signaling confidence in the companys ability to sustain growth and protect margins over the long term. Elevated multiples often reflect more than near-term expectations; they point to a business model with enduring strength. Meanwhile, Broadcom balances its premium growth profile with consistent shareholder returns. The company offers a forward annual dividend of $2.36 per share, yielding 0.65%, supported by 14 consecutive years of dividend increases. With another $0.59 per share payout scheduled for Sept. 30, Broadcom demonstrates that its story is not solely about expansion, but also about disciplined capital return and long-term stability. Broadcom Exceeds Q3 Earnings Estimates Broadcoms Q3 2025 earnings landed on Sept. 4 with the kind of precision that turns heads on Wall Street. AVGO rose 9.4% in the subsequent trading session and 3.2% in the next. The chip-and-software giants revenue surged 22% year-over-year (YoY) to $16 billion, edging past expectations, as the companys twin enginesAI semiconductors and VMware softwaredrove momentum. Broadcoms Q3 showcased its rising dominance in AI infrastructure. Fueled by surging demand for XPUs, advanced ASICs that power generative AI workloads. AI revenues soared 63% YoY to $5.2 billion, now accounting for a third of total salesmomentum management expects to sustain in the coming quarters. Tech giants like Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Meta (META) rely heavily on these chips, which integrate compute, memory, and I/O for peak performance at lower power and cost. XPUs made up 65% of AI sales, while networking strength from Tomahawk 5/6 and Jericho 4 added momentum. With a backlog swelling to $110 billion and $10 billion in AI rack orders secured, Broadcoms growth runway remains robust. Meanwhile, profitability followed the same upward arc, with adjusted EBITDA surging 30% annually to $10.7 billion, accounting for 67% of the top line. Non-GAAP EPS climbed 36.3% YoY to $1.69, a lift that gave investors more reason to stay firmly in the bull camp. Free cash flow, a barometer of resilience, surged 47% annually to $7 billion, leaving Broadcom sitting on $9.47 billion in liquidity. Plus, shareholders were not left out. Broadcom returned $2.8 billion in Q3 dividends, underscoring its commitment to capital return. Looking ahead, management projects Q4 revenue of $17.4 billion, with adjusted EBITDA holding at 67% of sales. AI semiconductors are expected to accelerate again, climbing to $6.2 billion in Q4, marking the eleventh straight quarter of AI growth. Analysts optimism is sharpening. For fiscal 2025, the Street sees EPS vaulting 46.1% YoY to $5.42, followed by another 40% annual leap to $7.58 in 2026. With AI silicon demand surging and VMwares software engine humming, Broadcom is stacking gains quarter after quarter, compounding strength like clockwork. What Do Analysts Expect for AVGO Stock? Recently, Wall Street analysts have turned increasingly bullish on Broadcom, with Macquarie setting the tone by initiating coverage with an Outperform rating and a Street-high $420 price target. The confidence stems from Broadcoms near-monopoly in the ASIC market, where it commands nearly a 75% share. Unlike GPUs, which dominate training, ASICs are purpose-built for inference workloads, offering superior performance per watt, rack-level efficiency, and tighter system integrationexactly what hyperscalers need as AI adoption matures. Macquarie projects the ASIC market to expand from less than $11 billion in 2024 to over $80 billion by 2028, and Broadcom stands uniquely positioned to capitalize on this surge. Analysts Arthur Lai and Paul Golding highlight the companys scale, proven track record, and entrenched customer relationships as key factors that defend its leadership even as rivals like MediaTek attempt to enter the fray. With VMware now contributing high-margin software revenues and non-AI segments showing signs of revival, Broadcoms case for a higher ceiling looks stronger than ever. Meanwhile, Mizuho Securities lifted its price target to $410 from $355, reaffirming an Outperform rating. The brokerage firms bullish call is based on Broadcoms structural tailwinds fueling custom silicon and networking and surging AI revenue trajectory, projecting $39 billion in fiscal 2026, $60 billion in FY27, and $75 billion in FY28, which is well ahead of consensus. Overall revenue and earnings estimates were also upgraded, with fiscal 2026 revenue now pegged at $84.4 billion and EPS at $9.27, rising to $108 billion and $12.13 in FY27, and $124 billion and $14.05 in FY28. Mizuho models a blistering 56% AI revenue CAGR between 2025 and 2028, powered by hyperscaler adoption of custom ASICs, rising ASPs, and expanding relationships with Google, Meta, OpenAI, Apple (AAPL), and ARM (ARM). Networking platforms like Tomahawk Ultra and SUE-lite strengthen Broadcoms grip on AI infrastructure, while free cash flow could hit $40 billion annually by FY26, supported by industry-leading margins near 77% gross and 66% operating. Wall Streets conviction in Broadcom is not just about AI hypeit is about consistency. Of the 40 analysts tracking the stock, 35 back it with a Strong Buy, two have a Moderate Buy, while just three are sitting on the sidelines with Hold ratings. AVGOs powerful rally has already pushed it near the average target of $371.90, leaving some wondering if the easy gains are gone. Yet the Streets highest $420 price target, set by Macquarie, hints at a 22% upside, underscoring Broadcoms rising stature in the AI chip race and its grip on custom silicon demand. www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal 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. 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Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe This trend continued in terms of net cash flow from operating activities as well. For the six months ended July 31, the company reported a net cash flow from operating activities of $8.7 million. This was an outflow of $105.9 million in the same period a year ago. Coming to the full fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, 2025, the company's net cash outflow from operating activities narrowed to $110.7 million from $167.2 million in the previous year. Overall, Netskope's cash balance as of July 31 stood at $210.8 million, much higher than its short-term debt levels of $10.4 million, alleviating any liquidity concerns. For a company operating in a high-growth space such as cybersecurity, Netskope's financials look decent. Granted, the company is still a loss-making one, but its revenues increased by 32.3% from the previous year to $538.3 million, with the first six months of fiscal 2025, ending July 31, also witnessing a strong 30.7% year-over-year (YOY) growth to $328.5 million. In fact, losses have also narrowed in the same period to $169.5 million from $206.7 million in the year-ago period. In FY 2025, the net losses were at $354.5 million, a tad wider than FY 2024's $344.9 million. Undoubtedly, Netskope's new listing allows investors to subscribe to the IPO of a cybersecurity company, a rarity recently. But is rarity enough of a reason to jump into NTSK stock, or is there a more compelling reason here? Let's find out. Starting trading today under the ticker NTSK, Netskope had raised its price range to $17-$19 from $15-$17, citing strong demand. At the market's open, it started trading even higher at $23. The company is seeking to raise about $908.2 million by offloading 47.8 million shares at a valuation of approximately $7.26 billion. It intends to use the net proceeds for working capital or other general corporate purposes. Founded in 2012, Netskope is a cloud-security company specializing in protecting enterprise data and applications in cloud environments, with products centered on Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), zero trust, cloud data loss prevention, threat protection, secure web gateways, firewall-as-a-service, etc. The technology sector has been replete with several IPOs this year, primarily led by fintech. However, companies from the cybersecurity sector have shied away from going public in one of the hottest IPO markets in a long time, with SailPoint (SAIL) being a notable exception, which actually made a comeback in the public markets. Story Continues Since Jan. 31, 2022, theres been a marked uptick in multi-product adoption. By July 31, 2025, 72% of customers were subscribed to at least three products, 51% to four or more, and 35% to five or more. These figures are up from 52%, 29%, and 18%, respectively, at the start of 2022, reflecting stronger cross-selling and deeper engagement over time. Notably, customer count increased as well to 4,317 as of July 31 from 3,571 in the year-ago period, with customers of over $1 million ARR (annual revenue run-rate) rising to 111 from 84 in the previous year. Lastly, the company's net revenue retention rate stood at 118% versus 113% in the prior year, reflecting strong demand for the company's offerings and customer stickiness. Netskope Can Make Its Place in a Growing Market As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to gain mainstream adoption, the data center security market is also expected to thrive as a bulwark against bad actors. According to this report, the market is set to soar from about $18 billion in 2025 to $50 billion in a decade. But how can Netskope become a player of any significance in a market where it is competing with much larger and storied incumbents such as Palo Alto (PANW), IBM (IBM), Check Point Software (CHKP), and Broadcom (AVGO), among others? Well, Netskopes growth blueprint revolves around increasing its share of business from existing customers, expanding into the U.S. public sector, strengthening its footprint in international markets, and exploring product expansion through mergers and acquisitions. Central to this approach is the Netskope One platform, which brings together two core elements: Security Service Edge and the broader Secure Access Service Edge framework that merges SSE with SD-WAN capabilities. This unified platform is designed to replace a patchwork of point solutions such as secure web gateways, cloud access security brokers, firewalls, and zero trust network access tools with a single, integrated system. Supporting this is the companys NewEdge network, a privately operated cloud that underpins Netskopes infrastructure and is built to deliver low-latency performance, broad peering, and high reliability across a globally distributed SSE and SASE environment. In addition, Netskopes depth in device classification distinguishes it from competitors who often focus more narrowly on user endpoints rather than on comprehensive device-level intelligence. These factors have secured Netskope's repeated recognition as a leader in Security Service Edge in Gartners Magic Quadrant, underscoring its strength in this category. Yet the company also faces criticism for its pricing. While its features and performance are generally regarded as best-in-class, the cost of licensing, onboarding, and managing the platform can be significant compared with leaner, lower-priced alternatives. For smaller organizations or those with simpler requirements, that premium in cost, complexity, and implementation can tilt the balance toward competing offerings that are less feature-rich but more economical. Final Take Netskope is on the right track, with its financials improving, a growing customer base that sticks around, and losses narrowing. Moreover, its products are gaining traction each year, with industry recognition coming in as well. However, the company may find itself in a tricky situation, as to continue on its growth path, it must broaden its range of users. But its relatively expensive offerings make that a key headwind for the company, as Netskope's products can be availed by enterprises only of a certain size and scale. However, this can hurt profitability, and the company should preferably focus on catering to high-value customers by growing margins there. In terms of subscription to the IPO, Netskope can be considered, but with caution. On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose 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 When booking a Disney World vacation, selecting your trip duration is one of the most important steps in the planning process. Ana Suarez for NJAM No amount of time in Disney World ever feels long enough, but is one day ample time to explore all of Disney? There is actually a growing trend online right now where people travel to and from Disney World in just one day from their home state. New Jersey residents have shared hundreds of videos on TikTok chronicling their one-day journeys from EWR to MCO, over to Disney World and back again. Ive always wanted to try this, but I know that just one day in Disney is not enough for me. For Annual Passholders, an out-of-state day trip is a great way to justify paying for a yearly pass. But for those of us not looking to get in and out in a day, how long should you plan for when traveling to Disney World? That depends! What are my credentials? If youre wondering what a Jersey girl has to say to explain how long you should travel to Disney for, well, let me tell you. Im a certified Disney adult Ive traveled to Disney World for the last 30+ years Ive been to Disneyland over 10 times I write about deals for a living! Also, dont count N.J. out; theres a reason everyone refers to the first week of November as Jersey Week in Disney World, after all. Related: I just booked a Disney flight during the N.J. teachers convention week for under $250. Heres my secret. How many days do you need for Disney World? To make sure you can experience all four theme parks, you'll want to get a parkhopper ticket if traveling for a shorter amount of time to Disney. Ana Suarez for NJAM I have a personal sweet spot; I never like to travel to Disney for less than four full days, but my preferred trip length is eight days. Disney World is so big, and there is always so much to do, so I prefer extra time. Regardless of your budget, planning a Disney World trip for between four and seven days is the ideal timeframe for most people. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Booking a Disney trip? Stay at the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Hotel for around $200 per night and get complimentary transportation to the parks, early theme park entry, extended evening hours & more Disney World benefits. Book Now with Marriott When planning a trip to Disney, you need to consider a few things: Whats your budget? If youre working on a tighter budget, youll need to look at all of the optics. If your budget is very flexible, you can essentially go at any time and for however many days you want. Still, even with a huge budget, you should plan a set number of days to achieve the perfect trip to capture all of your interests. What are your travel dates? After youve determined your budget, you need to consider when to go. Disney World can be very busy most of the year, but there are a handful of months that are calmer than others. If youre flexible on your travel dates, that plays a big factor in how many days you should go for. However, if you can only go during school breaks, that will narrow your travel window down drastically, and youll really need to plan smart to get the most out of your trip. Are you traveling with or without children? If youre traveling with children, a rest day is essential. You will need to account for that rest day, travel days and park days when counting how many days to go. Grown-ups can benefit from a rest day as well, but it is not as much of a requirement as it is for those who are traveling with little ones. And finally... Have you ever been to Disney World before? If you have been to Disney, you wont feel jipped if you do a long weekend trip. If this is your first time traveling to Disney World, youre going to want to budget accordingly and find time to go for longer. Read More: What do you need to pack for a Disney World vacation? A shopping editor shares her top 25+ essentials, plus 4 things to skip Disney World Budget Vacation: How many days should you book for your trip? You should stay at a Walt Disney World resort or an affiliated Good Neighbor Hotel on your Disney vacation. Westin If youre working on a budget, your best bet is to try to go for a long weekend or go during a slow season. You can aim for four days and three nights if you time your flights right. You should plan to either stay on property at a value Disney resort (between $130 and $200 per night) or opt for a nearby Good Neighbor Hotel that offers a complimentary shuttle (starting under $100 per night). If you hop on a flight at 6 AM, depending on where youre traveling from, you can be in the parks by 9 or 10 a.m., which means that travel day can also be a park day. If youre doing a four-day trip, youll want to get a three-day parkhopper ticket to make sure you can travel to all four parks during your visit. If you go during a slower season (either September, late January/early February or May), tickets will be more cost-effective during these time periods, which means you can travel on a budget for a little longer. In that case, you can plan for five to seven days in Disney. If youre on a budget but your travel dates are 100% flexible, you just want to travel to Disney World sometime in the next year, you absolutely need to stalk Disneys website to see if there are any special offers available. You might want to even look into a Disney travel agent, as theyve got their ears to the ground and will know about all of the special offers first, and can help you book around them. Disney World Discounts Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays. Walt Disney World Typically, the special offers section will give you either discounted park tickets, up to 30% off Disney World resort hotel stays and/or kids eat for free dining plan options. There are times when you can score multiple offers, so for those traveling on a budget, this is the best option for planning. For example, there is currently an offer to save up to 30% on a Disney World resort hotel stay when you stay for five nights or longer (or save 15% on shorter stays). This end-of-summer promotion is valid now through October 11. That means, you can stay at a value resort like All-Star Music Resort for $139 a night ($25 off per night), a moderate resort like Port Orleans - Riverside for $257 a night ($86 off per night) or a deluxe resort for Disneys Old Key West for $500 a night ($215 off per night). Each hotel room at those resorts sleeps a minimum of four, but some can fit more. A 4-day base ticket will cost $581 (per person), or a 3-day parkhopper ticket will cost $526 (per person) in that timeframe. If youre traveling in a party of two, that means you can travel to Disney World and visit all four parks for under $2,000, and a family of four can travel for under $3,000 (this does not include airfare). 7-Day Disney World Itinerary Here's the best itinerary to travel, visit all four theme parks, a water park and get a rest day in while on your Walt Disney World vacation. Canva A seven-day trip allows you to do four park days, one rest day and two travel days (the day you arrive and the day you leave). This is a common suggestion among Disney parkgoers on Reddit and Facebook. Even Walt Disney World has a mockup itinerary of what to do when planning a 7-day trip to Disney World. Now, this 7-day trip suggestion from WDW does not include travel days and has you repeating some theme and water parks. If you could only do seven days with one park per day, including travel, but still want a rest day, here is my suggestion: Day 1 Travel Day Stop at Disneys Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or Disneys Blizzard Beach Water Park (You receive a complimentary water park admission on your check-in day when staying at a Disney official resort) Day 2 Animal Kingdom Day 3 Magic Kingdom Day 4 Rest Day / Disney Springs/ Resort Hop Day 5 Hollywood Studios Day 6 EPCOT Day 7 Travel home (If you fly out later on this day, you can get brunch at a WDW resort or in Disney Springs) You can obviously change which park you go to on each day, but this itinerary allows for a rest day, a water park day, four theme park days AND both travel days. I love to start with Animal Kingdom or EPCOT, if I can. When planning your trip, youll want to keep in mind which parks are busiest in Disney World. You can go to AK on pretty much any day, but most people should avoid Magic Kingdom on a Monday, as it is one of the busiest days of the week at that park. You can easily make my itinerary a 6-day travel trip. If you dont care about water parks, you can skip that and head to Animal Kingdom on your first travel day, because the park has a little less to do than the other three. 4-Day Disney World Itinerary Even if you only have four days to visit Disney World, you can still pack in all of the magic. Canva If youve only got four days to get everything done, heres a truncated itinerary that still gets you into all four parks, plus your travel dates. Day 1 Travel In Magic Kingdom (This park is open the latest, and you can get an LL pass to secure your rides during the day) Day 2 Animal Kingdom / Magic Kingdom (MK is open late, you can return here once AK closes) Day 3 EPCOT / Hollywood Studios Day 4 Travel Out If you buy a 3-day parkhopper, you can revisit the parks you didnt get enough time in on your 4th day before flying home Keep in mind, going for less time does not always mean it will be cheaper. To make sure youre able to get to every park and on the rides you really want, youll need to buy parkhopper tickets and Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which are not inexpensive add-ons. However, these will make the difference between getting on three to five rides in a day or over 10 rides. To make sure you get to every park during a short amount of time, you need to do these four things, too: Plan to buy a Lightning Lane Multi Pass: This will cost up to $39 extra per day. Get a parkhopper ticket: You only have four days, and if youre traveling on those days, you really might not be able to do one park per day. Getting a : You only have four days, and if youre traveling on those days, you really might not be able to do one park per day. Getting a parkhopper ticket allows you to bounce between all four parks on the days you are going. Stay on Disney property: This way, youll have access to early Lightning Lane bookings (seven days before your trip) and youll be able to utilize Disneys transportation system. Book your flights right: If you arrive on the earliest flight and depart on the latest flight, you can go to the parks on your travel days. You really need to do your homework before trying to travel to Disney World these days, but you can have the best trip in any amount of time if you prep ahead. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has submitted its recommendations to the Productivity Commission, focusing on economic collaboration and the modernisation of Australia's tax system. The submission, which covers four of the commission's five interim reports, also advocates for making digital reporting the standard for entities. The accounting body emphasises the need for a more efficient tax mix and a lower corporate tax rate, albeit acknowledging the budgetary challenges involved. For the corporate tax system, CA ANZ agrees with the shift towards an efficient tax structure. However, it warns that transitioning to a Cash Flow Tax could be complex and expensive. The focus, they argue, should be on modernising the existing framework to better fit the current economy. CA ANZ CEO Ainslie van Onselen said: CA ANZ agrees that tax reform is needed to ensure our economy is strong and are advocating for the interim recommendations to take into account other significant tax settings, which affect business investment decisions for significant parts of the economy. This is the logical step forward and we strongly believe this reform will unlock productivity, improve accessibility to our capital markets and bring Australia in line with global best practice. Regarding the company tax rate, CA ANZ supports the principle of reducing it to 20% for all companies. However, it recognises the significant role corporate tax plays in the national budget, making this a challenging objective to realise. On environmental policy, CA ANZ backs the proposal to expand the Safeguard Mechanism to include more industrial facilities and enhance carbon leakage provisions. It suggests a phased approach for the inclusion of new facilities to manage the transition. When it comes to AI, CA ANZ agrees that AI-specific regulation should be a last resort. They stress the importance of a flexible regulatory environment that can adapt to the rapid evolution of AI technologies, without compromising stability. CA ANZ also supports the removal of unnecessary occupational entry regulations, particularly in the financial advisory sector and advocates for qualified accountants to be allowed to provide strategic financial advice, which could help address the shortage of professional financial advisers in Australia. Earlier this month, CA ANZ expressed its support for the reintroduction of accounting as a standalone subject in the NCEA Level 1 curriculum from 2028. "CA ANZ submits recommendations to Productivity Commission " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. Celebrities, former congressional representatives, and citizens are canceling their Disney-owned streaming services after Jimmy Kimmel's late night show suspension on Wednesday. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP As the fallout continues from the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by Disney-owned ABC, celebrities and politicians are calling for a boycott of Disney-owned streaming services Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN. The outcry comes after Nexstar Media announced Wednesday that it would not air episodes of Kimmels show across its ABC affiliate stations. Kimmels suspension comes two days after he made comments about the response to conservative activist Charlie Kirks assassination on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The move followed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatening to take action against both Disney and ABC over the comments, including possibly pulling ABC affiliate licenses. When government intimidation and corporate cowardice meet, free speech dies. Boycott ABC and Disney until they stand up to Brendan Carrs censorship, former Congressman Adam Kinzinger posted to his X account. When government intimidation and corporate cowardice meet, free speech dies. Boycott ABC and Disney until they stand up to Brendan Carrs censorship. (link in reply) Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) (@AdamKinzinger) September 18, 2025 Its pretty easy to cancel your Disney+ subscription, and a coordinated, national day of cancellations would send a very clear message about our values as Americans, actor Wil Wheaton posted Thursday to BlueSky. Tatiana Maslany, who starred in Marvels She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, on Disney+, posted a call to her followers on Instagram to cancel your @disneyplus @hulu @espn subscriptions! Actor Misha Collins posted on his X account that he will be canceling his Disney+ subscription indefinitely. Social media users have been posting their cancellation notices of various Disney-owned services. Cancelled my Disney+ Plus and Hulu bundle. This isnt a slippery slope, its a cliff, and Disney just went off it, one Reddit user wrote. Related coverage: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in "Rocky." The upcoming movie "I Play Rocky" is set to film in New Jersey. United Archives via Getty Images A Rocky movie is set to film in New Jersey, but its no sequel. Its also not a film in the Creed franchise. Its a movie about the making of the first Rocky film released in 1976. Director Peter Farrelly is helming I Play Rocky, which will tell the behind-the-scenes story of the Oscar winner for best picture. Farrelly, who won the Oscar for best picture for Green Book, will be joined by actor Anthony Ippolito, who is playing a young Sylvester Stallone in the Amazon MGM Studios movie. Ippolito previously played Al Pacino in The Offer the Paramount+ series about the making of another best picture winner Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather. I Play Rocky, written by Peter Gamble (Office Uprising), follows Stallone in his pre-Rocky career and tracks his determination to play boxer Rocky Balboa after writing the script for the highly successful independent film. Local extras are being cast for I Play Rocky, which is scheduled to film Oct. 15 through Dec. 5 in New Jersey and possibly several days in Philadelphia, Grant Wilfley Casting tells NJ Advance Media. Stallone fought to play Rocky Balboa after writing the "Rocky" script. United Archives via Getty Images The movie is casting real boxers and people who own cars made in 1960 to 1975. The production is also looking for people to play members of the 1970s film crew as well as 70s pedestrians and people in the crowd. (See details on how to apply below.) One person who isnt involved in the making of the story of making Rocky is Stallone himself. I was shocked to read (about) it, he told The Playlist, I have zero to do with it. Stallone, 79, said that might change, given the fact that hes written his memoir, titled The Steps, which will be published in May. Since I lived it, I thought I might be able to participate and give them some insight, he said. How to apply Anyone interested in applying to be an extra on I Play Rocky can send an email to rocky@gwcnyc.com. Include the following information: name, phone number, clothing and shoe sizes and current photos. The production is looking for people with natural-colored hair and men with shaggy or long hair and facial hair or sideburns. No visible tattoos or facial piercings. Actors must be OK with working around smoke or smoking herbal cigarettes. A man convicted of murdering his mother inside the West New York home they shared in 2021 was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in state prison, officials said. Emmanuel Gonzalez, 45, of West New York, was found guilty in January of murder, according to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office. West New York police officers responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at 439 66th St. at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2021, the office said. They were met by Gonzalez, and taken to a bedroom where his mother, 62-year-old Irma Gonzalez, was found dead, investigators said. The Regional Medical Examiners Office determined her death to be a homicide and ruled the cause to be blunt force trauma, officials said. Gonzalez was initially charged with aggravated assault, but the charge was upgraded to murder two days later after the Regional Medical Examiners Offices report came back. New details have emerged in the shooting of now-Jets receiver Josh Reynolds that occurred in Denver last year. Reynolds was outside of a strip club when he was shot by a group of individuals. According to the Denver Post, the group shot him because he resembled someone who had scammed them out $250,000 worth of cocaine. Seven adults and one juvenile were arrested and charged on attempted murder. Reynolds was shot in the back of his head and in his left leg. Reynolds, 30, signed a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Jets in March after he was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He told reporters at a practice in June that he has moved past" the incident. Yeah, life is precious, for sure, Reynolds told reporters at the time. But the more youve got to think about it, the more youre just kind of reliving it. The Lofts at Helmetta, converted from an 1886 snuff mill, maintains 96% occupancy and features 200 luxury units across five buildings in Helmetta, JLL A historic New Jersey apartment complex has secured $38.4 million in refinancing. Officials said JLL Capital Markets arranged the refinancing for The Lofts at Helmetta property, which was converted from the historic Helme Snuff Mill Complex in Helmetta. The property maintains a 96% occupancy rate. The five-year, fixed-rate loan was secured from Nuveen Real Estate on behalf of the borrower, Kaplan Companies. The Lofts at Helmetta represents a unique adaptive reuse project. The original Helme Snuff Mill Complex was built in 1886 and operated for more than a century before closing in 1993. Today the property consists of five buildings, including the 106-unit Helme Building, the 74-unit Mills Building, and three townhome buildings totaling 20 units. The development offers one- and two-bedroom apartments featuring granite countertops, hardwood plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, open rafter ceilings, gas ranges, and in-unit washers and dryers. Residents have access to a fitness center, a pool area, a lounge with a coffee bar, a childrens play area, a bar and arcade room, a pet spa, bike storage, and storage lockers. The property also benefits from a 22-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement with the town of Helmetta. The JLL Capital Markets Debt Advisory team representing the borrower was led by Senior Managing Directors Jim Cadranell and Michael Klein, along with Analyst Michael Donohoe. Magda Baez of the band Cimarrones dances during the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the Newark Museum of Art in Newark, NJ on Friday, September 27, 2024. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media Celebrating a day of cultural programming, live performances, and educational activities, Newarks Museum of Arts will launch Hispanic Heritage Month with its annual community day, Fiesta Latina. Running from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, the event is designed to highlight Latino culture from across the Americas, with a focus on Afro-Latino and indigenous traditions. The art museum will offer free admission throughout the day with access to its galleries and exhibitions. This years 5th Annual Community Day: Fiesta Latina is a celebration of all the Latinx art and creativity that thrives in Newark. We are opening up the museum for free to unite these vulnerable communities, using art, education, and music to showcase their culture and resiliency, said Ashley Mendoza, coordinator of Community Engagement for the Newark Museum of Arts. Hispanic Heritage Month started in 1968 as a week and grew to a month in 1988. It runs through the rest of September to Oct. 15 to honor the independence days of several Latin American countries. Additional activities include hourly Latin dance lessons led by Bachata Heaven Social with four lessons between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., as well as workshops and community panels hosted by the Ironbound Community Corporation. We are committed to highlighting their importance and contribution to the Newark community and the arts, Mendoza continued. The museum is also organizing a drive to benefit the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned and dry goods to donate. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Despite ongoing construction, the main entrance of the museum remains open for visitors attending the event. Parking is available next to the museum for a $10 fee, with entrances located on Washington Street and Central Avenue. For a roundup of events, check out www.nj.com/mosaic. A fire ripped through seven rowhomes in Trenton Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, killing an 18-year-old student, injuring three other occupants and a firefighter, and displacing a total of 22 residents. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Courtesy City of Trenton A fire tore through a row of homes in Trenton late Friday, killing an 18-year-old man, injuring several others and forcing 22 residents from their homes, city officials said. The blaze broke out on the 1200 block of North Olden Avenue, damaging seven homes, according to a statement from city officials. Joseph Kokulo, the 18-year-old who died, was a high school student preparing to participate in the citys homecoming parade Saturday, according to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. Of the three residents injured in the fire, one is in critical condition and two remain in stable condition, Gusciora said. A firefighter was also sent to the hospital. An arson investigator has been assigned to the case, the mayor said. This is a heartbreaking day for our community, Gusciora said in a statement. To the families affected, especially to those mourning the loss of a beloved son, friend and student, please know that the entire city stands with you in grief and support. The active investigation involves the citys fire department, police and code enforcement, as well as state and county officials, according to Gusciora. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the brave firefighters and first responders who acted swiftly under extremely dangerous conditions to contain this fire and prevent further loss of life, he said. I also want to thank the neighboring departments who answered the call without hesitation. The American Red Cross of New Jersey provided residents with temporary lodging, food, clothing and other immediate needs, the organization said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The New Jersey man who was released by Hamas after being held captive for more than 550 days says hes going back to Israel to continue fighting in the war. Edan Alexander, 21, of Tenafly, was the last living American hostage in Gaza until he was released in May. I will once again put on the IDF uniform, and Ill proudly serve alongside my brothers, said Alexander in a video posted by CBS. My story does not end with survival. It continues with service. Alexander made the announcement Wednesday at the Friends of the IDF Gala in Manhattan. He said his days in captivity were the hardest days of (my) life. Alexander also advocated for the hostages still in Hamass captivity. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to still be alive. While I am free, many others are still in captivity, Alexander said. Their nightmares continue, their families still wait. We cannot forget them. We cannot stop until theyre all home. Alexander was released in May with the assistance of the Trump Administration. He thanked the President and his staff saying, Without their work, I would not be here. Alexander is an Israeli American soldier who grew up in the United States, but moved to Israel in 2022. He was taken from his base during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led terrorist attack. At least 1,200 Israelis were either killed or taken hostage in the attack. The resulting war over the past 23 months has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza. Democratic nominee Mikie Sherril (left) and Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli (right) are running to become New Jersey's next governor in the Nov. 4 general election. Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill voted for a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while sharply criticizing Kirks views as racist and misogynistic. Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people this flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for, Sherrill, a North Jersey congresswoman, said in a statement. But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose. Sherrill, D-11th Dist., said free speech protections are meant to safeguard dissenting views, yet critics of Kirk are being silenced. Meanwhile, President (Donald) Trump has and continues to define hypocrisy at every turn, she said. On one hand, he denounced Kirks politically motivated killing, while on the other hand, he is instigating a witch hunt worthy of Joseph McCarthy to shut down the free speech rights of anyone who disagrees with Kirks racist, anti-American views. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed earlier this month at a speaking event in Utah. His death has sparked national debate over political violence and free expression. The controversy has also reached New Jersey, where some teachers have faced backlash for social media posts critical of Kirk, some of whom have cited safety concerns after doing so. Sherrills Republican opponent in the governors race, Jack Ciattarelli, condemned her remarks. Mikie Sherrills hypocrisy knows no bounds, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. After voting yes on a resolution honoring Charlie Kirks life and condemning his violent death, Mikie reversed course and sided with extremists in her own party by attacking a fellow American, a son, a husband and a father who was assassinated for speaking his mind. Its inexcusable and disqualifying, Ciattarelli added. In the wake of Kirks death, New Jersey lawmakers have called for greater civility in political discourse and are considering legislation to classify political violence as a hate crime in the state. Two Union County state legislators, Senate Higher Education chair Joe Cryan and former Republican gubernatorial candidate John Bramnick announced plans for a bipartisan college campus debate tour to promote civil dialogue. A makeshift memorial grows in size at the Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college last Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP The public memorial service to celebrate the life of conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be held Sept. 21 in Arizona. Doors for Kirks memorial service in Glendale are expected to open at 8 a.m. local time (11 a.m. ET), and the program is planned to begin at 11 a.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), according to Turning Point USA. Kirk, 31, was killed by a single bullet on Sept. 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as part of his American Comeback Tour. The event will take place at State Farm Stadium, the home of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals. How to watch Charlie Kirks memorial Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP) AP USA Today will livestream the memorial service. The stream is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 21 CBS News will offer live coverage of the memorial service of Kirk on Sunday, starting at approximately 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT, a network spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. You can watch the coverage at cbsnews.com/live Paramount Plus and the CBS News App. CNNs coverage of Kirks memorial will begin at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT with Pamela Brown and Boris Sanchez co-anchoring the networks coverage from Washington. CNN reporters Arlette Saenz, Kevin Liptak and Josh Campbell will be live on the ground from State Farm Stadium. CNNs coverage will be available across several platforms, including streaming live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com , CNN connected TV, mobile apps and on CNN Max for HBO Max subscribers. Fox News Media has a full day of coverage planned around Kirks memorial, starting at 6 a.m. ET, with a special edition of Fox & Friends Weekend with Rachel Campos-Duffy, Charlie Hurt, and Griff Jenkins hosting live from outside State Farm Stadium. Who will be speaking at Charlie Kirks Memorial Service? Members of the New York Young Republicans Club respect a minute of silence for Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk during a vigil at Madison Square Park on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Kena Betancur) AP Turning Point USA has announced a list of speakers for Sundays event, headlined by Kirks widow, Erika Kirk, President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Related coverage: Cambricon Technologies, the Chinese semiconductor designer seen as a potential alternative to US rival Nvidia, expressed confidence in its revenue growth prospects after a record first half on the back of strong demand for its artificial intelligence chips. "AI chips, as the core of computing infrastructure, are experiencing unprecedented opportunities," Chen Tianshi, chairman and co-founder, said at an online event on Thursday, adding that the company would continue to focus on technological innovation in design to enhance its core competitiveness. The company, known as "little Nvidia", said it would generate "sustained revenue" in the future due to robust demand for AI computing power, particularly for training large AI models. Its products have been deployed at scale in "multiple key industries", including mobile carriers, as well as clients in the internet and finance sectors, it said. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Cambricon has become the priciest stock in China's onshore market after gaining 544 per cent over the past 12 months. Its Shanghai-listed shares fell 5.1 per cent to 1,349.24 yuan on Friday. Chen Tianshi, chairman and co-founder of Cambricon Technology, pictured in 2021. Photo: Handout alt=Chen Tianshi, chairman and co-founder of Cambricon Technology, pictured in 2021. Photo: Handout> Investors are confident in the outlook of the Beijing-based company, betting that its AI processors would be deployed in the country's data centres to replace Nvidia. Cambricon's stock surge came after Chinese start-up DeepSeek said its latest V3.1 model was trained using a new data format, which was "suitable for soon-to-be-released home-grown chips". In August, Cambricon reported a 4,348 per cent year-on-year jump in first-half revenue to 2.88 billion yuan (US$404.8 million), a record since it went public in 2020. Profit reached 1.04 billion yuan, reversing a loss of 533 million yuan in the same period last year. Chen's remarks marked the first time the co-founder, who established Cambricon with his brother Chen Yunji in 2016, directly answered investor queries after the boom in its share price. Last week, Cambricon said it would raise up to 4 billion yuan from the mainland's stock market, which would be mainly used for its "semiconductor platform projects and software platform projects for large models". Cattle graze on the Tucker Farm in Peapack and Gladstone. The 35-acre farm on Willow Avenue will be permanently dedicated to agriculture. David Zaback The borough of Peapack and Gladstone advanced its farmland preservation goals this summer by permanently dedicating a 35-acre farm to agriculture. The Tucker Farm on Willow Avenue has been preserved through the purchase of an agricultural easement from owners Andrew and Judith Tucker. The property, one of the boroughs highest priority farms for preservation, serves as grazing land for Black Angus cattle raised at nearby River Bend Farm in Far Hills. Judy and I are delighted to contribute to the preservation of open spaces and farmland in our community and would encourage others to do the same, Andrew Tucker said in a statement. The Tuckers donated 25 percent of the easements value. The estimated total purchase price of the easement was $1.5 million. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation managed the preservation process on behalf of the borough and secured funding from multiple sources. The New Jersey Highlands Council provided 50 percent of the easement value through its Highlands Open Space Partnership Funding Program, which is financed with federal funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional funding came from Somerset Countys Open Space Trust Fund, a State Agriculture Development Committee Municipal Planning Incentive Grant, and the boroughs Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund. The Tucker Farm is the first in New Jersey to be preserved using a combination of state agriculture and Highlands Council funding. We are grateful to New Jersey Conservation Foundation for inviting us to participate in this superb farmland preservation project, said Ben Spinelli, executive director of the New Jersey Highlands Council. Many people believe that the passing of the New Jersey Highlands Act 21 years ago meant the entire region was permanently protected, he added. It is not. Roughly 19,000 undeveloped but developable lots about 230 square miles of the Highlands remain vulnerable to inappropriate development. Located at the edge of the boroughs densely populated center, the Tucker Farm offers open views and serves as a gateway to the municipalitys more rural areas. Across the road are two previously preserved farms totaling nearly 100 acres. The preservation of the Tucker Farm is a prime example of how partnerships are key to protecting land, said Alison Mitchell, executive director of NJ Conservation. We are thrilled to have joined this team effort that, for the first time in New Jersey, utilized a combination of federal Highlands conservation funding and state funding to preserve farmland ensuring it remains intact for future generations. Somerset County Deputy Director Melonie Marano highlighted the significance of such preservation efforts. Farmland preservation is more than a policy its a promise, Marano said. Its a promise that Somerset County will continue to honor its agricultural roots, protect its natural resources, and secure a strong future for generations yet to come. Two Sussex County residents were arrested and charged in connection with theft and money laundering, the Sparta Police Department announced Friday. Lisa Carratura, 46, of Wantage, was charged with forgery, money laundering, misapplication of entrusted property and theft, police said. Timothy Bruzik, 42, also of Wantage, was charged with conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen property. The investigation began on March 31, when the owner of Title on Demand, Reliant Title and Bonafide Title Agency reported discrepancies in escrow accounts, police said. An internal audit revealed Carratura had been issuing unauthorized company checks to accounts unrelated to business operations, police said. Initially, $74,000 was unaccounted for, police said, adding investigators later found more than $125,000 had been misappropriated. Police traced the funds to 15 different bank accounts linked to Carratura and Bruzik, police said. The money had been used to pay off personal loans and debt. Investigators used an application Carratura had used to refinance her home with Title and Demand in January 2024. She listed several bank accounts on her loan application that helped identify and match accounts involved in the fraud. During a search of their residence, police recovered a large capacity ammunition magazine. Both were charged with possession of a large capacity magazine and Bruzik was also charged with certain persons not to have weapons. Carratura and Bruzik were taken into custody and lodged in the Morris County Jail pending their first appearance, police said. Four passengers aboard an NJ Transit bus were injured Friday afternoon after it was involved in a crash in Hillside, investigators said. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment, but all of the injuries were considered non-life threatening, an NJ Transit spokesperson told NJ Advance Media. The crash happened at 1:05 p.m. at the corner of Liberty and Conant avenues when the bus made contact with a car, the spokesperson said. The eight other passenger aboard the bus were not injured and were taken to their destinations by another bus, authorities said. No other information about the crash was released Friday night. A spokesperson for the Hillside Police Department could not immediately be reached for comment. The incident follows another crash involving an NJ Transit bus on Thursday night in Passaic County where one passengers suffered an injury, an NJ Transit spokesman said. The crash happened at 10:11 p.m. on Main Street in Paterson when the bus was hit by a car near the roads intersection with Ellison Street, authorities said. One person aboard said they suffered an injury, but they were not taken to the hospital for treatment, officials said. A general store in Warren County that has welcomed visitors for generations is up for sale. Wilburs Country Store is located inside a 19th century site on Route 94 and is among the few remaining independent general stores in New Jersey. It stocks candies, toys, canned goods and kitchen utensils just a little bit of everything, said Merrilane Osmun, who was working at the store on Friday. Osmun took over after the stores owner since 1976, her longtime friend, decided to move last year and seek a buyer. The six-acre lot that includes the store, four other commercial spaces and an upstairs studio apartment has been on the market since February. We had a couple of offers that were a bit too low, Osmun said when reached by phone. The property is listed by Weichert Realtors for $728,000. Osmun says its possible the future owner will keep the general store open. Thats the hope, Osmun said. Independent general stores were the precursors to Wawa, Quick Chek and other chains that flourish throughout New Jersey. They were at their peak in the 1800s, frequently serving as the primary business in small communities. Two general stores in neighboring Sussex County the 142-year-old Hainesville General Store in Sandyston and Gariss General Store in Stillwater found new owners in 2022 and remain in operation. The Gariss store, in operation since 1876, was renamed the Stillwater Cafe. Wilburs Country Store is in Frelinghuysen, which covers nearly 24 square miles and has approximately 2,000 residents. Osmun said she does not know the store opened. I have some old photos of what this place used to look like when it was a farm, Osmun said. The store does not have a website or Facebook page, the standard marketing tools of contemporary businesses. It does have a loyal customer base, word of mouth, and a convenient location off the highway. A lot of people are traveling through, just going for a ride, Osmun said. Many of the stores items have an association with Great Britain, where the owner lived until she was a teenager and came to the U.S. Osmun, offering examples, cited HP sauce British brown sauce consisting of tomatoes, malt vinegar and molasses, with the name being an acronym for Houses of Parliament. The shelves also are stocked with McVities digestive biscuits, a British snack food since the 1830s that remains popular overseas, and cans of Heinz baked beans, which originated in London in 1886. The Weichert Realtors listing says that charm abounds at the location, though some work is needed on the buildings. It could evolve into a deli, coffee shop or crafters village, or perhaps just stay as it is, according to the real estate company. In its heyday, Wilburs Country Store was open six days per week, closing on Mondays. Now it is open only on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Osmun said. It looks better running, she said of the decision to keep the store in operation while looking for a buyer. Canadian authorities have confirmed the countrys largest cryptocurrency seizure to date, taking control of more than 56 million Canadian dollars (about $40 million) in assets from the little-known exchange TradeOgre. The operation, carried out by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), dismantled the platform entirely, marking the first time Canadian law enforcement has shut down a cryptocurrency exchange. TradeOgre Shutdown Marks First Exchange Takedown in Canada Amid Global Crackdown The seizure followed a year-long investigation launched in June 2024 after Europol tipped off the RCMPs money laundering division. Working with its financial and cybercrime units and blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, police traced illicit flows on the exchange, which they allege was used by criminal organizations to launder money. In a statement, the RCMP said TradeOgre violated Canadian regulations by failing to register with Fintrac as a money services business and by not conducting know-your-customer checks. Investigators believe the majority of funds that moved through the exchange were criminal in origin, noting that anonymity was a key feature of the platform. Founded in 2018, TradeOgre built a reputation around trading privacy-focused coins such as Monero and emerging altcoins, attracting users who valued minimal oversight and anonymity. Its stripped-down interface and lack of KYC requirements made it popular with a niche group of traders but also drew scrutiny from law enforcement. Speculation about the platforms fate began in July, when its website went offline and its X account went silent. On Reddit, frustrated users questioned whether they had fallen victim to an exit scam. Source: TradeOgre on Arkham At the same time, blockchain watchers noticed that funds linked to TradeOgre had been transferred to wallets carrying messages embedded in Bitcoin transactions. One message read: Crypto assets controlled by the RCMP, fueling speculation that authorities had stepped in. The RCMP confirmed Thursday that the encoded messages were authentic and part of the operation. This marks the largest crypto asset seizure in Canadian history, the agency said, adding that the seizure also represented the first dismantling of an exchange in the country. Officials said the data recovered from TradeOgre would now be analyzed, with criminal charges expected to follow. Arkham Intelligence, which assisted the investigation, reported that more than $40 million worth of crypto assets were removed from the exchanges wallets in recent days, which the RCMP has now claimed ownership of. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Capital One settled a lawsuit by social media creators who said a free browser extension used by millions of people to find discounts stole their sales commissions when shoppers bought their products and services. The sixth-largest U.S. commercial bank and the creators jointly filed a settlement notice on Thursday in the Alexandria, Virginia, federal court, and expect a settlement to be submitted for preliminary approval by November 17. Capital One, based in McLean, Virginia, did not admit wrongdoing in settling claims over the browser extension, Capital One Shopping, and said consumers will not see changes. In a statement, a spokesperson added that evidence in the case showed that Capital One Shopping "recognizes and follows industry rules and is aligned with its advertising partners." Lawyers for the creators did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The proposed class action involved affiliate marketing, where creators promote content through links that appear on their platforms and social media channels, and which are provided by online merchants and third-party marketers. Creators said Capital One's browser extension made it appear at checkout as though shoppers made purchases from merchants' sites after clicking referral links from the bank. They said this let Capital One collect millions of dollars of commissions that belonged to bloggers, influencers, YouTubers and other creators. In June, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga refused to dismiss the case, finding it plausible that Capital One knowingly overrode tracking codes, such as cookies, that showed shoppers had seen the creators' content. Capital One has said Capital One Shopping does not replace cookies or unlawfully take credit for commissions. It acquired the browser extension when it bought the online shopping startup Wikibuy in 2018. Microsoft and PayPal have faced similar litigation over their Microsoft Shopping and PayPal Honey extensions. The case is In re Capital One Financial Corp, Affiliate Marketing Litigation, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, No. 25-00023. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler) Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) is one of the 9 Most Profitable Penny Stocks to Buy Right Now. On September 10, Reuters reported that Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) plans to invest in clean energy projects. Cemigs CEO, Reynaldo Passanezi Filho, told Reuters that the company plans to use its experience in hydropower to invest in clean energy technologies. Cemig is working on approximately a $7.4 billion (40 billion BRL) investment plan from 2025 through 2029. The goal is to focus on power distribution while gradually moving from network expansion to digitalization to enhance the consumer experience. CEMIG Plans to Invest in Clean Energy Projects Using Its Experience In HydroPower Cemigs distribution business planning is already in progress, and the company is now focusing on sector innovations, especially energy storage technologies. The company will use its enormous accumulated knowledge in hydroelectric power to expand projects such as pumped storage plants and take part in power capacity auctions. The company is testing batteries connected to its distributed solar generation plants and is also pursuing a stake in non-strategic assets, including Taesa, gas distributor Gasmig, and the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant. Since the announcement of the investment plan, CIG shares have soared by almost 2.68% as of September 16. Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) is a Brazil-state-controlled electric utility firm that operates through its subsidiaries. The company is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of energy in Brazil. While we acknowledge the potential of CIG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. BIRR'S St. Brendans Community School is proud to announce the successful upgrade of its solar photovoltaic (PV) system, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental education. The installation was completed by Mulhare Electrical/Solar Ready, a leading renewable energy provider based in Banagher, Co. Offaly. The school now features 84 high-efficiency solar panels, significantly increasing its capacity to generate clean, renewable energy on-site. This initiative not only reduces the schools carbon footprint but also enhances its role as a climate-conscious educational institution. Environmental Benefits Reduced Carbon Emissions The upgraded system will help lower the schools reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment. Climate Awareness The solar panels serve as a visible and practical example of renewable energy, encouraging students and the community to embrace sustainable practices. Economic Benefits Lower Energy Costs The school will benefit from reduced electricity bills, allowing more resources to be directed toward student services and learning. Long-Term Investment The solar upgrade provides lasting financial savings and energy security for the future. TONIGHT: Celebration of creativity in Offaly during Culture Night In a unique educational feature, students will be able to track daily energy production via a TV display in the school canteen, promoting awareness and engagement with renewable energy. Additionally, Mulhare Electrical Solar Ready will be forming a partnership with the schools Geography Department, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities and real-world insights into solar energy systems, sustainability, and environmental science. St. Brendans Community School would like to thank Mulhare Electrical Solar Ready for their expert work and commitment to education and sustainability. READ NEXT: No jackpot winner in Offaly GAA club's weekly lotto draw The first Taco Bell in Ireland has officially opened for business this week. Applegreen has opened Irelands first Taco Bell restaurant in Ireland as part of a 15 million investment in a new motorway service area at Junction 6 on the M3 in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath. Applegreen is creating more than 100 new jobs at its new Dunshaughlin facility, which also includes an M&S Food shop-in-shop outlet, a new Braeburn Coffee Cafe, a Burger King restaurant, and Crafted, Applegreens bespoke new deli offering. The motorway service area also has an Applegreen convenience store, a childrens play area, and a service station forecourt. Were delighted to bring Taco Bell to the Irish market, and to open our newest site in Ireland, said Seamus Stapleton, Managing Director of Applegreens Republic of Ireland business. Our Dunshaughlin site sets the standard for roadside hospitality in Ireland, with comfortable bright modern seating areas for customers, and a range of high-quality food options. A queue of eager customers waited for the official opening at 10am and were rewarded with complimentary Taco Bell merchandise, such as tote bags and bucket hats. Applegreen plans to add further Taco Bell outlets in the near future. The new Dunshaughlin motorway service area is part of Applegreens 1 billion plan to expand its business in Ireland, the UK and the United States over the next five years. Applegreen, which typically invests up to 50 million annually in its Irish business, is also continuing to expand its Braeburn Cafe business and its partnership with M&S Food. The Dunshaughlin facility is Applegreens largest single investment project in Ireland this year. The new service area also features Applegreens new Crafted Kitchen & Deli offer, which will feature a range of new products and existing deli favourites, such as chicken fillet rolls and breakfast rolls. The Dunshaughlin facility is open 24/7, while the food outlets are open daily from 6am until 11pm, with varying times for each specific food outlet. Applegreen is one of Irelands leading retail hospitality brands. It opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in Dublin in 1992 and now operates almost 200 locations in the Irish market. Applegreen has been rapidly expanding its partnership with M&S Food in recent years and now offers M&S products at 30 of its outlets. It plans to expand the partnership to 60 outlets over the medium term. Applegreen also has a significant business overseas, with operations in Britain and the United States, and a total of more than 430 locations and more than 700 branded food offers across its global network. The Applegreen business currently employs about 16,000 people and has further plans for growth in all of its major markets. It had a turnover of almost 4 billion last year and serves about 180 million customers annually. The companys expansion plans are focused on acquiring and developing new sites in the markets in which it already operates, as well as upgrading and rebranding its existing locations. In the US, Applegreen has 181 sites, and more than 300 branded food outlets. It was recently awarded a 35-year contract to operate 18 highway service plazas in Massachusetts. Applegreen will invest $750 million to build nine new service areas and upgrade and modernise the other nine locations. It also recently started work on a new $70 million project to build four new highway service plazas in Colorado. In the UK, Applegreens Welcome Break business operates 60 sites, including 36 motorway service areas, and 31 hotels. Applegreen is also planning a major 85 million investment to further expand its EV charging networks in Ireland, the UK and the United States Plans have been unveiled for and extension and alterations to an iconic and hugely popular attraction in Offaly. The Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation are applying for permission for a development within Birr Castle Demesne, Rosse Row, Townparks, Birr. The development will consist of the construction of an extension and alterations to the existing Playground Tree House within the grounds of Birr Castle. It is Irelands tallest treehouse and draws visitors from across the country to Birr Castle. READ NEXT: Going away party in Tullamore ahead of big move to Dubai An announcement on the Birr Castle website says that the treehouse will remain closed until Spring 2026, during which time necessary maintenance works will be completed, in addition to enhancing the design to improve inclusivity and play value. It adds, "for 12 years the treehouse has provided a lot of joy and adventure for so many children. We look forward to improving the treehouse experience so that families can continue to enjoy making new memories for years to come." Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "The book is very well written...very important in this individualized capitalistic illusory world that enslaves us all within its tentacles and forces us to believe that we are atomized and disconnected beings. Indigenous Lakota people end prayers with "Mitakuye Oyasin...all my relations..." An ancient African proverb states, "A person is a person only because of and with others..." This instructive text is very useful for us living in what we are always told is the modern world, because it reconnects us all and reminds us that ultimately, the endless circle of the Universe binds and connects us all and the Earth is Mother to us with no hierarchy...the ones at the bottom matter the most...like the ants who build mounds and hills, all working in unison and harmony...the book teaches that we were created for community and our destiny is organic community...anything else is doomed..." Julian Kunnie, Professor of Religious Studies/Classics at the University of Arizona and author of The Cost of Globalization: Dangers to the Earth and Its People Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Central Retail Corporation (CRC) has agreed to sell its Italian department store business, Rinascente, to its principal shareholder, Harng Central Department Store (HCDS), for 250m (approximately Bt9.38bn). In a disclosure to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the Thai retailer stated that its board approved the acquisition offer from HCDS. The deal involves the complete transfer of shares in CRC Holland, which operates Rinascente, and the settlement of a shareholder loan amounting to around 141m ($165.8m), inclusive of principal and accrued interest, as of 30 June 2025. CRC expects to secure net cash proceeds of approximately Bt13bn, post-tax, from the deal. This sum is earmarked for two primary uses. Around Bt5.29bn from the loan repayment will be channelled towards reducing institutional debt, reinforcing CRC's financial stability. The remaining Bt7.7bn from the asset sale may be distributed as a special dividend to shareholders, projected at Bt1.28 per share. This transaction aligns with CRC's strategic pivot, focusing investments on markets with greater growth potential, such as Thailand and Vietnam. The company indicated that growth prospects in Italy and other parts of Europe are currently subdued. HCDS intends to merge Rinascente with its other European department store holdings, streamlining them under unified management. This transaction is reported as both a connected transaction and an asset disposal by CRC. An extraordinary general meeting of CRC's shareholders is scheduled for 6 November 2025 to vote on the proposed sale, according to Thai publication The Nation. Avantgarde Capital has been appointed as an independent financial adviser to offer an opinion on the transaction for shareholders. "Central Retail Corporation to divest Italian department store business for 250m " was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The dust in Doha had barely settled when Saudis Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman signed a historic deal with Pakistan. While the Qataris were asking themselves how could the U.S. betray them so spectacularly, the Saudis were busy shoring up their defenses to prevent any similar attack. Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are staunch American allies, and both oil-rich nations host U.S. military installations, with Qatar's base the largest in the Middle East. But, that didn't prevent Israel from attacking Doha and killing several people connected to Hamas, and one Qatari policeman. U.S. President Donald Trump was quick to play innocent. He claimed he knew nothing of the Israeli attack, and was not pleased it happened. But, further investigations reveal the U.S. military base in Qatar knew of the attack and turned off their air defenses, and a British jet was also part of the maneuver. Everyone knew except the Qataris, who had pledged $1.2 billion to the Trump administration in May. Late Wednesday evening, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a formal joint defense agreement, marking a significant enhancement of a decades-old security partnership. The move comes amid rising regional tensions and growing concerns among Gulf states about the reliability of the United States as a security guarantor. The oil-rich Arab Gulf have traditionally been close to the U.S. and some have gone so far as to sign normalization agreements with Israel, at the behest of Trump, who views the Abraham Accords as an integral part of his legacy. The signing of Saudi Arabia had been a stated goal of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, when he took office. Saudi Arabia had given hope to Trump of signing the Abraham Accords, but only after a two-state solution is achieved for Palestine. Netanyahu and his extremist allies have said there will never be any Palestinian state. The agreement follows a week of Israeli airstrikes on Doha, Qatar's capital, which disrupted diplomatic calculations across the region. When asked whether the pact obligates Pakistan to provide Saudi Arabia with a nuclear umbrella, a senior Saudi official told Reuters, This is a comprehensive defense agreement that includes all military means. Pakistan remains the only nuclear-armed nation among Muslim-majority countries and possesses the largest standing army in the Islamic world. Islamabad has consistently stated that its military posture is focused on deterring India. This agreement is the culmination of years of discussions, the Saudi official added. It is not a reaction to any specific country or event, but rather an institutionalization of a deep and long-standing cooperation between our two nations. The Israeli airstrikes on Doha on September 9, which targeted Hamas political leaders during ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar, sparked outrage across the Arab world. Prior to the Gaza war, Gulf states allied with Washington had sought stable relations with both Iran and Israel to address longstanding security concerns. Qatar, however, has been directly targeted twice this year - once by Iran and once by Israel. While Israel possesses a substantial nuclear arsenal, it maintains a policy of ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying its nuclear capabilities. Pakistan, by contrast, has openly stated that its nuclear weapons are intended solely to deter India, with missile ranges designed to reach any location within Indian territory. A Nuclear Umbrella? Pakistani television aired footage of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embracing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the signing ceremony. Also present was Pakistan's powerful Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. A statement from the Pakistani Prime Ministers Office declared: This agreement, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to enhance their security and promote peace in the region and the world, aims to deepen defense cooperation and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. It stipulates that an attack on either country will be considered an attack on both. The Saudi-Pakistani alliance dates back decades, rooted in shared strategic and economic interests. Pakistan has long maintained a military presence in Saudi Arabia, currently estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 personnel, providing technical and field training to Saudi forces, including air and ground support. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Even though school board members are the nation's largest group of elected officials,1 their role in shaping education remains opaque for many parents, educators, and voters. 5 Reasons To Pay Attention to Local School Board Elections In 2026, voters in even-numbered Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board districts will decide the future direction of the nation's second-largest school system. With supporters of the Charter School Industry currently outnumbered on the seven-member board, they need to sweep the election to regain a majority. Board Members loyal to charter schools currently control two of the three even-numbered seats. In all three cases, the current representatives are eligible to defend their seats. All three have filed with the Los Angeles City Clerk to do so. Board District 2: Dr. Rocio Rivas (Image by LAUSD) Details DMCA As the only Board Member who had a child enrolled in the LAUSD before taking office, Rivas has a unique position among her colleagues, having experience with how the District treats parents. She also stands apart with her formal training in education policy, having earned a doctorate in Comparative and International Education from Columbia University. Rivas, who was first elected in 2022, is currently the Board's Vice President. She is also the most vocal of the Board Members elected for their support of Public Education. To date, no candidates have registered to run against her. Board District 4: Nick Melvoin (Image by LAUSD) Details DMCA In 2017, Melvoin beat incumbent Steve Zimmer in a highly contentious race funded by the political arm of the California Charter School Association (CCSA). It was money well spent as Melvoin is one of the most reliable votes for the Charter School Industry. Despite concerns raised about oversight, he voted to renew the charter of a school where only 3.26% of the students met state standards in math, had $485,718 in debt, and had no cash reserves. He defended the Charter School Division when it delayed taking action against a school whose Director was later convicted of embezzling $3.1 million. Earlier this year, he was the only Board Member to vote in favor of renewing the charter of Crete Academy, one of the worst-performing schools in the state. Melvoin has already drawn one challenger, Isaiah Mateas, a full-time Camp Director for UCLA Recreation and Student Affairs and also served as a Visionary Trainer/Facilitator for a non-profit that serves underprivileged youth within the Los Angeles Juvenile Detention System. This will be Melvoin's last opportunity to run for re-election, but he has already set his sights on moving to his next office. He has expressed interest in a higher office, running for the congressional seat vacated by Adam Schiff in 2024. He earned just 2.68% of the vote. Board District 6: Kelly Gonez (Image by LAUSD) Details DMCA Gonez was first elected in 2017, running in an open election to replace Monica Ratliff, after the incumbent gave up the seat in favor of an unsuccessful run for city council. Due to term limits, this will be her last opportunity to run for re-election. In 2022, Gonez narrowly won re-election despite being endorsed by both United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and supporters of the Charter School Industry. Her opponent, Marvin Rodriguez, only spent $600 in the general election but still secured 48.73% of the votes. At the time of writing, Gonez does not have an opponent in the election. All three incumbents have been sent the following questions: Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called for an immediate investigation into federal use of force against nonviolent protesters captured on video this week. In footage published Friday by The Oregonian/OregonLive, U.S. Department of Homeland Security officers are seen repeatedly shoving, spraying and hitting protesters outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland even as protesters make no obvious physical threats. Video of the encounter showed an officer hitting a protester in the face and upper body four times with his shield before another officer sprayed the crowd of protesters with what appeared to be pepper spray. The first officer then used his shield to shove two protesters to the ground, including one who had her back turned to that officer. Wilson said in a statement Friday that he wanted federal officials to adopt the high standards of professionalism and conduct of the Portland Police Bureau. The bureau is operating under curtailed guidelines for crowd control, compared with 2020. These videos are deeply troubling, Wilson said. The core values of the Federal Protective Service are service, integrity, honor, and vigilance it is time for the Federal Protective Service to live up to those principles by initiating an immediate and transparent investigation into the actions captured by these videos. Wilson did not indicate whether he would call on Portland police or any city or state agency to investigate the incident. The Portland Police Bureau said it couldnt comment on the tactics in the video because it involves federal officers operating under their own authority and policies. Earlier this week Wilson said the ICE facility had violated its land use agreement with the city by detaining people longer than 12 hours on 25 occasions. The notice of violation could theoretically lead to the facilitys closure, depending on how ICE responds and whether violations continue. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an earlier statement about the ICE facility, the federal agency referred to Wilson as another sanctuary politician. A 33-year-old man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Friday in what Multnomah County prosecutors said was a rare case where nothing but the maximum sentence could guarantee community safety. Zachary Lee Andrews who previously fought in mixed martial art matches under the name Cadillac was convicted by a jury in January of raping three women who were living in tents on the streets of Portland in 2021 and 2022. At the hearing, Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Skarstad called for a 58-year punishment, the maximum allowed under the law, saying she usually tried to find some glimmer of redeemability, even in the worst cases. But there was only a void here, she said. He preyed upon helplessness, habituality, for his own sexual gratification, Skarstad said. These arent isolated incidents but a pattern, likely involving more victims than well ever know about. Skarstad detailed attacks against two other women that werent charged, saying that had either lost contact with the woman or werent able to gather enough evidence to proceed. At trial, Andrews was convicted of three counts of first-degree rape, among 13 other charges. During sentencing, he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault in a different domestic violence case and for shoplifting more than $1,000 from local pharmacies. Andrews who took the stand at trial and testified that each of the attacks was consensual changed his story just before Judge Celia Howes announced her sentence, admitting that he had committed very evil acts. Im going to ask for as much help as I can, because theres something wrong with me, he said. I pray to God to somehow change me. Howes said Andrews belated admission of guilt was encouraging, but he must nevertheless be stripped of any opportunity to reoffend by the time of his release. In comments to reporters after the trial, District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said he stood by Skarstads proposed sentence but said the 50-year punishment gets the job done. Of the three women attacked by Andrews, one has since died, and the other two did not attend the hearing. Skarstad said they were relieved that Andrews would not be able to hurt anyone else. Casey Dean Atkinson, 58, worked as an intake officer at the White City VA Rehabilitation Center & Clinics. For The Washington Post An intake officer at the White City VA Rehabilitation Center & Clinics is accused of first-degree official misconduct and coercion after a patient reported sexual encounters with the officer, according to court records. The patient was undergoing residential treatment from August through early September and told investigators that Casey Dean Atkinson, 58, of Eagle Point, had sexual contact with him four times while Atkinson worked in the rehab center as a medical support assistant, according to a probable cause affidavit. Atkinson was the first person that patients met upon their arrival to the center, the affidavit said. When confronted by Jackson County sheriffs deputies, Atkinson initially denied any sexual contact with the patient but then said it was possible that the two had kissed in his office and had been in his office together without their shirts on, according to the affidavit. Video surveillance images confirmed that Atkinsons office was locked for about 45 minutes one day when the two men were in the office and as other staff attempted to open the door, the affidavit said. Atkinson was arrested Sept. 3 at the Veterans Affairs center in White City. The next day, he entered a not guilty plea to the charges in Jackson County Circuit Court and posted 10% of his $5,000 bond, or $500, and was released to pretrial supervision, ordered to have no contact with the patient. His next court date is Oct. 13. Atkinson, reached by phone Thursday afternoon, declined to comment on the allegations. A spokesperson from the VA center didnt immediately return a call seeking comment. Jackson County sheriffs spokesperson Aaron Lewis said the agency is continuing to investigate to determine if there are any other alleged victims. Atkinson has prior convictions in California. He pleaded guilty in late November 2001 to oral copulation of a minor and dissuading a witness or victim from assisting law enforcement, according to Siskiyou County court records. He was sentenced in 2002 to 360 days in jail. In September 2009, he pleaded no contest to failure to register as a sex offender and illegal possession of ammunition, according to the county records. Trisha Yearwood performs onstage for Trisha Yearwood and Friends Celebrate Linda Ronstadt and Los Angeles Country-Rock at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on July 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) Getty Images for the Country Mus A country music star and a Days of Our Lives actor are among the celebrities who are celebrating birthdays today, Sept. 19. In order of their ages, todays featured birthdays are: Kevin Zegers (41): A Canadian actor who first gained attention as the young star of the Air Bud movies. He later transitioned into more mature roles in projects like Transamerica, Gossip Girl and the thriller Dawn of the Dead, as well as the fantasy film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Alison Sweeney (49): Best known for her long-running role as Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives, Sweeney has also made her mark as a television host on The Biggest Loser. Beyond acting, shes directed, produced and appeared in numerous Hallmark Channel movies. Trisha Yearwood (61): A powerhouse in country music, Yearwood rose to fame with her debut single Shes in Love with the Boy and went on to win multiple Grammys. Shes also a bestselling cookbook author and hosts the Food Network series Trishas Southern Kitchen. Yearwood is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and is married to fellow country star Garth Brooks. Cheri Oteri (63): A comedian and actress who became a household name during her five-year run on Saturday Night Live, where she created some of the shows most memorable characters. Oteri has also appeared in films like Scary Movie and Liar Liar and has lent her voice to numerous animated projects. -- Generative AI was used to produce a draft of this story. It was reviewed and edited by Oregonian/OregonLive staff. Nearly 4,000 nurses and other health care workers at Kaiser Permanente in Oregon and southwest Washington have voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, which represents the workers, said the union has been in contract negotiations with Kaiser since March, but the two sides remain divided over key issues, including wages, staffing levels and scheduling practices. No strike date has been set yet, but nurses, lab techs, social workers, physical therapists, mental health counselors and other health workers could walk out at Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro and dozens of clinics across the region. The unions contract expires at the end of the month. If no deal is reached by then, union leaders can call a strike at any time, but they have to give Kaiser management 10 days notice before any sort of walkout. Union leaders say the vote reflects mounting frustration over what they describe as Kaisers unwillingness to address concerns about staffing shortages and retention since negotiations began six months ago. Sarina Roher, president of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, said understaffing puts patient care at risk and urged Kaiser to invest in recruiting and keeping health care workers. Cutting frontline care costs is a choice a choice thats not in the patients best interest, she said in a statement. The experts who provide the care must shape the care plans; thats how patients thrive. Healthcare decisions belong in the hands of those who deliver the care, not those who balance the books. The strike authorization comes as part of a broader labor effort involving the Alliance of Health Care Unions, which represents 62,000 Kaiser employees across eight national unions. To date, unions representing 46,000 workers in multiple states including California, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. have authorized strikes as their contracts near expiration at the end of September and early October. In a statement, Kaiser Permanente said it has a long track record of working closely with labor unions and employs more union-represented health care workers than any other organization in the country. The health system said it has been bargaining in good faith with the unions on a new labor agreement and called Fridays strike authorization disappointing, saying it could disrupt care while talks are ongoing. Kaiser also pushed back on the unions concerns about staffing and quality of care, saying it meets or exceeds required nurse-to-patient ratios and staffing standards. The health giant said it hired more than 6,300 employees last year, including nearly 4,700 front line workers. It also highlighted national recognition for its hospitals and care model, saying its approach delivers better outcomes for patients. The health system said its latest offer includes a 20% wage increase over four years, including what Kaiser called a historic first-year raise, along with enhanced retirement, retiree medical coverage and education programs to support employee career growth. Both the union and Kaiser said they remain committed to reaching an agreement that benefits both workers and patients. The potential strike comes amid a series of labor disputes in the health care sector. In 2023, about 400 Oregon Kaiser pharmacy technicians and other workers walked off the job for 21 days. Earlier this year, nearly 5,000 Providence health workers at all eight Providence hospitals across the state held a 46-day strike that concluded in February. Nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center recently authorized a strike before reaching an agreement. Think the Hood River Fruit Loop is just about apples and berries? Think again. In a 2022 episode of our podcast, we discovered this 35-mile scenic route through the Hood River Valley offers a surprisingly diverse array of experiences that go well beyond traditional fruit picking. Farm fresh produce, mountain views and U-Pick flowers. Theres so much to love about the Hood River Fruit Loop: one of the most quintessential Oregon experiences, co-host Jamie Hale said, setting the stage for a day that would include everything from cider tasting to hanging with farm animals. Generative AI was used to summarize a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast. This story was reviewed and edited by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Our first stop at The Gorge White House revealed the impressive breadth of offerings available at just one location. Owner Mary Beth Kennedy proudly told us, We have nine different ciders right now. We also have all of these that are u-pick. You got strawberries, youve got raspberries, youve got blueberries, cherries, then later, like right now, we have u-pick apples and pears. A flight of hard ciders shows off a wide array of flavors available at The Gorge White House, a prominent stop on the Hood River Fruit Loop. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Jamie Hale/The Oregonian But that was just the beginning of our Fruit Loop adventure. The podcast team then visited Hood River Lavender Farm, where despite being past peak season, they were still able to cut fresh lavender bundles. So what we do is, our system is what can fit into a zip tie. So this is actually surprisingly a lot of lavender, explained their guide at the farm. The fragrant fields offered a completely different sensory experience than the fruit orchards. Hood River Lavender Farms offers u-pick lavender, allowing visitors to make small bundles that can be dried or used for other purposes. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The culinary dimension of the Fruit Loop came into focus at Packer Orchards Bakery. As our host described, When we walked in the shelves were stocked with everything from empanadas, jalapeno cheddar bread ... and almost every type of cookie you could imagine. This stop highlighted how the Fruit Loop has evolved from simple farm stands into full-fledged culinary destinations with artisanal offerings. Perhaps the most surprising aspect for many visitors is the presence of farm animals alongside the produce. Heading to their next destination, Hale excitedly shared, Were headed to Draper Girls Country Farm, where were going to see some more u-pick fruit, as well as maybe some barn animals. This enthusiasm for meeting the resident goats at Draper Girls and later Carlos the steer at Mt. View Orchards underscores the agritourism appeal that extends beyond harvesting. A small flock of goats is one of the many attractions at Draper Girls Country Farm. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The adult side of the Fruit Loop shouldnt be overlooked either. The podcast team sampled various ciders at both The Gorge White House and Draper Girls Farm, with flavors ranging from the classic apple cider to honey lavender to one made with hops. At Draper Girls specifically, they discovered a spiced peach cider that tasted exactly like a peach pie. By the end of their journey, hosts Hale and Vickie Connor had accumulated an impressive and diverse bounty: Weve got some strawberries from the start of the day, we have apples, we got some pears, some pluots, some lavender, some garlic and parmesan rosemary bread. And then a whole bunch of dahlias. The sun shines brightly over Mount Hood, seen from the fields of flowers at Draper Girls Country Farm outside Hood River. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian What began as a fruit picking expedition transformed into a multi-faceted adventure showcasing the evolution of the Hood River Fruit Loop into a comprehensive destination. The podcast reminds us that while the fruit remains central to the experience, its the unexpected variety that makes this scenic drive truly special. Want to experience the full range of surprises the Hood River Fruit Loop has to offer? Listen to our podcast episode for a first-hand account of this quintessential Oregon adventure that goes well beyond the orchard. Pods at the Oak Street Shelter in Southeast Portland were decorated to their occupants' taste in mid-September. Lillian Mongeau Hughes Multnomah County officials have verbally notified the operators of one of its village-style shelters that they must undergo on-site monitoring starting in October following complaints. While all county shelter providers must agree to monitoring at least once every three years, it has been less than a year since Straightway Services opened the 29-pod Oak Street Shelter near the intersection of Southeast 82nd Avenue and Stark Street. On-site monitoring typically includes interviewing key staff, reviewing policy documents and checking client files, county officials said. Theres no getting out of this, said Anna Plumb, interim director of the countys Homeless Services Department, in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. If contract violations or other major concerns are raised, a providers willingness, ability and documented successful remedying of these concerns are the primary factors in (the county) maintaining a relationship with that provider. The decision comes after several people, including three homeless service providers responsible for referring people to the shelter pods, brought major concerns about how the shelter is being operated to the county this summer. Dwight Minnieweather, executive director of Straightway Services, and Latoya West, Straightways lead site coordinator, have categorically denied the allegations. Dwight Minnieweather, executive director of Straightway Services, denied all allegations of mismanagement at the Oak Street Shelter. He said he'd been providing homeless services in Portland for 26 years. Lillian Mongeau Hughes In a July 24 meeting and again during an Aug. 14 call, the providers told the county that people who had stayed at Oak Street alleged that restrooms were frequently locked, meals were inadequate and unhealthy, residents were treated rudely and Minnieweathers relatives were living on-site, county records show. Some participants also alleged that they felt pressured to attend services at the nearby church where Minnieweather is a pastor, according to the countys notes from those meetings. Providers also alleged that there were unclear rules and no trained peer support workers on-site, and that Straightway was serving McDonalds when they had planned community dinners. One provider who said they made calls to a client who lived at the shelter several times per week reported frequently hearing yelling and dysregulated tones. Rev. Sara Fischer, an Episcopal priest who has long ministered to homeless people in the neighborhood, said shed also shared her worries about the conditions at the shelter with county officials separately from the provider meetings in July and August. Everything Ive heard from people whove stayed at that shelter is that they dont feel respected or dignified, Fischer said. On Aug. 18, county officials brought the concerns to Minnieweather and West. This is the first time either has run a county-regulated shelter, although Minnieweather said hes provided informal homeless services for 26 years. West and Minnieweather told the county in a post-meeting written response provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive that none of the accusations had merit. Even though we had some people say this, which I know is not true, my love and the way I feel will never change, West said in a Thursday interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive. Youre never going to be able to please everybody. Minnieweather and West said some of the accusations, including that they have relatives living on-site, were misunderstandings of their cultural norms. As an African American BIPOC community, we use uncle, cousin, auntie, West said, laughing. These people arent kin to us, Minnieweather added. Theyre endearment terms. We talk to each other like this. Latoya West, Straightways lead site coordinator at the Oak Street Shelter in Southeast Portland, has categorically denied allegations of mismanagement. Lillian Mongeau Hughes Amanda Watson, 52, who said she has lived in a pod at Oak Street for about seven months, spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive at the shelter Thursday. Watson said she didnt find anything wrong with the shelter or her pod. If I didnt really like it, Id leave, she said from a stool nestled among several potted plants she had set up in front of her pod. She said the food was good, the bathrooms were usually unlocked and West and Minnieweather were really wonderful people. Watson also said that shed attended the church services for a while and then stopped and they didnt give me any crap about it. The Oregonian/OregonLive could not reach any of the residents who had raised concerns. In response to the allegations about meals, West said that a hot meal was served every day at 5:30 p.m., as is required in their contract with the county. Once a month, West said, people are allowed to pick a special meal that they order in, which might be fast food. West and Minnieweather showed a reporter a well-stocked pantry and a shared fridge full of fresh fruit, milk and several racks of ribs ready for the nights meal. A second food storage area was locked, but also contained a wide variety of food. West and Minnieweather also provided details intended to refute the other allegations against them. Minnieweather, who wore a maroon track suit over a black T-shirt that said Jesus loves you, but Im his favorite, said hed opened a shelter because he had been an addict 30 years ago and one person seeing him and telling him he had value had changed his life. When I was out there, there was nobody out there for you, Minnieweather said. Thats the reason I stepped to the plate. Getting shelter providers to step up to the plate has been no small feat for the county, according to Plumb. In fact, Straightway Services was the only provider to apply to operate the Oak Street Shelter, which was first imagined as a safe parking site for people living in their cars. Plumb said many of the more established providers in the Portland area are at capacity and without bringing in new contractors the county would not meet its goals for increasing emergency shelter. If we dont build the base of organizations supporting this work and support them through challenges even as we hold them accountable for the care and services they provide we will not succeed and our work will not be sustainable, Plumb said. Amanda Watson, 52, who said she has lived in a pod at the Oak Street Shelter for about seven months, said Thursday that she didnt find anything wrong with the shelter or her pod. Lillian Mongeau Hughes Concerns about Straightway Services were brought to the county as early as March 2023, when the contract was first announced, according to county spokesperson Julia Comnes. She did not elaborate on the nature of those early concerns. This isnt uncommon when new shelters are announced, Comnes wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Plumb said that despite those concerns, county officials had been impressed by the organizations enthusiasm and grateful for their patience during an elongated design and construction process. While we knew they had some areas of improvement, for the most part they were areas of improvement that arent out of the ordinary for a smaller provider new to this type of work, Plumb said. Emails between the county and Straightway dating back to November 2024 indicate that officials have had to ask Straightway repeatedly to do things like make adjustments to their proposed budget and to correctly enter data about who is entering and exiting the shelter. Both county officials and Straightway leaders said those issues had been resolved. Separately, the countys finance office has begun a fiscal compliance review of Straightway Services finances, according to Comnes. Of the 15 people who left the Oak Street Shelter between when it opened in February and the end of August, four moved to permanent housing and four returned to homelessness, according to county records. The rest were marked as either other or unreported. That gives the shelter a 27% rate of securing housing for those who leave the shelter, which is above the countywide average for the past several months. Fischer, the Episcopal priest, said she was still worried about what shed heard from participants. This is deeply concerning, she said. If I was responsible for monitoring this shelter, Id put my staff on site 24/7. I hope the county will do that. SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China is expected to leave benchmark lending rates unchanged for the fourth month in a row on Monday, a Reuters survey showed, after the central bank kept a key policy rate steady following the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate cut. Despite a string of recent data suggesting the Chinese economy is losing momentum, authorities appear to be not in a rush to roll out major stimulus measures amid resilient exports and a recent stock market rally, market watchers said. The loan prime rate (LPR), normally charged to banks' best clients, is calculated each month after 20 designated commercial banks submit propose rates to the People's Bank of China (PBOC). In a Reuters survey of 20 market watchers this week, all respondents expected both the one-year and five-year LPRs to remain steady on Monday at 3.00% and 3.5%, respectively. "The LPRs won't be adjusted given any changes should follow reductions in the policy rate," said a trader at a brokerage, referring to the seven-day reverse repo rate that now serves as the main policy rate. China's central bank left the seven-day reverse repo rate unchanged on Thursday, following the Fed's decision to reduce rates. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages. China cut both rates by 10 basis points in May. "While the broad-based deterioration in July-August activity data increased the urgency to introduce new stimulus, we remain cautious about the size of any new fiscal stimulus," analysts at Barclays said in a note, adding chances of fresh fiscal stimulus could be reduced if the trade truce between Washington and Beijing holds. Still, some analysts expect marginal monetary easing later this year will ensure the world's second-largest economy will hit the government's annual growth target of "around 5%." "The two months of poor data from July and August should convince policymakers to take more action to stabilize the economy," said Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie. "To be sure, these measures should be incremental, as policymakers don't need major stimulus to reach the 5% GDP target. In our view, they don't want to miss the target, but they won't want to overachieve it, either." Hu expects a 10-basis-point rate cut by year-end. (Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill) President Donald Trump has called out Portland for a second time in two weeks. Have you seen Portland at all? Trump asked reporters at the White House on Friday. Have you taken a look whats happening in Portland? This has been going on for years. People out of control and crazy. Were going to stop that pretty soon. Trumps comments followed a question from a reporter who asked what the president would do next after declaring this week he would designate antifa as a terrorist organization. He told reporters he would root out the people that funded antifa, see who they are, where they came from and why they did. Trump said other cities were his first priorities, pointing to Memphis and Chicago. Chicago is a great city and we have to save it, Trump said. Last month, Trump sent federal troops to the nations capital as part of a crime crackdown that has continued. This week the Associated Press reported he signed an order to send the National Guard to Memphis. Meanwhile, Portland has recorded significant declines in violent crime after record-breaking shootings and homicides in 2021 and 2022. But earlier this month, Trump floated the possibility of sending National Guard troops to Portland, alluding to demonstrations outside the citys branch of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His comments Friday came a day after Portland issued a land use violation to ICE noting that immigration officials have repeatedly held detainees longer than allowed at the South Portland facility. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in July accused one group, Rose City Antifa, of trying to obtain and share personal information about federal immigration officers in Oregon. Earlier this month, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson both said Trumps call for federal intervention was unnecessary. Portland should see mostly clear skies and light winds on Saturday, followed by a significant weather shift bringing rain and cooler conditions on Sunday. Mark Graves/The Oregonian Portlanders can expect a warm Saturday with temperatures reaching the low 80s, followed by a significant weather shift bringing rain and cooler conditions on Sunday. With a cold front moving through the region, the weekend will transition from sunny and dry to mild and wet. Saturday should bring mostly clear skies and light winds, with a predicted high of 82. By Saturday evening, cloud cover will increase as a cold front approaches from the northwest. On Sunday, rainfall will become more widespread, with the cold front reaching the coast around midnight and moving inland by early morning. Southwest Washington and coastal Oregon are likely to receive the most precipitation, with expected rainfall totals ranging from 0.5 to 0.75 inches in some areas. The Willamette Valley can expect lighter rainfall, generally between 0.10 and 0.30 inches. Early next week will bring a return to more moderate temperatures, with inland areas reaching the mid to upper 70s and coastal regions remaining in the 60s. Tuesday may see temperatures climbing back into the 80s, providing a brief warm spell before potential changes in the weather pattern. -- Generative AI was used to produce a draft of this story based on information from the National Weather Service. It was reviewed and edited by Oregonian/OregonLive staff. CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) is one of the Best Electric Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On September 9, Consumers Energy announced that it signed a purchase agreement to sell 13 hydroelectric dams along 5 Michigan rivers to Confluence Hydro, which is an affiliate of Hull Street Energy, LLC. To give a brief perspective, CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) is an energy provider featuring Consumers Energy as the primary business. CMS Energy (CMS): Consumers Energy Announces Signing of Purchase Agreement to Sell 13 Hydroelectric Dams The sale of dams is the best path forward for the customers. It balances 2 important needs, to reduce costs for Consumers Energys customers while caring for communities that depend on the dams. Elsewhere, on an adjusted EPS basis year to date, CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) reported $1.73 per share in 2025 as compared to $1.63 per share in 2024. This was due to the constructive regulatory outcomes, cost-reduction initiatives, and favorable weather. CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) also reaffirmed the 2025 adjusted earnings guidance of $3.54 $3.60 per share and long-term adjusted EPS growth of 6% 8%, with continued confidence towards the high end. While we acknowledge the potential of CMS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. A teenage student from New York was arrested for bringing a loaded gun into Queens High School after threatening to shoot up his school. The 16-year-old boy previously posted messages on social media platforms saying he hated tests. The student, who attends the Benjamin Cardozo High School, has now been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and making a terroristic threat as an adolescent offender. Teenage Student Arrested After Bringing Loaded Gun To School The situation comes after law enforcement personnel discovered him toting a semi-automatic handgun inside his backpack. The firearm, identified as a 9-millimeter Taurus GX4, was loaded with 13 rounds and seized nearly two hours after the teenager allegedly posted the threatening messages. Officials said that the teenager in question also posted on social media that his issues with tests in school were his motivations for his actions. Assistant District Attorney Mirza Hadzic said that the suspect essentially made the post on Instagram because tests got him "tight," according to the New York Post. Hadzic added that Meta, Instagram's parent company, took the teenager's threat very seriously and informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The company also provided the federal agency with the phone number associated with the suspect's account. She said the FBI then forwarded the information to the New York Police Department (NYPD). Read more: Denver High School Shooter Injures Several Students Before Committing Suicide A swift investigation into the case resulted in police officers raiding the teenage boy's bedroom, where they found two more 9-millimeter bullets that were compatible with the weapon he brought to school. It was found that the firearm was legally bought by a licensed firearm holder in South Carolina on Jan. 9, 2025. Following the 16-year-old's arrest, he was arraigned as a minor in Queens Criminal Court and is now facing up to four years in prison if granted youthful status in court. The situation raised questions about the school's security, CBS News reported. Addressing the Issue This resulted in new measures being implemented, including metal detectors where students have to walk through before entering the school. However, some people question whether they should have already been in place before the threat even occurred. On top of the new security measures, the police commissioner said that additional NYPD officers were assigned to the school. He noted that they would remain stationed there for the foreseeable future, as per NBC New York. The president of the union that represents school safety officers, Greg Floyd of Local 237, said that the city budget left them short by more than 2,500 officers. He argued that the result of this is that there are not enough personnel to operate more scanners. In this file photo, a press operator monitors the temperature of the production line pressing hot glass gobs into molds to make dishes at the Pyrex glass plant in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. It closed in April 2025. (Robert J. Pavuchak/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS, file) TNS By Madaleine Rubin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) More than a year after its closure was announced, the future of a storied glass factory in Washington County remains uncertain. A pending sale of the Pyrex glass factory shut down in April following months of delays has been terminated, sources close to the matter said. The factory, long the backbone of Charlerois community and economy, employed generations of families and produced glass dishes and bakeware for over a century. Ohio-based glass manufacturer and owner Anchor Hocking, announced plans in September 2024 to close the facility and move all services to a sister plant in Lancaster, Ohio. But over the course of seven months, the company abruptly extended operations three times on at least one occasion citing business necessity in an internal memo to employees. The facility was previously staffed by more than 300 workers represented by the United Steelworkers Local 53-G chapter. A deal between Anchor Hocking and rumored buyer Sediver, an industrial glass manufacturer based in France, was expected to close by the end of September, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow, a source close to the deal previously told the Post-Gazette. But in late August, Anchor Hocking reversed course, sources said. Anchor Hocking and Sediver could not immediately be reached for comment. The deals announcement this summer came as a surprise to local officials, union representatives and former employees in Charleroi who were again left in the dark when it fell through, they said. Especially when you have residents that are given hope and have lost hope given events in the past, and we have taken so many hits I was upset then, and Im upset now, Charleroi Borough Council President Kristin Hopkins-Calcek said. Sources close to the deal said Anchor Hockings decision came after the Federal Trade Commission and Pennsylvanias office of the attorney general indicated that they would not support a sale to Sediver. In a memo obtained by the Post-Gazette, the company claimed that the agencies insist that a buyer use the facility to make glass bakeware. Because Sediver planned to shift the factorys production from glass bakeware and cookware to industrial products, Anchor Hocking said in the memo that the sale would likely be challenged in court. The FTC and state attorney generals office could not immediately be reached for comment. Per the memo, the FTC is investigating Anchor Hockings acquisition of the Charleroi factory, while the company battles a lawsuit from the state attorney generals office. In October, the AGs office filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company, citing concerns about the merger of two leading, competing glassware brands: Pyrex, made for years at the factory, and Anchor Hocking, made at other U.S. plants. Legal action followed statements from multiple U.S. senators that urged the FTC to investigate the factorys ownership and questioned private equitys growing dominion over the American glassware industry. Anchor Hocking is an affiliate of Centre Lane Partners, a private equity firm with an expanding portfolio of houseware brands, including Lenox Corporation and the Oneida Group. Most equipment used in the Charleroi plant has already been transferred to Anchor Hockings Ohio facility, a factory with equipment that often malfunctions and lower paying wages than Charleroi, but far more space, former employees previously told the Post-Gazette. That Ohio plant has steadily gained resources from factories Anchor Hocking has shut down over the years, including one in Oklahoma and others in Pennsylvania. The company in April also announced plans to shut down a distribution center in Franklin County before the end of the year, laying off more than 300 employees in waves. It has not yet made public plans for the centers equipment. By Patricia Hurtado and Bob Van Voris, Bloomberg News (TNS) Luigi Mangione asked a U.S. judge to dismiss his federal indictment or bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty, arguing statements by Attorney General Pam Bondi and others have violated his rights. Mangione, 27, is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealth Group Inc. executive Brian Thompson in December outside a midtown Manhattan hotel. He was arrested days later in Pennsylvania, and has pleaded not guilty. Separately, Mangione also faces state murder charges. In that case, a New York judge on Tuesday dismissed two terrorism-related murder charges against him, including one that carried a mandatory life prison term. In a memo to U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett late Friday, Mangiones lawyers said potential federal jurors were prejudiced by the scene of a shackled Mangione being returned to New York, surrounded by armed agents in a group that included New York Mayor Eric Adams. Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is escorted by police, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in New York. That "perp walk" was prejudicial to jurors, Mangione says. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, file) AP Such a perp walk has been deemed unconstitutional, they said, comparing it to a scene out of a Marvel movie. As part of an orchestrated effort to secure a death-eligible indictment against Mangione and achieve maximum publicity in the process, the Attorney General and other law enforcement officials have intentionally and serially violated his constitutional rights, his lawyers Karen Friedman Agnifilo and Marc Agnifilo said in a memo filed late Friday. Bondi also rushed a decision to seek the death penalty and revoked protocol prior administrations have used to assess capital murder cases, his lawyers said. She announced the government would seek capital murder charges on April 1. The United States Attorney General as well as law enforcement personnel and the highest New York City elected official took every opportunity to prejudice Mr. Mangiones chances of having a fair grand jury hearing and fair legal proceedings in this death penalty case, his lawyers said. They described Mangione as a former honor student and class valedictorian from Maryland whose friends called him kind and intelligent. He is now fighting for his life against a government that seeks to execute him, the defense said. Prosecutors have until Oct. 31 to file their response. A spokesman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton declined to comment. No trial date has been scheduled in the federal case. In the parallel state case, Mangione still faces charges that include second-degree murder and eight other counts. He has pleaded not guilty in that case. State prosecutors have said they intend to go to trial first ahead of the government, but no date has been scheduled. Corn prices are up 2 to 3 cents so far on Friday AM trade. Futures pulled back into the Thursday close, extending the weakness from Wednesday. Contracts closed with losses of 2 to 3 cents. Preliminary open interest was down 2,176 contracts on Wednesday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down another 3 cents at $3.79 . USDAs Export Sales report showed a total of 1.23 MMT of 2025/26 corn sold in the week ending on 9/11, an improvement from the drop in sales reported last week and still 45.4% above the same week last year. Of that total, 419,200 MT was sold to Mexico, with 201,000 MT sold to South Korea, and 194,500 MT to Japan. More News from Barchart Brazils corn crop for 2025/26 is pegged to be 138.28 MMT according to CONAB, which would be down 1.42 MMT from the 2024/25 marketing year. Acreage is expected to rise 770,000 hectares (1.9 million acres) to 22.63 million ha (55.92 million acres). Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.23 3/4, down 3 cents, currently up 2 3/4 cents Nearby Cash was $3.79 1/4, down 3 cents, Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.41 1/2, down 3 cents, currently up 3 cents May 26 Corn closed at $4.51 1/2, down 2 3/4 cents, currently up 3 cents On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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 Two officers wounded in an ambush at a York County home have been upgraded to satisfactory condition after arriving two days ago in critical condition, a hospital spokesman said Friday. Lt. David Godfrey, a York County Sheriffs Office veteran who oversees the departments K-9 unit, was one of the injured, according to multiple sources. The other wounded officer worked as a detective with the Northern York County Regional Police department. He has not been identified. The ambush came when the officers responded to a farmhouse Wednesday afternoon on Haar Road in North Codorus Township to arrest a suspect for stalking his ex-girlfriend the night before, police said. Law enforcement say Matthew Ruth, 24, had broken into the farmhouse before the officers arrived and was laying in wait with an assault-style rifle when they opened the door. A gun battle that lasted more than two minutes ensued, felling five officers and ending in Ruths death. York County District Attorney Tim Barker on Thursday released the names of the three officers who died during the ambush: Sgt. Isaiah Emenheiser, Det. Sgt. Cody Becker and Det. Mark Baker. All were members of the Northern York County Regional Police force. The shooting is among the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in the nation. Northern York County Regional Police Detective Mark Baker, 53, was one of three detectives fatally shot while executed an arrest warrant Wednesday. His relatives described him as a protective family man and a role model. Photo courtesy of York County District Attorney's Office As the public honors the sacrifices of law enforcement officers from York County who were killed in the line of duty Wednesday trying to serve an arrest warrant, one detectives family now has a void where a pillar of comfort used to stand. Mark Baker, 53, one of three Northern York County Regional Police detectives killed Wednesday in North Codorus Township, is remembered by his family as a larger than life teddy bear who was faithful to his family and the people of York County. He was considered an expert in digital forensics who trained professionals internationally while investing in youth programming at home. Baker was one of three detectives gunned down by 24-year-old Matthew Ruth outside Ruths ex-girlfriends house on Haar Road at around 2:10 p.m. Wednesday. Baker and colleagues Isaiah Emenheiser and Cody Becker, joined by an unnamed detective and York County Lt. David Godfrey, whose conditions were upgraded to satisfactory Friday, were trying to arrest Ruth for stalking and prowling his ex-girlfriend when Ruth opened fire from within the home. 9 1 / 9 Bodies of slain police officers return to York County Bakers mother and wife declined to speak to PennLive Friday as they processed their grief. But Bakers nephew, Aaron Wilson, 30, spoke on behalf of the family and said they had been trying to focus on the good times and fond memories they had with Baker, including when Baker was growing up. One time, Baker was bickering with Sheri Wilsons mother about Sheri playing music too loud. If you dont turn down the music, Im going to cut the cord, Baker told her. She didnt believe him, so he cut the cord with a pair of scissors, Wilson said. Another time, Baker got in a fight with another kid who was bothering his sister, Wilson said. That protective spirit lasted from his youth into adulthood as a cop. He had this persona of being a big, tough guy, but really, he was this teddy bear, Wilson said. Those protective instincts he showed as a teenager, it felt like thats what led him to be a cop. 8 1 / 8 Procession for police officers killed in York County shooting Baker grew up in Lewistown and Bellville, Mifflin County in the 70s and 80s. His mother ran Big Valley Cares, a mental healthcare business. He graduated from Indian Valley High School in 1990 and enlisted in the US Army at the age of 17. Baker served a four-year deployment as military police in Heidelberg, Germany where his first son was born before returning home. That deployment influenced his decision to pursue a career in law enforcement in his civilian life, Wilson said. After coming home and earning a criminal justice degree, Baker spent four years from 2001 to 2004 as a Highway Patrol Officer with the Philadelphia Police Force. He left that job for a 21-year career at the Northern York County Regional Police Department the department he would later give his life serving. Baker worked his way to the rank of detective through the Northern York County Regional Police Department, establishing himself as a leading expert of computer and cellphone forensics in York County. He used that expertise to help put a child pornographer in prison for life in 2013 and also did a 2015 presentation on sexting and cyberbullying for West Shore School District parents. Wilson recalled another case Baker worked: a massive sexting scandal at a local school where the teens involved would not identify who was sending them photos of a nude woman. They couldnt figure it out, so Mark took it upon himself to crack the code, Wilson said. That was one of the ones he was proud of. Baker earned multiple commendations. He was recognized in 2011 for his role in arresting a man who shot and wounded his wife in their suburban townhouse neighborhood, according to the York Daily Record. In 2012, he and 13 fellow officers received praise for resolving a volatile seven-hour standoff on East Butter Road. Baker was a role model to Wilson, who followed in his uncles steps to become a Boy Scout and later Eagle Scout. Wilson also obtained an associates degree in criminal justice, emulating his uncle, although Wilsons career took him in a different direction. Police tape remains in the corn field where the shooter, Matthew Ruth hid before the fatal shooting of three police officers and wounding of two others in North Codorous Twp., York County. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com When Wilson and Baker would spend time together, Wilson would ask Baker about his experiences as a detective. Its going good. Im catching the bad guys and making the community safe, Baker told Wilson. Baker was a training manager for the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists. In that capacity, he taught the Basic Computer Forensic Examiner course, oversaw specialized courses and helped maintain the organizations accreditation. In 2012, he was an instructor at a training event in Budenheim, Germany, which drew 120 computer investigators from 66 countries, according to the York Daily Record. Wilson said Baker would also travel to Alabama and New Zealand to teach classes on digital forensics. While working as a detective, Baker poured his energy into the Boy Scouts of America. He was a Cubmaster for eight years, an Assistant Scoutmaster for seven years, a current Pack Committee Chair and an advisor to the Explorer Post for the police department, according to a Facebook post by the New Birth of Freedom Council. Mark was an Eagle Scout who influenced many young lives with his kindness and mentorship through Scouting, the post read. Law enforcement officers hug after the bodies of three Northern York County Regional Police Department detectives killed in the line of duty arrive at a York County funeral home Friday after autopsies in Allentown. The officers Sgt. Isaiah Emenheiser Det. Mark Baker, Det. Sgt. Cody Becker were fatally shot Wednesday while trying to arrest a suspect in a domestic violence stalking case. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Baker left behind his mother; his wife, Peggy; two adult sons and a daughter and an 11-year-old son. He also had two granddaughters. Outside of his career, Baker spent much of his time hunting and fishing with his children and often traveled to his mothers horse farm in Mifflin County. His family knew he would drop whatever he was doing if they needed him, Wilson said. Baker was also a drone aficionado and licensed to pilot them. He wanted to make a difference, Wilson said. He wanted people to be proud of not only the community, but of where they lived. That was Mark. The bodies of three Northern York County Regional Police Department detectives killed in the line of duty returned to a York County funeral home Friday after autopsies in Allentown. The officers Sgt. Isaiah Emenheiser, Det. Mark Baker, Det. Sgt. Cody Becker were fatally shot Wednesday while trying to arrest a suspect in a domestic violence stalking case. Mark Holloway of Red Lion took time out of his afternoon to stop by and share his support by his American Thin Blue Line flag on the corner across from Wagner-Elfner and Burg Funeral Home. Holloway said, We heard about it last minute and came down. Felt it in our heart that we had to be here. A procession of police and emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and dozens of motorcycles, from multiple municipalities, was on hand to pay their respects and escort the remains back to York County. Watch here: Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory performs in 2015. The guitarist has announced he's undergoing a new round of radiation therapy in his fight against a rare adrenal gland cancer. (Amy Harris/Invision/Associated) Fans of New Found Glory frontman Chad Gilbert are sending prayers after he recently returned to social media with an update in his fight against cancer. Ive been in the hospital all week, he wrote on Instagram. Been a tough time but all for good reasons. Looks like all the pain was caused by us starting to kill the largest tumor in my lungs. Yesterdays scan showed more shrunken spots in other areas too! Its been brutal but for reasons that have blown me away. Praying we stay this course. The (Offspring) tour is over and I wish I got to play more but the shows I did get to play with my band felt special to me, he added. Thank you to @danfys and @davidedwardknox for holing it down for me while I had to miss this one. Thanks to @newfoundglory for crushing it every night and to all you fans for being there early to rock with them! Love to the NFG crew for working so hard in that heat. Thanks again @offspring! See you soon Epcot! Fans flooded his replies with prayers and well wishes. Yaaaa Chadder! UFC legend Clay Guida wrote. Getting stronger everyday! So sorry you are in pain Chad but so glad to hear the good news of the cancer shrinking, another wrote. Keep on fighting! Thinking of you! Keep fighting that monster Chad! another responded. Love and prayers. There were plenty more comments like that and you can see them all here. The 44-year-old announced in August that he was resuming treatment in his battle against the disease. From rock to radiation its scary, it sucks, and I wish it werent a part of my life, he wrote. But truthfully, through the hardships come new outlooks, gratitude, positivity, and a freeing new way to see life. Im thankful that Im still in the fight and look forward to putting this enemy to rest for good. I encourage everyone going through emotional struggles to find joy in the simple things and the fun moments you might not have experienced without your struggle, he continued. We learn from it all. Give yourself a break. Thank you for all the support and love you send my way. Most people arent lucky enough to have fans who reach out with kind messages. I might not reply to them all, but I dont take any of them for granted. I hope your day is awesome! Gilbert said he was resuming the treatment after doctors found a small spot in my back, according to People Magazine. The outlet said that he has had ongoing treatment for a rare adrenal gland cancer called metastatic pheochromocytoma that spread to his spine and lungs. Committee member, Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, listens during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Chamblee, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) AP By MIKE STOBBE and LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s new vaccine advisers added confusion Friday to this falls COVID-19 vaccinations declining to recommend them for anyone and leaving the choice up to those who want a shot. Until now, the vaccinations had been routinely provided to nearly all Americans who wanted them. The Food and Drug Administration recently put new restrictions on this years shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, reserving them for people over 65 or younger ones who are deemed at higher risk from the virus. In a series of votes, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didnt specifically recommend vaccination but said people could make individual decisions. The panel also urged the CDC to adopt stronger language around the supposed risks of vaccination, an idea that received pushback from outside medical groups who said the shots had a proven safety record. And the divided panel narrowly avoided urging states to require a prescription for the shot. Dr. Sean OLeary of the American Academy of Pediatrics called the decision not to recommend vaccination extraordinarily vague and said it would have real-time impacts on American children. He said the discussion involved clear efforts to sow distrust about vaccines. It was a very, very strange meeting, OLeary said. The COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect, but CDC data shows they provide the strongest protection against severe infection and death, even if people still become infected. Likewise, people can get COVID-19 repeatedly as the virus continues to evolve. Like flu vaccines, COVID-19 shots now are being updated yearly, but only about 44% of seniors and 13% of children were up-to-date on the coronavirus vaccinations last year, the CDC said. If you make a recommendation that people are simply not going to follow, I dont think thats wise, said panelist Dr. Cody Meissner of Dartmouth College. Another question concerns a very rare side effect mostly in young men a kind of heart inflammation called myocarditis that was discovered in the early days of vaccination in 2021. A scientist studying whether people with certain genes are uniquely susceptible to that risk told the panel the Trump administration had canceled his grant before the research could be finished. The panel took up COVID-19 vaccinations as the virus remains a public health threat. CDC data released in June shows the virus resulted in 32,000 to 51,000 U.S. deaths and more than 250,000 hospitalizations last fall and winter. Most at risk for hospitalization are seniors and young children especially those who were unvaccinated. Worried about access, leading medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics already have issued recommendations that the vaccines be available to anyone age 6 months and older who wants one including pregnant women just like in prior years. Several states have announced policies to try to assure that access regardless of Fridays ACIP decision. And a group representing most health insurers, Americas Health Insurance Plans, said earlier this week that its members will continuing covering the shots through 2026. The panel opened the second day of its meeting with continued confusion over a question it left hanging Thursday: whether to end a longstanding CDC recommendation that all newborns be vaccinated at birth against a liver virus, hepatitis B. The panel had been considering whether to recommend delaying that initial vaccination something doctors and parents already can choose to do. But amid criticism from independent pediatric and infectious disease specialists who say the vaccine is safe and has helped infant infections drop sharply, the advisers decided Friday to postpone that decision. On Thursday, the panel recommended a new restriction on another childhood vaccine. They recommended that for children under 4, their first dose of protection against MMR measles, mumps and rubella and chickenpox should be in separate shots, not a combination version known as MMRV. Since 2009, the CDC has said it prefers separate shots for initial doses of those vaccines and 85% of toddlers already do. On Friday, the committee also recommended that the governments Vaccines for Children program which covers vaccine costs for about half of U.S. kids align its guidance with that narrower MMRV usage. Neergaard reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Laura Ungar in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report. President Donald Trump speaks as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP By BARBARA ORTUTAY and SEUNG MIN KIM, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will require a $100,000 annual visa fee for highly-skilled foreign workers and rolled out a $1 million gold card visa as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals, moves that face near-certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism he is sidestepping Congress. If the moves survive legal muster, they will deliver staggering price increases. The visa fee for skilled workers would jump from $215. The fee for investor visas, which are common in many European countries, would climb from $10,000-$20,000 a year. H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelors degree, are meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill. Critics say the program is a pipeline for overseas workers who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually, well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers. Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said all big companies are on board. Representatives for the biggest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, did not immediately respond to messages for comment on Friday. Microsoft declined to comment. Lutnick said the change will likely result in far fewer H-1B visas than the 85,000 annual cap allows because its just not economic anymore. If youre going to train people, youre going to train Americans, Lutnick said on a conference call with reporters. If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in ... then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa. Trump also announced he will start selling a gold card visa with a path to U.S. citizenship for $1 million after vetting. For companies, it will cost $2 million to sponsor an employee. A poster showing the Trump Gold Card is pictured as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP The Trump Platinum Card will be available for a $5 million and allow foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. Trump announced a $5 million gold card in February to replace an existing investor visa that is now the platinum card. Lutnick said the gold and platinum cards would replace employment-based visas that offer paths to citizenship, including for professors, scientists, artists and athletes. Critics of H-1Bs visas who say they are used to replace American workers applauded the move. U.S. Tech Workers, an advocacy group, called it the next best thing to abolishing the visas altogether. Doug Rand, a senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, said the proposed fee increase was ludicrously lawless. This isnt real policy its fan service for immigration restrictionists, Rand said. Trump gets his headlines, and inflicts a jolt of panic, and doesnt care whether this survives first contact with the courts. Lutnick said the H-1B fees and gold card could be introduced by the president, but the platinum card needs congressional approval. Historically, H-1B visas have been doled out through lottery. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient of H-1B visas with more than 10,000 awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers. Critics say H-1B spots often go to entry-level jobs, rather than senior positions with unique skill requirements. And while the program isnt supposed to undercut U.S. wages or displace U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay less by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even if the specific workers hired have more experience. As a result, many U.S. companies find it cheaper to contract out help desks, programming and other basic tasks to consulting companies such as Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies and Tata in India and IBM and Cognizant in the U.S. These consulting companies hire foreign workers, often from India, and contract them out to U.S. employers looking to save money. First lady Melania Trump, the former Melania Knauss, was granted an H-1B work visa in October 1996 to work as a model. She was born in Slovenia. The boy was greeted by a crowd of supporters, including schoolmates with signs and local first responders, as he continues his recovery from severe injuries. Madison Montag After more than two weeks in the hospital, the 6-year-old boy who was critically injured after being struck by a minivan at Harrisburgs Kipona Festival earlier this month was welcomed home Friday. Elizabeth Bohrer, 37, crashed into Faiz Sharif around 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 on North Front Street, breaking his pelvis, ribs and jaw, which required multiple surgeries. After spending days in a coma, Faiz opened his eyes and started to show basic signs of awareness, his family said a little over a week ago. The child was greeted by a crowd of supporters, including schoolmates with signs and local first responders, as he continues his recovery from severe injuries. Madison Montag Dozens of Faizs schoolmates, their parents and family members made homemade signs, posters and garland to welcome him home for the first time in 18 days. Some of the signs read Faiz! Welcome Home!!!, Faiz is amazing and Faiz the awesome has returned. The child was greeted by a crowd of supporters, including schoolmates with signs and local first responders, as he continues his recovery from severe injuries. Madison Montag As Sajeel Shah, Faizs uncle, and other family walked Faiz down the street in a wheelchair, the crowd erupted. The school children also organized and practiced a cheer before Faiz arrived, which they performed for their friend. Shah said seeing the crowd gathered to welcome his nephew home was an emotional experience. It was overwhelming, honestly. I tried to be quite stoic and try to not show too much emotion, but that was really, really touching, he said. Harrisburg police, firetrucks and EMS vehicles also drove down the street blaring their sirens. One of the firetrucks even said Welcome home, welcome home, through its loudspeaker as it drove by. Seeing him turn the corner and see all of his friends, the commotion, the cheering, the signs, and, you know, obviously the really amazing touch of the police department and fire department to have their cars come around. I think it was really, really touching and an amazing way to kind of celebrate this moment, this milestone in his recovery, Shah said. Many of Faizs relatives, siblings and friends visited him in the hospital daily. His uncle said the horrific incident has shown him a new side of his sister and her husband. Theyve really stepped up to the mark. And when I talk to my sister, shes just focused on the goal of helping Faiz recover. Like I said, the recovery is by no means finished. Theres a lot more to do, Shah said. Moving forward, Faizs family said he will require further surgery and must overcome a few more medical steps. When asked if Faiz has been in high spirits the last few days, Shah said his nephews excitement was palpable. Definitely. So much so that yesterday when I went to visit him, he told me that, You know, Im going home tomorrow, and I was like, Oh, no way. Thats awesome. So his spirits really, really lifted with the prospect of going home because he also has three older siblings which hes been away from, he said. Yasin Sharif, Faizs grandfather who was not at Kipona Festival, said seeing his grandson after the crash was difficult, but watching his rapid recovery has been a blessing. My first introduction was just seeing him in a state that was really hard, Yasin said. A few days ago, only, its like he just, like putting water on a flower. He started looking at a book and then, like, recognizing people. And of course he was suffering and those types of things had happened, but it was one of the most remarkable things Ive ever seen. Yasin said he is looking forward to having Faizs bright and vibrant personality back home. I think every grandparent thinks their grandkids are the coolest, smartest, you know, best looking. But the only difference with Faiz is he is all that. So he has a fantastic personality. Hes a little, already, a little sarcastic and fun and smart and had a little attitude. As the homecoming wrapped up, Yasin extended gratitude toward everyone who helped with Faizs recovery. I would say just a deep thank you to everyone that was supportive and caring and still are, and that its part of the miracle of where we are now, Yasin said. Bohrer was charged with seven felonies. She remains at Dauphin County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing. WILLIAMSPORT Four young men are headed to trial in Lycoming County on charges that accuse them of conspiring to fire shots into a housing complex unit. District Judge Gary Whiteman made the ruling Friday despite having reservations on whether sufficient evidence had been presented against Damier A. Sams-Glover, Tykir Jihad Smith, Jaysin Roselle Applewhite and Karu Michael Rorie. Assistant District Attorney Phoebe Yates conceded the evidence against the four was circumstantial but contended it was sufficient for a preliminary hearing. None of the prosecution witnesses identified the four as being involved in the March 3, 2024, shooting state police say was in retaliation for a homicide the day before. The four were friends of Ahmeen Palmer, 15, of Williamsport, who was fatally shot in the parking lot of the T.G.I. Fridays restaurant along East Third Street in suburban Loyalsock Twp. The unit in the 1500 block of Randall Circle in the Penn Vale complex that was hit by bullets is close to the one where Jahsir Kahseem Legare and his family lived. Legare is charged with killing Palmer. Whiteman, in announcing his decision, said there were matters that gave him pause but not enough to dismiss the charges as sought by the four defense attorneys. He modified the bail for Sams-Glover, 21, Applewhite, 18, and Smith, 17, to $75,000 each. If they qualify for pretrial services, they need post only 10 percent. It is the same as what he previously set for Rorie, 16. The allegations are the four went by Uber from the 300 block of Center Street in Williamsport where Sams-Glover lives to Randall Circle. The Uber driver testified she was nervous when four or five young men in dark clothing wearing masks got into her vehicle. When she asked of any of them went to Williamsport Area School that her granddaughter attends, she said one responded tell her Jaysin says hi. After she dropped them off, she said she used an app to contact other Uber drivers to stay away from Penn Vale because she thought something was going down. State police Cpl. Mitchell McMun, who with another trooper were assigned to surveil the Legare unit, said he heard the gunshots about 9:50 p.m. and saw the muzzle flashes but he was too far away and it was too dark for him to identify anyone. Other testimony included: There was tampering with the GPS monitor worn by Smith until 9:34 p.m. and then it went dead indicating it had been removed. He was on juvenile probation at the time. Smith telling a state police investigator if his DNA was found in the Uber vehicle, you got me. No effort was made to obtain DNA from the vehicle. Information about data extracted from cell phones seized during the investigation. There was a dispute over when pictures discovered on a cell phone of four unidentified young, masked males holding multiple guns were taken. What appears to be the porch steps at the rear of Sams-Glovers residence appear to be in some. Besides raising the lack of identification issue, the defense attorneys argued no evidence was presented the four conspired to do anything. Yates in her argument to hold the charges for court cited screen shots found on Sams-Glovers phone of the housing complex and the rear door of the unit into which bullets were fired. He had the motive and means to do the shooting, she argued. Applewhite, Rorie and Smith are charged as adults with conspiracy to commit aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and criminal mischief. Sams-Glover is charged with the same counts along with corruption of minors. Palmer, the victim in the Fridays shooting, was in one of two groups of young people who went to the restaurant to celebrate birthdays. The accused shooters younger brother, Jabree Starks, was in the other. This is the police account of what happened after a challenge was issued inside the restaurant: The groups went into the parking lot and argued. Shots rang out when Palmer reached for something in his waistband. Just prior to the shooting Jahsir Legare, then 17, arrived with his mother Johneice Francine Legare. Afterwards Johneice Legare and her two sons drove to their Penn Vale unit and then to Philadelphia where they have family. She was arrested there. She initially was held without bail on charges that include conspiracy to commit first-degree murder but was released on $250,000 unsecured bail with restrictions after she testified at Jahsirs preliminary hearing he fired the fatal shot. Her son is jailed without bail awaiting trial on homicide and related counts. Also read: Gov. Shapiro: Weve got to find our better angels amid political tensions Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, during an appearance on Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, said the Trump administration is trying to stifle dissent following ABCs decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmels late-night show. Without question, theyre trying to stifle dissent, Shapiro said after noting that selectively firing people for their viewpoints is dangerous. The indefinite suspension of Kimmels show came after his Monday night monologue about the 22-year-old man accused of shooting and killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. On Wednesday afternoon, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr on a conservative podcast threatened to cancel ABC affiliate broadcast licenses, according to CNN. In response, Nexstar a broadcast company that airs Jimmy Kimmel Live! in about two dozen TV markets across the nation said it would pull the show, CNN said. Carr also said Disney could potentially lose its local broadcast licenses, creating a real, serious threat for ABC as a whole, a source familiar with the situation told CNN. When asked about his reaction to Kimmels show being canceled, Shapiro first answered with one word. Fear, he said. Just worry for our country. Our foundational principle in this country, which has roots in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania William Penn led here in the 1680s is about freedom of expression, freedom of speech. Seeing that right being undermined by the long arm of the federal government is extremely dangerous, Shapiro said. On Thursday, Trump told reporters 97% of television networks are against his administration and suggested those who spew bad publicity about him should have their broadcasting licenses revoked. And if theyre 97% against, they give me only bad publicity, press, Trump said while aboard Air Force One. I mean, theyre getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. Trump later said those decisions would be left to Carr, who Trump described as a patriot and tough guy who loves his country. Again, whether you agree with Jimmy Kimmel or not, whether you found him funny or not, to fire someone because he told a joke about the president repeatedly, and the president didnt like it, to fire him because he was inartful in his words in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, when you have others in the media and I mean this as no disrespect who are inartful every day, Shapiro said during the NBC interview. Shapiro also called freedom of speech the bedrock of our free society. The freedom for someone like you to ask me questions and opine about my work, whether I agree with you or not, whether I like what you report or not. Youve got the freedom and the right to be able to do that, and that is something that protects all of us, all of us, and it is dangerous what this president is engaged in, he said. Shapiros comments come during a tense landscape as media organizations face backlash from Trump and his administration. On Friday, a federal judge threw out Trumps recently filed $15 billion lawsuit against the New York Times, which accused the outlet and its reporters of disparaging Trumps reputation as a businessman Last year, Trump filed lawsuits against ABC and Paramount, the parent company of CBS. ABC agreed to pay $15 million to a presidential foundation as a settlement over false and disparaging comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, while Paramount settled for $16 million after Trump accused the company of deceptively editing an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. With the Trump Administration poised to order sweeping changes to long-standing scientific guidance on childhood vaccines, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday reiterated his pledge to protect access to vaccines in the Commonwealth. Appearing as a guest in a live Instagram conversation with Dr. Zachary Rubin,, a Chicago-based pediatric allergist and immunologist, Shapiro vowed that as soon as the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices wrapped up day 2 of their meeting on new vaccine guidance, his administration would issue guidance in response to new directives. Let me say were waiting for this meeting to end, I guess at some point today and then well be putting out some new guidance from our state department of health to react to whatever they do there, Shapiro said. Because what we want to do is make sure Pennsylvanians have access to a full range of healthcare options, including vaccines. So as soon as thats done, you should expect to hear from our Department of Health. Day 2 of the federal vaccine advisory panel resulted in limited action but considerable tumult. The panel voted Friday to delay a vote on ending a three-decade recommendation to administer hepatitis B vaccines at birth after a tide of criticism from major medical groups. The panels decision on vaccines is poised to overhaul the nations access to vaccines from childhood ones like measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines, to COVID and the guidance on when babies and children should receive them. The advisory panel on Thursday handed down a sweeping change to vaccines, voting to stop recommending a dose of a combined measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox vaccine before a child turns 4. In general, the panels proceedings imploded with disorder and even name-calling. I think for those folks who are tuning in to your channel, they rely on you to break all this stuff down for them, Shapiro said. I think theres kind of one word we can use for whats going on right now at the federal level with these meetings on vaccines. Chaos. Its total and complete chaos. Rubin, whose Instagram account has 1.2 million followers, excoriated the panel, which was hand-picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Panel members have come under criticism for being unqualified for the office, and for not being able to make a decision on the Hepatitis B vaccine for babies, which overwhelmingly prevents chronic liver disease. Luckily, they were so disorganized that theyre not even voting on that question, Rubin said. Theyre just tabling it. So Im glad that people are standing up against RFK Jr. and that our governors are trying to speak out and make sure that theres order in place so that real evidence-based medicine is going to be followed by health insurers to make sure that everybody gets the right access to vaccines. Shapiro said that as a father of four and as someone who looks after his own health and that of 13 million constituents, I dont want a bunch of public health folks, you know, descending into chaos. I want them calm and rationally going through the facts, going through the science and, and giving us the best information. Shapiro blasted Kennedy for having co-opted the process and having put a whole bunch of people, frankly who just are not suited for these jobs in place. What theyre doing is theyre undermining my ability as a parent to be able to look out for my kids because theyre denying me access to real science and denying me access to information, Shapiro said. The Democratic governor said the guidance set forth by the federal government could no longer be trusted. He noted how, at his behest, the state Board of Pharmacy earlier this month expanded access to vaccines after the Trump Administration upended recommendations on the COVID vaccine. The state board permitted retail pharmacies, in addition to the CDC, to follow the guidance of major medical associations on vaccine schedules and access. You can rely again on these medical advisory groups that are actually science-based, unlike what were seeing from RFK, Shapiro said. The Shapiro Administration has urged the CDC panel to recommend the vaccines for all these diseases to all populations indicated in prior ACIP recommendations. On Thursday, the Shapiro Administration joined a multi-state coalition of health experts and leaders that will steer collaborative efforts to safeguard public health. Corn futures are trading with contracts 2 to 3 cents lower so far on Thursday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price is down another 2 3/4 cents at $3.79 . A private export sale of 110,000 MT of corn was reported by the USDA this morning, to Mexico for 2025/26 shipment. More News from Barchart USDAs Export Sales report showed a total of 1.23 MMT of 2025/26 corn sold in the week ending on 9/11 coming in the middle of estimates of 0.5 to 1.9 MMT. That was an improvement from the drop in sales reported last week and still 45.4% above the same week last year. Brazils corn crop for 2025/26 is pegged to be 138.28 MMT according to CONAB, which would be down 1.42 MMT from the 2024/25 marketing year. Acreage is expected to rise 770,000 hectares (1.9 million acres) to 22.63 million ha (55.92 million acres). Dec 25 Corn is at $4.24, down 2 3/4 cents, Nearby Cash is at $3.79 1/2, down 2 3/4 cents, Mar 26 Corn is at $4.41 3/4, down 2 3/4 cents, May 26 Corn is at $4.51 3/4, down 2 1/2 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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 As Pennsylvanias November 4, 2025 judicial elections approach, I urge voters to support Republican candidates Matthew Wolford for Commonwealth Court and Maria Battista for Superior Court, and vote no on retaining Supreme Court Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin M. Dougherty, and David N. Wecht. Matthew Wolford, an environmental law expert from Erie County, brings nearly 40 years of experience, earning a highly recommended rating from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. His work defending clients against government overreach and teaching at Gannon University showcases his commitment to fair, principled jurisprudence, ideal for the Commonwealth Courts regulatory and election cases. Maria Battista, running for Superior Court, has served as assistant general counsel for Pennsylvanias Health and State Departments under both parties. Her prosecutorial experience and current role at Judge Government Services highlight her dedication to public service and impartiality, making her a strong choice for the Superior Court. Conversely, Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht, elected in 2015, have issued rulings on redistricting and voting laws that some criticize as partisan, risking public trust in the judiciary. Voting no on their retention would allow fresh perspectives to ensure impartiality and balance on the Supreme Court. These elections will shape Pennsylvanias courts for years. Support Wolford and Battista for their qualifications and vote no on retaining Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht to promote a fair, trusted judiciary. Research these candidates and vote thoughtfully. Daniel Hotchkiss, Erie, Pa. Corn futures pulled back into the Thursday close, extending the weakness from Wednesday. Contracts closed with losses of 2 to 3 cents. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down another 3 cents at $3.79 . A private export sale of 110,000 MT of corn was reported by the USDA this morning, to Mexico for 2025/26 shipment. More News from Barchart USDAs Export Sales report showed a total of 1.23 MMT of 2025/26 corn sold in the week ending on 9/11, an improvement from the drop in sales reported last week and still 45.4% above the same week last year. Of that total, 419,200 MT was sold to Mexico, with 201,000 MT sold to South Korea, and 194,500 MT to Japan. Brazils corn crop for 2025/26 is pegged to be 138.28 MMT according to CONAB, which would be down 1.42 MMT from the 2024/25 marketing year. Acreage is expected to rise 770,000 hectares (1.9 million acres) to 22.63 million ha (55.92 million acres). Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.23 3/4, down 3 cents, Nearby Cash was $3.79 1/4, down 3 cents, Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.41 1/2, down 3 cents, May 26 Corn closed at $4.51 1/2, down 2 3/4 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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 FAMILY AND MARRIAGE: How much are we willing to sacrifice? News broke just days ago that Amazon (AMZN), the worlds largest online retailer and leader in logistics, has taken another significant step in its efforts to become more sustainable. As part of a pilot program, Amazon is now testing a fleet of BrightDrop electric delivery vans, joining its existing mix of Rivian (RIVN), Ford (F), and Mercedes-Benz vehicles (MBGYY). With a groundbreaking $1 billion investment to electrify its European transportation network, Amazon regularly evaluates various models to expand its electric fleet and refine its delivery strategy. Currently, a dozen BrightDrop vans are under review as Amazon explores further options for greener deliveries. More News from Barchart This pilot is drawing new attention to General Motors (GM), the maker of BrightDrop and currently a favorite among dividend stock investors. GMs forward dividend yield stands at 1.02%, offering consistent income to shareholders. Notably, GM sold over 19,000 electric vehicles in July 2025, an impressive 115% jump year-over-year (YoY). The stock itself has gained 4.9% in the past month, attracting more interest as GM works to strengthen its EV offerings and secure strategic partnerships. Could Amazons involvement help unlock even greater gains for GM? Lets dive in. General Motors Strong Numbers General Motors engineers and manufactures vehicles across the Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick brands, serving millions in personal, commercial, and emerging electric segments. The company rewards shareholders with a steady annual dividend rate of $0.54 and a yield of 0.92%. Looking ahead, the forward annual dividend rate is projected at $0.60, with an enhanced forward yield of 1.02%. Year to date (YTD), GM has climbed 10.89%, showing strength since Dec. 31, 2024, as the stock has gained 24.31% over the past 52 weeks and trades at $58.86. www.barchart.com The automaker stands out with a market capitalization of $55.7 billion, and its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 5.74x and forward P/E of 6.22x are well below the sector median of 17.04x and 18.14x, respectively. These lower valuation multiples suggest GM offers more for each investor dollar. July 22, 2025, brought the latest earnings report. General Motors reported second-quarter revenue of $47.1 billion. This exceeded analyst forecasts despite a 1.8% drop YoY. The company recorded net income of $1.9 billion for the period, highlighting its ability to remain profitable even in challenging environments. senior reporter Janet Morgan is a senior reporter at The Post and Courier Myrtle Beach. She covers Myrtle Beach and beyond. There is always time to be kind to animals and climb something. Berkeley and Dorchester Metro Reporter Komlavi Adissem is a metro reporter covering Berkeley and Dorchester counties. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, where he covered city, county, and state government for the Columbia Missourian. Find him on Twitter (X) and Bluesky @KAdissem! editorial writer Cindi Ross Scoppe is an editorial writer and columnist for The Post and Courier who has written about the S.C. Legislature, governor, state government and courts for nearly 40 years. She is a native of North Carolina and graduate of the University of North Carolina and lives in Columbia. 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. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has launched a market investigation into the pricing of food products within Dutch supermarkets. This inquiry aims to scrutinise the price structures and formations associated with the typical grocery basket purchased by consumers, the regulator said in an official statement. The investigation was instigated following concerns that the prices of certain food items in the Netherlands are significantly higher than those in neighbouring countries. Through this investigation, the ACM seeks to better understand the mechanisms behind food pricing in supermarkets and to determine whether any market issues contribute to elevated prices. Key areas of focus will include the profit margins of food product suppliers, including those of well-known brands, as well as the profit margins realised by supermarkets themselves, the watchdog said. The investigation will also explore potential reasons for both high and low profit margins. Additionally, the ACM will compare price discrepancies between food products sold in Dutch supermarkets and those available in other nations. The inquiry will assess the overall functionality of the food product sector in serving consumers and identify any existing challenges. The ACM has indicated that it may propose recommendations to the Dutch legislature aimed at addressing any identified issues. Should the investigation uncover evidence of violations, the regulator intends to take enforcement action. The findings from this market investigation are expected to be released in the summer of 2026. In October 2023, the ACM rejected objections filed by technology giant Apple against penalty payments. The regulator fined the company 50m ($58.82m) for failing to limit the dominant position of Apples App Store. The regulator said that the iPhone manufacturer has complied with most of the regulators demands to open its App Store to alternative forms of payment for dating apps in the Netherlands. However, it failed to meet an undisclosed third element of the conditions related to the fines. "Dutch regulator initiates investigation into supermarket food prices" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 01:00:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 881 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / September 19, 2025 / Hanna Capital Corp. (the "Corporation") announces, that further to its press releases dated June 30 and September 15, 2025, that it has issued an aggregate of:45,917,936 common shares ("Debt Shares") in exchange for the cancellation of $459,179.36 in debt owing to six (6) creditors (collectively, the "Creditors"), all of which are arm's length parties to the Corporation; and10,854,581 common shares (the "Placement Shares") pursuant to the previously announced private placement.Debt Conversion The Debt Shares were issued pursuant to debt conversion agreements (collectively, the "Debt Agreements") dated June 20, 2025 entered into between the Corporation and the Corporation. The Debt Shares were issued at a deemed price of $0.01 per Debt Share.The Debt Shares are subject to a 36-month value escrow under Policy 5.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Pursuant to the escrow agreement, an aggregate of 4,591,794 Debt Shares will be released from escrow on September 19, 2025, and an aggregate of 6,887,691 Deby Shares will be released from escrow every six months thereafter.Private Placement The Placement Shares were issued at a price of $0.01 per Placement Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $108,545.81. Placement Shares are subject to resale restrictions expiring January 20, 2025. The Corporation intends to use the proceeds for general working capital, which will include the calling and holding of an annual shareholders' meeting.Board Changes The Corporation also announces the following individuals have been appointed to the board of directors:Hidir Hasgul - Mr. Hasgul is a distinguished graduate engineer whose multifaceted career spans private investments, fund management, and high-level trading. Mr. Hasgul's has extensive expertise in initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions activities, areas critical to strategic growth and market expansion. Beyond his extensive financial acumen, Mr. Hasgul holds a pivotal role as a managing director for a portfolio of mining companies. As managing director, he oversees operations across three continents, demonstrating his leadership and strategic vision in the global market and his ability to navigate diverse international markets and operational landscapes.Jonathan Bolton - Dr. Bolton holds a PhD in physiology from the University of Sheffield and spent three years as a postdoctoral research fellow at Tokyo University. With over 25 years of fund management experience, he began his career at Schroders in 1987. He later served as a Japanese equity analyst, fund manager, and director in Tokyo, where he was instrumental in establishing the firm as a leading foreign manager of discretionary Japanese equity portfolios. After 17 years in Japan, he managed Japanese equities at TT International in London and later led the Japan, Asia, and Emerging Markets divisions at Alliance Trust. He currently works as an independent consultant, advising companies and individuals on investment diversification and capital raising.Ungad Chadda - Mr. Chadda is an experienced capital markets regulator and financial services executive having previously worked at TMX Group, the parent company of Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Chadda was responsible for building and maintaining the TMX Group investor base as well as supporting its public interest mandate and strategies to grow as a company. Mr. Chadda joined TMX Group through one of its predecessor entities in 1997. During his tenure, Mr. Chadda held progressively senior roles, including Director of Listings, TSX Venture Exchange; Chief Operating Officer, TSX Venture Exchange; Vice President, Business Development, Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange; President, Toronto Stock Exchange; CFO of TSX Trust (formerly Equity Transfer and Trust) an OSFI regulated entity; and SVP, Head of Enterprise Corporate Strategy and External Affairs, TMX Group. Ungad currently advises clients on capital markets, regulatory and governance strategies. Mr. Chadda attended McMaster University, where he received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in 1994 and he received his Chartered Accountancy designation while working with Ernst and Young LLP in 1996. Mr. Chadda has served on multiple boards, and has completed University of Toronto's Rotman Business School Director Education Program.Concurrent with the above appointments, each of Herb Brugh, Victor Cantore and Vern Bock have resigned as directors of the Corporation. The Corporation would like to thank these individuals for their contributions to the Corporation and wishes each of them success in their future endeavours.For further information, please contact:Hidir HasgulDirector hidirhasgul@ efamining.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Statements This news release includes certain information and forward-looking statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.SOURCE: Hanna Capital Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 16:01:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 333 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Novo Nordisk A/S ("Novo Nordisk" or the "Company") (NYSE:NVO). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Novo Nordisk and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until September 30, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Novo Nordisk securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On July 29, 2025, Novo Nordisk significantly lowered its sales outlook for 2025. The Company attributed the reduction to "lowered growth expectations for the second half of 2025" for both Wegovy and Ozempic due to "the persistent use of compounded GLP-1s, slower-than-expected market expansion and competition." On this news, Novo Nordisk's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $15.06 per ADR, or 21.83%, to close at $53.94 per ADR on July 29, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 01:11:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 622 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 19, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) between May 7, 2025 and July 28, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 30, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Novo Nordisk securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Novo Nordisk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34168 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 30, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Novo Nordisk's growth potential. Notably, Novo Nordisk's asserted potential to capitalize on the compounded market greatly understated the potential impact of the personalization exception to the compounded GLP-1 exclusion and overstated the likelihood that such patients would switch to Novo Nordisk's branded alternatives. Further, defendants greatly overstated the potential GLP-1 market or otherwise, Novo's capability to penetrate said markets to achieve continued growth. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Novo Nordisk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34168 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 16:01:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 935 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CTO Realty Growth, Inc. ("CTO" or the "Company") (NYSE:CTO) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and docketed under 25-cv-01516, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired CTO securities between February 18, 2021 and June 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired CTO securities during the Class Period, you have until October 7, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]CTO is a publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns and operates a portfolio of purported high-quality, retail-based properties located primarily in higher growth markets in the United States ("U.S."). The Company converted into a REIT in February 2021 and, as of December 31, 2024, owned 23 income properties in seven states, including Ashford Lane, a retail and dining center in Atlanta, Georgia.Under guidelines established by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), REITs must pay out at least 90% of their taxable profits to shareholders annually as dividends. In return, REIT companies are exempt from most corporate income tax. CTO has touted that its operation as a REIT "provides the tax-efficient organizational structure for [its] stockholders" that "will allow [it] to provide them with an attractive and sustainable dividend." To measure its performance, CTO uses the financial metric Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO"). The AFFO of a REIT, though subject to varying methods of computation, is generally equal to the REIT's funds from operations with adjustments made for recurring capital expenditures (also referred to as "capex") used to maintain the quality of the REIT's underlying assets. Professional analysts tend to prefer AFFO because it takes into consideration additional costs incurred by the REIT as well as additional income sources, such as rent increases. Thus, analysts believe that AFFO provides for a more accurate base number when estimating present values and a better predictor of the REIT's future ability to pay dividends.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) CTO's dividends were less sustainable than Defendants had led investors to believe; (ii) the Company used deceptive and unsustainable practices to artificially inflate its AFFO and overstate the true profitability of its Ashford Lane property; (iii) accordingly, CTO's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and (iv) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 25, 2025, Wolfpack Research ("Wolfpack") published a report entitled "CTO: The B. Riley of REITs" (the "Wolfpack Report" or the "Report"), which compared CTO unfavorably to B. Riley, a financial services company that recently lost more than 90% of its value amid three years of losses, soured investments, delayed financial reports and revelations that the SEC had been investigating whether the firm gave shareholders an accurate picture of its health. Citing interviews with former employees and whistleblowers, the Wolfpack Report accused CTO of, among other things, "not generating enough cash to pay its recurring capex and cover its dividends since converting to a REIT in 2021" and instead "relying on dilution (increasing shares outstanding by 70% since December 2022) to cover a $38 million dividend shortfall from 2021 to 2024," employing a "manipulative definition of [AFFO] where they exclude recurring capex, unlike all of their self-identified shopping center REIT peers," and "using a sham loan to hide the collapse of a top tenant from shareholders at Ashford Lane." (Emphasis in original).Further, Wolfpack predicted imminent further dilution of the Company, noting that CTO has just $8.4 million in cash while facing quarterly dividends of $14 million and average recurring capital expenditures of $5.7 million per quarter, along with approximately $12 million in additional planned capital expenditures.On this news, CTO's stock price fell $0.98 per share, or 5.42%, to close at $17.10 per share on June 25, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 16:01:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 923 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dow Inc. ("Dow" or the "Company") (NYSE:DOW) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, and docketed under 25-cv-12744, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities between January 30, 2025 and July 23, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities during the Class Period, you have until October 28, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Dow is an American materials science company, serving customers in the packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications industries. Dow conducts its worldwide operations through six global businesses organized into three operating segments: (i) Packaging & Specialty Plastics, (ii) Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and (iii) Performance Materials & Coatings.Historically, Dow has touted its "industry-leading dividend," which is of particular importance to investors. On conference calls with investors and analysts, Dow's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Jim Fitterling ("Fitterling"), has variously stated that the Company's "dividend is a key element of our investment thesis," and that "north of 65% of our owners count on that dividend." Notwithstanding an ongoing slump in the materials science industry, as well as the recent onset of tariff-related market uncertainties, at all relevant times, Defendants represented that Dow was well positioned to weather macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds while maintaining sufficient levels of financial flexibility to support the Company's lucrative dividend. Specifically, Defendants cited various purported strengths and advantages unique to Dow in its industry, including, inter alia, the Company's purported "differentiated portfolio," "cost-advantaged footprint," and "industry-leading flexibility to navigate global trade dynamics." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Dow's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dow's ability to mitigate macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds, as well as to maintain the financial flexibility needed to support its lucrative dividend, was overstated; (ii) the true scope and severity of the foregoing headwinds' negative impacts on Dow's business and financial condition was understated, particularly with respect to competitive and pricing pressures, softening global sales and demand for the Company's products, and an oversupply of products in the Company's global markets; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 23, 2025, BMO Capital downgraded its recommendation on Dow to "Underperform" from "Market Perform" while also cutting its price target on the Company's stock to $22.00 per share from $29.00 per share, citing sustained weakness across key end markets and mounting pressure on the Company's dividend.On this news, Dow's stock price fell $0.89 per share, or 3.21%, to close at $26.87 per share on June 23, 2025.Then, on July 24, 2025, Dow issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Therein, Dow reported a non-GAAPloss per share of $0.42, significantly larger than the approximate $0.17 to $0.18 per share loss expected by analysts. Dow also reported net sales of $10.1 billion, representing a 7.3% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $130 million, "reflecting declines in all operating segments." The Company further reported, inter alia, that "[s]equentially, net sales were down 3%, as seasonally higher demand in Performance Materials & Coatings was more than offset by declines across the other operating segments." Defendant Fitterling blamed these disappointing results on "the lower-for-longer earnings environment that our industry is facing, amplified by recent trade and tariff uncertainties," while providing a dour outlook marked by "signs of oversupply from newer market entrants who are exporting to various regions at anti-competitive economics." In a separate press release issued the same day, Dow revealed that it was cutting its dividend in half, from $0.70 per share to only $0.35 per share, citing the need for "financial flexibility amidst a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment." Following these disclosures, Dow's stock price fell $5.30 per share, or 17.45%, to close at $25.07 per share on July 24, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 16:01:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 935 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 20, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fluor Corporation ("Fluor" or the "Company") (NYSE:FLR) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and docketed under 25-cv-02496, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities between February 18, 2025 and July 31, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities during the Class Period, you have until November 14, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Fluor provides engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC"), fabrication and modularization, and project management services worldwide. The Company operates through three segments: Urban Solutions, Energy Solutions, and Mission Solutions.Throughout 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, Fluor's Urban Solutions segment accounted for the largest portion of the Company's revenue and profit. The Urban Solutions segment offers EPC and project management services to the advanced technologies and manufacturing, life sciences, mining and metals, and infrastructure industries, as well as provides professional staffing services. The Company's infrastructure projects in this segment include work on, inter alia, the Gordie Howe International Bridge ("Gordie Howe"), as well as the Interstate 365 Lyndon B. Johnson ("I-635/LBJ") and Interstate 35E ("I-35") highways in Texas.In February 2025, Fluor provided financial guidance for the full year ("FY") of 2025, including adjusted EBITDA of $575 million to $675 million and adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share. Defendants reaffirmed the foregoing financial guidance in May 2025, notwithstanding their acknowledgement of the potential negative impacts of ongoing economic uncertainty on Fluor's business resulting from trade tensions and other market conditions. Contemporaneously, Defendants touted, inter alia, the purported health and stability of Fluor's and its customers' operations and the strength of the Company's risk mitigation strategy, both for itself and its clients.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Fluor's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) costs associated with the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects were growing because of, inter alia, subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays; (ii) the foregoing, as well as customer reduction in capital spending and client hesitation around economic uncertainty, was having, or was likely to have, a significant negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (iv) accordingly, Fluor's financial guidance for FY 2025 was unreliable and/or unrealistic, the effectiveness of the Company's risk mitigation strategy was overstated, and the impact of economic uncertainty on the Company's business and financial results was understated; and (v) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On August 1, 2025, Fluor issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ("Q2") of 2025. Among other results, the press release reported Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $0.43, missing consensus estimates by $0.13, and revenue of $3.98 billion, representing a 5.9% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $570 million. Defendants blamed these disappointing results on, inter alia, growing costs in multiple infrastructure projects due to subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays, as well as reduced capital spending by customers. The same press release also provided a negatively revised financial outlook for FY 2025, guiding to adjusted EBITDA of $475 million to $525 million, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $575 million to $675 million, and adjusted EPS of $1.95 per share to $2.15 per share, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share, citing "client hesitation around economic uncertainty and its impact on new awards and project delays and results for the quarter[.]"The same day, Fluor hosted a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Company's Q2 2025 financial results. During that call, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant James R. Breuer, disclosed that the infrastructure projects that had negatively impacted Fluor's Q2 2025 results were the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects.Following the foregoing disclosures, Fluor's stock price fell $15.35 per share, or 27.04%, to close at $41.42 per share on August 1, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 01:40:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 620 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 19, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC): (1) between May 19, 2025 and June 3, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"); and/or (2) pursuant and/or traceable to Sable's May 21, 2025 secondary public offering (the "SPO"), of the important September 26, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.SO WHAT: If you purchased Sable securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Sable class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=40629or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 26, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW:We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants represented that Sable had restarted oil production off the coast of California when it had not; and (2) as a result, defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Sable class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=40629call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 01:30:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 692 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 19, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) is pleased to announce that Terry Lynch, CEO of Power Metallic Mines Inc. (TSX-V: PNPN), will continue his role as a capital markets advisor to the Company. Mr. Lynch brings decades of early-stage capital markets experience in the resource and bioscience sectors as well an extensive and influential international investment network.The Company is also pleased to announce that it has retained two investor relations professionals, Rob Grace (401 -1400 View Crescent Delta, BC V4L 1Z1, robdgrace@ gmail.com , 778.998.5431) and Blaine Ruzcki (Box 477 Okotoks, AB T1S 1A7, bruzycki@ hotmail.com , 403.804.3213) to conduct promotional activities on behalf of BioNxt (the "Services") for a period of six months effective immediately. The Services include investor outreach and communication, distribution of Company information and news releases to proprietary networks, social media optimization, and general capital markets strategic advice. In consideration for the Services, Mr. Grace and Mr. Ruzcki will receive CAD 20,000 per month plus GST and CAD 40,000 per month plus GST, respectively. Pursuant to the Company's shareholder approved stock option plan, Mr. Grace and Mr. Ruzcki will also each receive 1,000,000 common share purchase options exercisable at $0.88 for 18 months (the "Options"). The Options will vest in accordance with the CSE's mandatory investor relations schedule: 25% after three months, 25% after six months, 25% after nine months, and the remaining 25% after twelve months. The engagement can be terminated by either party on 30 days' notice at any time.Neither Mr. Grace nor Mr. Ruzcki engage in market making activities and will restrict the Services to public relations and investor relations counseling.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery platforms, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. Its proprietary platforms include sublingual thin films, transdermal patches, oral tablets, and a new targeted chemotherapy platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors while reducing side effects.With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com BioNxt Solutions Inc.Hugh Rogers, CEO and DirectorEmail: info@ bionxt.com Phone: +1 604-250-6162Forward-Looking InformationThe Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-09-20 12:30:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 573 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 0x.Agency has announced its sponsorship of the "UNITE 4 PEACE" broadcast commemorating the U.N. International Day of Peace, taking place from September 19-21, 2025. The event will culminate in a 24-hour global broadcast on September 21, reaching an estimated audience of over 3 billion people across 22 world regions.As the lead digital partner, 0x.Agency will oversee multi-platform distribution across X.com, LinkedIn, and Facebook, supported by a network of influencers and volunteers. The broadcast includes real-time, youth-led hosting from global hubs and features an hourly "Pause for Peace" segment to promote unity and reflection. The initiative places a strong emphasis on youth inclusion and follows international child-safeguarding standards. The 2025 broadcast marks the 40th anniversary of the first globally recognized Peace Day.SHERIDAN, WYOMING / ACCESS Newswire / September 20, 2025 / 0x.Agencyannounces its sponsorship of the "UNITE 4 PEACE" U.N. International Day of Peace Broadcast, a global, multi-day program taking place from September 19-21, 2025. The broadcast culminates in a 24-hour synchronized live event on Peace Day, September 21, and is designed to reach over 3 billion viewers across 22 world regions.The international broadcast features a recurring "Pause for Peace" at the top of every hour, providing a shared moment for global reflection and remembrance, while reaffirming commitments to nonviolence and compassion.Global Multi-Platform Distribution Led by 0x.AgencyAs a primary sponsor, 0x.Agency is overseeing a coordinated distribution strategy spanning X.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, and additional platforms. The broadcast will be further amplified through an expansive coalition of influencers and volunteer networks to extend its reach and visibility.Technical production will be anchored in Vancouver, with real-time youth-led hosting connecting global hubs including San Francisco, New York, Geneva, London, and Addis Ababa. Each hour of the program will include stories, performances, and grassroots peace initiatives, unified by the recurring "Pause for Peace" segment.A spokesperson for 0x.Agency stated:"As sponsors, the goal is to make peace both visible and actionable across digital and social platforms. This initiative prioritizes intergenerational engagement, with a particular emphasis on children, whose futures are directly impacted by global peace building efforts." Broadcast OverviewDates: September 19-21, 2025Main Event: 24-hour global Peace Day broadcast on September 21Reach: More than 3 billion viewers across all 22 world regionsFormat: Hourly segments featuring cultural content, youth-led storytelling, and grassroots effortsSignature Segment: "Pause for Peace" at the top of each hourPlatform Distribution: Simulcast via X.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, and partner media channelsProduction Headquarters: Vancouver, CanadaYouth Inclusion and SafeguardingWith over half of the global population under the age of 30-and more than 600 million young people residing in fragile or conflict-affected areas-the inclusion of younger generations is considered essential to sustainable peace building. The broadcast is structured to centre youth voices while ensuring compliance with international child safeguarding standards across all participating platforms.About "UNITE 4 PEACE"UNITE 4 PEACE is a global broadcast commemorating the U.N. International Day of Peace, marking its 40th anniversary in 2025. The event is structured around regionally inclusive programming, youth-led hosting, and synchronized global moments of reflection through its "Pause for Peace" framework.About 0x.Agency0x.Agency partners with mission-aligned organizations to amplify impact through digital engagement strategies, global live programming, and cross-platform campaigns designed to drive measurable outcomes.Media ContactOrganization: 0x.AgencyContact Person Name: Jason BWebsite: https://0x.agency Email: media@0x.agency City: SheridanState: WyomingCountry: United StatesSOURCE: 0x.Agency Junes parents are struggling financially, and shes not sure how to help. Both are in their 80s, living on Social Security benefits. They dont have retirement savings, and their assets are slim. Their car is more than 20 years old and they live in a dated mobile home on rented land. Must Read The bigger problem? They owe nearly $70,000 in credit card debt and medical debt. Theyve considered bankruptcy but are leaning toward ignoring the debt and collections calls, hoping it all goes away when they die. June is worried. Shes unsure of the legal risks, fears debt collectors could sue her parents and wonders if she might inherit the debt. Is it illegal to ignore debt collectors? Ignoring debt collectors isnt illegal, but it can carry consequences. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says Americans are protected from harassment and abusive communication, but that doesnt mean collectors will stop calling. They can also still file a lawsuit. The CFPB [1] warns against ignoring lawsuits from creditors. If you dont respond, the court may issue a judgment against you. Even if you dont believe that you owe the debt, a judgment could include the balance, interest, fees and attorney costs. It also gives creditors the power to garnish wages, put liens on property or freeze bank accounts. For people like Junes parents, those tools arent likely to be used. Federal benefits such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, veterans benefits, federal student aid, military annuities, Office of Personnel Management benefits, railroad retirement benefits and federal disaster assistance generally cant be garnished. The exceptions are delinquent taxes, child or spousal support or student loans. State benefits depend on local laws. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Can I inherit my parents debt? June also worries about inheriting her parents bills. The good news: you cant inherit debt unless you were a co-signer on a loan or credit card. That said, debts are paid out of the estate before it's distributed to heirs. Assets can be sold to settle whats owed, with lawyer fees, estate taxes and funeral costs usually coming first. Federal debt, medical bills and property taxes often outrank credit card debt. If the estate is insolvent, as may be the case for Junes parents, the remaining debt is wiped out. SAN DIEGO, Calif., Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins LLP informs stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) securities between May 6, 2025 and June 19, 2025. Defendant KBR states that it delivers "science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world." For more information, submit a form, email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that KBR, Inc. (KBR) Misled Investors Regarding HomeSafe's Ability to Fulfill its TRANSCOM Contract According to the complaint, HomeSafe Alliance ("HomeSafe") is a KBR joint venture in which KBR has a 72% economic interest. Prior to the class period, HomeSafe had been awarded the Global Household Goods Contract by the U.S. Department of Defense's Transportation Command ("TRANSCOM"), which helps U.S. military service members and their families relocate. Plaintiff alleges that during the class period, defendants had knowledge that for months TRANSCOM had material concerns with HomeSafe's ability to fulfill the Global Household Goods Contract, yet claimed that the partnership was without issue, and would ramp up in future quarters. Plaintiff further alleges that on June 19, 2025, HomeSafe issued a press release entitled "HomeSafe Alliance announces TRANSCOM's Notice to Terminate Global Household Goods Contract." The press release revealed that there had been issues between TRANSCOM and HomeSafe for months. The next day KBR issued a release announcing the termination of HomeSafe's contract. On this news, the price of KBR stock fell $3.85 per share, or 7.29%, to close at $48.93 on June 20, 2025. On June 23, 2025, the next trading day, KBR stock fell a further $1.30, or 2.65%, to close at $47.63 on June 23, 2025. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against KBR, Inc. Shareholders who wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their papers to the court by November 18, 2025. The lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. To be notified if a class action against KBR, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. SOURCE Robbins LLP Legendary artists join millions of supporters to honor Farm Aid's lasting impact as family farmers face their greatest crisis since the 1980s MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Farm Aid marked its historic 40th anniversary today at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, celebrating a powerful movement born from what was intended to be a one-time concert in 1985. The anniversary coincides with a moment when family farmers are facing the worst economic and environmental pressures in decades, echoing the crisis of the 1980s. Farm Aid has stood side-by-side with family farmers for four decades amplifying their voices, connecting them to resources and bringing their stories into the national spotlight. Farm Aid 40 united food producers, artists, advocates and fans to reinvigorate support for America's family farmers as low prices, high input costs, decreasing global markets, corporate consolidation and climate disruption threaten their survival. Farm Aid's leadership and artist board members reflected on all that family farmers do to steward our soil and water while nourishing our communities. Farmers and food producers from Minnesota shared both the triumphs and challenges of family farming, highlighting the state's powerful role in the farm movement through rural advocacy, sustainable agriculture and forward-thinking policy reform. Following last week's local labor strike that put the festival at risk of cancellation, Farm Aid Founder and President Willie Nelson said the overwhelming response from across the state and nation proved just how deeply people care about this long-lived mission. Farmers, workers, artists and music fans and stood together to keep the festival and the organization alive. "John [Mellencamp], Neil [Young] and I could never have imagined the movement that grew from that first show," said Nelson. "We've stood with our partners all these years to give farmers the hardest working people in America the support they need to survive against impossible odds. Their willingness to keep going is why we have to keep going. Farmers need us, and we will always need them." Organizers emphasized that this anniversary is both a celebration and a call to action. Farm Aid reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the current challenges of the farm movement and invited all those who care about fairness, justice, good food and rural America to join the charge alongside the farmers who feed us all. The anniversary festival featured performances from founders Nelson and Family, Young (with the Chrome Hearts), and Mellencamp, along with artist board members Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds) and Margo Price. The lineup also included Bob Dylan, Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Trampled by Turtles, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and Wisdom Indian Dancers. For the first time in Farm Aid's history, CNN broadcast the festival nationwide, carrying its message to millions of households across the country. SiriusXM and nugs.net also streamed the full event, with coverage that included backstage interviews with artists and farmers. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, Farm Aid hosted multiple partner events, including a Farmer Forum that featured a full day of conversations about the work happening within our farm movement. This included a keynote address from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and panels with local leaders. Farm Aid's HOMEGROWN Village engaged festivalgoers in hands-on activities about climate, soil, water, energy, food and farming. Activities included Village scavenger hunts, dried flower button making, checking out soil health with microscopes, local food screen print creation and much more. Attendees also heard from artists and farmers on the FarmYard Stage about pressing issues like food access, climate change, corporate power in agriculture, emerging farmers and supporting farmers through the current farm crisis. Farm Aid's HOMEGROWN Concessions served food throughout the venue with ingredients that were produced by family farmers who utilize ecological production practices and received a fair price. A varied menu all served on compostable serviceware from diverse farmers offered pork banh mi, wild rice bratwursts with cider sauerkraut, honey ice cream, cheese curds and more. Special kitchen collaborations with Patchwork Family Farms and Owamni Restaurant were featured in Club Cambria. Additionally, the stadium piloted use of r.Cup, a reusable item to reduce single-use cups. Second Harvest Heartland will receive food left over from the event. Farm Aid 40 was livestreamed on FarmAid.org and Farm Aid's YouTube channel. The webcast began with the press event featuring Farm Aid artists and farmers from across Minnesota, offering a special opportunity to experience a conversation between farmers and artists. Sponsors of Farm Aid 40 include McKnight Foundation, Tractor Beverage Co., Explore Minnesota, Horizon Organic, 11th Hour Project, Huntington Bank, Seven Sundays, REI Co-op, Frontier Co-op, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Collectors and fans have the opportunity to bid on rare, unique items signed by artists at Farm Aid 40. The auction is hosted at farmaid.org/auction and will close on Friday, Oct. 3. Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $85 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. SOURCE Farm Aid Breaking New Ground to Industrial Intelligence SHANGHAI, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leo Chen, Huawei's Senior Vice President and President of Enterprise Sales, shared Huawei's latest insights and practices for industrial intelligence today at HUAWEI CONNECT 2025, including the company's three-step "ACT" pathway for intelligent transformation. During Chen's keynote, titled "Breaking New Ground to Industrial Intelligence", Huawei also launched nine major solutions for industrial intelligence that it developed alongside its partners. Five key findings driving industrial intelligence Leo Chen, Senior Vice President, President of Enterprise Sales, Huawei AI technology has developed rapidly over the past few years. Chen noted that this has raised three major questions for enterprises: How can enterprises ensure their AI investments generate real business value? How can enterprises use their own data to defend their competitive advantages? How can enterprises help AI use cases move beyond pilots to large-scale application? Chen shared how Huawei is tackling these questions with three success stories. First, Huawei developed a dynamic mastersub-agent architecture for the banking industry that incorporates systematic engineering capabilities into banking workflows. Huawei helped their customer accelerate AI application using this architecture in a number of scenarios like interactions, transactions, and risk control. This has enabled the customer to increase revenue and efficiency, while more effectively managing risk. Second, China Southern Power Grid used Huawei's Ascend computing platform and MindSpore AI framework to develop a large model that it named "MegaWatt". This model runs on an Ascend MoE Expert Parallelism cluster and combines computer vision and natural language processing. It has helped the customer improve defect and risk identification efficiency during intelligent power line inspections by five times, and increased image recognition accuracy to over 90%. Third, Runda Medical used Huawei's Ascend inference servers to develop an AI medical record appliance solution that improves both the quality and efficiency of medical recordkeeping. Since its deployment at West China Hospital, the solution has helped medical record generation time to about one second, which has dramatically improved the hospital's consultation efficiency. Chen then shared five key findings Huawei developed over the course of these and other intelligent transformation projects. First, choosing the right scenarios for implementation is critical to successful transformation. The value of AI lies in its ability to transform processes and promote intelligent product and service delivery when deep integrated with core production scenarios. Second, the capabilities of industry-specific models depend on high-quality vertical data. General-purpose models often struggle when applied in industrial scenarios. The most successful models are those that are trained and fine-tuned based on massive amounts of high-quality proprietary data which transforms them into industry-specific models. Such industry-specific models become a significant competive edge for enterprises. Third, the demand for large-scale inference will continue to grow fast alongside AI agents, fueling demand for large-scale inference. Fourth, human-AI collaboration is becoming a new organizational paradigm. Fifth, systematic governance and risk management are becoming more critical than ever, driving many organizations to pursue more effective governance. The goal of this governance is to ensure secure, sustainable, and trustworthy AI. The "ACT" pathway for industrial intelligence Huawei's proposed three-step "ACT" pathway is designed to promote AI adoption across industries. ACT stands for: Assess high-value scenarios, Calibrate AI models using vertical data, and Transform business operations with scaled AI agents. Huawei assesses high-value scenarios using its AI Scenario Assessment Framework to evaluate business value, scenario maturity, and businesstechnology integration. This framework has already helped customers identify more than 1,000 core production scenarios for AI adoption. The company also provides a full toolchain and AI security protection system to help enterprises calibrate general models and create industry-specific models. This toolchain uses vertical data to transform raw enterprise data into knowledge, and knowledge into models. For the final step of the ACT pathway, transforming business operations with scaled AI agents, Huawei has a one-stop Versatile platform that can automatically generate agents, as well as workflows with more than 100 steps. This platform accelerates agent deployment. The company has additionally developed an AI talent enablement program that helps business professionals effectively develop, deploy, and operate AI agents. Enterprises looking to follow the ACT pathway will need AI-oriented ICT infrastructure that covers the entire process, from data preparation and movement, to model training, inference, and development. Chen emphasized that Huawei is continuing to innovate in data storage, computing, and networks for this purpose, and is working on creating integrated products that make the process easier for customers. Examples of these products include AI storage and Unified Cache Manager plugins, 800GE high-speed data center network solutions, the company's highly reliable StarryLink optical modules, and the Ascend AI SuperPoD 384. Launch event: Nine jointly-developed solutions for industrial intelligence Huawei is promoting a "Huawei + Partners" collaboration ecosystem that they are developing through three main initiatives: the opening up of its software, hardware, and systems; enablement platforms and tools for its partners; and the rapid replication of successful practices through industry experience sharing. To date, their ecosystem has attracted over 6,300 Kunpeng partners, 2,700 Ascend partners, 70 consulting firms, and 750 ISVs. Before the keynote session concluded, Huawei unveiled nine major solutions for industrial intelligence that it developed in collaboration with partners: City AI Center & Foundation Model Solution, Intelligent Computing Labs Solution, Medical Technology Digital and Intelligence 2.0 Solution, Banking AI and Foundation Model Solution, Intelligent Manufacturing R&D Solution, SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution, Intelligent Distribution Solution, Intelligent Exploration and Development Solution for Oil and Gas, and Steel Blast Furnace Temperature Prediction Solution. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2777472/image.jpg NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until October 13, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (NYSE: KLC), if they purchased the Company's shares pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's October 2024 initial public offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. Get Help KinderCare investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-klc/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit KinderCare and certain of its executives and others are charged with failing to disclose material information in its IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus (collectively, the "Offering Documents"), violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) numerous incidents of child abuse, neglect, and harm had occurred at KinderCare facilities; (ii) the Company did not provide the "highest quality care possible" at its facilities, and, indeed, in numerous instances had failed to provide even basic care, meet minimum standards in the child care industry, or comply with the laws and regulations governing the care of children; and (iii) as a result, the Company was exposed to a material, undisclosed risk of lawsuits, adverse regulatory action, negative publicity, reputational damage, and business loss. The case is Gollapalli v. KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc., No. 25-cv-01424. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler YIWU, China, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world. Data from Yiwugo shows that the "toys" category has topped the platform's "Popular Market Categories" ranking over the past two months. Similarly, the keyword "action figures" has consistently led Yiwugo's search trends during this period a clear sign of strong wholesale demand, particularly for IP-based figurines and toys. In the East Expansion Area of Yiwu International Trade City, a growing number of stores specializing in premium IP-licensed toys have emerged in the last two years. Their Yiwugo storefronts are seeing heavy traffic and delivering impressive sales conversions. The samples on Yiwugo.com. Chen Huijun and her husband have been running Baimao Keychain Pendant for over a decade. In 2019, they shifted their business to become one of the first vendors in Yiwu to dive into IP-based products. "The transition was tough," Chen admits, "but it paid off". In 2022, Baimao Keychain Pendant secured the license to manufacture and distribute Nailoong IP pendants and desktop figures. After passing a strict and lengthy review process, the company became the category's exclusive authorized producer in the Yiwu market in 2023. Thanks to high-quality craftsmanship, strict production standards, and the intrinsic appeal of the beloved cartoon series, product sales surpassed 6 million units within just five months. Baimao has since grown into a trusted supplier for leading retailers like Lenle and The Green Party (under Guangdong Kailan Brand Management Co., Ltd.), as well as Miniso and RT-Mart. Internationally, the company's presence on e-commerce platforms like Yiwugo and participation in toy fairs at home and abroad have driven Nailoong products into strong demand across Southeast Asia, with orders now backed up for months. Over the past two years, Baimao has also secured licenses for popular IPs such as Butter Bear, My Little Pony, and Disney. These brands not only carry strong market appeal on their own, but also permit qualified manufacturers like Baimao to conduct derivative creation, opening more space for innovation and competitive differentiation. In 2024, the company's My Little Pony line surpassed one million units per quarter. With the upcoming Year of the Horse on the Chinese lunar calendar, Chen expects sales to climb even higher. While Baimao focuses mainly on licensed IP products, Wu Yanfang has built her business around original IP products. With over 30 years of experience in handmade custom dolls, she has consistently prioritized developing in-house original characters and IP. In her early years, Wu specialized in high-end custom dolls, each priced at over 2,000. In 2023, she founded Yiwu DZPIPPI Toys Co., Ltd. and brought her brand onto Yiwugo, where she now offers original IP products like the rustic-style DZPIPPI doll and takes custom IP orders. Over the past three years, Wu has introduced machinery to scale production without compromising quality. What began with a single artisan spending seven days on one handmade doll has grown into a 200-employee factory producing around 5,000 pieces per day. Her design team led by four core members with over 30 years of combined experience includes several designers well-known in the industry. The team's talent shone through in 2024 with the launch of Mi Rabbit, an original IP pendant. Featuring a cute design, exquisite workmanship, and high-quality fabrics and filling, the product achieved an in-store conversion rate of over 80%. It sold more than 100,000 units in under a year, becoming a hit both online and in brick-and-mortar stores, with international buyers placing repeat orders. DZPIPPI tailors its products to different markets. In 2025, two girl-themed pendants designed for Japan resonated strongly with local tastes, earning particular praise for their fabric and color combinations, with single orders regularly exceeding 3,000 units. For Spain, a chick-shaped doll proved so popular that every Spanish customer who visited the store purchased one becoming something of a legendary design within the company. Domestically, an original dog-themed pillow perfectly captured consumer interest and now generates monthly sales of around 300,000. Another key strength of DZPIPPI is its skill in refining design details and improving client-supplied prototypes, making custom IP dolls more appealing and polished. A well-known Chinese IP company had approached multiple factories in Guangzhou and Yiwu before finally connecting with Wu through Yiwugo. Impressed by her design revisions and samples, the company placed an initial order of 10,000 dolls, and the partnership continues to this day. Amid the flourishing IP economy, Yiwugo has spent over ten years bringing the physical market online, fostering integration between online and offline, wholesale and retail, as well as domestic and international trade. This enables merchants to connect accurately with global buyers. Today, Yiwugo vendors are riding the wave of both IP licensing and original IP development, turning creativity into revenue and strengthening their brands. SOURCE Yiwugo.com NANJING, China, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 20, Nobel laureates, academicians, young scientists, and emerging R&D professionals from around the world gathered on the banks of the Yangtze River in Nanjing to explore ways to integrate scientific and industrial innovation. At the Nanjing Session of the World Youth Scientist Forum, Jiangbei New Area officially rolled out its 20 Measures for Youthful Development and Talent Aggregation in the New Area (hereinafter referred to as "the Measures"), issuing a global call to attract talents. The Measures lay out a seamlessly connected support system for talent attraction and cultivation, with targeted provisions covering diverse talent groups and their development needs: Leading scientists who lead the construction of major scientific facilities are entitled to combined support of up to RMB 100 million; top-tier experts can secure up to RMB 30 million in funding to advance the industrialization of their research findings. Major innovation platforms are permitted to establish distinguished or part-time positions, with each project supporting such roles eligible for up to RMB 2 million in backing. Enterprises that recruit high-level talents can receive an annual subsidy of up to RMB 1 million. For high-end talents (both domestic and overseas) participating in the "university-local joint appointment" initiative, a five-year salary subsidyequivalent to 30% of their annual salarywill be provided. To channel resources precisely into innovation and entrepreneurship, the Measures introduce a "use-first, pay-later" proof-of-concept program, which allocates up to RMB 5 million per project for concept validation and the maturation of pilot-scale initiatives. Frontier projects are supported through a "grant-plus-equity" scheme, offering a single flagship project up to RMB 30 million in funding. Talent-led enterprises that win science and technology grants at the provincial level or above receive up to RMB 20 million in matching funds, while those admitted to the national disruptive-technology shortlist secure up to RMB 10 million per project. Every year, district-level funds invest in no fewer than 150 projects, with each project receiving an average of no less than RMB 5 million. In addition, the policy rolls out concrete and robust measures to strengthen the protection of talents' rights, as well as their access to housing, medical care, and education. This builds a more attractive innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, allowing all types of talents in Jiangbei New Area to focus wholeheartedly on innovation and unite to pursue development. SOURCE World Youth Scientist Forum SINGAPORE, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced its entry into the Singapore market, joining hands with its partner ComfortDelGro, the largest local transportation service provider, to deploy autonomous vehicles and facilitate daily commuting for residents. The two companies plan to introduce autonomous mobility services initially in the Punggol area with fixed routes. They will begin services in the coming months after obtaining regulatory approval. The program aligns with Singapore's ambitious plan to introduce autonomous mobility solutions to supplement existing transportation infrastructuresuch as taxis, private hailing cars, and subwayswhile also providing services during off-peak hours, which have been consistently constrained by driver shortages. Pony.ai and ComfortDelGro have built a strong collaborative foundation prior to this Singapore initiative. The partnership began when the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2024, establishing a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the large-scale commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles. It was followed by a pilot program in Guangzhou, which was launched in March 2025 and served as a valuable precursor for their expanded efforts in Singapore. In June 2025, Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced a plan to deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs) in public housing estates by the end of the year, integrating them into the national public transport network. The initial rollout will focus on Punggol district. This initiative is part of a broader governmental effort to address driver shortages while enhancing connectivity across public transportation. Pony.ai Founder and CEO Dr. James Peng said: "We are thrilled to introduce Pony.ai's advanced autonomous driving technology to Singapore. By delivering safe, comfortable, and efficient autonomous mobility services, we are committed to enhancing local residents' daily commutes and advancing the nation's smart mobility vision." Mr. Cheng Siak Kian, Managing Director and Group CEO, ComfortDelGro said: "We are delighted to expand our partnership with Pony.ai to bring safe, innovative and reliable autonomous mobility services to communities in Singapore. Our successful collaboration in Guangzhou has provided a strong foundation for this next phase, combining Pony.ai's proven technology with our operational expertise and infrastructure capabilities. This partnership supports our vision for sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions that will benefit our communities." Pony.ai currently operates fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services in all four tier-1 cities in ChinaBeijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. These services cover an area of over 2,000 square kilometers. The company has accumulated over 50 million kilometers of autonomous driving mileage globally, demonstrating solid safety records and user satisfaction. Registered users on its ride-hailing platform surged 136% year-over-year in the second quarter. Even with a larger user base, its user satisfaction rate remains well above 4.8 out of 5. Globally, Pony.ai has been steadily expanding its footprint. The most recent development came two weeks ago when it announced its partnership with Qatar's premier transportation service provider Mowasalat "Karwa" to bring autonomous vehicles to the country's roads. This further strengthened Pony.ai's presence in the Middle East, building upon the company's partnership with Dubai's RTA, as well as its cooperation with Uber in the region. Furthermore, Pony.ai is also conducting on-road testing in Luxembourg with local partner Emile Weber, and 24/7 testing in Seoul's Gangnam district. "Singapore has world-class transportation infrastructure, and its government is very supportive in developing autonomous mobility to help build a green and sustainable future. We see great potential in the local market as well as the broader Southeast Asian markets. Combining our technology with ComfortDelGro's extensive local expertise, we hope to use Singapore as a launchpad to explore more opportunities in the region," said Peng. SOURCE Pony.ai CEO Justin Catlett and VP of Sales Ray Napoletano will highlight lessons from years of Metaswitch deployments and explore strategies for growth with cloud-native CX SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Reinvent Telecom, a provider of wholesale unified communications, collaboration and contact center solutions, today announced that two Reinvent executives Justin Catlett, CEO, and Ray Napoletano, Vice President of Sales, for Saddleback Communications, Reinvent's parent company will be featured speakers at Alianza Navigate 25, September 21-24 in Salt Lake City. Their participation underscores Reinvent's deep expertise with Metaswitch and its thought leadership in customer experience (CX) at this first major gathering of Alianza and Metaswitch customers since Alianza's acquisition of Metaswitch in March 2025. As one of the largest and longest-standing Metaswitch partners, Reinvent brings unmatched experience helping service providers deploy and scale the platform. Catlett and Napoletano will share insights into how service providers can continue to capitalize on the platform's flexibility and value, while also highlighting the transformative potential of Alianza's new Contact Center CX solution to drive differentiation and revenue growth. "As a longtime Metaswitch partner, Reinvent was built on the idea of helping other providers navigate the same challenges we faced as a service provider," said Catlett. "Our roots in Saddleback Communications taught us the importance of doing right by our customers and community. That principle guides Reinvent today. We take on the heavy technical lifting, giving our partners platforms, tools and experts so they can focus on growth and delivering value to their customers. With Alianza breathing new life into the Metaswitch platform, we see tremendous opportunity to continue helping service providers be successful." "Navigate 25 is about transformation and for our partners, that transformation starts with CX," said Napoletano. "Contact Center CX is not just a value-add, it's a growth engine. It empowers service providers to go beyond dial tone and solve customer problems while driving meaningful revenue in today's highly competitive market." Reinvent Sessions at Alianza Navigate 25 Don't miss these sessions: Real Stories, Real Impact: A Metaswitch Success Story Justin Catlett , CEO of Saddleback & Reinvent Telecom, will join Jay Weber , Vice President of Sales at Alianza, to discuss Reinvent's experience with Metaswitch and its ongoing role in modern communications in a session at 4:45- 5:10 p.m. on September 21 . , CEO of Saddleback & Reinvent Telecom, will join , Vice President of Sales at Alianza, to discuss Reinvent's experience with Metaswitch and its ongoing role in modern communications in a session at 4:45- on . Cloud Compass: Modernizing With Contact Center-as-a-Service Ray Napoletano , Vice President of Sales at Saddleback, will join Jesse Lee , Vice President of Product Management at Alianza, to introduce Alianza's Contact Center CX and discuss how providers can modernize and grow with cloud-native CX in a session at 9:40-10:20 a.m. on September 23 . About Reinvent Telecom Reinvent Telecom, a division of Saddleback Communications, operates a private-label communications platform that empowers its white-label wholesale and co-branded partners to transform their businesses into next-generation cloud-based communications service providers. Reinvent enables its reseller partners to deliver reliable, high-quality Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Conferencing and Collaboration, Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), Business Messaging, Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams and SIP trunking services. Reinvent's solutions are all built on proven platforms and backed by Saddleback Communications, a stable, profitable Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier and a wholly-owned enterprise of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). Reinvent's powerful turnkey solutions are managed from quote to compensation through its proprietary Reinvent Partner Portal (RPP), enabling its reseller partners to generate revenue quickly and build a successful cloud voice business while keeping full ownership and control of their customers. For more information, visit us at www.reinventtelecom.com. SOURCE Reinvent Telecom BENGALURU, India, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasken Technologies Limited, a leader in product engineering and digital transformation, today announced its strategic partnership with VicOne, an automotive cybersecurity solutions leader, to strengthen in-vehicle and fleet-wide cybersecurity for global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. VicOne is the Trend Micro subsidiary. VicOne brings its End-to-end automotive cybersecurity solution, including xCarbon (in-vehicle intrusion detection and prevention system), vSOC (fleet monitoring and response), and EVSE Security (electric vehicle charging infrastructure protection) to the partnership. Purpose-built for vehicles and EV charging infrastructure, VicOne's solutions provide fleet-scale visibility, actionable intelligence, and contextual insights into emerging threats, backed by proven automotive cybersecurity expertise and the industry's most comprehensive threat intelligence, enriched with over 70 million new data entries every month. As part of the collaboration, Sasken will leverage its over three decades of engineering, validation, and system integration expertise to co-sell, integrate, and operationalize VicOne's cybersecurity solutions. This partnership will enable OEMs and Tier-1s to deploy cybersecurity at scale across ECUs, operating systems, and cloud systems, with audit-ready evidence, reduced investigation time, and hardened charging infrastructure. With this partnership, Sasken and VicOne are also exchanging competencies. Training Sasken engineers on core VicOne technologies, enabling strategic system integration opportunities for VicOne, besides working closely together so Sasken engineers can deliver advanced automotive security options for higher-level platforms, OEMs, operating systems, and services. On the occasion, Rahul Bagchi, AVP, Cybersecurity Practice, Sasken Technologies, said: "At Sasken, we are excited to partner with VicOne to address one of the most pressing challenges in the automotive industry -cybersecurity. Combining VicOne's proven platforms with Sasken's engineering and integration expertise, we will help OEMs and Tier-1s deploy secure, scalable, and audit-ready solutions across vehicles and fleets. Together, we are enabling faster launches, stronger protection, and end-to-end confidence for the connected and electric mobility ecosystem." Baker Lu, Senior Sales Director, VicOne, added: "VicOne's mission is to safeguard vehicles and connected mobility. Partnering with Sasken marks a significant step forward, uniting their engineering and integration expertise with our cybersecurity solutionsxCarbon, xNexus, and EV Charging Protectionfor seamless deployment across vehicle platforms and charging infrastructure. Together, we look forward to supporting OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in meeting regulatory requirements, addressing evolving threats, and reinforcing user trust in the global connected mobility ecosystem." With connected vehicles and EV infrastructure increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyber threats, the Sasken-VicOne partnership will provide a future-ready, end-to-end cybersecurity framework for the automotive industry, helping manufacturers and fleets safeguard vehicles, accelerate compliance, and protect users with confidence. About Sasken: Sasken is a specialist in Product Engineering and Digital Transformation providing concept-to-market, chip-to-cognition R&D services to global leaders in Semiconductor, Automotive, Industrials, Consumer Electronics, Enterprise Devices, SatCom, Telecom, and Transportation industries. For over 30 years and with multiple patents, Sasken has transformed the businesses of 100+ Fortune 500 companies, powering more than a billion devices through its services and IP. For more information, visit www.sasken.com To learn more about VicOne, visit https://vicone.com/ Media Contact: Rekha Sahay Ghosh Head of Marketing & Communications E: [email protected] T: +91 080 6694 3009 Disclaimer on Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements due to risks or uncertainties associated with our expectations with respect to, but not limited to, our ability to successfully implement our strategy and our growth and expansion plans, technological changes, our exposure to market risks, general economic and political conditions which have an impact on our business activities or investments, changes in the laws and regulations that apply to the services industry, including with respect to tax incentives and export benefits, adverse changes in foreign laws, including those relating to outsourcing and immigration, increasing competition in and the conditions of the Indian and global IT services industry, the prices we are able to obtain for our services, wage levels in for IT professionals, the loss of significant customers, the monetary policies in India and globally, inflation, deflation, unanticipated turbulence in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices or other rates or prices, the performance of the financial markets in India and globally. The Company may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Stock Exchanges and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/820857/5518669/Sasken_Technologies_Limited_Logo.jpg SOURCE Sasken Technologies Ltd. The art installation the first that Tunick has carried out in Andalusia took place in an olive grove near Granada. Generous and adventurous participants from across Spain and other 25 countries, engaged into the natural landscape, creating an image of striking visual and symbolic impact. Jesus Rosado has taken part in all the installations that Spencer Tunick has carried out in Spain: San Sebastian, Barcelona, and Valencia. "It is a unique experience that is worth living once in a lifetime because it stays with you forever," he said. Petri and Heidi are a married couple who came from Finland just for the occasion. "What is truly beautiful about this installation is being together, feeling human, all equal in our differences," they declared. The artist, internationally renowned for his photographic compositions featuring nude people in public spaces, emphasized at the end of the event "I have always wanted to use green body paint into my work, I have had this idea for 15 years, to somehow bring the bodies visually closer to nature and at the same time add a heightened element of surrealism. Green has been used in the past by artists to create utopic landscapes that blend surrealism and fantasy. Now was my turn to give green a try". For his part, Mahou San Miguel's Chief Marketing Officer, Emmanuel Pouey, said that "Spencer Tunick's art installation is a celebration of Andalusian identity and the Sin Prisa (Unhurried) philosophy that has guided Cervezas Alhambra for one hundred years, taking the time necessary to create works that, like Retrato Alhambra 1925, will live on in our memory." The final image from the installation will be unveiled in the very near future as a tribute from Cervezas Alhambra to Andalusia in its centenary year, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to supporting artists, culture, and its deep ties to the region. About Spencer Tunick Spencer Tunick stages scenes in which the battle of nature against culture is played out against various backdrops, from civic center to desert sandstorm, man and woman are returned to a preindustrial, pre-everything state of existence. Tunick has traveled the globe to create installations of multiple nude figures in public settings. Organizing groups from a handful of participants to tens of thousands, all volunteers, is often logistically daunting; the subsequent images transcend ordinary categories and meld photography. sculpture and performance in a new genre. Please visit the artist's Instagram: @spencertunick /https://www.instagram.com/spencertunick About Cervezas Alhambra Founded in 1925 in the city of Granada, Cervezas Alhambra has been part of the 100% Spanish-owned family company Mahou San Miguel since 2007 and is a leader in the Spanish beer sector, brewing high-quality beers for decades using meticulous, craft brewing processes. Its product range includes ten beers: Alhambra Reserva 1925, Alhambra Reserva Roja, Alhambra Reserva Citra IPA, Alhambra Especial, Alhambra Radler, Alhambra Tradicional, Alhambra Sin and Las Numeradas, all characterized by their exceptional quality and unique taste. For more information, please visit the Cervezas Alhambra website: www.cervezasalhambra.es About Mahou San Miguel A 100% Spanish, family-owned company and a leader in the beverage sector, Mahou San Miguel operates 12 breweriesnine in Spain and three in the United Statesalong with four water springs and a team of over 4,100 professionals. The company produces nearly 70% of the Spanish beer consumed internationally and is present in more than 70 countries. With a history spanning more than 130 years, Mahou was founded in 1890. Over the years, it has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions: San Miguel in 2000, the Canary Islands brand Reina in 2004, Cervezas Alhambra in 2007, and the premium water brand Solan de Cabras in 2011, marking its diversification into non-beer beverages. Since 2019, the company has also held a majority stake in U.S. craft breweries Founders Brewing and Avery Brewing. Its wide-ranging portfolio includes iconic national beers such as Mahou Cinco Estrellas, San Miguel Especial, and Alhambra Reserva 1925, alongside a selection of international beers. It is also known for innovative and category-defining products like San Miguel 0.0, Mahou Barrica, and Mahou 0.0 Tostada, as well as natural mineral water brands including the iconic Solan de Cabras. It has also been a pioneer in the sector by launching its e-commerce platform: Tienda Mahou San Miguel. With a focus on people and contributing to the economic and social progress of our country, it's a socially responsible company that channels its social action through the Mahou San Miguel Foundation, created in 2013. SOURCE Cervezas Alhambra 21 % more press release views with Request a Demo Exodus Movement, the crypto firm that pioneered tokenized equity, saw its shares climb nearly 10% over the past month. | Credit: Pexels. Key Takeaways Exodus Movements shares (EXOD) have risen nearly 10% in the past month, closing at $29.26 on Sept. 19. Exodus was the first U.S.-listed company to tokenize its common stock in 2021. Tokenized stocks are gaining traction, with companies like Galaxy also offering similar options. Exodus Movement, the crypto software firm that pioneered tokenized equity, has seen its shares climb nearly 10% over the past month, outpacing the broader market. The Nebraska-based company, which trades on the NYSE American under the ticker EXOD, gained another 3% on Thursday, Sept. 19. Exodus Stock Surges While U.S. equity indices such as the S&P 500 have remained relatively flat in recent weeks, Exoduss continued rally highlights growing enthusiasm for the firm. At the time of reporting, EXOD was trading at $29.26, marking a 3.61% daily increase from $28.72 on September 18. Exodus Movement stock has surged | Credit: Trading View Over the past month, the stock has risen by 9.96%. Whether this surge signals sustained momentum or simply reflects crypto-driven exuberance remains uncertain. Tokenization Push Exodus became the first U.S.-listed company to tokenize its common stock in 2021, initially issuing digital representations of its Class A shares on the Algorand blockchain. In August, it expanded these efforts through a partnership with fintech startup Superstate, announcing plans to extend its stock tokens to other major blockchains. The collaboration leveraged Opening Bell, Superstates issuance platform, enabling Exodus to launch stock tokens on Solana first, with Ethereum and other chains to follow. This lays the foundation for the future of finance and digital asset adoption, said Exodus CEO JP Richardson at the time. Tokenized Stocks Are Growing, Regulation Remains Sluggish Tokenized stocks are gaining traction across fintech companies. On Sept. 3, Galaxy announced it would allow stockholders to tokenize shares on Superstates Opening Bell platform. These are not derivatives or representations; they are Galaxy Digital Class A Common Stock, with all the rights that confers, Galaxy stated. In the U.S., however, regulations around tokenized stocks continue to lag behind adoption. Anti-crypto Senator Elizabeth Warren recently warned that companies could soon be able to put themselves on the blockchain and no longer [be] governed by the SEC. The post Exodus Jumps 10% in Past Month, Outpacing Market as First US Public Company To Tokenize Common Stock appeared first on ccn.com. VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The RevoluGROUP Proxy Shareholder Group (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt: IJA2), (Munich: A2PU92), representing over 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSXV: REVO), issues this release in direct response to ongoing failures in governance, transparency, and fiduciary accountability. Potential Liquidation of Corporate Assets by an Illegitimate Board We have carefully reviewed the company's unsigned news release of September 16th. Buried in the language is a passage that deserves shareholders' full attention. The Board writes: "REVO's role is to act as the investment company that nurtures these opportunities while keeping RevoluPAY secure and structurally independent." "we may spin them off or partner strategically, creating multiple layers of value for shareholders." On the surface, this looks like harmless "growth strategy" language. But read carefully: "Structurally independent" This is not routine phrasing. Along with the Travel division, which historically generated 80% of revenue, RevoluPAY is one of the company's only revenue-producing subsidiaries and has been repeatedly described as the Group's "anchor asset." Suggesting it should become "structurally independent" implies a legal and financial separation from the listed parent. "Spin them off" This is a clear reference to taking subsidiaries, including RevoluPAY, out of the listed vehicle. Without oversight, shareholders could be left holding an empty shell while the real assets are shifted elsewhere. Why delisting matters On the TSXV, significant asset sales, spin-offs, or restructurings require shareholder approval and regulatory review. If REVO were delisted, those protections vanish. Management could transfer or privatize RevoluPAY (or any other subsidiary) with minimal disclosure and without a vote. Once delisted, management could transfer assets without oversight, leaving shareholders with no recourse. Make no mistake: the release was crafted to sound reassuring while quietly preserving the option to strip RevoluPAY from the listed company. This is not in shareholders' interests. The Proxy Group opposes any attempt to delist or spin off RevoluPAY (or any other asset) without full shareholder approval. Audit Misrepresentation The Sept 16 release falsely claims that former directors' refusal to sign "confirmation statements" prevents completion of the audit. Under Canadian GAAS, CAS 580 requires written representations from current management, not past directors. CAS 505 and CAS 705 provide alternative procedures or opinion modification where evidence is lacking audits are never left unfinished because of ex-directors. Under IFRS (IAS 24), responsibility for related-party disclosure lies with the reporting entity, meaning current management. RevoluGROUP already has one director, Gavin McMillan, who served throughout the audit period and signed all interim filings. Responsibility for the audit rests with him. The Sept 16 statement is therefore a material misrepresentation under both GAAS and IFRS. Governance Failures and Shareholder Rights RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. has not held an Annual General Meeting since January 15, 2024, in direct violation of the BC Business Corporations Act (s.182), which requires every public company to convene an AGM once per calendar year and within 15 months of the last meeting. As a result, two of the current directors have never been elected by shareholders. This leaves the board without democratic legitimacy, in breach of both the BCBCA and TSXV Policy 3.2 Continuous Disclosure, which requires listed issuers to comply with corporate law. Adding to these breaches, shareholders representing more than 10% of the company's issued and outstanding shares submitted a formal requisition under BCBCA s.167 for the inclusion of an additional director nominated by the Proxy Group. The company initially acknowledged this on June 17, 2025, calling it a constructive step, but later stonewalled and refused to act. By doing so, the current board has violated not only the BCBCA but also the spirit of TSXV Policy 3.1 Directors, Officers, and Corporate Governance, which requires that directors be appropriately elected and shareholder rights respected. Illegitimate Directors of RevoluGROUP According to the company's own April 21, 2025, news release, Mr. Chris Becker and Mr. Mab (Jerry) Shahriar were appointed to the board after the statutory deadline for holding an AGM had already passed. The last AGM was on January 15, 2024, and under the BCBCA, a new AGM was required no later than April 15, 2025. By appointing Becker and Shahriar on April 21, 2025 more than 15 months after the last AGM and without shareholder ratification the Board acted outside the bounds of corporate law. Both appointees have therefore never been elected by shareholders. Their continued service is illegitimate under the BCBCA and in breach of TSXV Policy 3.1, which requires shareholder-ratified boards. Possible Personal Liability The only director currently holding a valid shareholder mandate is Mr. McMillan, elected at the January 15, 2024 AGM. As the sole legitimately elected director, he bears fiduciary duties under the BCBCA to ensure compliance with the law. His failure to convene the required AGM not only entrenches illegitimate appointees but also exposes him personally to liability under the oppression remedy (BCBCA s.227) for conduct that unfairly disregards the rights of shareholders. Call to Action The Proxy Group calls upon the current board to immediately convene an AGM within seven days of this release. If the board fails to act, we will seek court intervention and pursue director liability remedies. Until lawful governance is restored, every decision of this board rests on shaky legal ground. We urge all shareholders to contact the TSX Venture Exchange and the British Columbia Securities Commission to demand clarification and regulatory enforcement. The future of RevoluGROUP and its assets depends on it. SOURCE Proxy Group RevoluGROUP President Trump's push to shift from quarterly to semiannual earnings reports is stirring controversy among business leaders. Some, however, aren't too worried. "I don't think it would necessarily change the decisions that we're making internally," Expedia Group (EXPE) CEO Ariane Gorin told Yahoo Finance. She added that, while quarterly earnings are an "external process," the company is focused on creating long-term shareholder value. Shares of Expedia are up 20% year to date and 59% in the past 12 months. In Q2, the company posted results that beat on top and bottom lines. Revenue came in at $3.79 billion, above consensus estimates of $3.71 billion, according to Bloomberg data. Earnings per share were $4.24, topping the $3.97 forecast. Gorin described a travel market of "ups and downs," noting softness in US demand during Q2 but resilience among higher-income travelers. "People still want to travel," she said, pointing to increased traffic in July and August compared to last year. Forward bookings remain a key metric, with trends shaped by events and holidays, Gorin said. She also described the use of AI as the company's "third wave," after online and mobile. AI is helping travelers plan trips, generate itineraries, and summarize hotel reviews, per Gorin. Analysts largely agreed that Expedia's Q2 performance shows areas of strength and challenge. JPMorgan's Doug Anmuth noted the companys B2B and advertising businesses remain robust. B2B gross bookings and revenue grew 17% and 15%, respectively, while advertising revenue increased 19%. However, consumer-facing brands like Hotels.com and Vrbo are still recovering from multiyear tech migrations, weighing on overall growth. "We remain Neutral rated on EXPE shares as we look for signs of sustained & broad-based improvement in execution," Anmuth wrote, setting a December 2026 price target of $225. Evercore analyst Mark Mahaney reiterated an Outperform rating, lifting his price target to $280 from $230 after what he called a "beat and raise" quarter. Mahaney highlighted the company's Q3 guidance for covering bookings, revenue, and EBITDA "came in above the Street." He also pointed to management's raised 2025 outlook, including 3% to 5% revenue growth and slightly higher margin expansion. Like Anmuth, Mahaney pointed to weakness in the US but emphasized international growth and the strength of Expedia's B2B and advertising businesses. "Northern Europe and APAC were areas of strength with Japan and Brazil seeing +20% growth, respectively," he wrote. 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 What's at Stake: The Fed issues prohibition orders against individuals convicted of crimes to ensure they do not work again in the banking industry. Key Insight: The employees were found to have illegally accessed customer information and embezzled from a bank customer, respectively. Forward Look: The individuals were caught and no longer work at their respective banks. Two former bank employees at two different banks have been kicked out of the banking industry for breaking the law and engaging in "personal dishonesty," for misappropriating customer data and stealing money from a customer's bank account, the Federal Reserve Board said. On Thursday, the Federal Reserve released consent orders prohibiting the former bank employees Rahimlen Dean, a former teller at $210 billion-asset M&T Bank, in Buffalo, New York, and Jerman McGlown, a former wire transfer administrator at $82.1 billion-asset First Horizon, in Memphis from working in any capacity in the industry. Both former bank employees were convicted of a crime, which prompts the Fed to issue a so-called Section 19 letter advising the individual that they have been prohibited from the banking industry due to a conviction "or other criminal disposition with respect to certain categories of crimes." Such letters are issued by the Federal Reserve Bank on behalf of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., under Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and require the individual to obtain a waiver from the FDIC before participating in the banking industry. In May 2023, Dean accessed a customer's bank account and stole $5,239.79 to pay down her own credit card balance, according to the Fed's consent order . Two weeks later, Dean ordered a debit card linked to the customer's account and, in a series of transactions spanning several months, used the debit card to withdraw $25,015.50 from the account for her personal benefit, the order states. Dean worked as a bank teller for just over two years, starting in 2021. Meanwhile, McGlown, the former wire transfer administrator at First Horizon, used his position to obtain confidential customer information, which he then gave to a third party, who used the information to impersonate customers and initiate fraudulent wire transfers from customers' accounts. First Horizon sustained a loss of $42,000 from the scheme. The Fed said that the conduct of Dean and McGlown constituted violations of law or regulation, unsafe or unsound banking practices, breaches of fiduciary duty and involved personal dishonesty and a disregard for each bank's safety and soundness. Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FMCC) also known as Freddie Mac is having a stellar year on Wall Street this year. President Donald Trump announced that he is giving very serious consideration to privatizing the GSE, alongside the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), commonly known as Fannie Mae. The U.S. Treasury owns preferred shares and warrants for the majority of the GSEs common stock after a bailout during the 2008 financial crisis. However, despite the optimism, any move to offload stakes may face resistance from Congress, as privatization could lead to higher mortgage rates or destabilize the housing market. More News from Barchart While there appears to be ample time before any move materializes, that didnt stop Deutsche Bank from initiating coverage on Freddie Mac with a Buy rating and a $25 price target. The bank's analysis indicates that the business is now essentially de-risked and generating returns. About Freddie Mac Stock Freddie Mac is a GSE based in McLean, Virginia. Founded in 1970, it plays a vital role in the U.S. housing finance system by purchasing home loans from lenders and converting them into mortgage-backed securities (MBS) for sale to investors. This helps free up capital, allowing lenders to offer more mortgages. Freddie Mac supports both single-family and multi-family housing sectors and collaborates with financial institutions to maintain market liquidity. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.7 billion. By managing risk and strengthening the secondary mortgage market, the organization helps ensure that Americans have consistent access to home financing, even during periods of economic uncertainty or housing downturns. Its operations are central to maintaining housing market stability. With hopes of a potential privatization, FMCC stock has been skyrocketing for quite some time now. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has gained 947%. It reached a 52-week high of $14.99 on Sept. 12, but shares are down 13% from this high. So far this year, the stock has increased by 297%. www.barchart.com FMCC stock is relatively undervalued. Its price sits at 0.07 times sales, which is far lower than the industry average. UK construction group Galliford Try has posted a profit before tax of 45m ($60.73m) for the financial year to 30 June 2025 (FY25), its highest since it became a standalone construction business in 2020. The adjusted operating margin for the division reached 3.0%, up by 42 basis points, meeting its previously stated margin target one year ahead of schedule. Revenue rose by 6% to 1.9bn, driven by expansion in both core operations and higher-margin specialist services. Average month-end cash increased to 179m from 155m in the previous financial year. The FY25 order book stands at a record 4.1bn, with most work secured for the next two years - 92% for FY26 and 75% for FY27. The company cited continued public spending commitments from the government, highlighted in the June Spending Review. Galliford Try completed a 10m share buyback programme started in October 2024 and has announced a new 10m buyback initiative. Galliford Try chief executive Bill Hocking said: Our dedication to careful risk management, group balance sheet strength, professional and committed teams and collaborative quality-focused relationships with clients and suppliers have all contributed to this fifth year of sequential growth. As a UK-only contractor with a track record of delivery in water, highways, defence, custodial, education and affordable homes, we are uniquely positioned to support the UKs key areas of future spend and investment. The groups major framework successes and growing high-quality sector-focused order book provide clear visibility and security of future workloads well beyond the current financial year. We are confident in the outlook for group, our strategy to 2030 and commitment to continue to deliver long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders. "Galliford Try reports PBT of 45m in FY25" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. By Kane Wu (Reuters) -U.S. medical device maker GE Healthcare is working with advisers to explore options for its China unit including an outright sale, a person with knowledge of the discussions said on Friday. It is also looking at finding a partner in China or selling a stake in the unit, said the person who declined to be identified as the information was confidential. The China unit would likely be valued in the billions of dollars but discussions are still at early stages and a more precise number is hard to pinpoint, the person said. Bloomberg first reported on Thursday that GE Healthcare is exploring options for its China unit including the sale of a stake, citing people familiar with the matter. GE Healthcare, which has a market value of some $34 billion, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday about whether it may sell the entire unit. A spokesperson said on Thursday the company does not respond to market rumors, adding that it remains committed to supporting patients in China. GE Healthcare makes CT and MRI scanners as well as range of other devices in China and has six manufacturing bases there. It saw revenue from the region decline by about 15% in 2024, hurt by tariffs. The company's chief financial officer said in July that GE will continue to work with its suppliers to move capacity to more tariff-friendly geographies. Political tensions, fierce domestic competition as well as China's slowing economic growth are eroding the confidence of U.S. companies operating there. Only 41% of U.S. firms were optimistic about their five-year China business outlook, a drop of six percentage points from last year, according to the survey published this month by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. This was the weakest level of optimism reported since the survey was introduced in 1999. U.S. drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb said on Tuesday it has signed an agreement to sell its 60% stake in a pharmaceutical joint venture in China. (Reporting by Kane Wu; Additional reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru and Andrew Silver in Shanghai; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB) is one of the 9 Most Profitable Penny Stocks to Buy Right Now. Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB) is scheduled to release its third-quarter 2025 earnings on October 30, 2025. Wall Street projects the company to post $0.57 in adjusted earnings per share and approximately $3.37 billion in revenue. Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB) achieved $3.13 billion in revenue during Q2 2025, missing the estimates by $60.68 million. The adjusted earnings came in at $0.08 per share, short of the estimates of $0.10. The company suffered as the Brazilian market faced challenges due to excessive steel imports, with an import penetration rate of 23.4%, which impacted domestic operations. Gerdau Scheduled to Release Q3 2025 Earnings on October 30, Here's What Wall Street Expects? Despite facing issues in the South, the companys North American operations achieved the highest all-time share in results, contributing 61% to EBITDA. Gerdaus Q2 net income was around $161.22 million, up 14% from Q1 2025. The companys major concern remains the reduction in its production pace in Brazilian operations due to ongoing CapEx projects. Gerdau expects a reduction in global CapEx disbursement from 2026, which could affect future investments in Brazil. Out of the 12 analyst rating Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB), the majority of analysts rate the stock a Buy. As of September 16, Gerdau S.A.s (NYSE:GGB) average price target of $4, based on analysts estimates, implies an upside of nearly 27.33% from current levels. Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB) is a steel producer and operates along with its subsidiaries. The company has operations across South America and North America and operates through Brazil Business, North America Business, South America Business, and Special Steel Business segments. While we acknowledge the potential of GGB as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. With significant hedge fund interest, New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD) secures a spot on our list of the 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now. New Gold Inc. (NGD) Reaches Its 52-Week High On September 5, 2025, New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD) achieved a significant milestone when its stock surged to a 52-week high of $6.29, representing an incredible 168.88% gain over the previous 12 months. The companys progress is supported by strong fundamentals, including $518.2 million in EBITDA and 27.24% revenue growth over the last 12 months, and its market value is close to $5 billion. The spike demonstrates growing investor trust in New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD)s operational prowess and capacity for steady expansion, establishing it as a noteworthy outperformer in the gold mining industry. The Rainy River mine and the New Afton project are among the main operations of New Gold Inc. (NYSE:NGD), an intermediate gold mining company based in Canada. It is one of the Best Gold Stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of NGD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 15 Stocks That Will Benefit From AI and 12 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts. Disclosure: None. 2013 HBS MBA Vladimir Artamonov has been arrested and indicted in federal court on fraud and other charges Vladimir Artamonov, a 2013 graduate of Harvard Business School, has been indicted in federal court for allegedly defrauding classmates and other investors out of more than $4 million, according to reports in multiple news outlets. Artamonov was arrested earlier this week in Elkridge, Maryland, and charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Federal prosecutors say he promised astronomical returns based on a secretive investment strategy he called Project Information Arbitrage, which he claimed could predict Berkshire Hathaways next big moves by analyzing insurance filings. Instead, according to the indictment, he used investor funds to make high-risk short-term options trades, covered up losses with misleading reports, and paid early investors with money from new ones the classic mechanics of a Ponzi scheme. Prosecutors say less than $400,000 of the $4 million raised has been returned. BETRAYED INVESTORS, INCLUDING FRIENDS AND FORMER CLASSMATES Vladimir Artamonov. LinkedIn photo Artamonov now faces decades in prison if convicted. He was released on $300,000 bail on the condition that he have no contact with victims or witnesses. Vladimir Artamonov betrayed investors, including friends and former Ivy League classmates, by promising a low-risk, high-return investment strategy, when in fact he gambled away investor money, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement quoted by Reuters. Prosecutors say Artamonov told one investor, It will be your best investment. The insight is air tight a line cited in the criminal complaint and reported by AP. The case is the latest twist in a financial scandal that first surfaced in February 2024, when New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil suit against Artamonov and his fund. That complaint alleged that at least 29 investors most of them fellow Harvard Business School alumni were defrauded out of $2.9 million, and that one early investor who lost $100,000 subsequently died by suicide. CIVIL CASE FIRST EXPOSED ALUMNI NETWORK FRAUD In the civil complaint, AG James alleged that Artamonov used his HBS pedigree to build credibility and lure investors from within his personal and professional circles. The pitch was unusually specific: by analyzing insurance filings from Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries, he claimed he could detect the companys trading patterns and front-run its market moves. Key Points It is a good time to invest in healthcare stocks. Investors should look into Pfizer and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Pfizer's financial results and pipeline have improved, which should allow it to overcome upcoming headwinds. Vertex Pharmaceuticals is becoming more diversified while maintaining its high-performing core franchise. 10 stocks we like better than Pfizer According to some research, healthcare stocks are about as cheap as they have been in three decades. Many have experienced significant headwinds recently, but for opportunistic investors, now may be a great time to explore the industry for potential deals. Plenty of promising, yet beaten-down, healthcare stocks can be had at reasonable valuations relative to their growth potential. Two that are worth serious consideration are Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX). Here's more on these drugmakers. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Pfizer Pfizer is staring down the barrel of several patent cliffs that should happen by the end of the decade. For example, the company's anticoagulant, Eliquis, will lose patent exclusivity by 2029 at the latest. The market is factoring that in, and in addition to the poor financial results Pfizer has produced lately, it explains its terrible performance on the market over the past few years. However, Pfizer is rebounding. In the second quarter, Pfizer's revenue increased by 10% year over year to $14.7 billion. The company's adjusted earnings per share grew 30% year over year to $0.78. These are strong results for a pharmaceutical giant. Furthermore, Pfizer's pipeline should enable it to overcome the upcoming loss of patent exclusivity. The company has earned approval for several new products in recent years that are still in their early growth stages, especially considering that some of them are expected to receive label expansions. Abrysvo, a vaccine for the respiratory syncytial virus, is one such newer product whose second-quarter revenue increased by 155% year over year to $143 million. Elsewhere, Pfizer has significantly improved its pipeline in recent years through licensing deals in acquisitions. The company's oncology pipeline appears particularly promising, boasting dozens of programs, at least some of which should yield excellent clinical results in the coming years. Lastly, Pfizer has been engaged in cost-cutting efforts. The company is on track to deliver net cost savings of $4.5 billion by the end of the year and $7.2 billion by the end of 2027. These initiatives should help boost Pfizer's bottom line, and they are even more important considering President Trump's aggressive tariffs. New York Comic Con will make its way back to the Javits Center October 912 with more than 200,000 fans expected to attend. And this year, the largest pop culture event in North America will see a star player return to the show floor after a 13-year absence: DC Comics, anchoring a newly designed area exclusive to comics publishers. DC plans to debut a huge two-level booth spotlighting the first decade of its 100-year publishing history. Also from the comics giant is an array of panels including one detailing the return of Vertigo, the influential mature comics line that shuttered in 2020, moderated by line editor Chris Conroy. Were excited to be back with DC fans in New York, and back on the main floor of NYCC, said Anne DePies, DCs SVP and general manager. As we charge ahead toward DCs 100th anniversary, our booth brings the entire DC Universe to life with a nod to the golden age of comics. The revamped area for comics publishers arrives alongside new business and networking opportunities. This year, the 45,000-sq.-ft. River Pavilion space will be entirely dedicated to professionals, including a Press and Pro Lounge equipped with Wi-Fi and stocked with coffee and (possibly) even snacksall hot commodities amid the winding refreshments lines and characteristically spotty conference center internet offerings. A separate Content Creators Lounge and two professional programming stages will offer even more to doand more places to schmoozeand the cosplay area has been moved to a hall on the Javitss first level. The changes should prove welcome. In previous years, the front part of the River Pavilion was given over to cosplay services, repair shops, and meetups, forcing professionals racing to last-minute meetings to navigate crowds of posing Deadpools and Monkey D. Luffys. In other words, this years con wont cater as aggressively to the needs of fans. Showrunner Kristina Rogers, VP of the ReedPop comics portfolio, says the con is giving pros more space to mingle following continued requests. NYCC parent company ReedPop conducts a number of surveys after each years show, and whenever professionals answer questions about what they want, its always amenities and more space, she says. I think itll be a nice little vibea good break from the show floor. The con will also offer five days of professional programming. Retailers Day, which debuted last year on the Wednesday before the show, will be held again this year, on Wednesday, October 8. The program will include presentations from ComicsPro, Lunar Distribution, Tiny Onion, and Topps. DC president, publisher, and CCO Jim Lee and Image Comics president Todd McFarlane, both comics legends, will also be on site to chat with retailers. Attendees will have plenty of questions as the bankruptcy proceedings at Diamond Comic Distributors continue to messily unfold, and many of the players that stepped up to fill the vacuum in direct market distributionincluding both the upstart Lunar and Universal Publishing, now a Diamond co-ownerwill be on hand on Wednesday to answer them. And intellectual property and media lawyer Thomas A. Crowell and the National Academy of Continuing Legal Education will present panels that day on law in the comics industry and the hottest topic of all, artificial intelligence. The ICv2 Conference, including ICv2 founder Milton Griepps presentation of his annual white paper on the health of the comics business, and a comics industry mixer sponsored by Comics Sketch Art are slated as usual for Thursday. The New York Public Library will once again offer programming on Thursday as well, and the New York City Department of Education will host a panel marking five years of its Civics for All Comics Group, which has printed five million educational comics for free distribution around the city. And Friday will see the debut of a new event, the PopCultr Marketing Summit, held in partnership with marketing and events agency Experience12, featuring sessions on live events, tabletop games, and the rise of anime. Rogers says ReedPop hopes to grow NYCCs role in facilitating comics industry connections. We want to make it valuable as a professional destination, says Rogers. Its an expensive show to do, and we need to offer valuenot just for connecting with new and existing customers but for finding new licenses, getting new product, and finding a new vendor for producing that product. A lot of things are changing, and this is at least carving out a space to help and support that. Left unsaid is the cons need to entice more comics publishers to participate in the show after several years of dwindling booth numbers. Rogers says that so far, the new plan is working, pointing to the return of DC to the show floor. Almost every single publisher is participating in industry programming this year, she notes. And the ones that are doing programming but not exhibiting will have a chance to come see the show and figure out if theres something were missing. Publishers seem enthused about the opportunities. I think this is a good move, says Allison Marie Pond, VP of marketing at Mad Cave Studios. Just understanding the climate and the way that the con is evolving. While San Diego Comic-Con is better known for its myriad meeting opportunities, if NYCC is creating a space for it, people will show up and a lot of great opportunities will come from it, Pond adds. Its always about connecting creators, readers, and fandoms, and theres no way to create those really magical moments, except by coming together in person. Mark de Vera, sales and marketing director at Yen Press, a manga imprint distributed by Hachette Book Group, says the press is getting involved in Retailer Day for the first time via a swag bag sponsorship. Its great that a show like New York Comic Con has a platform for a publisher like us to connect with retailers, he adds. The expanded pro area is just part of an overhaul of the space at this years show. Along with the cosplay area, the first floor hall now includes more food trucks and places to sitall added, says Rogers, after many requests. The reconfiguration is also intended to fit 200,000 eager fans into a conference center barely big enough for them: just as San Diego Comic-Con has with the San Diego Convention Center, NYCC has maxed out every square inch of the Javits. Still, Rogers hopes to make the experience a little more comfortable. Fans want more places to sit down and eat, so were doing our best, she says. Another ongoing problem for NYCC is squeezing in more programming. With space so tight, Rogers explains, there is no room to add more panels. After panel acceptance emails went out earlier this year, social media was filled with complaints from publishers whose proposals were rejectedeven from some that are exhibitors. Rogers says the programming crunch wont be solved until NYCC expands offsite with more venues, as it has in the past. Our approach is ultimately going to be offsite, whether for programming or elements of the show, to make room for more in the building. Were waiting on some venues to get finished close to Javits. Its a big point of conversation every year. Parts of the business likely to take up a lot of space at NYCC regardless are the anime and manga sectors, which have dominated the show for years. (Another convention, Anime NYC, drew 148,000 fans to the Javits just six weeks before NYCC.) Yens de Vera says the presss NYCC booth has quadrupled in size over the years, as the show has become one of the biggest events for anime and manga in North America. Its the only Western pop culture convention that we attend in terms of consumer shows, he adds. Weve been hearing for five years that some fans feel like theres too much anime at the show, Rogers says. I think theres a lot of everything else too, but anime definitely dominates. But thats where all the fan attention is. Its the teams task to make sure that were balancing everything else. With an increased presence from movie studios, the return of DC, and a full slate of gamers, influencers, and collectibles, finding a way to stand out amid the shows joyful chaos is still the biggest challenge for exhibiting publishers. Mad Cave, for instance, will launch several ambitious programs this year, including its own manga line, Nakama, and relaunches of series including Dick Tracy, the Phantom, and Speed Racer. So many people come, Pond says. Is it a comic show? Is it a media show? Its really pop culture and media. Its not completely comics. Were coming into this era where its all cross-pollinated. The shows expansion has some in the industry pondering a big question: how close is NYCC to debuting an SDCC-style Wednesday preview night? Rogers offers only, Well see. Wednesday is a big setup day for the more elaborate booths, and racing to ready for fans earlier in the day wont be easy on exhibitors. Its a major undertaking, she says, but its coming: Were closer than not. Read more from our New York Comics Con feature. Raymond Kuo and Catherine Kish argue in War on the Rocks (Taiwans Will to Fight Isnt the Problem, September 5, 2025) that Taiwans will to fight is not the problem. They cite consistent polling data showing substantial Taiwanese public support for the defense of their homeland and highlight civil society activities such as Kuma Academy being amplified by Taiwanese state media. Their intervention is important; it reflects the growing American attention to Taiwans social resilience. However, surveys may reflect support, but not the capacity to act on it. They cannot substitute for institutional trust, especially when responses are shaped by what people feel they are supposed to say. The truth is, we will not know whether Taiwans will to fight holds until it is measured against the reality of conflict. Training for cameras may shape perception, but it cannot stand in for the difficult work of civil-military cohesion. State-curated narratives that the opposition obstructs defense preparedness by paralyzing politics cannot replace political inclusion, as the August 1 editorial of Japans Yomiuri Shimbun called upon, which requires treating democratic opposition as a partner in deterrence and not as a threat to be managed. When the opposition is labeled as impurity by the sitting president, its criticism in Kuo and Kishs words framed as polarization, and its legitimate, democratic representation attemptedly deprived through recall campaigns or moral delegitimization, it undermines the very societal cohesion Taiwans presidential strategy claims to build. Kuo and Kish are absolutely right to point out that Taiwans whole-of-resilience budget, recently passed without objection in the Legislative Yuan (Taiwans unicameral legislature), is an indispensable component to Taiwans national defense. But Taiwans whole-of-society resilience, if it is to mean anything, must include those who think differently, legislate independently the whole society. Taiwans will to fight does not exist in a vacuum. It depends on whether citizens feel they are truly part of the system they are being asked to defend. When whole-of-society resilience does not include the whole society, it fractures the very cohesion that deterrence requires. So yes, Taiwans will to fight is precisely the problem, not because it is absent, but because we do not actually know how much there is and if it is enough, and because contentious politics continues to erode it. The Unmeasurable Variable Public opinion data is often cited as evidence of national readiness, but the gap between professed intent and actual behavior complicates that assumption. Even sophisticated survey instruments struggle to overcome a basic challenge: when people are asked whether they would fight for their country, many respond with what they believe is expected of them. This social desirability bias does not disappear just because a survey is anonymous. It can become internalized, shaping instinctive responses that reflect civic ideals more than personal conviction. Scholars have tried to narrow this gap through experimental methods like list-based techniques to quantify hidden reluctance, but they still rely on assumptions about what people are concealing and why. And even these approaches can underestimate how much political or cultural pressure colors opinion under heightened tension. Those who speak most loudly of resistance are not always the ones who stay to fight. And yet, too much weight is still placed on opinion polls to assess Taiwans will to fight, as if a survey answer today can predict who will stay when the stakes are real. The same dynamic applies to polling on defense spending. When asked if Taiwan should increase its defense budget, many will say yes not necessarily because they have weighed the trade-offs, but because it feels like the correct, even virtuous, answer. Popular support for spending more on defense may reflect national anxiety or moral signaling, but it does not tell us how much sacrifice people are actually prepared to make, or under what conditions that support would erode. This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: if not the will to fight, what exactly are these surveys measuring? We do not know yet. That uncertainty should caution against treating polling as a proxy for preparedness, especially when institutional trust and political inclusion the real enablers of collective action remain so contested. There is no reliable formula to predict who will resist and who will retreat. That is precisely why Taiwans will to fight remains a critical and unsettled variable. Voting with Their Feet Surveys may reflect support, but they do not reveal capacity. The will to fight is not a fixed quantity. It must be cultivated, reinforced, and sustained through real institutional trust. One way to gauge that trust is to ask: who signs up, and who stays? If public willingness to serve is the truest measure of readiness, then Taiwans personnel shortfalls should give us pause. Despite growing security threats and expanded budgets, the armed forces remain strained by low recruitment and declining retention. Since 2020, the militarys manning rate has fallen from 88.57 percent to 78.6 percent in 2024. That figure falls well below the standard 85 percent threshold, beneath which units are often assessed as no longer able to sustain full operational capacity. When manning dips, even routine functions like leave rotations and training cycles become harder to maintain. Readiness suffers. Yet, in June 2025, the Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Armed Forces Pay Act to address this challenge. The amended law introduced a NT$30,000 monthly bonus for new enlistees and a frontline allowance to incentivize service in combat formations. Wellington Koo, Minister of National Defense, welcomed the measure, and the early signs were encouraging. For the military academies class of 2029, the seven schools originally planned to admit 1,476 students but received 4,008 applications. By June 30, 1,687 students had reported for matriculation. Both applications and matriculations were the highest in five years, and for the first time in five years all seven institutions the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, the Science and Technology Academy, the Management College, the Political Warfare College, and the National Defense Medical Center filled their quotas. Analysts credited the turnaround to the pay raise. Then the Executive Yuan refused to fund it. Citing constitutional convention, the administration declined to implement the legislatures compensation package and instructed the services to pull recruitment materials that had promoted the raise. Taiwan cannot claim to be strengthening its will to fight while reversing the very reforms that encouraged people to serve. People still vote with their feet. And too often, they are walking away. What Sustains Taiwans Will to Fight and How the U.S. Can Help Taiwans will to fight cannot be cultivated through abstract concepts alone. It requires tangible, institutional reinforcement across political, social, and material domains. This means rethinking what whole-of-society resilience really demands and where the current strategy falls short. First, political inclusion. Three weeks ago, American Institute in Taiwan Director Ray Greene hosted the first U.S. security briefing with Taiwans opposition lawmakers. That shift was long overdue. The United States cannot afford to treat Taiwans political opposition as peripheral when their support is essential to passing defense budgets and shaping deterrence posture. Engagement must extend beyond courtesy meetings. U.S. defense initiatives in Washington and the Indo-Pacific from tabletop exercises, whole-of-society resilience workshops, to track-1.5 dialogues should include Taiwans opposition legislators, party headquarters, and local governments. Whole-of-society cannot be achieved top-down. It must be built laterally, across Taiwans democratic institutions, especially those outside the executive branch. Second, energy security. Resilience collapses without power. If the lights go out, public morale and military readiness degrade quickly within 48 to 72 hours. Taiwans survival quite literally depends on whether or not it can endure the first several days alone. The current government has resisted nuclear power despite warnings about energy vulnerability. Yet Taiwan already imports U.S.-designed reactors from General Electric. Taiwans readoption of nuclear power will be a win-win for both the U.S. and Taiwan and therefore there is no strategic logic to any opposition. U.S. partners should also continue encouraging Taiwan to diversify its energy sources, including by revitalizing nuclear generation and stabilizing and accelerating delivery of U.S. liquified natural gas ideally through dedicated, American-flagged vessels. Recent steps like the introduction of Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2025 by Senate Foreign Relations Committee members Pete Ricketts and Chris Coons are a good start, but resilience will remain brittle unless power stability is made a strategic priority. Third, manpower sustainment. Taiwans defense budget is structured around three main pillars: personnel sustainment, investment and procurement (including research and development), and operations and maintenance (O&M) the funding needed to operate, fuel, and repair equipment once it is acquired. Defense analysts generally argue that investment and O&M should remain close to a 1:1 ratio, to ensure that newly purchased systems come with the trained personnel, logistics capacity, and maintenance support required to use them. But that ratio has been slipping. In FY 2023, Taiwans investment-to-O&M ratio stood at 1.58:1. In FY 2024 it climbed to 1.72:1, and it is projected to reach 1.75:1 in FY 2026 the highest yet. Dr. Chieh Chung of Taiwans Institute for National Defense and Security Research has warned that at this rate, there may not be enough funding to maintain core systems at combat-ready levels. The implications are clear. No system matters if it cannot be operated, fueled, or sustained. If Washington wants a Taiwan that can actually fight and endure, it should help ensure balance across the budgets three pillars. That means sustaining pay raises and frontline incentives, even when politically inconvenient. It also means investing in logistics, spares, and training pipelines to make new systems combat-ready. Taiwans public increasingly supports not only weapons procurement, but also better pay and better upkeep. U.S. partners should help turn that support into a more sustainable force. Howard Shen is an independent analyst on Taiwanese and Indo-Pacific politico-security affairs. He was foreign press secretary to Hou Yu-Ih, the Kuomintangs 2024 presidential candidate, and a foreign policy fellow at Taiwan Legislative Yuans Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on the Kuomintang staff. Kevin Ting-Chen Sun is a senior legislative policy advisor to Kuomintang legislator Chen Ching-Hui at the Taiwan Legislative Yuan and a licensed attorney. Theres so much going on in the world these days that the civil war taking place in Sudan a country strategically important for its location and resources rarely captures much attention in the American publics awareness. Yet the truth of the matter is that this conflict has now produced what many observers say is the worst humanitarian crisis on record, and while the U.S. is facing tough budget choices, American compassion and leadership will be needed if peace and relief are ever going to come to this troubled land. The war in Sudan has been truly brutal. It has sent millions of innocent civilians fleeing for their lives, amounting to the worlds largest forced displacement crisis. Al-Fashir, once the bustling capital of Sudans North Darfur state, has become the flashpoint for a vicious struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Entire communities have been uprooted, and those who havent yet fled face daily shelling, food shortages, and blockades cutting off lifesaving aid. Its also threatening to destabilize already fragile communities in neighboring countries. Its hard to overstate the humanitarian impacts of the war. Entire cities have been stripped of basic services, hospitals lay in ruins, power grids fail without warning, families are forced to survive without clean water or functioning sanitation, and local burial grounds can no longer keep pace with the dead. According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, more than 12 million people have been forced from their homes, and independent sources put the death toll as high as 150,000. The World Food Program warns Sudan could soon face the largest hunger crisis in modern memory, with twenty-five million people at risk of acute starvation. In North Darfur alone, over 40,000 children have already been treated for severe acute malnutrition in the first five months of the year double the number from the same period last year. Hunger is often stalked by disease, and it certainly holds true in Sudan. Over 600,000 children under five face life-threatening cholera outbreaks. Chad, which hosts a third of new refugee arrivals, is at serious risk of disease transmission as more people continue to arrive from Darfur. Dengue and malaria are also spreading largely unchecked. U.S. humanitarian engagement has long been one of the worlds most effective forces for advancing both compassion and security. It reminds people around the world that America can be a powerful force for good. In the case of Sudan, our humanitarian support also serves our strategic interests, creating the conditions for diplomacy to work, blunting the appeal of armed groups, and preventing regional actors from exploiting the crisis to expand their own influence. Sudans conflict threatens to destabilize an arc of strategically vital territory, from the Sahel to the Red Sea shipping lanes. The region is already a magnet for extremist groups, arms trafficking, and state-backed militias, and without a strong international presence these threats will expand in scope, with direct consequences for U.S. security and global trade. President Trump has often made clear how much he wants his administration to be a force for peace and stability. He also wants to grow commerce and investment as a way of cementing that peace. In the case of Sudan, while achieving peace will no doubt be a long and winding road, continued U.S. humanitarian support, through groups like UNHCR, can help provide the space for his efforts. The UN is on the ground and, thanks to Washingtons support to date, has provided more than 650,000 metric tons of wheat and flour for 7 million Sudanese displaced inside the country and is backing UNHCR efforts aiding 4 million Sudanese refugees in Chad and South Sudan. In terms of Americas image and brand, many countries have noticed how our approach in Sudan stands in sharp contrast to Moscow and Beijing. When authoritarian powers provide aid and investment in places like Sudan, its almost always done to entrench their influence. Russian proxies have already exploited Sudans instability to secure access to gold mines and potential naval facilities. While China is certainly deepening its economic footprint there with quick cash and infrastructure deals, its increasingly apparent that those deals are coming with substantial long-term costs and consequences. In short, though it may not be in our daily news feeds, Sudan is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions. At the same time, President Trumps desire to bring peace and stability to war-torn areas of the world could bring new hope to this long-suffering country. Renewed humanitarian assistance can not only relieve suffering, but it just might create the space needed to undertake the tough work of peacebuilding. Mark Green is a former Administrator of the U.S Agency for International Development. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is included among the 15 Best Performing Dividend Stocks So Far in 2025. High Dividend Yields: How Altria (MO) Earned its Spot as Best Performing in 2025 Dividend Stock mmoktp/Shutterstock.com Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is among the worlds biggest tobacco companies, owning popular brands such as Marlboro, Black & Mild, Parliament, Copenhagen, and Skoal. While some investors may hesitate to back a tobacco business, those who do are usually drawn by its exceptionally high and steadily growing dividend. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) owns the US rights to the iconic Marlboro cigarette brand and has long followed a steady strategy to maximize cash flow from the declining cigarette market. Despite falling sales volumes and reduced consumer demand, the company offsets these declines by regularly increasing cigarette prices. On August 21, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) declared a 3.9% hike in its quarterly dividend. This was the companys 60th dividend increase in the past 56 years, which makes it one of the best performing stocks. It currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.49%, as of September 15. While we acknowledge the potential of MO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Best Consistent Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best Strong Buy Dividend Stocks to Invest in Now. Disclosure: None. On Sept. 7 at 2:39 p.m., the University of Georgia Police Department was dispatched to the College of Veterinary Medicine in reference to smoke within the building. On Sept. 9 at 1:37 a.m., UGAPD responded to a trespass person call at the UGA Main Library. On Sept. 8, a UGAPD officer was dispatched to a students residence hall regarding a sticky note left on her vehicle claiming that she hit a car door. 'We do not need short-term measures but long-term ones. Companies seem to have given up on the infrastructure part. Long delays are fuelling more traffic crisis.' IMAGE: Potholes on Bengaluru roads. Photograph: ANI Photo The challenges of Bengaluru's infrastructure and the growing frustrations among citizens and companies have once again come to light, even as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assured that contractors have been given a final deadline of November to fill the city's potholes and ensure smooth traffic flow. Rajesh Yabaji, co-founder and chief executive of online trucking platform BlackBuck, announced the company's decision to relocate from its Bellandur office along the city's Outer Ring Road (ORR), citing increasing commute time and deteriorating road conditions as key reasons for the move. ORR (Bellandur) has been our 'office + home' for the last 9 years, but it's now very, very hard to continue here, so we have decided to move out,' Yabaji posted on X. His statement highlights familiar concerns about Bengaluru's infrastructure: Roads full of potholes, persistent traffic congestion, insufficient public transport options, and a slow pace of metro railway development, all contributing to challenging daily commutes. For over a decade, the ORR has been the subject of ridicule among those familiar with the city's crumbling infrastructure. The road flanks gleaming state-of-the-art business parks housing global giants such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, Microsoft, Google, and IBM. Yet beyond the corporate complexes, the reality of poor road conditions and traffic congestion remains a pressing issue. Yabaji underlined the difficulties faced by employees, noting: 'The average commute for my colleagues has shot up to 1.5+ hours (one way), the roads are full of potholes and dust with the lowest intent to get them rectified, and we don't see any of this changing in the next 5 years.' Sources indicated that BlackBuck, currently valued at around 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion), does not intend to leave Bengaluru entirely but plans to shift its office to a different location within the city. 'Big big failure of governance in Bengaluru,' posted former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai on X, maintaining his long-standing call for more effective infrastructure planning by successive state governments. 'This is serious. Emergency measures needed to fix these issues,' added Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, executive chairperson of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics. Bengaluru, often referred to as India's Silicon Valley and home to over 3,500 IT firms, continues to grapple with serious infrastructure woes -- from crumbling roads and chronic water shortages to inadequate drainage that leaves parts of the city waterlogged even after moderate rainfall. Rising frustration over the city's traffic snarls, placing Bengaluru third on the list of the world's most congested cities in 2024, is drawing increasing concern among startups and multinational companies, with executives citing lost productivity and missed business opportunities. Several prominent figures in the tech industry, including Setu API Co-Dounder Nikhil Kumar and EaseMyTrip's Prashant Pitti, have publicly expressed concerns about the city's traffic issues and aging infrastructure, with some hinting at shifting talent and operations to more navigable hubs such as Hyderabad. In July, Pitti found himself trapped for more than 100 minutes on Bengaluru's congested Outer Ring Road. Frustrated by the experience, he posted on X offering 1 crore to anyone who could deploy AI to map the city's traffic choke points and share the insights with local authorities. Krishna Kumar Gowda, general secretary of the Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association, told Business Standard that the government should accelerate the completion of the Blue Line Metro and improve last-mile connectivity, seen as crucial to reducing reliance on private vehicles. "We do not need short-term measures but long-term ones. Companies seem to have given up on the infrastructure part. Long delays are fuelling more traffic crisis. The government should fast-track comprehensive ORR modernization projects with improved signage, dedicated bus lanes, upgraded footpaths, and proper skywalks for pedestrian safety and throughput," Gowda said. Meanwhile, the Karnataka deputy chief minister acknowledged the deepening infrastructure woes and assured that contractors have been given a final deadline of November to fill the city's potholes. In a post on X, Shivakumar stated: 'Contractors have been given a final deadline to fill the potholes within November to resolve the problem. Since a clean Bengaluru and smooth traffic are our goals, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will provide relief from potholes as soon as possible.' In a bid to woo tech firms battling Bengaluru's ongoing gridlock, Nara Lokesh, who holds key portfolios in the Andhra Pradesh government -- human resource development, information technology, electronics and Communication, and real time governance -- issued a direct appeal. 'Hi Rajesh, can I interest you in relocating your company to Vizag? We are rated among the top 5 cleanest cities in India, are building best-in-class infrastructure, and have been rated the safest city for women. Please send me a DM. As Bengaluru's infrastructure continues to face challenges, such offers from competing states present an alternative for companies seeking a smoother operating environment in India's fast-growing technology sector. Peerzada Abrar adds: BlackBuck clarified on Thursday evening that it would remain in Bengaluru despite earlier comments from CEO Rajesh Yabaji triggering speculation about the company leaving the city due to infrastructure challenges. Yabaji stated in a press release that BlackBuck was 'only relocating within the city' to facilitate easier commutes for employees, while maintaining its significant operations along Bengaluru's outer ring road. 'We will not only continue to remain in the city, but will also expand our footprint. We will remain committed to relay our needs and issues to the relevant government authorities,' he said. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff By 10 am, Rakshit N Jagdale is already deep into the rhythm of the day, which promises to be a carousel of meetings, calls, and strategic decisions. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Amrut As managing director of Amrut Distilleries, he balances ritual and ambition, tradition and transformation, like many other legacy players in Indias alcoholic beverages sector who are staring at a rosy future. The countrys alcobev sector is in high spirits. According to a report by the International Spirits and Wines Association of India, which represents national and international premium spirits and wine brands, the industrys value was pegged at $52.4 billion in 2021. That figure is expected to touch $64 billion within five years, making India the fifth-largest contributor to global market revenues. Given the opportunities, family-run alcobev companies are whipping up a cocktail of professionalisation, strategic partnerships, and global ambition. Family & beyond Take the case of Amrut, which was founded in 1948 by JN Radhakrishna Rao. From its humble beginnings, the Bengaluru-based company gained global recognition under the leadership of Raos son, Neelakanta Rao Jagdale, who established a dedicated malt and grain distillery on Old Mysore Road in 1987. Today, Rakshit N Jagdale, Neelakantas son and the third-generation leader, has taken the baton. After completing his MBA at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Rakshit joined the business, guided not only by legacy but by a personal passion for whisky. His MBA thesis, focusing on the demand for single malt in Indian restaurants across the UK, planted the first seeds of Amruts international blueprint. Whisky was less of an inheritance than a companion, Rakshit says. Interest in the family business was nurtured amid the shadow of the distillery, with label-making and blend-talk at dinner fermenting dreams. Joining the family business was simply a matter of when. Today, Amrut has expanded its daily production capacity from 1,000 litres to 3,000, with plans to reach 4,000. Its products are now exported to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and markets across Europe and Asia. The companys 83-brand portfolio targets premium and luxury segments. Recently, Amrut Distilleries featured among the top 30 in the 2025 list of Drinks Internationals Worlds Most Admired Whiskies, securing the 27th position. Rakshit is clear about the path ahead. If we want to grow aggressively, we have to look beyond the family, whether through private partnerships or joint ventures, he says. Going public is also very much on the horizon, and there is already strong interest from other major IMFL (Indian-made foreign liquor) players. While partnerships are on his mind, the familys next generation his son and nieces, who are still studying is also being integrated into the workings of the company. Lunch, which is a modest, home-packed meal, is also a family affair, shared with his brother-in-law, joint managing director Thrivikram G Nikam. Scaling in todays competitive environment, however, demands more than familial succession, and he admits that family alone cant fuel the next phase. From jugaad to assembly lines Far away from Bengaluru, up north in Jammu, is another story of legacy-meets-modernity. Its the story of Devans Modern Breweries, which dates back to 1942, when Dewan Gian Chand built a small liquor retail and wholesale network in Jammu and Srinagar. Some two decades later, in 1961, he founded Devans Modern Breweries. At a time when few in northern India ventured into brewing, he positioned it as a progressive, modern brewery. When Chand passed away in the 1980s, his son, Prem Dewan, took up the reins. Having joined the family brewery in the late 1970s as a 25-year-old law student, he was already deep into the business. With polished assembly lines still a while away, those were the days of jugaad. We started bottling on a soda-water filling machine because proper beer-brewing equipment just wasnt available, he recalls. Workers packed 24 glass bottles into coarse gunny bags, sealing them tightly before loading them onto rattling trucks. That was our version of distribution, he says. DeVans has come a long way since. In the late 1990s, Prems son, Ujjawal, began overseeing sales and a production tie-up in Rajasthan, while his twin brother, Uday, focused on exports from the Samba plant in Jammu. The third generations distinct roles have helped deepen the companys footprint. Prem Dewan, who has helmed the business through decades of change, sees the transition as inevitable. In a year or two, both my sons will join the board, he says with quiet confidence. With 20 per cent growth last year and a 30 per cent target this fiscal, the company is aggressively scaling up. A dark beer that has been two years in development is expected to hit the market by end-2025. The company is also eyeing 12 additional production tie-ups to raise its total to 17. A public listing is planned within four years. Retail roots to global reach Photograph: NV/Facebook Cut to New Delhis bustling lanes, where Ashok Jains modest retail unit, NV Group, which was launched in 1994, has metamorphosed into a distillery powerhouse, with a state-of-the-art facility at Ambala, inaugurated in 2008. The portfolio has expanded too from a Rs 100 label to bottles priced at Rs 5,000, with brands like Moja Matured XXX Rum, Brande XO, Mohulo Gin under its umbrella. The group supplies to markets like the US, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, and Namibia. Domestically, it has presence in Haryana, Punjab, and Goa, with plans to enter Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, among others. My father worked in the warehouse, so conversations about the industry were always in the air, recalls Ashok Jain, chairman of NV Group. I began tagging along to the office when I was very young, at first just to idle around. "But somewhere along the way, it drew me in the brands, the creativity, the sense of building something. For his son, Varun Jain, the third-gen entrepreneur, every morning kicks off the same way: with sales. Everything starts there, he says. The targets, the focus, the drive it is all sales-led. Thereon, his day unravels into a blur of meetings, market visits, distributor check-ins, business trips, and relentless follow-ups. It is a schedule that rarely pauses, so there are no off days. His fondest memories are not of boardrooms but of construction sites, watching his familys bottling plant rise while he was in school, and a distillery flourish by the time he was in college. An internship at Bacardi gave him an opportunity to closely study the global alcobev giant. It helped him crystallise his mission: to not just sell liquor, but to elevate it to an experience. He returned to NV and launched Smoke Lab Vodka, a leap into premiumisation and international markets. Smoke Lab was really the first step in taking the business beyond domestic boundaries, he says. New labels from the group, like Mohulo Gin, are building on that trajectory. For Varun, the future of the family business lies in breaking away from the insular comfort of kinship and embracing the rigour of corporate governance or private partnership. If you want a global footprint and recognition, you can not shy away from change. "Whether you like it or not, it has to be professionally run, he says. That shift, he says, is underway. Inspired by multinationals, the company is looking to adopt a professional structure, adding seasoned executives, independent directors, and diverse talent from within and beyond. It cannot just be my father and I making all the decisions anymore, he says. To grow, you need the right people on board. The contours of Indias legacy alcobev sector are clearly shifting. In a market poised for robust growth, the message is clear: The old guard may still raise the first toast, but the future will be brewed with professionalism. Armed gunmen fired at an Assam Rifles vehicle in the Nambol Sabal area of Bishnupur in Imphal on Friday, September 19, 2025. Two Assam Rifles soldiers were killed in the ambush. IMAGE: A paramilitary trooper from Assam Rifles is rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital for treatment after he was injured in the terror attack. Photograph: Reuters/ANI Photo IMAGE: An injured Assam Rifles trooper being rushed to hospital. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: Security personnel at the Assam Rifles vehicle, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo IMAGE: A mobile forensic van arrives to conduct a crime scene investigation. Photograph: Video Grab/ANI Photo IMAGE: Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung, 58, and Rifleman G D Kashav, 29, lost their lives in the terrorist attack. Photograph: @official_dgar X/ANI Photo Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff India and Canada have agreed to adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral ties, including working closely to combat terrorism and transnational crimes, the ministry of external affairs said on Saturday. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit, in Kananaskis, June 18, 2025. Photograph: DPR PMO/ANI Photo National security advisor Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi on Thursday with a focus on repairing the bilateral relations that came under severe strain following a diplomatic spat over the killing of a Sikh separatist in 2023. The MEA came out with broad outcomes of the talks on Saturday. "The two sides agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations," it said. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the G7 summit at Kananaskis in Canada. In the meeting, both the leaders agreed to pursue "constructive" steps to restore stability in India-Canada ties. It was also an opportunity to follow up on the discussions between Prime Minister Modi and his Canadian counterpart Carney, the MEA said on Doval-Drouin talks. "Both sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership," it said. The MEA said the two NSAs had "productive" discussions on advancing the bilateral relationship, including in areas such as counter terrorism, combating transnational organised crime and intelligence exchanges. "They agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement," the MEA said in a statement. It said, "The two NSAs also deliberated on the priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments." The talks between the two NSAs came three weeks after India and Canada appointed envoys to each other's capitals. India-Canada relations hit rock bottom following then prime minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in 2023 of a potential Indian link to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In October last year, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. However, Liberal Party leader Carney's victory in the parliamentary election in April helped in beginning the process to reset relations. India on Saturday said the Trump administration's new restrictions on H1B visa programme are likely to have humanitarian consequences and hoped that the "disruptions" would be addressed suitably by the American authorities. India's reaction came hours after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to impose a USD 100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas, a move that is set to adversely impact Indian professionals in the US. "This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "The government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities," he said. Jaiswal said the "full implications" of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry. Industries in both India and the US have a "stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward," he said. "Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India," he said. "Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries," Jaiswal added. Experts believe it would be far-fetched to believe that Riyadh would support Pakistan militarily in any conflict with India, which has robust strategic and economic relations with Saudi Arabia. IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hugs Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh, September 17, 2025. Photograph: Rediff Archives India's foreign policy establishment is of the view that while the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence pact has implications for New Delhi, which need to be analysed, the timeline for its signing had been accelerated by the two countries after the Israeli strikes on Qatar's capital Doha on September 9. Official sources also pointed out that while the details of the agreement are not public, the joint statement that Riyadh and Islamabad issued after signing the pact refers to collective defence. However, its force as a legal obligation would need to be assessed. Experts have suggested that despite Islamabad's claims, it would be far-fetched to believe that Riyadh would support Pakistan militarily in any conflict with India, which has robust strategic and economic relations with Saudi Arabia. On Friday, reacting to the strategic defence pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, India's ministry of external sffairs said it expects that Riyadh -- given its strategic partnership with New Delhi -- will "keep in mind mutual interests and sensitivities". "India and Saudi Arabia have a wide-ranging strategic partnership that has deepened considerably in the last few years," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. On Thursday, the ministry had said New Delhi was aware the deal was under consideration. It had formalised a long-standing arrangement between the two countries. The MEA will study the implications of the pact for India's national security as well as for regional and global stability, it said. The Indian government remains committed to protecting India's national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains, it added. Observers of Riyadh-Islamabad relations have said the two countries have a long-standing defence partnership that goes back several decades. While the US provides the overall security framework to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, in many cases Pakistan has provided manpower and expertise in the military domain. Whenever Gulf States have come under threat, whether from Arab nationalism, or Iran, they have turned to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia first signed the Defence Agreement with Pakistan in 1967. The cooperation deepened after the 1979 Grand Mosque seizure, when Pakistani special forces helped Saudi troops reclaim Masjid al-Haram. The two countries upgraded their defence cooperation in 1982, through a bilateral security cooperation agreement. At one point of time, more than 15,000 Pakistani troops were stationed in the kingdom. The 'Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement' was signed by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday. Sharif, accompanied by Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, was on a visit to Saudi Arabia. Asif has since said that the 'doors are not closed' for other Arab countries to join the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence pact. The deal comes days after an Israeli attack on the Hamas leadership in Qatar, a key US ally in the Gulf region. 'It is a fundamental right of the countries and people here, particularly the Muslim population, to together defend their region, countries and nations,' Asif told a news channel. Asked whether Pakistan's nuclear assets were also up for use under the agreement, Asif said: 'What we have, our capabilities will absolutely be available under this pact.' Questioned about whether any attack on one country would lead to the involvement of the other and vice versa, the minister said: 'Yes, absolutely. There is no doubt in this.' Asif said it was not an 'aggressive pact' but a defensive arrangement, similar to that of NATO. The Pakistan defence minister said Pakistan had also been involved in training Saudi forces for a while and the recent development was only a formalised 'extension' of that. 'If there is aggression, whether against Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, we will jointly defend against it,' he said. Pakistan had always had a large military and air force contingent present in Saudi for many decades, he said. 'I think that (pre-existing) relationship has been more defined now and that understanding has been given the form of a defence agreement,' Asif said. Asif said the protection of the holy Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia was also a matter of a 'sacred duty' for Pakistan. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff A federal judge has dismissed US President Donald Trump's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, sharply criticising it as overly long, unfocused, and failing to meet basic legal standards, CNN reported. IMAGE: US President Donald J Trump. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters According to CNN, in a scathing ruling issued on Friday, Judge Steven D Merryday of the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida said the 85-page complaint blatantly violated Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires a civil filing to be a "short, plain, and direct" statement of facts. Instead, Merryday called the filing "decidedly improper and impermissible," likening it more to a political screed than a legitimate legal complaint. Trump now has 30 days to revise and resubmit the lawsuit. His legal team has confirmed they intend to do so, promising a "powerhouse lawsuit" against The New York Times, several of its journalists, and publisher Penguin Random House. The original complaint, which sought $15 billion in damages, portrayed The Times as a partisan tool of the Democratic Party and singled out reporters who co-authored a book titled Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, CNN reported. Critics noted that the suit often read more like a campaign speech, filled with praise for Trump and attacks on media outlets he's previously sued. According to CNN, Judge Merryday warned that future filings must be no longer than 40 pages and should avoid becoming a platform for personal attacks or political grandstanding, stating that legal complaints are not "a megaphone for public relations". The New York Times responded positively to the dismissal. "We welcome the judge's swift ruling, which recognised that the complaint was more political posturing than a valid legal argument," a spokesperson said, as quoted by CNN. NYT's executive editor Joe Kahn, speaking at an event the day before the ruling, dismissed Trump's claims outright, stating "wrong on the facts" and "wrong on the law" as reported by CNN. The US President announced the defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times on September 16, accusing the newspaper of running what he called a decades-long "method of lying" against him, his family and the America First movement. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump described the lawsuit as the largest illegal campaign contribution ever, alleging that the Times had effectively become a "mouthpiece" for the Democratic Party. He also criticised the newspaper's front-page endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, calling it "something heretofore unheard of." Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) is included among the 13 Incredibly Cheap Dividend Stocks to Invest in. Hormel Foods Corporations (HRL) Dividend Growth Strategy and its Role as a Cheap Dividend Stock Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) is an American multinational food processing company. It operates through three main segments. Its retail arm includes well-known brands such as Planters, SPAM, Skippy, Herdez, Jennie-O, and Hormel. The foodservice division supplies products like pizza toppings and bacon to restaurants and other food outlets. The international business covers both global sales of its products and investments abroad. Over time, Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) has been evolving from a primarily meat-focused company into a broader global branded food business, now generating more than $12 billion in annual revenue from over 40 worldwide brands. Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) is also a solid dividend stock. The company is a Dividend King, having raised its payouts for 59 years in a row. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.67%, as of September 19. While we acknowledge the potential of HRL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Best High Dividend Stocks to Buy Under $100 and Dividend Stock Portfolio For Income: 12 Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. More than 100 passenger trains were cancelled, diverted or short-terminated on Saturday as a rail blockade by Kurmis is underway at various stations within the jurisdiction of the Ranchi division of South Eastern Railway (SER) and Dhanbad division of East Central Railway, an official said. IMAGE: Members of the Kurmi tribe block the Tatisilwaye railway station track to stage a protest demanding recognition as an Adivasi (Scheduled Tribe) community, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, September 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Defying prohibitory orders, protestors squatted on tracks at various stations in Muri, Rai, Tatisilwai stations in Ranchi district, Barkakana in Ramgarh, Parasnath in Giridih, Charhi in Hazaribag, Pradhankhanta in Dhanbad, Galudih in East Singhbhum and Chandrpura in Bokaro district under the banner of Adivasi Kurmi Samaj (AKS) to press their demand for a Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community and inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. AKS leader OP Mahto said they will spend the night on tracks and they will not withdraw the agitation until their demands are met. At least 25 passenger trains were cancelled and 24 diverted in Dhanbad division of ECR, while 12 trains, including Vande Bharat and Rajdhani Express, were cancelled and 11 trains diverted in Ranchi division of SER due to the agitation. Many trains were short-terminated in two divisions, according to statements issued by the railways. Thousands of passengers were stranded across Jharkhand after trains were halted by the agitators. Maloti Ghosh, a passenger of Howrah-Pune Duronto Express who was stranded at Ghatshila station in East Singhbhum district till in the evening said, "My daughter, who works in Pune, is unwell. I have to be there anyhow as her two children are suffering. Railway officials are just giving assurances about train movements, but there is no information when it will start running." Security personnel tried to pacify the protestors and made efforts to clear the tracks, railway officials said. Hundreds of passengers of Tata-Patna Vande Bharat Express were also stranded at Ranchi's Muri station. The train was later cancelled, leading to ruckus by passengers. Senior divisional commercial manager Suchi Singh said the Tata-Patna Vande Bharat express was cancelled at Muri station due to the protest. Several political parties, including AJSU and Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM), extended their support to the demonstrations by the Kurmis. AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto led the protest at Muri station. "The agitation has been a great success across the state. The Kurmi community was removed from the ST list in 1931. Since then, the community has been continuously fighting for its rights," Mahto said. In view of the stir, the Ranchi administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS in a 300-metre radius of various stations falling in the district. The order is effective at Muri, Silli, Khalari and Tatisilwai from 8 pm on Friday to 8 am on September 21, according to an official statement. A similar order within a radius of 100 metres has been imposed at Tatanagar, Govindpur, Rakha Mines and Haldipokhar stations under Dhalbhum subdivision of East Singhbhum district. Adivasi Kurmi Samaj member and Kurmi Vikas Morcha central president Sheetal Ohdar said they were staging protests on railway tracks in a peaceful manner. DGP Anurag Gupta had instructed the police on Friday to increase vigilance, deploy additional forces with protective gear, install CCTVs and drones at sensitive stations, and coordinate with railway police to prevent stone-pelting and ensure passenger safety during the agitation. Meanwhile, various tribal organisations staged a demonstration near Raj Bhawan in Ranchi to protest the Kurmi's agitation. "The protest by Kurmi community is illegal and undemocratic. They want to snatch the rights of genuine scheduled tribes," said a tribal leader Lakshmi Narayan Munda. A soldier, who was critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists, succumbed to his injuries as the Army and police resumed a joint hunt for terrorists in a remote forest area in the higher reaches of the Udhampur district early Saturday, officials said. IMAGE: Soldiers stand guard on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway, in Udhampur, as the security tightened after an encounter broke out between security forces and hiding terrorists at Seoj Dhar, in Jammu, September 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The soldier was injured late Friday evening when terrorists opened fire on the joint search party of the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police at the Seoj Dhar forest border in the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur and Bhaderwah in Doda, the officials said. They said the soldier was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The area around the scene of the encounter was kept under tight cordon during the night and the joint search operation resumed on Saturday morning, the officials said, adding that two to three terrorists are believed to be hiding in the forest area. Reinforcements equipped with drones and sniffer dogs were rushed from both Udhampur and Doda sides and a massive search operation was underway when last reports were received, the officials said. However, there was no fresh contact with the terrorists so far, they added. In a development that could adversely affect Indian professionals in the US, President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to raise the fee for H-1B visas to a staggering $100,000 annually, a move described by American lawmakers and community leaders as "reckless" and "unfortunate". IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Reuters/ANI Photo Trump on Friday signed the proclamation Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers', saying the abuse of the H-1B visa programme is a "national security threat". Immigration attorneys and companies have asked the H-1B visa holders or their family members currently outside America for work or vacation to return within the next 24 hours or risk being stranded and denied entry into the US after the proclamation comes into effect from 12:01 am September 21. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi described the decision to hike the H-1B visa fee as a "reckless attempt to cut America off from high-skilled workers who have long strengthened our workforce, fuelled innovation, and helped build industries that employ millions of Americans.. Ajay Bhutoria, a former advisor to President Joe Biden and Asian-American community leader on immigration policy, warned of a potential crisis for the US technology sector's competitive edge with Trump's decision on the H-1B visa fee. "The H-1B programme, a lifeline for innovation that has attracted top talent from around the world, faces unprecedented barriers with this massive jump from the current $2000-$5000 total fee, which will crush small businesses and startups reliant on diverse talent, he said. Currently, the H-1B visa fee ranges from about $2000 to $5000, depending on employer size and other costs. The visas are valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. The move is going to significantly impact Indian technology workers who are hired by tech companies and others on H-1B visas. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the second-highest beneficiary with 5,505 approved H-1B visas in 2025, after Amazon (10,044 workers on H-1B visas), according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Other top beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523) and Tech Mahindra Americas (951). In his proclamation, Trump said the H-1B visa programme was created to bring temporary workers into the US to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour. "The abuse of the H-1B programme is also a national security threat. Domestic law enforcement agencies have identified and investigated H-1B-reliant outsourcing companies for engaging in visa fraud, conspiracy to launder money..., and other illicit activities to encourage foreign workers to come to the US, he said. Trump said that it is necessary to impose higher costs on companies seeking to use the H-1B programme to address the abuse of that programme while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers. On whether the technology CEOs, who hire foreign workers on H1-B visas, are concerned about the new move, Trump said they're going to be "very happy". Trump ordered that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall restrict decisions on petitions not accompanied by a USD 100,000 payment for H-1B speciality occupation workers, who are currently outside the US, for 12 months following the effective date of the proclamation, which is September 21, 2025. The Secretary of State shall also issue guidance, as necessary and to the extent permitted by law, to prevent misuse of B visas by alien beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions that have an employment start date beginning before October 1, 2026. It said the restrictions shall not apply to any individual or those working for a company or in an industry, if it is determined that the hiring of such individuals to be employed as H-1B speciality occupation workers is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the US. The proclamation said that IT firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields. Noting that the share of IT workers in the H-1B programme grew from 32 per cent in 2003 to an average of over 65 per cent in the last five fiscal years, the proclamation said that some of the most prolific H-1B employers are now consistently IT outsourcing companies. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the H-1B non-immigrant visa programme is one of the most abused visa systems in the country's current immigration system, and it is supposed to allow highly skilled labourers, who work in fields that Americans don't work in, to come into the United States. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that historically, the employment-based Green Card programme let in 281,000 people a year, and those people earned USD 66,000 a year on average, and were five times more likely to participate in assistance programmes of the government. "So we were taking in the bottom quartile, below the average American. It was illogical, the only country in the world that was taking in the bottom quartile, he said. "We are going to stop doing that. We're going to only take extraordinary people at the very top, instead of those trying to take jobs from Americans. They're going to create businesses and create jobs for Americans. And this programme will raise more than USD 100 billion for the treasury of the United States," he added. When asked if the new fee will apply to the H-1B visa holders already in the country, to renewals or to those applying for the first time from abroad, Lutnick said, Renewals, first times, the company needs to decide. Is that person valuable enough to have a $100,000 a year payment to the government, or they should head home and they should go hire an American?" If a company sponsors an employee for the Green Card, the visas can be renewed till the permanent residency comes through. However, Indians on work visas in the US are caught in a decades-long wait for Green Cards, and the new move could have an impact on whether they can continue to stay in the US if their companies decide not to pay the USD 100,000 fee annually now required to retain the visas. Krishnamoorthi said many H-1B holders ultimately become citizens and launch businesses that create well-paying jobs in the US. "While other nations race to attract global talent, the US should strengthen its workforce and modernise our immigration system - not erect barriers that weaken our economy and security, he said. Bhutoria said that the move will drive away skilled professionals who power Silicon Valley and contribute billions to the US economy. Khanderao Kand of the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies said the H-1B visa fee hike is a "very unfortunate" policy with a huge negative impact on businesses, particularly the software and tech industry. In July, USCIS said that it has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year 2026. The restriction on entry shall apply only to those individuals who enter or attempt to enter the United States after September 21, 2025. "H-1B visa holders who are out of the US on business or vacation will get stranded unless they get in before midnight September 21. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline, as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time, New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta said in a post on X. There may still be a way for an H-1B visa holder who is in India to arrive in California before midnight September 21, 2025, Mehta said. Users on social media posted excerpts of an internal email by Microsoft that asked its employees on H-1B visas and their dependents to avoid travelling outside the US and return immediately before the September 21 deadline. Trump also signed an executive order entitled The Gold Card', aimed at setting up a new visa pathway for those committed to supporting the United States. Under the Gold Card programme, individuals who can pay $1 million to the US Treasury, or $2 million if a corporation is sponsoring them, will get access to expedited visa treatment and a path to a Green Card. The Trump administration has launched a premium immigration programme targeting wealthy individuals worldwide, offering permanent residency in the United States through expensive 'Gold Cards' that could generate billions in revenue for the American Treasury. IMAGE: United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick explains the 'Gold Card' programme to the media, in presence of President Donald Trump, at the Oval Office, White House, in Washington, DC. Photograph: ANI on X Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the initiative on Friday, describing it as a fundamental shift in how America approaches legal immigration by prioritising wealthy applicants who can make substantial financial contributions to the country. Under the Gold Card programme, individual applicants will pay $1 million (approximately Rs 8.5 crore) for permanent residency, while corporations sponsoring employees will pay $2 million per person. The programme replaces existing employment-based green card categories EB-1 and EB-2, starting with 80,000 available visas. "You can prove exceptional value for the United States of America by contributing a million dollars to the United States of America," Secretary Lutnick explained during a press briefing. "That's pretty good expectation that they're highly valuable." Gold Card holders will be classified as 'privileged permanent residents' with full rights to live and work in the United States permanently, including a pathway to citizenship. A key requirement of the programme is that Gold Card holders must pay taxes on their worldwide income, similar to US citizens. This means applicants will be taxed by the US government regardless of where their income is earned globally. "The individual will pay global tax, and they'll be taxed like an American citizen or a permanent resident," Lutnick said, noting this requirement may discourage applicants with complex international financial arrangements. The global tax obligation represents a significant commitment, as the US is one of only a few countries that taxes citizens and permanent residents on worldwide income, potentially subjecting wealthy applicants to double taxation depending on their home country's tax treaties with the US. Applicants will undergo what the administration describes as the most intensive vetting process ever implemented for US visas. The screening will cost an additional $15,000 per applicant and will be conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. "We're going to do a much more rigorous vetting than has ever been done before," Lutnick emphasised, citing the substantially higher fees as justification for enhanced security screening. The programme specifically excludes individuals with national security concerns or criminal backgrounds, similar to existing green card programmes. For corporations, the $2 million investment per employee creates a unique retention mechanism. If a sponsored employee leaves the company, the Gold Card becomes invalid unless the new employer has also purchased Gold Cards for their workforce. "If that person doesn't have a gold card that they bought for them, they're going to work with someone else in another country," Lutnick explained. However, the original sponsoring company retains ownership of the card and can transfer it to a new employee after paying additional vetting and transfer fees. The administration also outlined plans for a 'Trump Platinum Card' programme requiring congressional approval and costing $5 million. Unlike the Gold Card, this programme would not offer permanent residency or a path to citizenship, and holders would only pay US taxes on American-sourced income. The Platinum programme is expected to allow holders to stay in the US for more than the current 120-day annual limit for certain visa categories, though specific terms await congressional action. The administration projects the Gold Card programme will generate over $100 billion for the US Treasury, while the future Platinum programme could bring in $1 trillion. These figures assume significant uptake among wealthy individuals worldwide seeking US residency. Implementation is expected within one month, with other green card categories likely suspended during the rollout. A dedicated website, trumpcard.gov, will handle applications. The programme represents a dramatic shift from traditional employment-based immigration, which has historically focused on skills and job market needs rather than wealth. Critics may argue it creates a 'pay-to-play' system for US residency, while supporters contend it ensures immigrants contribute substantially to the American economy. For wealthy Indians considering US residency, the programme offers a potentially faster route than existing investor visa programmes, though the global tax requirement and substantial upfront costs may limit appeal to those with significant international business interests. The Gold Card programme joins other recent Trump administration immigration initiatives aimed at generating revenue while reducing overall immigration numbers through higher barriers to entry. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief, actor-politician Vijay on Saturday took his political fight directly to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President and Chief Minister MK Stalin's native turf of Tiruvarur and said his party's goal is to ensure that there is no "family dominance" in Tamil Nadu. IMAGE: Actor and founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, Vijay addresses the gathering during the party's conference, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, August 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Vijay, who spoke on the fishermen issues in nearby Nagapattinam, sported a green headgear and addressed farmers' grievances and sought an answer from CM Stalin. Beginning his speech by mentioning about the iconic Tiruvarur temple car and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's assertion that he made it ply, Vijay compared the state to a chariot and alleged that the DMK icon's son, Chief Minister M K Stalin, by placing wooden logs has blocked the state's progress. "They say it with pride that Tiruvarur is their home, native district, however, it is yearning for attention, they are not paying attention to Tiruvarur." The DMK named several schemes after Karunanidhi and attempted to bring a pen-based monument for him. However, in Tiruvarur, the home town of Karunanidhi, lacks even the basic road amenities. Like Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur too has a large number of huts. Targeting the Centre, he asked whether the Central University in Tiruvarur has all the departments. "It will not be there," he answered. He alleged that the medical college in the town itself needed treatment. "Does all the equipment work in the medical college? it won't." Tiruvarur, a district headquarters does not have even a proper connectivity to the town bus stand from the National Highway. He also pointed to the unfulfilled decades-old demands for new rail routes in the region. Without mentioning the name of Industries Minister T R B Rajaa, Vijay said the work of "the minister from the district" is to serve the chief minister's family. "That is his work. We have to make him understand that only people are important," he said. Referring to the 'Ungaludan Stalin' (Stalin with you) scheme, he said "Stalin with you" may apply to only to the first family of CM Stalin. That slogan could not be used among the people as Stalin/the DMK government was not with the people. "I am not saying this. A popular weekly has mentioned this and I am repeating it." Alleging that the Cauvery delta farmers are enduring the pain of having to pay Rs 40 per 40-kg bag as "commission" for loading and unloading purposes at the paddy procuement centres in the Tiruvarur district, he said farmers themselves got only Rs 10 from the government per bag. "For one ton, Rs 1,000 is the commission. If you calculate, many crores of rupees has been extorted as commission from Cauvery delta farmers during the past four and a half years," he said adding farmers themselves conveyed to him the commission allegation and hence, he believed it. "Farmers do not utter lies. CM sir, this has happened in your party-led government's tenure and what answer are you going to provide?" He, however, did not elaborate on who took the alleged commission from farmers. TVK's goal is to move towards solutions and this would be clearly explained in the party's manifesto. His party would never make false electoral assurances. TVK speaks the truth, only talks on goals that are practically attainable. There shall be "no compromise" on ensuring safety for women, upholding law and order and providing basic amenities including road infrastructure, drinking water, healthcare and education. To describe in simple terms, Vijay said his party's goal is to build a Tamil Nadu that has no poverty and corruption, and to ensure that the state has "no dominance of a family." Also, the objective is to usher in a "true democracy, one that has a conscience." Further, he said: "Be confident people, success is sure. Nandri, Vanakam." Dramatically, after saying thanks to conclude the meet, he said he had a doubt and then he asked: "They (rivals and critics) say this is an empty gathering which will not vote (for TVK), Is this an empty gathering ? When the massive crowds replied with high-decibel chants of "Vijay," it was seen as a pledge to support the TVK. The actor-politician took away the green towel from his shoulder and used it as a head gear with smile and profusely thanked them. Green is regarded as a colour associated with farming and farmers. Tiruvarur is part of the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. For well over 50 years, Tiruvarur has been the stronghold of the DMK with the Dravidian movement's ideology having a deep rooted base and the Left parties also have pockets of influence. Tiruvarur district, part of the erstwhile composite Thanjavur district, was the birth place (Tirukkuvalai) of DMK's iconic leader, late patriarch M Karunanidhi. This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. South Korean automaker Hyundai vows to introduce a midsize pickup truck to its U.S. lineup, while doubling its hybrid offerings and targeting 80% of models sold in the U.S. be assembled domestically. These goals, part of the automakers 2030 product roadmap announced Thursday during its 2025 investor day in New York, join previous goals of hitting 5.5 million total global sales and 3.3 million electrified-vehicle sales by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are delivering comprehensive electrified portfolios across all segments, localizing production in key markets, and leveraging breakthrough technologies from software-defined vehicles to next-generation batteries, Jose Munoz, president and CEO Hyundai Motor Co., said in a statement of product plans. The midsize pickup truck announced Thursday is an in-house development targeted for pre-2030 introduction date in North America. This is a separate vehicle from the one Hyundai is co-developing with General Motors for Central and South American markets as part of a joint-venture agreement. Hyundai already plays in the U.S. pickup segment, somewhat, with its Santa Cruz. That model is a derivative of the Tucson midsize CUV, but smaller and less capable than most of todays midsize pickups, including the best-selling Toyota Tacoma. Hybrids and EREVs The automaker is set to double its hybrid lineup, to more than 18 models by 2030, with hybrids planned for its Genesis luxury brand debuting next year. In the U.S., most current Hyundai hybrids are powertrain variants within the Hyundai brand, with offerings such as the Santa Fe, Sonata and Tucson hybrids, and the soon-to-be-launched Palisade hybrid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hyundai vows in 2027 to begin sales of extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), utilizing in-house high-performance batteries, achieving full EV power performance with less than half the battery capacity, improving accessibility while maintaining exceptional range and performance, and eliminating range anxiety, the automaker says. The range of its EREVs will exceed 600 miles (960 km), Hyundai says. EREVs use a gasoline engine as a generator to power a battery pack, eliminating the need to plug in to charge the pack. N lineup, Genesis expanding On the performance front, Hyundai will grow its N brand by 2030 to more than seven models. The expansion of the high-performance sub brand will include an N version of Hyundai Ioniq 6 BEV sedan, set to feature three temperature optimization modes and signature N sensory engagement technologies, the automaker says. Meanwhile, Hyundai is targeting 350,000 annual sales for Genesis by 2030, up from roughly 230,000 in 2024. The automaker plans to expand into new markets in Europe with the now 10-year-old premium marque as well as grow sales in current markets via new model introductions, including hybrids and EREVs. More manufacturing planned Despite the recent U.S. government raid at its Savannah, Georgia-area Metaplant, Hyundai is not pulling back on U.S. production. Hyundai maintains previously set goals to reach 500,000 total units of production capacity at its new Georgia Metaplant by 2028, with a continued focus on hybrid-vehicle and BEV production and up to a mix of 10 nameplates slated for assembly there. It is investing $2.7 billion at the site over three years in an expansion announced in August that it says will create 3,000 direct and indirect jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Hyundai says it is targeting more than 80% of vehicles sold in the U.S. to be assembled domestically by 2030. Through August, roughly 40% of Hyundai sold here are assembled domestically, per Omdia Automotive data, but this includes not only output from U.S. assembly sites in Savannah, Montgomery, Alabama, and West Point, Georgia, but production of the Tucson in Tijuana, Mexico, as well. It is unclear whether Hyundais 80% domestic production goal factors in Mexico assembly. Omdia Automotive analysis shows Hyundai could achieve close to 80% U.S. production with Metaplant output at 500,000, but with Mexico output factored in it would hit the figure. On a global basis, Hyundai is set to grow production capacity by 1.2 million units in five years, including the 500,000 Metaplant builds, 200,000 units from its Ulsan, South Korea, BEV plant and 250,000 units due to come online at its Pune, India, multi-model export hub. Complete-knock-down assembly Hyundai sites in North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, among those in other countries, will add an additional 250,000 units of output. Software-defined technologies are being cascaded to Hyundais plants, with advanced robot-based automation systems enabling predictive maintenance, digital simulation and self-diagnostics at the Ulsan BEV assembly plant, it says. Batteries and SDV Hyundai is targeting a 30% cost reduction for its batteries by 2027, which it says should be industry leading. It also sets its sights on further competitive advantages by targeting cells designed with 15% higher energy density and 15% shorter charging times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It says durability data from more than 50,000 Ioniq 5 BEVs, some driven more than 250,000 miles (400,000 km), shows 90% of battery life remains in most vehicles. From 2026, Hyundai says a cloud-based battery management system will collect data from diverse vehicle environments, applying proprietary advanced modeling for faster, more precise diagnostics. Hyundai also says it is accelerating its transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), with its Pleos in-vehicle distributed operating system at the core of its strategy. Pleos is said to enable rapid software updates, personalized feature enhancements and a safer, more flexible driving experience via separated hardware and software. The automakers Pleos Connect next-gen infotainment system will launch in second-quarter 2026, with multi-window functionality and an in-vehicle marketplace for third-party apps, creating new service-based revenue opportunities, among its features. Recommended Reading NATO allies condemned Russia's violation of Estonia's airspace -- the third provocative intrusion by Kremlin air assets in recent days -- with the Western military alliance setting a meeting of its North Atlantic Council to discuss the deepening crisis. "I've just spoken with the Estonian PM Kristen Michal about the Russian airspace violation today," NATO chief Mark Rutte said on social media on September 19. "NATO's response...was quick and decisive," he added, referring to the deployment of alliance jets after the small Baltic nation reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft entered its airspace. Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, said that "NATO quickly responded under Eastern Sentry, scrambling Italian F025 fighter jets based in Estonia." "Sweden and Finland also scrambled their quick-reaction aircraft," O'Donnell said. Russia's Defense Ministry later denied its aircraft had violated Estonian airspace, saying the planes were on a "scheduled flight...in strict compliance with international airspace regulations." No Flight Plans, Transponders 'Switched Off' The Estonian military said the jets remained in national airspace for 12 minutes in the Vaindloo Island area without permission. "The fighter jets did not have flight plans, and their transponders were switched off," the military said. "At the time of the airspace violation, the fighter jets did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control." Michal said his government had requested the invoking of NATO's Article 4, which sets a mandatory meeting of alliance members but is short of the more serious Article 5. Article 4 states that the parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened. Estonia's Foreign Ministry also summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to "lodge a protest and deliver a note of concern" over the incident. "I would say that NATO's air defense worked -- the planes left, forced the Russian planes to leave. But to be in Estonian airspace for such a long time is, of course, at least malice, if not a planned operation," Michal said. In response, NATO said it would conduct a meeting of its North Atlantic Council -- the principal political decision-making body within NATO -- early next week to discuss Russia's actions, although a date was not announced. US President Donald Trump told reporters he would soon be briefed on the reported Russian airspace violation. I dont love it...I dont like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but Ill let you know later, he said. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called Russia's action an extremely dangerous provocation. The incident follows recent incursions by Russian drones in Poland and Romania which -- like Estonia -- are members of NATO and the European Union. Russia had launched the drones toward Ukraine as part of its full-scale invasion of that country. Jim Townsend, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for a New American Strategy and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy, described the incident as a big incursion taking into account Estonias size and the length of the flight. It is very serious stuff, he told RFE/RL. He said NATO may need to double the number of aircraft allocated to the Baltic Air Policing mission as pilots can get worn out if they are on high alert for long periods of time. NATO set up the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2004 to patrol the skies over Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia when the three nations joined Western military alliance. The mission generally consists of four fighter aircraft as well as pilots and support staff from one NATO member and are stationed either in Lithuania or Estonia on a four-month rotational basis. He also said NATO needs also to accelerate development of drone-countering technology to protect Eastern member states from potential attack. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL that I do expect them [Russian airspace violations] to continue until there's some sort of forceful act -- until NATO makes the conditions...to the point where any risk that Russia might have to incur by doing these incursions isn't worth it. I think this is just part of the broader strategy by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to defy Trump and at the same time make division inside the alliance more noticeable, Coffee said. NATO on September 12 announced an effort to bolster defenses in its so-called eastern flank, launching an "activity," dubbed Eastern Sentry, that would deploy additional military hardware from Britain, Denmark, France, and Germany to deter potential Russian aggression. Zelenskyy Calls Airspace Violation 'Outrageous' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia for intensifying tensions after the jets violated Estonian airspace, calling the action "outrageous" and "destabilizing." "These are not accidents. This is a systematic Russian campaign directed against Europe, against NATO, against the West. And it requires a systemic response," Zelensky wrote on social media. "Strong action must be taken," he added. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the earlier drone incursions while announcing proposals for the EUs latest sanctions package. Again and again, President Putin has escalated, and in response, Europe is increasing its pressure, she said. Todd Prince in Washington contributed to this report Polish and other NATO jets scrambled on September 20 as Russia launched another massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine. The wave of overnight strikes came shortly after NATO countries voiced outrage at a Russian incursion into Estonian airspace the previous day, as well as recent Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania. "Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness," Polands military Operational Command said in a post on X. The operation, which lasted around 90 minutes, underlined the heightened state of alert in NATO countries following the Russian incursions. Later on September 20, Estonia's Defense Ministry released a map showing the flight path of three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft the previous day. "The violation took place over the Gulf of Finland," it said, adding that the Russian jets flew parallel to the state border from east to west, entering Estonian airspace to a depth of less than 10 kilometers. Moscow has denied the violations, and also denied that its drones entered Polish airspace intentionally in the previous incident. Amid the ongoing diplomatic fallout, the Russian attacks on Ukraine included 579 drones, 32 cruise missiles, and 8 ballistic missiles, Ukraines air force reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said three people were killed and dozens injured. "The enemy's target was our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises. In Dnipro, a direct hit of a rocket with cluster munitions on a high-rise building was recorded, he said. Zelenskyy repeated calls made following the September 9 drone incursions for NATO to work with Ukraine on joint air defenses. For a reliable shield we must act together, he said. NATO on September 12 said it had launched a new "activity," dubbed Eastern Sentry, that would deploy additional military hardware from Britain, Denmark, France, and Germany to countries on its eastern flank. But the alliance has resisted calls for an air umbrella within Ukraine. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy Lysak, said there were 26 victims in the eastern city of Dnipro. Fourteen are in the hospital, the rest will recover at home. A 55-year-old man is in serious condition. He has burns on 70 percent of his body. Doctors are fighting for his life," he said. The Ukrainian Air Force said air defenses had intercepted the vast majority of incoming fire, highlighting the use of US-made F-16 jets against Russian cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said the countrys air defenses had shot down 149 Ukrainian drones overnight, in a variety of locations including the Rostov, Saratov, Bryansk, and Samara regions, and over Russian-occupied Crimea. A source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that a number of oil pumping stations were put out of action. Ukraines military said it had struck oil facilities in both the Saratov and Samara regions, near Kazakhstan. The head of the Samara region, Vyacheslav Fyedorishchev, said four people were killed in a Ukrainian attack. The head of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, wrote on Telegram that windows were blown out of two housing blocks and one woman was hospitalized. While Russia regularly targets civilian infrastructure including housing, hospitals, and schools, Ukraine has waged a targeted campaign against Russias oil refineries, reportedly taking out nearly a fifth of Russias capacity. Battlefield claims by either side could not be independently confirmed. BELGRADE -- Tanks, jeeps, and soldiers paraded through the Serbian capital under bright sunshine on September 20, in a massive military spectacle that some opposition figures criticized as a politicization of the armed forces. Overhead, Russian-made MiG-29s roared across the skies alongside French-produced Rafale jets, underlining Serbias geopolitical balancing act as a country that seeks close ties with both Russia and the West. President Aleksandar Vucic described the parade as "a source of pride for Serbia. It included some 10,000 personnel and 2,600 pieces of military equipment. Elsewhere in the city, several hundred people staged a protest. The event came amid months of nationwide protests following the fatal collapse of part of a railway station building in the northern city of Novi Sad in November. Protesters have demanded early elections and a crackdown on corruption. In a statement student demonstrators stated that "the current government has, over the past 13 years, actively undermined the integrity, reputation, independence, and apolitical nature of our army." Police prevented the protestors getting near the parade. It was a mostly peaceful gathering, with minor scuffles before the crowd dispersed. The government said the parade was to mark a national holiday -- the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag. "This is Serbias survival and victory, a Serbia that wants peace and prosperity, and knows how to preserve its dignity, territory, and future," Vucic wrote on Instagram shortly after the parade ended. Vucic has said Serbia must rearm. "Everyone is arming to the teeth. The region is also arming, and it is our duty not to fall behind, he said in 2024. That year, Serbia spend some $2.2 billion on defense, some 2.6 percent of gross domestic product. Prior to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Serbia largely relied on Russian weaponry. The purchase of Rafale fighter jets -- agreed upon during a visit to Serbia by French President Emmanuel Macron in August 2024 -- was seen by some experts as a strategic pivot by Serbia toward the West in defense matters. But Vucic has continued to cultivate his multi-vector approach to foreign and defense policy, cultivating ties with both Moscow and China. Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he was in China earlier this month for celebrations marking the end of World War II that also included a massive military parade in Beijing. Serbia also uses Chinese military equipment, such as CH-92A combat drones. The parking situation at Roscommon University Hospital is a nightmare with parking fines being issued daily, a special sitting of Roscommon District Court was told. A member of staff at the hospital before the court over a parking fine appeared before Judge Vincent Deane, who was presiding over a two-week period of special sittings in the county. The staff member admitted parking on a footpath on the morning of December 16th, 2024, but argued she had no choice as there was no parking available and she had to start work at 8.30 a.m.. She told the judge that there was no staff parking and that she had not parked on the footpath since. Its a nightmare out there, she said, adding that there were illegally parked cars at the hospital on the day of the court hearing. She previously told another court that she did not pay the fine as she felt she did not deserve to get penalised for going to work. Garda Amanda Lynch of Roscommon Traffic Corps said that she had found the accuseds car parked completely on the footpath and issued a fine of 80, which was unpaid. She also explained that the reason why the traffic corps was carrying out patrols around the hospital was due to the numerous complaints from the public that elderly and disabled people were having issues accessing the hospital due to illegal parking. The court heard that there was parking to the rear of the hospital, outside Dr Hyde Park, and at other locations. Responding to a question by Judge Deane, Garda Lynch said that tickets are being issued at the hospital daily. Hearing the evidence, Judge Deane directed that the accused pay a 40 donation to Special Olympics Ireland, and he indicate he would strike the matter out. Prominent Roscommon businessman Sean Mulryan has received the Freedom of the City of London, which recognises notable individuals for their contributions to public life and to London. The Oran native founded the property firm Ballymore with his wife Bernardine Mulryan in 1982. He is the company CEO and chairperson of the group. Mr Mulryan was presented with the Freedom of the City of London at a special ceremony in the English capital on Thursday. For four decades, Ballymore have been involved in major projects in the UK, Ireland and several other countries. In the city of London, the company has received recognition for its involvement in large scale regeneration projects. Speaking to the Roscommon Herald at Oran GAA grounds today, Saturday, as he officially opened a redeveloped pitch, Mr Mulryan said it was an honour to receive the award. I live in Ireland but Im the best part of three days a week every week in London for the last forty years. It is a honour to receive the freedom of the city. Its a recognition of what we have done in the greater London area over those forty years. "In that time, we have done a lot with local communities and the communities that we have been developing, he said. In June, he unveiled his companys masterplan for a new green sustainable city in Athlone to cater for a population of 100,000 by 2040. For the last twenty five years, Mr Mulryan has made significant contributions to Roscommon GAA and to many charities, including the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation. He is also a patron of Oran GAA club. A Roscommon Town teacher who has given 38 years of dedicated service to her profession was recently honoured on her retirement. Joan OShea, a native of Roscommon Town, began her career in Sheriff Street, Dublin in 1988 before moving to Scoil Mhuire in Roscommon, now St. Comans Wood National School. To mark her retirement from St. Comans Una Feeley, principal, made a presentation on behalf of herself and staff to Joan. I cant help thinking that our esteemed Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine writes its circulars in ancient Greek, and then uses a very old version of Google Translate to turn them into something approaching English. Once written, in the most expensive piece of real estate in Ireland that is the Department offices on Dublins Kildare Street, hundreds of clerks gather in a great circle and clap each other on the back to celebrate a job well done. I have a horror of clerks. They can turn the simplest task into a complex web of puzzles that could take a lifetime to solve, just by weaving a load of unnecessary rules around it. And nobody has managed to bring this over-complication to a fine art better than our friends on Kildare Street. Were not the worst country for making simple things difficult, others can outdo us on that. I was in a Notarys office in the Romanian city of Giurgiu a couple of years ago, attempting to transfer some properties from an Irish NGO to the Local Authority. When I saw the clerk in charge of the photocopier taking delivery of two large pallets of copier paper I knew we were in for a long day and I remember feeling glad I dont live there. A friend of mine who used to be a member of their government explained that they inherited this top-heavy system from the French who had colonised the country at one point. Following my day in Giurgiu, which turned into two days of stamping and signing enough paper to fill a skip, I could only conclude that Im glad I dont live in France either. Clerks are necessary, and always have been. In the past they were looked up to, they had superior literary and numerary skills, and they recorded things that made government function. Their talents were recognised by society, with the surnames showing their importance . But in the last hundred years or so they sort-of lost the run of themselves. Anything simple they could manage to lay their hands on became complicated, layers and layers of unnecessary and self-perpetuating chaff obscuring the original purpose of the exercise. The dominance of the clerks may at last be coming to an end, however. AI (not the kind that saved us bringing the cow to the bull) but artificial intelligence seems set to take over their work. In the near future, a computer programme will do the same job. It wont be long until the real work, the things done by real people with tools other than a pen, will be what earns respect in society, and a little machine in the corner will record what needs to be recorded. I dont know what theyll do with Irelands most expensive office space, but Im sure the little machine will think of something. South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company announced new, ambitious mid-term growth targets at its first 2025 CEO Investor Day summit in New York, the first time the event has been held outside South Korea. The annual event provides a platform for the automaker to communicate its mid- to long-term strategies to investors and stakeholders. Speaking at the event, Hyundai Motor president and CEO Jose Munoz, announced that the company has set a new target of 5.5 million global vehicle sales by 2030, driven by strategic product expansion, breakthrough electrification technologies, and software-defined capabilities that will redefine the automotive experience. Mr Munoz confirmed that the company has increased its planned global investments for the next five years to KRW 77.3 trillion (US$ 55 billion), compared with KRW 70.3 trillion in its five year-plan announced a year ago. The revised financial guidance also raises the companys revenue growth target by 56%; and its operating profit margin target to 67%. By 2030, Hyundai aims to sell 3.3 million electrified vehicles annually, including more than 18 hybrid models and a comprehensive battery electric vehicle (BEV) line-up. The company also plans to expand into new segments, including mid-size pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles, through its recently announced partnership with General Motors. Hyundai highlighted its progress in the BEV segment, with a strategy based on products designed for specific markets. The company plans to roll out the new Ioniq 3 model in 2026, targeted mainly at the European mass-market; a model locally designed in India; and in China, a new battery-powered sedan will follow the imminent launch of the Elexio BEV. The company also announced that its first Extended Range EV (EREV) models, which bridge the transition to full electrification with a driving range of more than 600 miles, will be launched in 2027. The company expects next-generation battery technologies to provide cost and performance improvements, and plans to launch a cloud-based battery management system in 2026. Its global manufacturing expansion strategy will integrate its Software-Defined Factory technologies, targeting 1.2 million units across its manufacturing facilities worldwide. The company confirmed that Phase 2 expansion of Hyundai Motor Groups plant in Savannah, in the US state of Georgia, will be completed by 2028, increasing the facilitys annual production capacity from the current 300,000 units per year to 500,000 units, with the new US$ 2.7 billion investment creating an additional 3,000 new jobs. A new documentary by Tudor Platon "An Almost Perfect Family" explores the intricate makings of family life across two generations O familie aproape perfecta - Tudor Platon Corina Sabau, 20.09.2025, 12:00 An intimate and moving story about communication across generations, the documentary An Almost Perfect Family, directed by Tudor Platon and produced by microFilm, recently premiered in Romania. Premiered at international festivals such as the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival (Czech Republic) and DocPoint Helsinki (Finland), the film also has a series of special screenings in Bucharest and in other cities, with the participation of the production team. The documentary was previewed in Iasi during the 16th edition of the Romanian Film Evenings, and in Sibiu and Blaj, at ESTE Filmul de Miercuri. News of his parents separation, after 30 years of marriage, prompted Tudor Platon to attempt a survey of the relationships around him, using his most powerful ally the camera. My mother came to me one day, in Bucharest, and told me that my father had left. It was a pretty intense moment for me and thats when I felt the need to take the camera and film what was happening around me. Thats when I started filming, when my mother broke the news, thats how things happened. Thats how it all started, from this need to use the camera when I feel that something intensely emotional is happening around me. And I can say that yes, the camera gives me courage. Every now and then it helps me pay attention to other things, not just to those that are happening around me. And that brings me some respite. It somehow helps me stop taking everything in stride. The camera, for me, works as an intermediary and helps me see everything in retrospect. I can revisit moments from the past. Obviously, it has a lot to do with the diary, and for now I really cant give up this habit of carrying the camera everywhere I go. I even have a folder titled video diary where I store everything I am filming. As my family went through multiple changes, I filmed everyone close to me in intimate conversations and moments of vulnerability in order to understand my parents and overcome the fear of forming my own family, Tudor Platon says. The depth that Tudor Platon imparts to the stories told by his camera transforms them into a discourse on intergenerational trauma, a topic too scarcely explored in Romanian cinema. It was an intensely emotional experience. I started filming in 2018 and finished editing in 2023. But the two stories in the film, the story of my parents relationship and the story between me and Carla, didnt start at the same time. It all started with the news of my parents separation and there was a period when I was trying to understand what was happening with the help of the camera in my hands. Then, gradually, my relationship with Carla also started growing, and watching this film I realize that its like looking at my life from the past few years, especially since there are some moments there, during my relationship with Carla, that very clearly mark a chronological path, including the fact that we ended up having a child. Regarding the generations and the stories about the two couples in the film, I think theres a pretty big difference between my generation and my parents. Even though there are more difficult moments in my relationship with Carla, it seems to me very important that we manage to express, to articulate what happens to us, what we feel. We also manage to talk about the things that dont suit us and it seems to me that my friends try to do the same. Its a pattern that I didnt grow up with. At home I grew up with some very awkward moments of silence that are also present in the film, a silence that I didnt understand anything from, although it was very intense. Well, with the help of the camera I gained a little courage that helps me express everything much better. The films editing was managed by Delia Oniga and Maria Salomia, the sound design was handled by Ioan Filip and Dan-Stefan Rucareanu. The direction, screenplay and image belong to Tudor Platon. The films producers are Carla Fotea, Ada Solomon and Tudor Platon. A member of the European Film Academy, Tudor Platon made his filmmaker debut with the film House of Dolls, which premiered in 2020 in the Documentary Competition of the Sarajevo Film Festival and was selected in the Transylvania International Film Festival, Zagreb Dox, Astra Film Festival and Biografilm Festival. As a cinematographer, he has worked on over 20 films, both documentaries and features, such as The New Year That Never Came and The Christmas Gift, both directed by Bogdan Muresanu, 4:15 P.M. The End of the World, directed by Gabi Sarga and Catalin Rotaru or Arsenie. The Afterlife, directed by Alexandru Solomon. (VP) September 20, 2025 A roundup of domestic and international news Newsflash Newsroom, 20.09.2025, 13:40 Exercise. Starting today, the first columns of military equipment belonging to NATO member countries will begin entering Romania via Curtici (west). These troops will take part in the Dacian Fall exercise (DAFA 2025), which will take place in Romania and Bulgaria between October 20 and November 13. The main objective of the exercise is the operational integration of the structures subordinate and affiliated to the Multinational Division Southeast Command and marks the final stage of raising the NATO combat groups in the two countries to brigade level, said General Dorin Toma, who heads the aforementioned allied structure based in Bucharest. More than 5,000 allied troops with 1,200 technical assets from 10 allied countries will take part in the exercise, which will be conducted simultaneously at training ranges. The participating countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. NATO exercises, including DAFA 25, are defensive in nature and are conducted in full compliance with Romanias international obligations, according to the Ministry of National Defense. Russia. NATO and the European Union have condemned the violation of the Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets on Friday. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied that its aircraft flew over Estonia. Tallinn invoked Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, requesting urgent consultations with allies on the response. The reactions so far have been of total support. Romania also condemned the violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on social media. This month, Russian drones have also violated the airspace of Romania and Poland. On September 13, a drone belonging to the Russian Federation flew for 50 minutes in the Romanian airspace, to then leave the country under the surveillance of NATO military aircraft. In Poland, authorities reported that at least 19 Russian drones violated national airspace on the night of September 9-10, some of which were shot down by the countrys air force and NATO forces. AEA. Romania has rejoined the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency for a two-year term following elections held on Friday, the last day of the agencys general conference, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has announced. Romania previously served on the agencys board between 2008 and 2010. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the new term is a recognition of Romanias expertise gained from over 60 years of activity in the civil nuclear sector. Romania came very close to obtaining the position of director of the International Atomic Energy Agency through diplomat Cornel Feruta, who held this position on an interim basis for six months in 2019. Celebration. Bucharest Days are celebrated on Saturday and Sunday with outdoor concerts, theater performances, film screenings, exhibitions, and guided tours. The series of events marks 566 years since the first documentary attestation of the city. The Open Streets event enlivens Calea Victoriei with dozens of artistic and community events. A spectacular parade on this boulevard recreates the atmosphere of yesteryear: horses, period costumes, artists, and historical figures. A photography exhibition capturing the atmosphere of the capital during the interwar period can be visited at the Arch of Triumph, and the Brancovenesti Palaces at the Gates of Bucharest are organizing historical and military reenactments and ceremonies to honor heroes. The Bucharest City Hall opens its doors to visitors for guided tours, film screenings, exhibitions, and creative activities. iMapp. The worlds largest video mapping festival returns today for two days in Bucharests Constitution Square. iMapp marks a double anniversary: 566 years since the first documented testing of Bucharest and ten years since the festivals inception. Seven teams, winners of the worlds most prestigious festivals, will present their work on the worlds largest facade the 23,000 square metre facade of the Palace of Parliament. The teams in the competition come from countries on three continents: China, Japan, Indonesia, Hungary, Germany, France and the United States. This year, two special events are being organized in honor of two Romanian artists who are part of the worlds cultural heritage: a projection dedicated to George Enescu and a video mapping work inspired by the work of sculptor Constantin Brancusi. Festival. The George Enescu International Festival has concerts, exhibitions, and a book launch on the program today. At the George Enescu Memorial House in Sinaia, Valerii Sokolov will perform on the violin and Maria Diana Petrache on the piano, while the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Tiberiu Soare, will perform on the stage in Bucharests Festival Square. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, conducted by Klaus Makela, will perform today at the Palace Hall. The program includes Rendering by Franz Schubert/Luciano Berio and Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor by Gustav Mahler. The 27th edition of the International Festival will take place in Bucharest and around the country until Sunday. This year, the theme of the event is Celebrations, marking the 70th anniversary of the death of the great composer. (MI) September 20, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of domestic and international news September 20, 2025 UPDATE Newsroom, 20.09.2025, 19:51 Exercise. On Saturday, military equipment belonging to NATO member countries started entering Romania via Curtici (west). These troops will take part in the Dacian Fall exercise (DAFA 2025), which will take place in Romania and Bulgaria between October 20 and November 13. The main objective of the exercise is the operational integration of the structures subordinate and affiliated to the Multinational Division Southeast Command and marks the final stage of raising the NATO combat groups in the two countries to brigade level, said General Dorin Toma, who heads the aforementioned allied structure based in Bucharest. More than 5,000 allied troops with 1,200 technical assets from 10 allied countries will take part in the exercise, which will be conducted simultaneously at training ranges. The participating countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. NATO exercises, including DAFA 25, are defensive in nature and are conducted in full compliance with Romanias international obligations, according to the Ministry of National Defense. Russia. NATO and the European Union have condemned the violation of the Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets on Friday. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied that its aircraft flew over Estonia. Tallinn invoked Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, requesting urgent consultations with allies on the response. The reactions so far have been of total support. Romania also condemned the violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on social media. This month, Russian drones have also violated the airspace of Romania and Poland. On September 13, a drone belonging to the Russian Federation flew for 50 minutes in the Romanian airspace, to then leave the country under the surveillance of NATO military aircraft. In Poland, authorities reported that at least 19 Russian drones violated national airspace on the night of September 9-10, some of which were shot down by the countrys air force and NATO forces. IAEA. Romania has rejoined the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency for a two-year term following elections held on Friday, the last day of the agencys general conference, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has announced. Romania previously served on the agencys board between 2008 and 2010. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the new term is a recognition of Romanias expertise gained from over 60 years of activity in the civil nuclear sector. Romania came very close to obtaining the position of director of the International Atomic Energy Agency through diplomat Cornel Feruta, who held this position on an interim basis for six months in 2019. Celebration. Bucharest Days are celebrated with outdoor concerts, theater performances, film screenings, exhibitions, and guided tours. The series of events marks 566 years since the city was first mentioned in official documents. The Open Streets event enlivens Calea Victoriei with dozens of artistic and community events. A spectacular parade on this boulevard recreates the atmosphere of yesteryear: horses, period costumes, artists, and historical figures. A photography exhibition capturing the atmosphere of the capital during the interwar period can be visited at the Arch of Triumph, and the Brancovenesti Palaces at the Gates of Bucharest are organizing historical and military reenactments and ceremonies to honor heroes. The Bucharest City Hall opens its doors to visitors for guided tours, film screenings, exhibitions, and creative activities. iMapp. The worlds largest video mapping festival has returned for two days to Bucharests Constitution Square. iMapp celebrates its tenth anniversary and also Bucharests 556th anniversary. Seven teams, winners of the worlds most prestigious festivals are presenting their work on the 23,000 square metre facade of the Palace of Parliament. The teams in the competition come from countries on three continents: China, Japan, Indonesia, Hungary, Germany, France and the United States. This year, two special events are being organized in honor of two Romanian artists who are part of the worlds cultural heritage: a projection dedicated to George Enescu and a video mapping work inspired by the work of sculptor Constantin Brancusi. Compensation. Romania has received 5.7 million in compensation for four heritage items stolen from a museum in the Netherlands in January this year: three Dacian bracelets and a golden helmet, which were part of an exhibition featuring over 500 items on loan from Romania. The Ministry of Culture said in a statement that the National Museum of History had confirmed that the insurer had transferred the full amount provided for in the insurance policy. The last installment arrived on September 12, and according to the law, the museum will send the amount to the state budget. If the objects are returned, the money must be returned to the insurer. Meanwhile, the criminal investigation into the theft continues. Culture Minister Andras Demeter has called for proposals to change the procedures when Romanian heritage objects are temporarily exhibited, so as to reduce the risk of similar events. Festival. The 27th edition of the George Enescu International Festival closes its doors on Sunday in Romania. Throughout the festival, nearly 100 concerts and performances were scheduled. The audience was able to listen to interpretations of George Enescus works, from the famous Romanian Rhapsodies to Symphonies, Orchestral Suites, rare chamber works, and the monumental opera Oedipe, presented in a production by visionary director Stefano Poda, as well as works by important composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Pierre Boulez, and Maurice Ravel. This year, the festival also marks 70 years since the passing of the great composer, paying tribute to his artistic legacy and profound impact on universal classical music. Since its first edition, Radio Romania has been a co-producer of the Enescu Festival. (MI) Jake Smith Courtesy of Jake Smith RIO RANCHO A former University of New Mexico employee from Rio Rancho who filed an ethics complaint against the institution and others, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, wants to be the states next chief executive. Jake Smith, 38, who is the founder and president of The GovernToChange Project an outreach organization to help people connect with their lawmakers is running for governor as an independent. He made his candidacy official with the New Mexico Secretary of States Office on Sept. 11, according to the offices website. Asked about his pitch to voters, Smith who is joining a crowded field of candidates that includes Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull invoked The Land of Manana, an affectionate term for New Mexico. To me, the Land of Tomorrow means that we do everything possible today for the best possible tomorrow for all New Mexicans, Smith said. We dont put off our problems; we address them and thats what Ill do. His top priority is education, which includes investing in infrastructure. He said too many schools have permanent portable classrooms. These portable classrooms (are) too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, Smith said. How can we expect our teachers to be able to instruct when were not even investing in the resources for them to have a proper classroom? How can we expect our students to sit there and learn? We need to get permanent classrooms (and) buildings. His other priorities include medical malpractice reform and investing in agriculture. Smith previously lived in Albuquerque, where he was employed by the UNM College of Nursing as a staffer in the graduate program. According to an online article he authored, Smith was terminated from UNM in July 2024 after he reported instances of alleged misconduct within the nursing college and improper securement of a caregivers criminal history screening program. In response, Smith wrote, numerous university officials allegedly retaliated against him and his wife, who is studying at the college. He responded to UNM administrators by attempting to get a restraining order, which a judge denied. In June 2025, in connection to his UNM complaints, Smith filed a state ethics complaint against the university, as well as the New Mexico Department of Justice, the New Mexico Department of Health and Lujan Grisham. But the New Mexico Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint due to lack of jurisdiction. Ad Smith and his wife, Nikki, are expecting their first child together. For Smith, the notion of being a father for the first time puts his candidacy and potential governorship into perspective. The way that I envision running for and being governor is through family values (and) teamwork, Smith said. There will be times when I wont be there. However, I know with these values, my child will be around more than others as I fulfill these duties. Thats because of who I am as a person. While SAIC may halt new investments in the JSW MG Motor JV, it will continue providing technology and products In a report published by Reuters, it has been revealed that SAIC may be looking to reduce its stake in JSW MG Motor JV in a significant manner. This move could be due to policies that restrict Chinese investment in India. SAIC could also be facing hurdles in getting the right valuation for its stake sale in the JV. Lets get more details on this story. Negotiations with JSW for SAIC stake sale SAIC is reportedly negotiating to sell its stake in the JSW MG Motor JV. JSW is willing to buy SAICs stake, after which, JSW will emerge as the majority shareholder in the JV. However, it appears that the deal is currently stuck, as both parties are yet to arrive at a mutually agreeable valuation of the shares held by SAIC. Another factor that could be playing a role in SAICs decision-making in this context is JSWs future plans. JSW is reportedly in advanced talks with China-based Chery Automobile for its ambitious entirely new car brand. If the talks are successful, Chery Automobile will function as a technology partner in JSWs new automobile company. This new entity will be distinct from the existing joint venture between JSW and MG Motor. JSWs move to engage Chery Automobile makes the entire situation all the more complex. Chery Automobile and SAIC are rivals in both Chinese and export markets. While SAIC has a larger global presence, Chery has been witnessing robust growth across both domestic and export markets. If JSW launches its own separate car brand in partnership with Chery, it could create a conflict of interest between the existing JV and the new entity. JSW to acquire additional stake As of now, SAIC holds a 49% stake in JSW MG Motor JV. While JSW is in talks to acquire a part of SAICs stake, the company is also in discussions to buy stakes from other shareholders. One of the deals being negotiated is the 8% stake held by Everstone. JSW currently holds 35% and seems keen to increase its shareholding in the JV. With a majority stake, JSW will be in a better position to chart a successful path for MG in India. As may be recalled, MG Motor started operations in India in 2019. SAIC had invested around $650 million initially. One of the key milestones was the acquisition of the General Motors plant in Gujarat. SAIC was aiming for further expansion in India, especially in the EV segment. However, after the border clashes in 2020, new investments from China were put on hold. In 2024, SAIC sold a large portion of its stake in MG Motor India. It included a 35% stake sale to JSW. This deal was worth $300 million, boosting MG Motor Indias market valuation to $1.2 billion. The proceeds were transferred to SAIC and not invested back in MG Motor India. JSW MG Motor is currently focused on introducing multiple new EV models. Investments worth $240 million have been planned, although an approval from the government is awaited. Even with the challenges, JSW MG Motor has emerged as a popular car brand, especially in the EV segment. MG is currently the second-largest electric car manufacturer in India in terms of sales volume. A significant percentage of MG sales in India come from the Windsor EV. MG has also introduced premium models such as the Cyberster and MG M9. Source Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) is one of the best growth stocks under $30 to buy. On September 11, Infosys and HanesBrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI) announced a strategic ten-year alliance to drive innovation and efficiency across HanesBrands IT landscape. The collaboration designates Infosys as HanesBrands strategic partner for its digital, business applications, and data initiatives to achieve hyper productivity and AI-driven efficiency. Under the terms of the alliance, Infosys will deploy its proprietary, AI-first platforms, specifically the Live Enterprise Automation Platform/LEAP, which is integrated within the Infosys Topaz suite of services. The deployment will use GenAI and AIOps technologies to help HanesBrands modernize its core operations, simplify its IT landscape, enhance agility, and unlock greater value from data. Infosys, HanesBrands Announce 10-Year AI-Driven Strategic Alliance Infosyss AI-first approach and proven ability to scale innovation were key factors in selecting the partner, aligning with HanesBrands long-term vision for agility and customer-centricity. Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) provides consulting, technology, outsourcing, and digital services in North America, Europe, India, and internationally. Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI) designs, manufactures, sources, and sells a range of innerwear apparel for men, women, and children in the Americas, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of INFY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. You're getting just a fraction of what you earned: A 35% payout means you're being paid about one-third of your actual wage for hours you already worked to earn that PTO. You lose time off: PTO is part of your compensation package. Accepting a partial payout means trading rest and recovery for less-than-fair pay. Better than losing it entirely: In states like Florida, theres often no legal protection for unused PTO unless its spelled out in a contract. Something is better than nothing. Immediate cash in hand: Even at a reduced rate, a payout can help with bills, savings or investing. If you earn $100,000 a year, the 35% payout is still over $13,000. So what are the pros and cons of accepting their first offer? But just because the company doesn't have to offer a payout doesn't mean you should accept their first offer especially when you consider that the 800 hours they want to buy back are the equivalent of 20 weeks of full-time work. While the 35% payout offer might seem unfair, there's a reason it's so low. In most states, companies are not required to offer any compensation for PTO at all. There is no federal guarantee of paid time off in the United States, and few states require it. Because PTO is considered a liability for companies, it's an unpaid debt that accumulates on their balance sheet over time. When companies want to reduce their liabilities, they may offload PTO, often at the expense of their employees. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake heres what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Then your employer announces a new PTO policy: From now on, only a limited amount of PTO can be rolled over, which means you're facing the loss of a significant portion of your accumulated hours. Your employer has offered to pay out 800 hours of your PTO but at just 35% of your regular salary. Imagine working for the same company for more than a decade. You've never been one to take long vacations, and your paid time off (PTO) balance has quietly climbed to more than 1,000 hours. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues The good news is you do have options. If you find yourself in a similar situation, consider the following steps. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Start with negotiation Ask your employer why they're only offering 35% and (politely) express disappointment that your compensation is essentially being reduced. Ask if the rate is flexible or if there are alternative options available. If you're an employee in good standing, they may be willing to work with you. Consider starting with a request of 60% pay or a mix of cash and time off. Use the time before it disappears Youre not alone in struggling to take time off. According to the U.S. Travel Association [1], more than 55% of Americans dont use all their PTO, and over 700 million hours go unused annually. But taking time off is crucial to our mental health. If you have a few months before the policy takes effect, consider taking an extended vacation or adjusting your work hours to a three or four-day work week to use up those days. Split the difference If your employer is willing to negotiate, propose a compromise that works for both parties. That could mean taking a month-long vacation and receiving some paid out hours at the reduced rate, taking Fridays off for the next year or working half days for an extended period. We all have a point at which we get overwhelmed, were engaging in unhelpful behaviors, and our thought processes become very negative, according to McLean Hospital's Andrew M. Kuller, PsyD, ABPP [2]. If youre feeling stressed out and drifting away from a healthy set of behaviors, those are things you could think about and try to rectify by taking a mental health day. What to do if your employer wants to pay out your PTO If you live in a state without strong PTO protections, here's how to protect yourself and make the most of your benefits. Know your rights In most states, PTO policies are governed by internal company policies, not state laws. It still doesnt hurt to be familiar with your states laws, but pay special attention to your employee handbook or onboarding agreements to understand your rights. Negotiate if you can Even if the policy requires forfeiture, most companies are willing to negotiate with long-term employees. Contact your Human Resources team to ask about your options. Consider negotiating for a mix of time off and cash. Take your PTO regularly Don't let PTO pile up to the point you have to forfeit hours. Remember, compensation packages aren't just about salary you earned those days off, so take them. Plan how to use the payout wisely If you take the cash offer, treat it as a bonus. Use it to pay off debt, build your emergency fund or invest for the future. Also consider how much tax you will pay on this bonus and if it will bump you into a new tax bracket. This can impact your decision-making on how to balance the payout vs. the time you use for vacation. If your main goal is to build an emergency fund, consider investing your payout in a high-yield savings account, or HYSA, to earn interest while keeping the funds accessible to you at all times. A HYSA can sometimes offer APYs of ten times the national average. When coupled with their high liquidity, or ease-of-access, this can make HYSAs ideal for storing cash for an emergency, while still making money back in the process. If youve already built a solid emergency fund and are looking for a low-risk option for extra cash, consider investing in a certificate of deposit (CD). CDs usually pay higher interest than standard savings accounts, though your money stays locked away until the term is up. You can shop around for CD rates offered by banks and financial institutions near you through MyBankTracker. MyBankTracker offers side-by-side comparisons of CD rates, terms and features, helping you find the best option without having to visit multiple websites or field calls from agents. You can also get personalized recommendations based on your financial goals, preferred investment period and risk tolerance. Investing in alternative assets like real estate and gold could also be rewarding, especially in an economic climate characterized by geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. For instance, Arrived lets you invest in residential real estate and vacation rentals across the country with as little as $100. Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived handles the day-to-day homeownership responsibilities covering everything from managing tenants to routine upkeep and property tax payments allowing you to become a landlord without the legwork. You can sit back, relax and collect monthly dividend checks from rental income generated by the properties youre invested in. Gold often considered a safe haven asset can shield your portfolio from inherent market risks, while helping grow your net worth. The precious metal has been on a tear lately amid ongoing market uncertainty, reaching record highs of over $3,600 in early September [3]. And as the Federal Reserve gears up to slash benchmark rates, UBS predicts [4] gold prices to surge even higher reaching $3,800 by the end of 2025. You can open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold in three simple steps. Recognized as the most trusted gold company of 2025 by Forbes, Priority Gold offers free insured shipping and storage for up to five years. Plus, you can sell your precious metals back without any fees or hassles, thanks to their guaranteed buyback assurance program. If youre confused about how a gold IRA can add value to your portfolio, you can request a free Priority Gold wealth preservation guide. Whats more, you can get $10,000 in complimentary silver when you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. Article sources At Moneywise, we consider it our responsibility to produce accurate and trustworthy content people can rely on to inform their financial decisions. We rely on vetted sources such as government data, financial records and expert interviews and highlight credible third-party reporting when appropriate. We are committed to transparency and accountability, correcting errors openly and adhering to the best practices of the journalism industry. For more details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. [1]. U.S. Travel Association. Paid Time off Trends in the U.S. [2]. McLeans Hospital. Why Mental Health Days Matter and How To Make Yours Count [3]. CNBC. Markets eye Fed rate cut as gold stays near all-time high [4]. Reuters. UBS gold price target raised to $3,800/oz by end-2025 This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Quotes of the night I was the Westerner from a small town who was best prepared to take on the streets of Harlem I knew what I was doing. I had seen some stuff. - Kate Noble I have no experience. These are all the people with experience. - Brenda Colburn Remember the words Quantum computing. Even if you don't remember my name. - Juan Blea Do not look for Jack Lain on the ballot. My name is Jakob Lain so a vote for Jakob is a vote for Jack. Make sure you get that. - Jack Lain If you want to spend $35 million with your tax dollars to create a program that's going to house less than 200 students [and] you are angry that we didn't approve to do that, I understand that. On the reality side, this is just the beginning. - Lynn Gardner Heffron Lund University archaeologists have revealed details of late medieval artillery from the wreck of the royal Danish-Norwegian flagship, Gribshunden. The shipwreck is the only known example of its kind from the medieval period -- as both ship and weapons are nearly identical to those of the early Spanish and Portuguese explorers. The new study tells the story of how early modern maritime adventurers were equipped to start the process of dominance and colonisation across the world. "Diving on this late medieval royal shipwreck is of course exciting. However, the greatest satisfaction is when we can actually put the pieces of the puzzle together later on; combining Martin's castle expertise with Kay's deep understanding of artillery," explains Brendan Foley, the marine archeologist behind the study, who worked closely with fellow LU archaeologist Martin Hansson and medieval artillery expert Kay Douglas Smith. Gribshunden, the flagship of the Danish-Norwegian King Hans, sank mysteriously in 1495 off the coast of Ronneby, Sweden. The wreck is internationally significant as the world's best-preserved ship from the Age of Exploration -- a proxy for the vessels of Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama. Ocean-going ships like Gribshunden and the artillery they carried were critical technologies for European explorers after 1492. The voyages to America and into the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope led to European colonization around the world. Gribshunden is a rare archaeological resource, as it is the most complete example yet discovered of a late medieval carvel warship. The ship carried 50 or more small calibre guns firing lead shot with an iron core. They were intended for anti-personnel use at close range, with tactics designed to injure or kill the enemy ships' personnel, followed by boarding to capture the vessel. Led by Lund University Professor Nicolo Dell'Unto, the Lund University team recreated the guns from 3D models of the artifacts A Danish 'floating castle' Gribshunden was built near Rotterdam between 1483-84. King Hans of Denmark and Norway had taken possession of the ship by spring 1486. The high cost of building and equipping these ships meant Gribshunden probably absorbed about 8% of the Danish national budget in 1485. Hans utilized his flagship differently from other monarchs; he personally sailed on it frequently, using it not for exploration, but to solidify his grasp on his kingdom. It was his floating castle, enabling royal travel to Sweden and all around the Danish realm including Gotland and especially Norway. The king used this vessel in ways similar to a terrestrial royal fortification. This included several soft power functions: economic, diplomatic, social, cultural, and administrative. Underpinning all of these was the obvious hard power of the ship's martial purpose embodied by the guns and other weapons carried aboard. Evidence of explosion Gribshunden served the crown for a decade before sinking while the king was en route from Copenhagen to a political summit in Sweden, where he expected to unify the entire Nordic region in a new Kalmar Union. Historical documents including eyewitness accounts relate that while Hans was ashore in Ronneby, an explosion and fire claimed the ship while it was anchored off the town. Among the 22-lead artillery shots from Gribshunden, several are flattened on one or two sides. This may be a result of the explosion that sank the vessel. Shot stored in the hold near the gunpowder ricocheted inside the ship. No Nordic expansion into North America So, given the existence of these warships, why didn't Denmark compete in expanding to the Americas? Denmark and Norway shared the long Viking and medieval Nordic history of exploration and settlement in the west, with colonies in Iceland and Greenland, and settlements in North America. Coupled with adoption of this new enabling technology, Hans might have successfully competed with the Iberian rulers in global exploration and expansion to the Americas. However, Hans' primary concern was consolidating rule over the Baltic region. In pursuit of that goal, Hans himself sailed on Gribshunden into the Atlantic on several royal visits, and to Kalmar on the ship's final voyage. One reason for Denmark's inattention to the Americas might have been a 1493 papal bull signed by Pope Alexander VI. This granted Spain rights to the Americas, and a treaty between Spain and Portugal ceded the Indian Ocean to the latter. Prior to the Reformation, the threat of excommunication for ignoring the papal 'Inter Caetera' was very real. Summary of the publication: Presents the artillery of a well-preserved late medieval Danish-Norwegian carvel warship, Gribshunden Of its original 50 or more guns, elements of 11 have been recovered and digitally recreated, and more remain on the wreck Provides insights into the development of shipboard artillery in the late 15th century More about the study: The study was written by archaeologists Brendan Foley and Martin Hansson, with English medieval artillery expert Kay Douglas Smith. The project is conducted in collaboration with Blekinge Museum, Vikingeskibsmueet, and Ronneby municipality. The research was funded by grants from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet), Crafoordska Stifltelsen, Huckleberry Foundation (USA), and with support from Blekinge Museum and the Lund University Department of Archaeology and Ancient History. The Gribshunden artillery artifacts are exhibited and curated at the Blekinge Museum facility in Rosenholm, with select artifacts on temporary display in Kallvattenkuren in Ronneby, and in Museet for Sfart in Helsingr, Denmark. Plans are underway to create a dedicated Gribshunden museum in Ronneby, where the artillery and other objects from the wreck may ultimately find a permanent home. Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) is one of the 9 Most Profitable Penny Stocks to Buy Right Now. On August 27, Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) and Sovereign Network Group (SNG) partnered on a 100 million loan agreement to fund the retrofit of thousands of social homes across England. Lloyds Banking Group has partnered with SNG to fund the sustainable retrofit of social homes across the South, West, and East of England, including London. This is Llyods largest lending commitment to date and follows a 60 million loan to Peabody announced earlier in July 2025. These two loans bring the total committed funding to 160 million, which represents 30% of its 500 million social housing funding commitment. Lloyds Banking Group And Sovereign Network Group Partners on 100 Million Loan Agreement Our partnership with the National Wealth Fund is an example of how we can use innovative finance models to enable housing associations to tackle the retrofit challenge. Were proud to be working alongside SNG to provide energy-efficient and cost-effective homes for social housing residents, said Jess Tomlinson, Global Head of Real Estate & Housing, Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds 500 million funding is partially backed by the National Wealth Fund (NWF). The NWF scheme supports the public and private sectors to provide warmer, greener homes for social housing residents as part of the U.K.s broader net-zero goals. On the other side, SNG is actively focusing on a major development programme, aiming to build around 25,000 new homes over the decade to 2034. As Lloyds Banking Group continues to provide loans, the company is set to dismiss 3,000 of its staff, as reported by Reuters on September 4. The figure represents 5% of the force at Lloyds Banking Group. Reuters mentioned that according to a familiar source to the matter, Lloyds expects about half of that number to lose their jobs unless their work improves. Along with other major banks, Lloyds has reduced its street presence. In January 2025, the bank stated that it would shut down 136 branches as more customers started to prefer digital banking. Since the announcement of the loan agreement, LYG shares have soared by almost 4.73% as of September 16. Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG), together with its subsidiaries, offers various banking and financial products and services in the U.K. and globally. While we acknowledge the potential of LYG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Lloyds Banking Group and Broadcom have agreed a new multiyear deal to support the UK-based banks ongoing transformation of its IT estate. As part of the arrangement, Lloyds will broaden its adoption of Broadcoms infrastructure software, including VMware Cloud Foundation and mainframe products, to enhance the resilience, agility and scalability across its technology environment. Lloyds Banking Group chief operating officer Ron van Kemenade said: Upgrading our infrastructure allows us to continue to provide fast and reliable digital banking for our customers, whether theyre making payments, applying for a loan, or checking their balance. It means our customers get a first-class service today, with a platform that can easily scale and support new products and innovations in the future. Lloyds plans to use VMware Cloud Foundation to assist with consolidating its data centres. The platform is expected to provide a standard operational model for its private cloud, seeking to combine aspects of public cloud flexibility with onsite security and performance. It will be used to run a mix of legacy, modern and artificial intelligence (AI)enabled applications while maintaining unified operations, governance and control, the technology vendor said. Broadcom will supply professional services and deliver training for Lloyds engineering teams to support the implementation. Its mainframe offerings will continue to handle Lloyds critical workloads, offering automation, tooling and integration for hybrid setups. The company says these measures aim to lower operating costs, enhance performance and help Lloyds maintain delivery of services to its 28 million UK customers and business clients. Broadcom EMEA president Luigi Freguia said: Broadcoms strategic partnership with Lloyds Banking Group has been strengthened by the addition of VMware into our existing infrastructure software portfolio, which includes our mainframe solutions. This promotes our goal to empower Lloyds Banking Group to transform their infrastructure and solidify their leadership as the UKs largest digital bank. Reports surfaced earlier this month indicating that Lloyds plans to revamp its approach to managing staff performance, a move that could affect thousands of its employees. "Lloyds, Broadcom extend technology agreement to aid transformation" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. Thomas Perry, the author of 31 mystery and thriller novels, died suddenly on September 15 at age 78. His first book, The Butcher's Boy, won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel in 1983. He launched his popular and critically acclaimed series about Jane Whitefield in 1995 with Vanishing Act; it was chosen as one of the "100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century" by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association and was included in Parade's list of "101 Best Mystery Books of All Time." The last book in the series, The Tree of Light and Flowers, will be published in March 2026. Perry also wrote many stand-alone mysteries, including Death Benefits, Pursuit (which won a Gumshoe Award in 2002), Dead Aim, Night Life, and Fidelity. He received many awards, including the Barry for Best Thriller of the Year for Hero earlier this month. Mysterious Press said Perry "was beloved by all who knew and worked with him and was part of the Mysterious Press family for a quarter of a century." Many of Perry's books were acquired by Hollywood studios, most recently The Old Man, a limited-run TV series starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow that premiered on FX in 2022. A second series made its debut in 2024. His novel Strip has completed filming as Bear Country, starring Russell Crowe. Otto Penzler, who published Perry for 25 years, spoke for all those at the Mysterious Press who worked with him, especially Luisa Cruz Smith, his editor for the past four books, stating, "Tom was not only one of the most distinguished writers of crime fiction for more than four decades, he was an unfailingly kind and thoughtful gentlemen that it was a joy and honor to know. We all will miss him, as will his countless fans in all parts of the world." Starbucks workers took legal action against the company on Wednesday over its newly imposed dress code. The workers accused Starbucks of refusing to reimburse employees for expenses related to its new dress code, thereby breaking the law. Most Read from Fast Company The workers, backed by the union, filed class-action lawsuits in Illinois and Colorado, and filed complaints with Californias Labor and Workforce Development Agency in a push for the agency to penalize the coffee chain. According to the lawsuits, Colorado state law prohibits employers from imposing expenses on workers without the workers consent. Meanwhile, several plaintiffs say they asked their employer to reimburse them for funds they spent on new clothing, but their requests were denied. Starbucks announced the changes to the company uniform earlier this year as part of its Back to Starbucks initiative. It said starting in May, workers would be required to wear solid black shirts under their aprons, and khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. At the time, Starbucks said it would give each employee two free T-shirts. While the uniform has remained largely the same over the years, in 2016, the company loosened its dress code to allow for different shirt colors, as well as brightly colored hair, and hats. Some employees said the changes lifted morale and allowed for greater freedom of expression on the job. This year, that freedom of expression was rolled back. By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners, which means they can focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers, the company said in an April 14 statement. However, the union has expressed anger that changes to the dress code are restrictive and happened without input from the baristas it affects. Likewise, workers feel there are other more important issues Starbucks should be focused on. In a September statement, Strategic Organizing Center Research Director Joan Moriarty said that a new union survey found huge issues with understaffing in Starbucks stores, with nine out of 10 respondents saying its a concern. The results of our survey demonstrate how Brian Niccols plan for Starbucks isnt coming close to getting the company back on track for its workers and customers, Moriarty said. Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted growing cooperation with the UAE, especially in high-tech fields, as India eyes greater FDI and FII from the region. Goyal announced the upcoming Bharat Mart project to support small Indian businesses in becoming exporters, with over 9,000 companies already showing interest. UAE investors showed keen interest in Indian sectors like technology, data centers, banking, start-ups, and logistics, recognizing India as a major growth opportunity. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal stated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is heavily investing in high-tech fields, and India may be eyeing cooperation in the field. Mr. Goyal spoke to the media after wrapping up a series of high-level discussions with senior officials, business leaders, and the Indian community in the UAE during his two-day tour. "UAE has also emerged as a hub which draws investments from all over the world", said Mr. Goyal, who added that the nation draws businesses from all over the globe to see the UAE as a hub of activity for Africa, Middle East, and Central Europe. "India would want to capitalize on that hub that UAE has successfully established", he added. Mr. Goyal, whose delegation comprised 75 industry leaders, stated that India is set to increase investments at a fast pace. Also Read: SEBI Chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey Warns MFs on Microcap Investments Speaking about recalibrating investment targets, Mr. Goyal stated though the UAE is already in the top five or six nations investing in India, he felt there was a much greater investment stream. "Investors in the UAE are smart enough to see that India is an opportunity not to be missed". "We will be looking at much larger pools of capital, both FDI, and FII", Mr. Goyal said. He also added that the plan to set up Bharat Mart project will provide small businesses with the chance to become big exporters. "Already over 9,000 companies have expressed interest to come to Bharat Mart", he said. Mr. Goyal informed that technology and data centres are the UAE investors' priority fields. "There was a lot of interest in the banking space and in our start-ups. There was interest of potential investors in logistics ecosystem in India". If you know anything about stocks, youve probably heard of the Magnificent Seven. Seven tech giants Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla have driven massive gains on Wall Street over the past decade, collectively earning an eye-popping 698% between 2015 and 2024, according to The Motley Fool. The S&P 500 as a whole returned a comparatively modest 178% in those years. If you own shares of any broad index fund that tracks large American companies, you probably own shares of the Magnificent Seven. In 2015, the Magnificent Seven made up 12% of the total market value of the S&P 500. In 2025, the seven companies account for 34% of that value. Anyone who has owned Magnificent Seven stock over those years has reason to rejoice. They are the toast of Wall Street. The Magnificent Seven are heroes, said Jim Cramer, a CNBC stock-market pundit, in a Sept. 15 broadcast. And Im not going to tell you to sell heroes, unless something changes that makes them feel a lot less heroic. An Nvidia logo and a computer motherboard appear in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. Is it time to look past the Magnificent Seven? Why would anyone consider selling a stake in the Magnificent Seven? Here are some reasons. First of all, market forecasts suggest the Magnificent Seven are overpriced. Economists measure the value of a stock by a formula called cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio, or CAPE ratio. It measures a stocks price against corporate earnings. It tells you, in effect, whether the stock is overvalued or undervalued. Right now, the CAPE ratio for the S&P 500 stands at 39.7. That means stock prices are very expensive, relative to earnings. Forecasters point to two prior moments when the CAPE Ratio ran high. One was in 1929. The other was in 1999. In the decades that followed those peaks, the stock market plummeted. Most of the Magnificent Seven stocks have higher price-to-earnings ratios than the S&P 500 as a whole, according to another Motley Fool analysis. That means Magnificent Seven stocks are historically overvalued. Based on that premise, Vanguard projects that U.S. growth stocks, a category the Magnificent Seven dominate, will rise by only 1.9% to 3.9% annually over the next decade. A view shows a Microsoft logo at Microsoft France headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France, January 25, 2023. Investors still love the Magnificent Seven Despite the red flags, investors are still scooping up Magnificent Seven stocks. Nvidia stock is up 28% on the year, as of Sept. 18. Meta is up 31%. Alphabet is up 32%. I own them. I love them. Im going to keep holding them for the next 10 years. Thats what I do, said David Gardner, co-founder of Motley Fool. Motley Fool includes two of the Seven, Alphabet and Amazon, on its current list of 10 Top Stocks to Buy and Hold. The Magnificent Seven have plenty of upsides. They are some of the most successful companies in history, lauded for technological innovation, global reach and brand recognition, strong revenue and earnings, and diverse operations that can adapt to changing market conditions. Here youre talking about concentration in seven of the most profitable, most diversified companies in the world, said Jonathan Swanburg, a certified financial planner in Houston. Whatever your opinion about the Magnificent Seven, if you are an index-fund investor, you may own more of the stocks than you realize. The first step would be to understand just how much exposure you have to them, said Andrew Patterson, head of active research at Vanguard. Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures during the keynote at an Apple special event on September 09, 2025 in Cupertino, California. The Magnificent Seven have reshaped the stock market The runaway success of the Seven has reshaped the stock market, with the Magnificent Seven at its core. If you have $1,000 invested in a typical S&P index fund, roughly $340 of that money is tied up in the Magnificent Seven. Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple, alone, make up more than 20% of the value of the typical S&P index fund, and nearly 20% of the typical total stock market index fund. As a rule, market concentration is considered a bad thing. Investors are urged to diversify: not to hold only stocks, and not to hold too much of any one stock. Because of the massive gains by Magnificent Seven stocks, many everyday investors now own more of those stocks and more stocks in general than they intended. An investor who started out with a 60-40 mix of stocks and bonds may now own a 70-30 mix: The stocks have outperformed the bonds. Whether you own too much Magnificent Seven stock, or too much stock in general, depends on your tolerance for risk and how far you are from retirement, among other factors, Patterson said. A potential solution is rebalancing: Invest in other asset classes. Maybe even sell some of your Magnificent Seven stock. Here are alternatives to the Magnificent Seven To avoid market concentration and overpriced stocks, forecasters say, here are some other investments to consider: Value stocks. A value stock is a good deal, basically, trading at a relatively low price relative to corporate sales, earnings and dividends. Vanguard expects value stocks to rise by 5.8% to 7.8% a year over the next decade. Small-cap stocks. One way to skirt the Magnificent Seven is to invest in small-cap stocks, which are shares in smaller companies. Vanguard predicts small-cap stocks will rise 5% to 7% annually over the next 10 years. Non-U.S. stocks. Some analysts consider foreign stocks a better deal than U.S. stocks, because they are not so overvalued. Morningstar projects non-U.S. stocks in developed markets will rise 8.1% annually over the next 10 years. Bonds. Bonds are supposed to provide a hedge against stocks. Vanguard projects annual returns of 4.7% to 5.7% in the next decade for U.S. high-yield corporate bonds, and 4% to 5% for U.S. bonds overall. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are the Magnificent 7 stocks overpriced? Consider these alternatives. Sandy Carazas-Pinez, formerly of Tottenville, is shown in this Facebook photo. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A former high school teacher who previously lived in Tottenville has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, federal prosecutors announced. Sandy Carazas-Pinez, 36, was a high school teacher at a school for kindergarten through 12th grade students in Yonkers when the abuse occurred, prosecutors said. The married mother of three had moved to Bethel, Connecticut, before the allegations. Months of sexual abuse: Feds From around November of 2022 through February of 2023, Carazas-Pinez abused her role as a teacher and induced a 16-year-old student into a months-long sexual relationship, according to a press release issued by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton. Sexual exploitation by teachers offends every New Yorker, said Clayton. Sandy Carazas-Pinez betrayed her role and, through explicit texts and other means, coerced a 16-year-old into a sexual relationship. Actions of this type by anyone, particularly a teacher or other person of trust, will not be tolerated. During the time of abuse, Carazas-Pinez singled out the student for personal attention at the school and led the student to believe they were in a romantic relationship in an effort to induce the minor to engage in sexual activity, feds said. The former teacher used her personal phone to arrange sexual encounters and to repeatedly induce the student to engage in live-streamed sexually explicit conduct while on video calls, prosecutors allege. As revealed in text messages between the two, Carazas-Pinez allegedly referred to sexual encounters with her student and the live depictions of sexually explicit conduct she induced the minor to give as gifts. The former teacher also used her phone to send sexually suggestive photographs of herself and sexually explicit text messages to the student, prosecutors said. After she sent the victim these photos and texts, Carazas-Pinez would order the student to delete them and would repeatedly ask if the student had done so. Alleged sexual encounters in a car This sexual abuse also manifested itself in physical sexual encounters, officials said. Through texts, Carazas-Pinez directed the student to get day passes from school in order to leave campus. She would then meet the minor near the school and drive them elsewhere, prosecutors said. On multiple occasions the teacher allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with the victim while parked in her car at various locations, including in or around the Bronx, Yonkers and on Staten Island. At a certain point, the student wanted to end their relationship, to which Carazas-Pinez who also previously taught at public schools in Harlem and the Bronx allegedly threatened to remove school privileges, as previously reported. She was fired in February 2023 after school officials learned she was spotted with the minor in her car off-campus and in close contact with the student in her classroom, officials previously said. The New York Post reported that the victim was a boy with special needs. The boys mother told the publication that her son suffered from both schizophrenia and mood disorder and she accused the cops of dragging their feet on the investigation because her son is African American. Its the rape of a child with a mental illness, the mother said, according to the New York Post. As a society, we have to prioritize the safety of children who are mentally ill and boys who are sexually assaulted. In addition to prison time, Carazas-Pinez was sentenced to five years of supervised release. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan, who also presided over her guilty plea. My client, Sandy Pinez, has accepted full responsibility for her actions and recognizes the seriousness of this matter, said her attorney, Mario Gallucci. She understands the harm caused and is committed to making meaningful changes in her life. She wants to move forward by seeking the help and support she needs, and she hopes that when she is released, she will return as a stronger and more responsible individual. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch and other law-enforcement executives announced that the department would be increasing police presence in areas of concern during the Jewish High Holidays. This period includes Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Sept. 22, and Yom Kippur, which concludes on Oct. 2. During the security briefing at One Police Plaza on Wednesday, officials spoke on the alarming rise in antisemitism witnessed in New York City, as well as the ongoing response from law enforcement. Jewish High Holidays Security Briefing with Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch and NYPD executives Watch NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch and NYPD executives brief the community and media regarding security for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays. Posted by NYPD on Wednesday 17 September 2025 This year, the men and women of the NYPD will continue to carry out their work to combat this hate. As explained by the commissioner, over the next several weeks there will be an increased police presence around synagogues and other sensitive locations. As part of this response, residents can expect additional uniformed foot posts in city neighborhoods, campuses and around houses of worship. Rebecca Weiner, NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, noted that residents can also expect an increased presence of heavy-weapons teams, bomb-sniffing dogs and patrol officers. In addition to these visible deployments, the NYPD will also work behind-the-scenes to identify threats and pursue leads. Moreover, precinct commanders and community affairs officers will meet with local clergy leaders ahead of the holidays to develop plans specifically tailored to each location, according to Tisch. An ongoing struggle since Oct. 7, 2023 While Tisch touted crime reduction in New York City - particularly highlighting record-low shooting incidents and shooting victims - she acknowledged that the city has experienced a disturbing trend of hate crimes towards Jewish New Yorkers. But even with crime falling, we know that members of the Jewish community feel unsafe in the face of rising antisemitism since Oct. 7 (2023), said Tisch. When we woke up that morning, antisemitic hate crimes were actually down 20% for 2023, but by the end of that year they had surged 80%. Tisch further noted that while Jewish New Yorkers make up only 10% of the cities population, they are victims in over half of the hate crimes. The commissioner went on to speak on the seriousness of the matter, referencing antisemitic hate crimes that have since taken place across the country. So while the war in the Middle East is thousands of miles away, its hate and violence have ricocheted across the globe, Tisch said. Understanding that a singular high-profile attack can spark further heinous acts, Tisch explained that the NYPD is acutely focused on prevention. Those in the NYPD working in intel and counterterrorism continue to monitor threats and work closely with synagogues, yeshivas and other Jewish organizations to keep the community safe. Tisch stated that due to this ongoing work, antisemitic hate crime is down 16% this year. Yet still, the work continues as hate crimes continue to plague the city. No one should ever feel like a target and the NYPD will never tolerate bias or hate anywhere in our city, in any form, added Tisch. To state the obvious, I take this work personally, as police commissioner, as a mother raising a family here and as a Jewish New Yorker. Your concerns are my concerns and I want you all to know that the NYPD, along with Mayor (Eric) Adams, will always be here for you. Soup, salad, entree, dessert, and coffee all for about $23? Staten Islands best-kept lunch secret is served at The Staaten. The catering venue presents its popular lunch menu once again as it returns in fall Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. After a summer siesta, lunch is back at The Staatenand with it, a sense of old-school Staten Island hospitality that makes the venue stand on its own. LiGreci's The Staaten returns with lunch this fall and Jack LiGreci himself talks about the beloved Staten Island tradition. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) The weekday lunch format, available Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is arguably one of the best values on the Island. For about $23, guests enjoy a full meal that starts with a basket of soft rolls and includes a choice of soup or salad, a hearty entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. Each day features five or six rotating specials, with a dedicated dish anchoring the menu: roast loin of pork with sauerkraut and roasted potatoes on Wednesdays, salmon on Thursdays, and a fish entreelike filet oreganataon Fridays. Theres also a daily cocktail specialsomething seemingly simple, like a Cape Cod or a Gin & Tonic. These drinks arent flashy, but theyre familiar. They evoke memories of neighborhood gatherings, family parties, and the kind of camaraderie thats long been part of The Staatens DNA. And you might find regular bartender Kevin Flood serving them. Rolls, fresh salmon, and a sweet finish this weekday lunch deal is an affordable tradition on Staten Island. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) And at the center of it all is Jack Li Greci, the 87-year-old restaurateur who still greets guests and oversees operations daily. Jack is the host, the heartbeat, and, regulars would say, the reason The Staaten feels like home to so many Staten Islanders. Every day were filled, and we give special attention to our customers, Jack said, summing up the philosophy thats guided him for more than five decades. Here's a closer look at The Staaten's lunch menu. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Jack purchased The Staaten in 1971, after running Ranieros restaurant and bar across the street since 1963. The building itself dates back to 1956, constructed after a fire destroyed the original house on the property. These are the sandwiches and platters on the cold side. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) Under Jacks leadership, The Staaten grew from a modest restaurant into a full-scale catering hall with four party rooms and a capacity for 600 guests. He ran the business with his brother Nick, a former NYPD officer, until Nicks passing in 2010. Today, Jacks son Gary and grandson John help carry the torch. On the hot lunch side of the menu find continental fare. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) The venue has seen its share of renovations over the yearsa bar and lounge expansion in 1976, a second-floor addition in 1988, and more recent upgrades like Italian marble floors and crystal chandeliers. But the soul of The Staaten hasnt changed. It is still the place where Staten Islanders celebrate weddings, baptisms, communions, Sweet 16s, retirements, and reunions. And once again, lunch. The Staaten hosts dignitaries, a variety of celebrations and it's the place to "see and be seen" at lunch during the week. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri) The return of lunch service isnt just about foodits about tradition. Its about seeing familiar faces, catching up with neighbors, and enjoying a meal thats made with care. The signature fried zucchini platter is prepared fresh daily by a longtime staffer known simply as Mike Zucchini. The salmon is broken down from a whole side in-house. Potatoes plus string beans, or whatever the vegetable of the day might be, are prepped fresh every morning. Jack Li Grecis connection to Staten Island is lifelong. Hes been in the restaurant business since the early 1950s and has supported countless local charities and youth organizations over the years. His legacy isnt just in the foodits in the relationships, the loyalty of his staff, and the generations of Staten Islanders whove celebrated lifes milestones at The Staaten. I dont lose anybody in the kitchen ever, and theyre all dedicated to me, Jack said. When asked why hes stayed on Staten Island all these years, Jacks answer is simple: Its the people who make Staten Island so special. Thats why Ive stayed here since childhood. Michael Cusick, president and CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, opens the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook on Friday, Sept 19, 2025. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Islands business and community leaders gathered at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook on Friday to discuss the future of transportation, construction, housing, and energy in the borough. Presented by the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation and Staten Island Industrial Alliance, the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit focused on the different challenges that are unique to Staten Island and what can be done in response to them. What role do we play? How do we move these challenges forward? How do we address these challenges, SIEDC President and CEO Michael Cusick said when describing what he saw as the key questions of the summit. Its everybody in this room. Not just the panelists but the folks who are here to gather information to contribute information in these roundtables today, which is important for the development of Staten Island going forward, Cusick continued. City and state agencies, nonprofit leaders, and industry executives were all present at the event, discussing topics including transportation policy, changes to land use, and local energy projects. During each session, emphasis was placed on how the people and businesses on Staten Island can tap into new developments in these, and other, respective fields. Nile Berry, founder of Verify Analytics, explains the changes that the City of Yes housing plan brought to the borough. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo Discussions included Congestion Pricing: Impacts and Next Steps, during which panelists spoke about early trends in congestion pricing data and the effect the program is having on local transportation. Though representatives from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Department of Transportation, and New York Universitys Rudin Center for Transportation spoke about improved public transit on Staten Island due to congestion pricing, such as faster express buses, much of the information presented focused on improvements within the congestion zone in Manhattan. From the preliminary data Ive seen, its been little effect or reducing the travel times by a minimal amount, like 3%, said Sarah Kaufman, director of the NYU Rudin Center, when asked about direct effects on Staten Islands traffic. Thats I guess a positive if there hasnt been the added traffic that was predicted before the program went into place, she continued. Frank Farrell, senior vice president of the MTA Bus Company, also pointed to improvements on Staten Island that were funded by congestion pricing tolls like signal upgrades, new power substations, and the new train cars on the Staten Island Railway as benefits of the program. I know theres a lot of political opinions about the program, but from a service perspective it really is working for Staten Island and there is a lot going on with the infrastructure upgrades, Farrell explained. Another roundtable discussion, called Domestic Energy, Local Vision and Regional Impact, explained the benefits possible of all stages of offshore wind projects, from local jobs to lower energy bills. Panelists there included: Atlantic Offshore Terminals President and CEO Boone Davis; Senior Director of Economic Development at Local Content Dwayne Wilkinson; and Peter Lion, a senior advisor for offshore wind at the New York State Research and Development Authority. Davis, whose company is building the Arthur Kill Terminal, a specialized port at the foot of the Outerbridge Crossing where offshore wind turbines and towers could be assembled before being brought out to sea, also provided an update on new challenges for the project at the federal level. We did just lose a $48 million grant award, which is very disappointing. Its not the end of the world, Davis said. Theres other sources of funding, including at the state level. Were no longer envisioning a construction start this spring as we had been hoping for last year and been working with contractors and others to prepare for but I think in the couple of years, well have more clarity on when it could begin, he continued. The important thing is were not giving up. Councilman Frank Morano, a Republican representing the South Shore, speaks at the transportation summit. "Staten Island deserves transportation solutions that match the scale of our challenges," he said when addressing the crowd. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo Also speaking at the event was Councilmember Frank Morano, a Republican representing the Islands South Shore, who outlined what the summit was trying to address. The decisions we make about transportation and infrastructure are not just going to shape our commutes, but they shape our quality of life, our economic growth, and whether our kids and grandkids choose to build their future here or just build a permanent tent on the Staten Island Ferry, Morano said. Staten Island deserves transportation solutions that match the scale of our challenges. Kids learn to swim at the YMCA Broadway in West Brighton in this file photo. Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Some Staten Island students will have the opportunity to learn to swim for free this year through a new program designed to address swim inequality in underserved communities. The Heckscher Foundation for Children is providing a grant to fund a swim program between the YMCA of Greater New York, the JCC of Staten Island and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. The initiative will serve students at 11 public elementary schools in mid-to-north Staten Island during the 2025-26 school year. Swimming is more than a recreational activity its a life-saving skill that builds confidence and promotes equity, said Peter Sloane, chairman and CEO of the foundation. Too many children in low-income communities grow up without this basic competence. Approximately 800 second-grade students will receive weekly 45-minute swim lessons over eight to 10 weeks during the school day, with instruction provided by certified aquatic educators. The program expects 95% of participating students to demonstrate progress in at least one swim skill, with more than 80% of students starting at the lowest proficiency level advancing to a higher tier. Living on Staten Island means our students are never far from water whether its beaches, pools or waterways. Yet, drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children, said Dr. Roderick Palton, superintendent of District 31. We are literally giving our students a skill that could one day save their lives. The foundation hopes the Staten Island pilot will inspire replication in other boroughs, serving as a call to action to make water safety a standard part of elementary education. NYC Parks existing Swim for Life program has already seen success. In 2024, the department taught more than 13,000 young minority students to swim. The three-way partnership will divide instruction across the YMCAs Broadway branch in West Brighton, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island in Sea View, and NYC Parks at Curtis High School in St. George. NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said the program represents effective collaboration. Together with the Heckscher Foundation, YMCA, and JCC, were not just teaching swim strokes were investing in the safety, health, and futures of New York City children." This photo from Aug. 28, 2014, shows the memorial to Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis on S. Railroad Avenue at the intersection of SSG Michael H. Ollis Way (Burbank Avenue) on Staten Island. (Advance/SILive.com | Maura Grunlund) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The renewed effort to get U.S. Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a New Dorp resident who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2013, the Medal of Honor has reached new heights. According to a spokesperson from Sen. Charles Schumers office, the recommendation for the nations highest military decoration is being presented to the Army Decorations Board for review. As explained by the U.S. Army, after merit review, the recommendation goes to the Senior Army Decorations Board, which recommends approval, disapproval or downgrade. From there, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, as well as the chief of staff of the Army, can either concur with the board recommendation or not. Should they concur, the recommendation goes to the secretary of the Army for approval. If the secretary approves, the recommendation will find itself with the secretary of defense and then, ultimately, the president, who will make the final decision. Standing together for a Staten Island soldier This latest development comes on the heels of a unified push from politicians and veterans alike. Back in June, Mark Kelly, the commander of the Richmond County American Legion, told the Advance/SILive.com that the county had penned a resolution advocating Ollis Distinguished Service Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. In July, Schumer, a Democrat representing New York, wrote a letter to Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy A. George, urging the Army to recommend Ollis for the distinction. Sen. Charles Schumer renewed his push to get Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis the Medal of Honor this year. This photo from March 31, 2025, shows Schumer, standing alongside local elected officials, hospital leaders, and patients at Silver Lake Specialized Care Center. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) SSG Michael Ollis was among the best that our nation has to offer, the letter read. He is the quintessence of what it means to be American, and his life is a testament to the values of the US Army and the United States of America. As such, I urge you to consider upgrading SSG Ollis Distinguished Service Cross decoration and recommending him for the Medal of Honor. This is not the first time Schumer has tried to recognize Ollis with the honor. Back in 2022, Schumer wrote a letter to Gen. James McConville, the chief of staff of the Army at the time, asking the U.S. Department of Defense to recommend Ollis for the Medal of Honor. The latest recommendation has since gained momentum, with Republican South Shore Councilmember Frank Morano endorsing the effort. Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis made the ultimate sacrifice, stepping into harms way to protect his fellow soldiers, Morano said in a written statement back in August. His courage that day not only saved lives it defined what it means to be an American hero. I fully support Senator Schumers push to award Staff Sergeant Ollis the Medal of Honor, he added. This recognition is long overdue and reflects the extraordinary bravery and selflessness Michael demonstrated in Afghanistan We can never repay the debt we owe to heroes like Michael Ollis, but we can make sure their legacy is honored at the highest level. Awarding him the Medal of Honor ensures that future generations know his name and his sacrifice. Councilmember Frank Morano supports the push to get Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis the Medal of Honor. This image from Sept. 16, 2025, shows Morano at an Advance/SILive.com Editorial Board meeting. (Advance/SILive.com|Jan Somma-Hammel) Bob Ollis, Michaels father, discussed the effort with the Advance/SILive.com in August. You got a mom and a dad who lost their child, and everybody wants to honor him..., he said. You have no idea what that feels like. I cant thank them [Schumer, Morano, the Richmond County American Legion] enough. We hope and we pray. Its up to God now to push it through, he added. Ollis selfless sacrifice Ollis, a lifelong resident of New Dorp, died in 2013 during a Taliban raid on Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan. As noted in Schumers letter, at the time, Ollis, 24, was serving as a squad leader in Bushmaster Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division during his third combat deployment. Linda Ollis holds a photo of her son Sgt. Michael Ollis, who died in Afganistan along with accommodations, in a room dedicated in his honor at their New Dorp home. Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel It was on Aug. 28 that the base came under fire and Ollis mobilized the men under his command to a secure location and without pause or hesitation answered the call to duty and advanced towards the assailants, according to Schumers letter. Ollis rallied with coalition forces, among them Polish Officer 2nd Lt. Karol Cierpica. It was at this time that Ollis and Cierpica came in contact with a suicide bomber. In an act of heroism, Ollis positioned himself between the bomber and Cierpica, firing upon the target. Although Ollis was able to effectively drop the attacker, the vest detonated and killed him, but he shielded Cierpica from the full blast, saving Cierpicas life. As further indicated in the letter, witnesses present at the base that day claim that Ollis sacrifice not only saved Cierpica, but it preserved the lives of more than 40 military and civilian personnel. Ollis has since been recognized with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Audie Murphy Medallion, and the Polish Armed Forces Gold Medal that nations highest honor for non-citizens. In 2019, Ollis Silver Star was upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. Americans are drinking a staggering amount of coffee these days. In fact, according to a recent National Coffee Association survey, 519 million cups of coffee are consumed daily, with 66% of the population having a cup of Joe every day. This coffee obsession varies by location, with some cities offering more robust scenes than others. WalletHub, a financial management tool, studied and compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 12 key metrics of coffee-friendliness. Their analysts examined factors, such as average prices, spending patterns, coffee shop accessibility, manufacturing presence and coffee-related search trends. Data was collected from an array of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Coffee has become a staple of American culture, helping people stay energized for the workday and bond with friends or dates, noted WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo. In the cities that are craziest about coffee, the average household may spend as much as $327 per year on the beverage. Portland, Oregon, earned its top ranking as Americas top coffee destination with a score of 71.09 out of 100. This is due to its abundance of highly rated, affordable coffee shops and strong coffee manufacturing presence. Orlando, Florida, comes in second place with a score of 69.44, thanks to having the most donut shops per capita. It also ranked third for coffee shops. Orlando is also a hub for coffee enthusiasts, with its array of coffee-centric events. This is all despite the theme park capitals ranking among cities with the fewest coffee manufacturers. Long Beach, California, claimed third place with a score of 65.46, featuring numerous highly rated coffee shops and ranking 24th for coffee shops offering free WiFi. The city also ranked seventh nationally for coffee search frequency, and residents spend an average of $171 annually on the beverage. Despite its spot in the history books as Starbucks birthplace, Seattle only ranks fifth, with a score of 63.82. The comprehensive study also revealed significant price variations across cities and regions. Garland, Texas, offers the cheapest cappuccinos, while prices in Lubbock, Texas, are twice as high. Buffalo, New York, has the lowest-priced coffee packs, while Honolulus prices are double. The costs of having one or more cups of Joe daily can add up, especially as prices inflate, said Lupo. President Donald Trump has revealed that he once told Charlie Kirk that the conservative activist could be president someday, the New York Post reported. I actually said, Charlie, someday I think you have a good chance at being president, I think you will be president maybe, and I think he wouldve had a great chance. He was very compelling, Trump said during an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum that aired on Thursday. The Turning Point USA founder was assassinated at an outdoor rally in Utah on Sept. 10. Utah resident Tyler Robinson has been charged in the killing. Trump continued in the interview, Ive never seen anybody capture a group of people like [Kirk] captured youth. He captured youth, it was incredible. The president said, You know when I say he was a young guy, but Im talking about the 20-year-olds and the 18-year-olds, it was like he had a following that was incredible. Of the slain conservative icon, Trump said, Some people said he might be president someday. I told him, I said, Charlie, I think you have a good shot someday at being president. The president went on, Ive never seen anyone relate to youth like Charlie, and they related to him, and theyre devastated. At a press conference during his state visit to the U.K. this week, Trump called Kirk a great American. Kirk was a staunch supporter of the president. A funeral service for Kirk will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., where Kirk lived with his family, on Sunday. Trump and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend the service along with other conservative luminaries and Kirk followers. A temperature outlook by the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center reveals the odds of above-average temperatures throughout most of New York for October 2025. (National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. It may feel more like more of the same in October, as the latest monthly outlook by the National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center suggests warmer-than-average temperatures may characterize much of the month ahead. According to the monthly temperature outlook issued on Thursday, there is a 40-50% probability that temperatures across most of New York will generally measure above average for the month of October. The northeastern edge of the state has a 50-60% chance of seeing warmer temperatures than usual. Typically, the mean high temperature for the month of October in Central Park is 64.5 degrees, according to 1991-2020 data by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mean average temperature is 57.9 degrees Fahrenheit for the park. This latest outlook follows a recent outlook highlighting the probability of warmer temperatures in the first ten days of the month. That temperature outlook, which encapsulated Sept. 27 through Oct. 10, revealed a 55-60% probability of above-average temperatures for the majority of days within that timeframe. A precipitation outlook by the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center reveals equal odds of above-average or below-average rainfall throughout New York for October 2025. (National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center) While temperatures may be unusually high in October, rainfall amounts look like they will be rather unremarkable. The monthly precipitation outlook noted the entirety of New York has equal chances of receiving above-average or below-average rainfall amounts. In October, Central Park usually receives about 4.38 inches of precipitation over the course of the month, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. Washington Federal Bank (WaFd) has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch WaFd Wealth, a new registered investment advisor in Seattle. The new entity has chosen Goldman Sachs Advisor Solutions for custody, according to an ADV filing. WaFd has recruited John Chavez, who was previously with Merrill Lynch for 30 years, as CEO of the RIA. Bobby Campbell, who was with Merrill for 15 years prior to this, is serving as president. Theyre joined by Shane Parris, chief operating and financial officer, previously an executive with enlyte, which provides claims software, cost containment services and technology to the workers compensation and auto insurance industries. Danny Law, who was with Merrill for 19 years, has joined as director of relationship management. Belle Jimeno and Liz Parris have come on board as director of client services and director of executive initiatives, respectively, also from Merrill Lynch. A spokesman for the firm did not return a request for comment. Our interest in developing planning and investment solutions for our clients has been growing over the years, as more clients ask us for help beyond what we've been capable of providing, the firm states, on its website. The demand for integrated financial planning, concierge banking and wealth management solutions is at an all-time high, as a void has been created in the market and we determined that it was time to take action. The new wealth management firm will provide a range of financial planning and consulting services, including business planning, cash flow forecasting, trust and estate planning, financial reporting, investment consulting, insurance planning, retirement planning, risk management, charitable giving, distribution planning, tax planning and education planning. WaFd is a publicly traded consumer bank with about 208 branches across nine Western states, including Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California and Nevada to name a few. It is the second-largest bank headquartered in Seattle, with $26.7 billion in total assets, according to an investor presentation. Junior mineral exploration company Midas Minerals has secured commitments from new and existing institutional shareholders to raise A$11.5m through a share placement. The funds will primarily be used to acquire the Otavi Copper Project in Namibia. The company will also use the proceeds to accelerate exploration at the Otavi and South Otavi Projects, and support working capital needs. The placement will issue up to 31.08 million shares at A$0.37 each. The placement's issue price is at an 8.6% discount to Midas Minerals' last traded share price and a 0.5% premium to the 15-day volume-weighted average price. The first tranche of the placement, comprising 31.02 million shares, will utilise the company's existing capacities under ASX (Australian Securities Exchange) Listing Rules and is expected to settle by 24 September 2025. This tranche does not require shareholder approval. The second tranche, involving 55,000 shares, will be offered to non-executive director Michael Bohm to raise up to an additional A$20,350. This tranche requires shareholder approval, which is expected to be sought at a general meeting scheduled for early December 2025. Canaccord Genuity (Australia) and Euroz Hartleys have been appointed as the lead and co-lead managers, respectively, for the placement. Midas managing director Mark Calderwood said: We are grateful for the support in this A$11.5m placement, predominantly to new and existing Australian and international institutions. The funds will allow us to accelerate exploration at the Otavi Copper Project after the acquisition completes, anticipated next quarter. In May, we raised A$6.5m to go towards the acquisition costs and current exploration activities, and our 3,000m first-pass drilling at South Otavi is already under way. Besides its presence in Namibia, Midas Minerals holds the Newington and Challa projects in Western Australia and two lithium projects in Canada. "Midas Minerals to raise funds for Namibian copper project acquisition" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Capital gain With its distinctive shape, the original Ettamogah Hotel, in Albury, regional NSW, has been listed for sale by Leigh OBrien, the cartoon-esque pubs owner since 1987 who is now looking to retire. It comes with a price tag of about $50 million and includes 1500 original artworks and video footage. The quirky Ettamogah pub, in Albury NSW, is on the market as its owner looks to retire. Credit: While it looks like its about to fall over, the pub sits at 561 Burma Road in Table Top, in the Murray region, and is based on a pub that featured in the late Ken Maynards cartoons published in The Australasian Post for almost 50 years from 1959. It started with a few lines of legalese and one of those simple tick-a-box consent forms. But the Australian workers who clicked yes say they had no idea they were setting themselves up for being recorded in their homes via their laptop microphones for long periods, in some cases for up to 10 hours a day. The Australian Financial Review reported the employees at Australian training company Safetrac first realised the extent of the surveillance via secretly installed software on their laptops when the companys CEO talked about being up all night watching videos of their meetings. Staff and their families seeking privacy took to whispering in their homes or stashing the laptops in their closets. Victoria Police has launched an investigation and an employee has been granted compensation after developing anxiety and depression. The company says that all the monitoring was consented to by employees. Credit: Joe Benke This level of surveillance might sound like something out of Stasi-era East Germany, but it reflects a new workplace battleground, between employers worried about employees who might be slacking off, and worker rights to privacy in their homes, even when theyre on the clock. Not all employees act in good faith. Ive seen extensive time theft that only surveillance would reveal while employees are allegedly working from home. Examples include an employee doing six weeks of home renovations while on the clock, another streaming pornography daily (even during work Zoom calls), and one building a popular OnlyFans business during working hours while employed as an executive assistant. Following forensic investigations, these employees were lawfully dismissed for breach of the duty to serve their employer diligently and in good faith. Not a single model appeared at the biggest show of New York Fashion Week. There was no front row but Vogue boss Anna Wintour was present, along with Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, tennis champion Roger Federer and Clare Waight Keller, the designer of Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs wedding dress. There was no runway, and no glimpse of coming collections, but this A-list gathering was more likely to change the way you think and talk about what you wear than the exquisite long-line leather coats at Coach, and Calvin Kleins dress made from underwear elastic. This was a celebration of the ubiquitous Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo, famous for its puffer jackets, cashmere jumpers and elevated basics. Since launching in Japan 41 years ago and arriving in Australia in 2014, the brand has conquered the commercial gap between fast fashion and luxury labels, becoming the worst-kept secret of the well-dressed. Clare Waight Keller, Roger Federer and Cate Blanchett at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Credit: Marc Patrick/BFA.com Whats amazing is everyone wears Uniqlo whether they say it or not, says John C. Jay, president of global creative for Uniqlo, who established a fashion industry benchmark for awareness when he helped bring Nikes Just Do It campaign to life. Thats a proof point we need to build on. Its no secret that politics has a huge impact on our money. From the income taxes we pay to the policies that politicians promise to make living more affordable, our wallets and politics are inextricably tied together. But sometimes it can be easy to forget that the reverse is also true, and that how we choose to spend our hard-earned money or not spend it is also inherently political. Even a choice as simple as where you buy your coffee in the morning is political. Credit: iStock Aside from being a basic necessity that we need to live, one of the things I love most about money is the freedom it affords. From everyday decisions such as which supermarket to shop at, to taking public transport, driving a car or grabbing an Uber, all the way to bigger decisions such as sending our children to government-funded or private schools or the institution we bank with, millions of choices suddenly open up to us when we have money in our pockets. These choices also give us the power to decide whats important to us and to make that known. Perhaps not in a post it on LinkedIn or update the social media bio kind of way, but in a way that, at the very least, makes it known to companies, politicians and policy experts behind the scenes. 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 Ezra Kleins plea that political debates in America feature mutual respect and tolerance is laudable (Charlie Kirk was practising politics the right way, September 14). Sadly, however, that goal is now all but unachievable. Its little wonder that violence in political discourse flourishes in the US (and, by infection, elsewhere) when we have people at the top of the pyramid there who daily commit violence to the institutions those rules have built and are supposed to sustain. When those who should know (and act) far better treat the rules with such violent contempt, its not long before human beings themselves become the targets of similar brutality. Adrian Connelly, Springwood President Donald Trump with Charlie Kirk. Credit: THE WASHINGTON POST Charlie Kirk was practising politics the right way (September 14) is about more talk, less shouting. Which channels the reasonable views that a society evolves not by shouting each other down, and that violence and killing are never justifiable. It is important to heed his key messages; that Western societies have largely lost the ability to disagree civilly, and the need to keep people talking instead of operating in ideological echo chambers. His killing, and sober legacy, must serve to highlight the strong message that, in a democracy, the foundation of a free and progressive society is the ability to participate in politics without fear of violence. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood Heres an idea: Graduate dentists Yet another piece demonstrating the great difficulty in making dental care affordable (Super extracted for dental care, September 14). Ive been proposing a possible solution for years, which is simply to introduce an intern year for graduating dentists, in the same manner as junior doctors. Rather than being fully registered at graduation, which is the case at present, all graduate dentists should then proceed to an intern year, where their salary would be paid by the government. No need to set up massive government infrastructure either, as in my proposal, the intern dentists would simply be placed within existing practices. There would probably need to be some sort of payment made to the dental practice for the use of equipment and various consumables by the intern, but the whole idea is still very viable. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth Capping the cabs The NSW government is to be congratulated on capping taxi fares from Sydney Airport to the CBD (Flat airport taxi fare to end rank rip-offs, September 14), but this popular news raises two questions for me. What will the cap be for the 55-kilometre hike from Badgerys Creek to the city, and when will the anachronistic access fee of $17-plus for train travellers to the airport be removed? Kim Crawford, Springwood A 68-year-old woman. A 74-year-old man. A 49-year-old man. An eight-week-old baby. Australians who needed help. Australians who were unable to receive it. The consequences of last Thursdays Optus outage are still being uncovered. What is known is that more than 600 Triple Zero calls were not connected, emergency services were not alerted to those callers needs, and people are dead. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, federal Communications Minister Anika Wells said it was a fundamental requirement for a mobile carrier in Australia to provide Triple Zero services. I find it hard to put into words how this could have possibly been allowed to happen again, she said. Because, of course, this is the second time in two years that Optus has recklessly failed its customers. Kathleen Terrick, like too many other Indigenous women, has recently experienced homelessness. After spending time living in a tent on a riverbank as a child, she is now a member of the Homeless Persons Union of Victoria, which has just launched a campaign about a growing concern: the treatment of those sleeping rough in the CBD. Kathleen Terrick has experienced homelessness and says there should be greater resources devoted to support services. Credit: Jason South Being homeless is not a crime, Terrick said. I dont like these security solutions that councils are coming up with. We need resources to go into proven services like outreach support and homeless shelters. The Homeless Persons Union started a petition on Monday demanding the City of Melbourne dump its $2 million program in the councils 2025-26 budget to hire 10 security guards for city patrols, claiming the move unfairly targeted homeless people and criminalised poverty. Premier Roger Cooks office has confirmed a second person died after not being able to get through to emergency services when Optus suffered an outage on Thursday. Cook spoke to media on Saturday following news that a 74-year-old man from Willetton had lost his life when he couldnt get medical help via triple zero because of a failure of the network. Roger Cook speaking in Kwinana on Saturday about the Optus telco outage. Credit: 9 News Perth Later on Saturday, his office confirmed that a 49-year-old man from Kensington was the second WA victim. An eight-week-old baby and a 68-year-old woman from South Australia also died during the outage, which stretched between 1am and 2pm on Thursday. Loading GIO Stadium: If Cronulla players wanted respect, they certainly have it now. The Sharks are off to another preliminary final, they have won nine of their last 10 games, their defence has been sensational, and they are entitled to believe they can upset Melbourne in their own backyard next Friday night for the chance to play in the grand final. The Sharks broke Canberra hearts with a 32-12 victory on a chilly Saturday night in the nations capital. Most of the Raiders fans were only just starting to recover from the horror show that was the 94-minute golden-point loss to the Broncos six days earlier. Its all about the future for handy debut winner Sweet Warrior with Canberra trainer Keith Dryden keen to have her learn something at Nowra on Sunday before heading for a break. The three-year-old kicked off her career with a strong win on her home track, and it was a long time coming after what unfolded in her first barrier trial over six months earlier. Theyre racing at Nowra on Sunday. Credit: Jenny Evans Dryden, who co-trains with Libby Snowden, wants to send the filly around one more time this campaign in the Jims Blinds, Shutters & Awnings Handicap (1100m). Shes probably a bit new at the moment, were going to give her this one more run and put her back in the paddock, Dryden said. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) is one of the Best Electric Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On September 9, Mizuho downgraded the companys stock to Neutral from Outperform with a price objective of $90, down from the prior target of $102, as reported by The Fly. The downgrade comes even though the companys ~5% load growth is supported by large manufacturing facilities and data centers, as the firms updated forecast model showcases that regulatory lag will diminish most of the expected accretion until 2028/29. Mizuho Downgrades Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) Stock to Neutral As per the firm, while Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW)s shares have lagged peers YTD, consensus estimates are expected to come down, pressuring the companys shares as investors look towards 2026. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) stated that while its Q2 2025 results were within its expectations, they were lower compared to the same period in 2024, largely due to the cooler weather as compared to the previous years record-high temperatures, including the hottest June on record. For 2025, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) expects that the consolidated earnings will be between $4.40 $4.60 per diluted share on a weather-normalized basis. While we acknowledge the potential of PNW as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. The Wallabies hopes of snapping a 39-year drought at Eden Park have suffered a blow, with star back-rower Rob Valetini ruled out of next weeks opening Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks. Just two days after being named in Joe Schmidts 34-man squad, Rugby Australia confirmed on Saturday evening the 27-year-old would not travel to Auckland on Sunday due to calf tightness. Valetinis replacement is Pete Samu, who has not played a Test since 2023. It is a timely recall for the versatile back-rower, with Australia already missing powerhouse forward Will Skelton. Valetini started at No.6 in Australias most recent outing a 28-26 defeat to Argentina in Sydney but has battled calf problems throughout the year. Washington: Australian mining billionaire Andrew Twiggy Forrest sharply criticised US President Donald Trumps gobsmackingly illogical energy policies and accused him of kowtowing to oil and gas donors as he arrived in New York for a major United Nations summit. Forrest and his Fortescue Metals Group support a net zero emissions regime for global shipping, which stands to be formally adopted next month by the International Maritime Organisation. It would introduce a carbon price and mandate use of green fuels in an industry responsible for 3 per cent of global emissions. Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest says US President Donald Trump is kowtowing to oil and gas donors. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer But the Trump administration is vehemently opposed to the framework, describing it as a global carbon tax on Americans, and has threatened to hit countries that support it with tariffs, visa restrictions and port levies. Fortescues green ammonia-powered ship, the Green Pioneer, pulled into New York on Friday ahead of the UN summit, which will be attended by Trump, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and scores of other political and business leaders. Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, arrived in New York on Saturday. Trump hits H-1B visas, a tech industry favorite, with $100,000 fee Washington, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 US President Donald Trump on Friday ordered an annual $100,000 fee be added to H-1B skilled worker visas, creating potentially major repercussions for the tech industry where such permits are prolific. The new measure, which could likely face legal challenges, was announced alongside the introduction of a $1 million "gold card" residency program that Trump had previewed months earlier. "The main thing is, we're going to have great people coming in, and they're going to be paying," Trump told reporters as he signed the orders in the Oval Office. H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills --- such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers -- to work in the United States, initially for three years, but extendable to six years. The United States awards 85,000 H-1B visas per year on a lottery system, with India accounting for around three-quarters of the recipients. Large technology firms rely on Indian workers who either relocate to the United States or come and go between the two countries. Tech entrepreneurs -- including Trump's former ally Elon Musk -- have warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying that the United States does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies. "All the big companies are on board," said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who joined Trump in the Oval Office. Trump has had the H-1B program in his sights since his first term in office, but faced court challenges to his earlier approach, which targeted the types of jobs that qualify. The current iteration has become the latest move in the major immigration crackdown of his second term. According to Trump's order, the fee will be required for those seeking to enter the country beginning Sunday, with the Homeland Security secretary able to exempt individuals, entire companies, or entire industries. The order expires in a year, though Trump can extend it. The number of H-1B visa applications has risen sharply in recent years, with a peak in approvals in 2022 under Democratic president Joe Biden. In contrast, the peak in rejections was recorded in 2018, during Trump's first term in the White House. The United States approved approximately 400,000 H-1B visas in 2024, two-thirds of which were renewals. Trump also signed an order creating a new expedited pathway to US residency for people who pay $1 million, or for corporate sponsors to pay $2 million. "I think it's going to be tremendously successful," Trump added. South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that officials would "comprehensively assess the impact of these measures on the advancement of (South Korean) companies and professional talents into the US market and engage in necessary communication with the US." Hundreds of South Koreans were detained during a US immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG battery factory site in the state of Georgia earlier this month. China extends social media sanctions to include Weibo, Kuaishou Beijing, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 China's internet regulator said on Saturday it would take "disciplinary and punitive measures" against popular apps Weibo and Kuaishou for highlighting celebrity news and "undesirable" content, extending a crackdown on social media platforms. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said the measures would include "summonses for interviews, injunctions to correct breaches within a specified period, warnings and strict sanctions against those responsible". It gave no further details about punishments. The announcement followed similar action taken by the CAC last week against the Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, known as Rednote in English. Chinese authorities require social media platforms to use moderation, with content strictly controlled to avoid anything deemed to be too subversive, vulgar, pornographic or generally harmful. The CAC criticised Weibo and Kuaishou for "failing to fulfil their primary responsibility" in separate but almost identical statements on Saturday. It singled out rankings for the most popular searches on the two apps and "particularly content that over-hypes the activities of celebrities, as well as trivial posts". The CAC accused Weibo of "damaging the online ecosystem" and Kuaishou of contributing to the excessive spread of celebrity content deemed "frivolous". There was no immediate comment from either platform. The Weibo microblogging platform allows users to post text and photos, with content generally focused on current events. The company said in March that it had 591 million active users monthly. The TikTok-like short video app Kuaishou said at the start of this year it had more than 730 million monthly active users. ehl-pbt/abs Weibo X Venezuela accuses US of waging 'undeclared war,' urges UN probe Caracas, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 Venezuela on Friday accused the United States of waging an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean and called for a UN probe of American strikes that have killed over a dozen alleged drug traffickers on boats in recent weeks. Washington has deployed warships to international waters off Venezuela's coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico in what it calls an anti-drug operation. "It is an undeclared war, and you can already see how people, whether or not they are drug traffickers, have been executed in the Caribbean Sea. Executed without the right to a defense," Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said as he attended a military exercise in response to the US "threat." His remarks came just hours before US President Donald Trump announced another military strike on a boat, claiming three more alleged "narcoterrorists" were killed, bringing the total number of deaths in recent weeks to 17. He did not say when the attack took place, and only specified that it occurred in the US Southern Command area of responsibility, which includes Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The strikes have prompted debate over the legality of the killings, with drug trafficking itself not a capital offense under US law. Washington has also not provided specific details to back up its claims that the boats targeted have actually been trafficking drugs. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab claimed that "the use of missiles and nuclear weapons to murder defenseless fishermen on a small boat are crimes against humanity that must be investigated by the UN." The biggest US naval deployment in the Caribbean in decades has stoked fears the United States is planning to attack Venezuelan territory. On Wednesday, Venezuela launched three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila in response to the perceived threat from a US flotilla of seven ships and a nuclear-powered submarine. La Orchila is close to the area where the United States intercepted and held a Venezuelan fishing vessel for eight hours over the weekend. - 'Imperial plan' - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the United States does not recognize as legitimate and accuses of running a drug cartel, has urged citizens to join militia training to "defend the homeland." Late Thursday, he announced that troops will provide residents of low-income neighborhoods with weapons training. Maduro, for whom Washington has issued a $50 million bounty on drug trafficking charges, suspects the Trump administration of planning an invasion in pursuit. Trump had said on Tuesday that US forces "knocked off" three boats crossing the Caribbean, but Washington only provided details and video footage of two of the strikes. Maduro accused the United States of hatching "an imperial plan for regime change and to impose a US puppet government... to come and steal our oil." He has repeatedly vowed Caracas will exercise its "legitimate right to defend itself" against US aggression. Opposition figure Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate and staunch Maduro critic, said Friday he would not support any US invasion. "I continue to believe that the solution is not military, but political," he said, adding that Trump's actions were counterproductive and "entrenching those in power." He called for the release of nearly a thousand dissidents locked up under Maduro, and for the Venezuelan government to show goodwill in foreign relations. The MSI Global Alliance, an international consortium of legal and accounting companies, has added two new accounting companies Al Nuha International in Oman and Simplica in Switzerland to its network. Al Nuha International, based in the capital city of Muscat, is known for its auditing, accounting, and consulting services. The company has established a diverse clientele, catering to various sectors including multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and government entities in Oman. Al MSI CEO Martin Scott said: I am delighted to welcome Al Nuha to our MSI community. Oman is a key regional player in the Middle East, and together with our law firm member, we can now serve inbound and outbound requirements with strong local expertise. I look forward to a strong and successful partnership with Al Nuha. Simplica, with its headquarters in Bern, has been offering services encompassing accounting, HR and payroll, tax advisory, cloud computing, software consulting, and audit. Simplica assists both local and international clients in managing their financial affairs and adhering to Switzerland's regulatory framework. Scott stated: We are very pleased to welcome Simplica to MSI. The firm brings valuable tax and accounting expertise combined with a strong client-focused approach. This appointment strengthens our presence in Switzerland and enhances the resources available to our members and their clients in this important market. In April, MSI Global Alliance appointed Martin Scott as its new CEO in April. Scott, who took over the role on 28 April 2025, succeeds Andrew Leck, who has retired after a four-year tenure. "MSI Global Alliance adds new accountants in Oman and Switzerland " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. NATO's 'eyes in sky' scour eastern flank for Russian threats ABOARD A NATO AIRCRAFT, Poland, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 In a NATO surveillance plane some 10,000 metres above eastern Poland, air force officers from a half dozen countries scanned screens for any sign of Russian aircraft breaching the alliance's borders. The threat was laid bare Friday when two Russian fighters violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, forcing NATO to scramble jets and sparking consternation across Europe. Now the skies appeared calmer -- but the crew remained attentive. "If there is any air threat to NATO we want to make sure we detect it as quickly as possible," Lieutenant Colonel Mike Belizaire, a German officer, told AFP journalists granted exclusive access to the flight. "Our mission is to provide an early warning so it gives more time to the authorised commanders to decide how they choose to respond." The intrusion in Estonia was the latest in a spike of incidents that has ramped up fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over the alliance's frontier. Days earlier NATO jets had shot down Russian drones over Poland in a watershed first for the Western military alliance. In response NATO's top commander ordered a new mission, Eastern Sentry, to reinforce eastern flank defenes that have already been built up since the Kremlin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Fighter jets from countries including France and Germany were rushed to Poland. "We have been doing missions in Poland for a couple of years now to protect the NATO countries," said the surveillance plane's Belgian lead pilot, Captain-Commandant Joel, giving only his first name according to his homeland's military regulations. "But what happened in Poland reminds everybody actually, that something can happen and that is why we are here again today to, have a look of what's going on, to make sure that the NATO sky is protected." The eight-hour flight from a base in Germany to circle over eastern Poland was the first made by one of NATO's 14 centrally-owned AWACS airborne early warning and control aircraft under the umbrella of Eastern Sentry. The hulking radar atop the plane -- dubbed NATO's "eyes in the sky" -- has a range of some 500 kilometres (300 miles), giving the crew the ability to peer across the hostile territory of Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region. The plane can spot objects the size of a big bird. "It's physics basically, when you're up higher you can see further," said Joel. "That means we can add far more than systems on the ground." Dozens of flashing blips dotted the screens on board showing the air activity in an area stretching all the way from southern Sweden down to western Ukraine. Surveillance operator Aaron Peace of the US air force said it takes him under 30 seconds to assess if an unknown object on the radar represents a potential threat. If a looming menace is detected the warning is transmitted to NATO commanders on the ground to decide how to react. With its AWACS planes and other intelligence capabilities, NATO says it has a clear picture over the east. But the low-cost drones that have become prevalent in the Ukraine war and recently crossed into Poland pose a problem. "They do fly differently," Staff Sergeant Peace, who comes from the US state of New Mexico, said. "The AWACS was built to track planes that fly higher and faster so these smaller, slower moving objects definitely pose a bigger challenge to track and identify. But we can see them." While NATO may be able to monitor what's happening -- questions have been asked if it has the right equipment to counter the drones dominating the battlefield in Ukraine. In Poland it used its most modern F-35 jets firing costly missiles to take out the drones. "We of course, recognise that the best way to defeat drones is not with a very expensive missile fired from a very, very expensive plane," said a NATO official, talking on condition of anonymity. He said the alliance was looking to speed up "novel approaches, cost effective approaches" to confront the threat. "We will definitely have more to say on this subject matter in the coming weeks," he said. Venezuela offers military training to public amid Trump threats Caracas, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 Venezuela on Saturday organized a day of military training for civilians in response to the US deployment in the Caribbean, and amid new threats from President Donald Trump. Nearly a month ago, Washington deployed warships to international waters off Venezuela's coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico in what it calls an anti-drug operation. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez has accused Washington of waging "undeclared war" in the Caribbean, after US strikes killed a dozen alleged drug traffickers off his country's coast. Caracas also accused the United States of seeking regime change and stealing its oil and other resources. In the crammed Petare neighborhood of Caracas, the main avenue was shut down for a day of mini-courses about weapons handling and other "revolutionary resistance" tactics. "I'm here to learn what I need to learn to defend what is really important to me: my country, my homeland, my nation, Venezuela," said Luzbi Monterola, a 38-year-old office worker. "I am afraid of nothing and no one." - 'Oil, gold, diamonds' - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro -- who stands accused by Washington of running a drug cartel -- has long sought to mobilize civilians in the escalating standoff. The Petare neighborhood was once the launching point for a majority of protests against Maduro's reelection in July 2024, deemed fraudulent by the opposition and much of the international community. After thousands of volunteers were summoned to military barracks last week for training, Maduro ordered the armed forces to go into the neighborhoods themselves. But the show of force was subdued, with about 25 armored vehicles parading in the capital city and fewer trainees. In Petare, soldiers taught volunteers in groups of 30 how to handle weapons. Other topics included how to wear masks, basic first aid, and "ideological thought." Outside Caracas, training sessions took place in San Cristobal and Barinas, where turnout was also low, according to AFP correspondents. "All of this is about oil, gold, diamonds -- our resources," said 16-year-old John Noriega, who came to the Petare event with his parents. "We will fight for what belongs to us." On the coasts, fishing boats cruised alongside naval vessels, state television footage showed. "Today is a milestone we are marking in the military revolution that we are all writing, the people and the Armed Forces together. It is a true military revolution!" said Lopez. Venezuela launched three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila in response to the perceived threat from a US flotilla of seven ships and a nuclear-powered submarine. - 'Incalculable' - Trump warned Venezuela that it would face "incalculable" consequences if it refused to take back migrants he said it had "forced into the United States." Repatriation of undocumented Venezuelans living in the United States has until now been one of the rare areas on which talks are ongoing, a diplomatic source told AFP. On Friday, a US plane brought 185 Venezuelans back to Caracas, bringing to more than 13,000 the total number of repatriations since Trump returned to office in January. Maduro's YouTube channel -- which carries most of his speeches -- vanished from the platform on Saturday. Officials in Caracas did not immediately comment. French nuclear waste project sparks protest Mandres-en-Barrois, France, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 A project to build a facility to store highly radioactive nuclear waste in the French countryside drew a protest by hundreds of people on Saturday, with police firing tear gas to break up rowdy demonstrators. The project, known as CIGEO, is meant to build an underground storage centre outside the northeastern village of Bure to bury the most dangerous waste from nuclear power plants and hold it for hundreds of thousands of years. Organisers said 2,000 people had taken to the street in Bure to protest the plan by the National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ANDRA) -- though authorities put the number of demonstrators at around 700. "Get out, ANDRA!" protesters chanted under heavy police presence, marching behind a banner that read "Protest for the Future". Town officials said another 200 people had joined another, unauthorised protest nearby, many wearing masks and throwing projectiles at law enforcement. Officers fired tear gas to break up the group, with police helicopters circling overhead. The national gendarmerie said "weapons and dangerous materials" had been found during searches. The CIGEO project, launched in 1991, has been contested for decades. Construction is currently expected to start in late 2027 or early 2028. France has one of the world's biggest nuclear power programmes, with 18 plants that account for around three-fifths of its electricity output. Pressure to phase out fossil fuels is driving renewed focus on atomic energy, but managing the radioactive byproducts remains a sensitive issue. mlx-ab/gvy/liu/rh/jhb/sbk Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue He said: Given the very important issues raised by this case, I am asking officials to consider whether any further steps which should be taken, operational, strategic or legal, to ensure that all those who work in this Parliament are able to undertake their activities securely and without interference. They added: "Johnny was not at the house at the time, and his aide was walking the dog. He broke free and went after the sheep. Two were killed. It was all very traumatic." Nvidia and Intel's collaboration focuses on uniting their strengths in two domains: data centers and personal computing (PC). In the data center segment, Intel will design custom x86 CPUs tailored for Nvidia's AI infrastructure platforms. On the PC side, Intel will introduce x86 system-on-chips (SOCs) that incorporate Nvidia's RTX GPU chiplets -- a hybrid solution that marries industry-leading CPUs with world-class GPUs. Let's break down the mechanics of the deal and explore why this partnership is meaningful for each side. That narrative shifted somewhat on Sept. 18, when Nvidia announced a $5 billion equity investment in Intel (NASDAQ: INTC). Given that Nvidia's prior outside holdings totaled only about $4.3 billion, this move is a clear acceleration of its capital deployment. Another option is to make strategic investments outside of Nvidia's core ecosystem. In this area, Nvidia has been fairly conservative. Aside from a 2024 partnership with GPU-as-a-service provider Nebius Group , the company's other transactions to date have been relatively specialized. While these investments add value, they fall short of the kind of transformative deal investors may be anticipating. The restraint is notable, given management's prior commentary about building mergers and acquisitions into the long-term playbook. When companies generate substantial free cash flow, they generally have lots of options for putting that capital to use. Nvidia has been leaning heavily into product innovation -- expanding its GPU roadmap with next-generation chip architectures such as Blackwell, Blackwell Ultra, and Rubin. Management has also recently authorized a $60 billion share repurchase program . Over the past decade, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has transformed from a niche chip designer serving gamers into the clear leader of the artificial intelligence (AI) era. At the center of this shift are its graphics processing units (GPUs) -- advanced chipsets that have become the backbone of generative AI . This pivot helped fuel a historic stock price run, marked by revenue growth, record profitability, and plenty of free cash flow. Nvidia's multibillion-dollar commitment to Intel should be viewed as a major vote of confidence for the legacy chip business. Nvidia and Intel will collaborate on next-generation products for data centers and personal computers. Along with billions in funding from the U.S. government and SoftBank, Intel just got billions more -- this time from Nvidia. Story Continues At a strategic level, the significance of this deal is that it links Intel's historical dominance in the CPU market with Nvidia's leadership in accelerated AI workloads. Notably, the agreement does not grant Intel exclusivity as a foundry partner -- an area where the company remains overshadowed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. While this is not an outright acquisition, the partnership is highly additive for both Nvidia and Intel. For Nvidia, the deal extends its reach deeper into the CPU ecosystem -- underscoring its position in end-to-end AI infrastructure. For Intel, the $5 billion investment delivers both capital and much-needed strategic validation at a time when the company is searching for momentum. Put simply, the deal represents a pragmatic alignment between a market leader driving the future of computing with a legacy incumbent eager to regain relevance in the rapidly changing AI market. Is Nvidia's deal with Intel a game-changer? AI infrastructure is no longer defined by stand-alone hardware. The future of computing lies in integrated ecosystems that combine silicon, software, and systems into seamless platforms capable of delivering both scale and performance. Nvidia's deal with Intel lays the foundation for the direction of a more unified computing stack. By joining forces, the two companies are blending their respective strengths into what could evolve as a new category-defining standard for the AI era. For Nvidia, the partnership secures broader market compatibility. Meanwhile, Intel gains a tangible growth roadmap at a moment when competitive pressures are rising -- which helps Intel's efforts to restore its credibility. This collaboration is more than just a splashy headline -- it symbolizes a reshaping of the competitive landscape. At its core, Nvidia and Intel joining forces highlights a reflection that AI infrastructure will not be won as a zero-sum game, but instead, requires ongoing alignment across complementary strengths. If executed successfully, the partnership could accelerate AI adoption across both enterprise and consumer markets -- lending weight to Huang's vision that the next industrial revolution has arrived. How should investors play the news? Unsurprisingly, shares of both Intel and Nvidia rallied on news of the partnership. While I typically avoid investing in momentum stocks, this is a case where I'd consider making an exception. Intel stock has gained just 5% over the past three years and remains roughly 40% below its highs -- even after the recent double-digit bump from the Nvidia announcement. Against that backdrop, Intel looks interesting as a complementary position to existing semiconductor or AI holdings. For now, however, I would treat Intel as a smaller allocation until execution from this deal gains more visibility. As for Nvidia, this collaboration represents yet another catalyst in an already-long line of reasons to own the stock as a long-term, core holding. While the headlines sparked short-term day trading activity, I think the real value lies in the potential synergies that could play out over time. In my view, both Intel and Nvidia still have their best days ahead -- making them compelling buy-and-hold opportunities for investors with a long-term horizon. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $662,520!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,043,346!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,056% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 188% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of September 15, 2025 Adam Spatacco has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Nebius Group and recommends the following options: short November 2025 $21 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Just Delivered Fantastic News for Intel Investors was originally published by The Motley Fool Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs onstage during the first show of his 30-date concert residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 11, 2025. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) continues to chart new territory not just as a chart-topping artist, but as a cultural ambassador whose work consistently centers his homeland. Since emerging in the mid-2010s, he has transformed Latin trap and reggaeton into global forces, while using his platform to explore themes of identity, colonial history, gender expression, and Puerto Ricos socio-economic challenges. His sixth studio album, "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," released in January 2025, is widely seen as a love letter to Puerto Rico blending folkloric genres like bomba and plena with more contemporary styles, all while pushing back against gentrification, migration, and cultural erasure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This deeply rooted ethos finds its most direct expression in "No Me Quiero Ir de Aqui: Una Mas," which translates to "I Don't Want to Leave Here: One More." It is Bad Bunnys first-ever concert residency, held at the iconic Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum (colloquially "El Choli") in San Juan. The residency began July 11 and concludes with a special show on Saturday, Sept. 20. Its 31 shows mark it as both a commercial and a cultural landmark. By staging the residency entirely in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny has made a deliberate statement: Instead of focusing solely on international markets, he is giving priority to his home audience, while also making a broader cultural claim. The first nine shows were reserved exclusively for Puerto Rican residents proof of residency was required. For many local fans, the residency is more than a concert series: Its a homecoming, a reaffirmation of belonging, and a reclamation of Puerto Ricos cultural space on its own terms. Here's how to watch Bad Bunny's final performance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How to watch the Bad Bunny streaming concert on Amazon Prime The last performance of Bad Bunny's sold-out Puerto Rico residency will be available to fans across the globe, thanks to Amazon Prime. The show will stream exclusively on Prime Video, Amazon Music and Twitch. Prime members can watch for no additional cost as part of their membership. Click here to sign up for an Amazon Prime membership. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Where to stream the Bad Bunny concert The show streams free worldwide on the Amazon Music app, Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch (@AmazonMusic). Bad Bunny performs during his Most Wanted Tour at The Moody Center Friday, April 26, 2024. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman What time is the Bad Bunny concert streaming? The concert will begin streaming at 8:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 20. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Where is Bad Bunny from? People gather for the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 in The Woodlands. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Attendees pack the lobby as they check in on the first day of the Texas Youth Summit, held at the Waterway Marriott Friday, Sep. 19, 2025 in The Woodlands, Texas. Michael Wyke/Contributor People listen to Congressman Wesley Hunt speak at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Congressman Wesley Hunt speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Congressman Wesley Hunt speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Alex Clark speaks about Charlie Kirk during the first day of the Texas Youth Summit, held at the Waterway Marriott Friday, Sep. 19, 2025 in The Woodlands, Texas. Michael Wyke/Contributor Seth Gruber speaks during the first day of the Texas Youth Summit, held at the Waterway Marriott Friday, Sep. 19, 2025 in The Woodlands, Texas. Michael Wyke/Contributor Attendees wear OWe Are CharlieO t-shirts as they wait in the lobby to enter the first day of the Texas Youth Summit, held at the Waterway Marriott Friday, Sep. 19, 2025 in The Woodlands, Texas. Michael Wyke/Contributor Glenn Uhler, 15, listens to speakers at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 in The Woodlands. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 in The Woodlands. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People gather for the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 in The Woodlands. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Congressman Wesley Hunt speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Leighton King, 16, and Caroline Paylor, 16, attend the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People listen to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speak at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People listen to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speak at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People listen to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speak at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A boy looks at art displayed at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer People listen to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speak at the Texas Youth Summit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Aeryn Yeisers politics have long been influenced by her Christian faith. But in high school and college, she didnt always feel comfortable sharing her conservative views on abortion and other hot-button social issues. Thats changing, the 22-year-old said this weekend at a GOP youth summit in The Woodlands, especially in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirks assassination. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now is the time to speak up against the lies, Yeiser said. Ive decided, because of Charlie Kirk, to use my God-given voice to speak truth in every space despite the possibility of conflict or offending others because this earth is temporary, but Jesus is eternity. READ MORE: Hundreds honor Charlie Kirk during tribute at first night of Texas Youth Summit Young conservatives like Yeiser say this is a pivotal moment for their movement, catapulting them towards a new chapter of political expression, especially in traditionally-liberal spaces like college campuses where Kirk spent much of his time. Their confidence was on bright display at the youth summit, which has been taking place annually since 2019. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Young adults and children packed into The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, eager to hear from big names in the conservative movement, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and influencers like Alex Clark and Allie Beth Stuckey. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kirks presence was inescapable with the summit now serving as a means to pick up Charlies bloody mic and keep fighting the good fight, as organizers put it. Organizers said a record-breaking 3,200 tickets were sold. The hotel lobby was filled wall-to-wall with booths, many aimed at young people, such as Counteract Texas, a Gen Z-led Christian group bringing Biblical truth into cultural and political discussions;" Anthem Youth, a Woodlands-based Christian youth group; and Leadership Institute, a conservative political training organization. Javon Evans, a field representative for high school chapters in the Gulf Coast region who was manning a table for the group at the summit, said his students are distraught about Kirks death, but theyre channeling their grief into action. It really was just that final nail of like, OK, I gotta get involved I need to help finish the work he started, Evans said. And were seeing that from thousands of students all across the country, and its not temporary. Its not going to slow down. That is the wave now, and those kids arent going anywhere. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Public polling shows young people, particularly men and the youngest cohort of Gen Z, have shifted further right in recent years. President Donald Trump improved his margin among young people ages 18-29 by about 10 percentage points in 2024 compared to his first run four years earlier, according to a Tufts University study. And while young women went for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris by 17 points in the last election, Trump was able to slice his deficit with the group nearly in half from his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden. More recent polling has been mixed. An April 2025 Yale Youth poll found 18-21 year olds said they favored Republican congressional candidates by about 12 points, though older 20-somethings preferred Democrats by about 6 points. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When GOP political consultant Christian Collins founded the Texas Youth Summit in 2019, he was inspired by the group Kirk founded at 18, Turning Point USA. Turning Point, which said it has received tens of thousands of requests for new college and high school chapters in the wake of Kirks killing, was among the two dozen sponsors of the summit. Many speakers cast Kirks death as the opening salvo to a spiritual or cultural war that the right and left are engaging in. They echoed recent sentiments from Trump and others on the right that liberals are contributing to a climate that breeds political violence even though the alleged killer Tyler Robinsons motives arent fully understood. Someones going to win and someones going to lose. You have two options: Christian nationalism or sex-cult globalism, said right-wing influencer Seth Gruber on stage. You actually only have two options. Paul Anderson, an attendee from Houston who was inspired to come after Kirks death, had a more conciliatory view, saying he thinks Kirk stood for healthy political discourse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even though it may seem gratifying or cathartic to punch back and feel some sense of revenge or retribution, retribution is against this one individual that Utah will deliver (in court), said Anderson, 27, referring to Robinsons legal proceedings. Retribution is not really a workable concept against an ideology. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, who was 34 when he was first elected to Congress in 2018, has hosted his own conferences and leadership summits for youth. In his speech Friday, the Houston Congressman said Kirk helped the party reach a demographic where were losing the most ground. But I think now were gaining the most ground, and thats because of people like Charlie, Crenshaw said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of the most applauded moments of the summit came when Clark, who is employed by Turning Point, warned that the Make America Great Again movement could end up splintering in ways that could really explode as Trump's term winds down, and how she wants to keep it all together. At a press conference today, Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang once again took the opportunity to heap praise on foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM). "They are a world-class foundry and support customers of diverse needs. You can't overstate the magic that is TSMC, said Huang. The executive was speaking to reporters after Nvidia made a landmark $5 billion investment into fellow semiconductor company Intel (INTC), with Taiwan Semiconductor set to provide foundry support as the two team up on custom CPUs for data centers. More News from Barchart "We both still have a lot of respect for TSMC, and we will continue to work with them," confirmed Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Taiwan Semi Stock Soars to New Highs This isnt the first time Taiwan Semiconductor has scored a boost from Nvidias CEO; during a visit to Taiwan last month, Huang remarked that anybody who wants to buy TSMC stock is a very smart person. TSM stock ramped to a new high of $270.54 earlier, extending its 2025 gains to 35.5%. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 74 is firmly in overbought territory. www.barchart.com Taiwan Semiconductors Strong Foundry Foothold Fundamentally speaking, TSM has demonstrated remarkable growth, with its foundry market share expanding to 38% in Q2 2025, up from 31% year-over-year, driven primarily by surging artificial intelligence (AI) demand and China's subsidy programs. The company's technological leadership is evident in its successful development of 2-nanometer process technology, with MediaTek already completing tape-out for an upcoming flagship chip using this advanced process. TSM's strategic importance in the AI revolution is underscored by projections of AI chip demand growing at over 40% CAGR through 2028. The company's aggressive reinvestment strategy, including the launch of an AI chip R&D center in Germany, positions it well to maintain its technological leadership in the semiconductor foundry market. Major customers are lined up to utilize TSM's advanced node technology not just Nvidia and Intel, but also Apple (AAPL) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) which further cements its market position. 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A survey released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on Wednesday showed that 46% believe the U.S. is on the brink of a farm crisis, and another 33% said maybe. Meanwhile, about two-thirds said they are more concerned about their financial situation compared to a year ago, with 58% postponing equipment purchases, 38% reducing fertilizer applications and 22% looking for more off-farm income. These findings point to a once-in-a-generation problem for the agricultural economy, said NCGA Chief Economist Krista Swanson said in a statement. The survey findings suggest that this crisis could have a long reach, affecting every area of the economy, as farmers are less likely to make purchases and will certainly make budget cuts that could affect their local communities. The bleak survey results mirrored similarly downbeat readings in the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index, which fell 10 points in August to 125. A subindex on expectations for the future dropped 16 points to 123, the lowest since last September. Thats as crop prices have plunged from their 2022 peak, while production costs remain near record highs. Last month, the NCGA called on Congress and the Trump administration to boost demand, including via higher blends of ethanol and increased foreign market access, as it sounded the alarm on an economic crisis hitting rural America. Meanwhile, export demand has suffered amid President Donald Trumps trade war, which has hit certain crops especially hard. The American Soybean Association sent a letter to Trump last month, warning that U.S. soybean farmers are standing at a trade and financial precipice. With harvest season near, China hasnt purchased any U.S. soybeans for the months ahead, it added, despite being the top buyer historically. The group said U.S. soybean farmers cannot survive a prolonged trade dispute with China and urged Trump to prioritize soybeans in talks with Beijing. But on Friday, Trump didnt mention anything about agricultural exports after a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Prices for soybeans, corn and wheat all fell yesterday. To be sure, U.S. farmers are set to receive substantial help. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed in July included about $66 billion in agriculture-focused spending. The vast majority, about $59 billion, is earmarked for farm safety-net enhancements, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. By Elida Moreno and Marianna Parraga PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - The Panama Canal has begun a competitive process to select the company that will design, build and operate a pipeline to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), its authority said on Thursday, following meetings with interested companies. The project, expected to require an investment of between $4 billion and $8 billion, is part of the waterway's move to meet increased demand for services including trans-shipment and generate extra revenue, following the expansion of its area in a Supreme Court ruling last year. The 2 million-barrel-per-day pipeline alone is forecast to contribute between $1 billion and $1.2 billion to the waterway's annual income, Ricaurte Vasquez, head of the canal, told Reuters in an interview after the meetings. The pipeline project aims to move U.S. LPG bound for Asia from one side of the canal to the other. A power transmission line will be built as part of the plan. Among companies that met with canal authorities about the pipeline were Exxon Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell , Energy Transfer, Puma Energy, SK Energy, Vitol, Mitsubishi , Itochu and Sumitomo, the canal said in a release. "We had a room full of interested people," Vasquez said about the meeting, adding that a pre-qualification process will be the next step. The winner of the competitive process is expected to be selected in the last quarter of 2026, while a parallel project to build and operate two new ports in the canal's area will be launched between late this year and early next year, he said. The canal forecasts a $3.5 billion profit in the fiscal year ending in September, in line with the previous year's results, Vasquez said. A consolidation of cargo tonnage by receiving larger vessels is expected to offset a reduction in traffic towards the end of the year. "We have had a different seasonality this year, with more cargo being moved to the United States now, instead of in October-December," he said. (Reporting by Elida Moreno and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Gabriel Araujo and Marguerita Choy) (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes) Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Sept. 11, 2018: An Army uniform hangs out to dry at the Life Support Area in Bemowo Piskie where soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment are living as they rotate out of Poland, heading back to Vilseck, Germany. The unit is being replaced in NATOs Battle Group Poland by 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee National Guard. The destroyer USS Jason Dunham sails in the Mediterranean Sea on May 19, 2025. Two armed Venezuelan F-16s flew near an American ship in international waters on Sept. 4, the Defense Department said. The post on X did not identify the ship, but a CBS News report said it was Dunham. (Kaitlin Young/U.S. Navy) (Tribune News Service) The American naval force that has deployed off Venezuelas coast is not designed for occupation. It is built for speed raids to seize high-value targets, precision strikes to cripple defenses, and, if ordered, to carry out the risky capture of strongman Nicolas Maduro and top regime officials, military analysts say. The deployment, coupled with the U.S. designating as a terrorist organization the Carte de los Soles a drug trafficking network U.S. officials believe is led by Maduro underscores the Trump administrations readiness to move beyond sanctions and diplomacy in defense of what it calls vital national security interests. The current U.S. military force assembled in the Caribbean provides the commander with a range of options, up to decisive operations to capture or eliminate even substantially protected Cartel de Los Soles figures, said Evan Ellis, research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War Colleges Strategic Studies Institute. Beyond diplomacy In Trumps first term, Venezuela was cast as a democracy-restoration project. In his second term, the country has been framed as a direct threat to U.S. security. Washington accuses Maduro of enabling cocaine trafficking, tolerating the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as it expands into U.S. cities, and fueling migrant surges across the Mexican border. A reorganized National Security Council and new political appointees have aligned more closely with Trumps priorities. Analysts say the shift is accelerating decision-making and increasing the likelihood of military action. Key administration figures who favored engagement with Maduro, like [Ambassador] Richard Grenell, have seen their influence wane, strengthening the hand of hawks such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ellis said in an op-ed piece published Friday, Finally the Endgame in Venezuela? The administration has determined that both the Cartel de Los Soles and Tren de Aragua qualify as terrorist organizations, a designation that provides legal support to U.S. actions to neutralize their members and leadership. A new doctrine Antonio De La Cruz, executive director of the Washington-based think tank Inter American Trends, said the designation of the Venezuelan cartel as a terrorist group, along with accusations that the Maduro regime has weaponized drug trafficking to harm the United States, has shaped a new approach in Washingtons understanding and management of Venezuela. What the administration is saying is that a narco-terrorist gang has taken over the Venezuelan state whose leaders have open cases for drug trafficking in the Southern District of New York and that their cocaine shipments, laced with fentanyl, have caused more than 100,000 deaths in America, far more than the 3,000 who died on 9/11, De La Cruz said. Its an argument that frames the Venezuelan regime as using drugs as a weapon of mass destruction setting the groundwork for President Trump to act. Secretary Rubio sounded the Maduro regimes death knell when he forewarned: We are not going to tolerate it, De La Cruz added. In defending Trumps decistion to use deadly force on boats allegedly carrying drugs out of Venezuela, Rubio said that the U.S. government is not going to sit back anymore while drug cartels operate in the Caribbean. Following a second strike on a suspected drug vessel, he said the U.S. will use all of its power to target cartels who are targeting America. Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government. Maduro is the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country. And he is under indictment for pushing drugs into the United States, Rubio said earlier on his X account. The first shots The lethal strike on a speedboat allegedly tied to the cartel though highly controversial was a clear message to Maduros inner circle, De La Cruz said. That strike, which killed 11 people aboard, marked the first U.S. use of deadly force in connection with Venezuelan cartel activities. Three additional strikes on vessels followed, raising the death toll to 17. Officials say the operations are a signal to Caracas: Washington is prepared to act, not just threaten. Analysts believe the strikes could be the first in a series of limited actions designed to test Maduros resolve and lay the groundwork for a larger campaign. To intensify pressure, the U.S. has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro the largest of its kind and $25 million on several top aides. The aim is to destabilize Maduros inner circle and encourage defections. The strike force The military formation deployed in the Caribbean reflects the seriousness of U.S. intentions. At its core is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force centered around the amphibious assault vessel USS Iwo Jima and two San Antonio-class transport ships. Together, they carry more than 2,000 Marines trained for rapid operations. In total, about 4,500 Marines and sailors are deployed, backed by a cruiser, destroyers, and a Los Angeles-class attack submarine equipped with more than 400 missile tubes capable of precision strikes. Ten F-35 stealth fighters have been deployed to Puerto Rico, capable of neutralizing Venezuelas aging fleet of Sukhoi-30s and F-16s jets. U.S. Marines have conducted joint training exercises on the island, while Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Daniel Caine have made high-profile visits. This is not a force for nation-building, Ellis argues. Its a force that can go in, hit hard, and get out. The strike force has drawn comparisons to the 1989 invasion of Panama, when U.S. forces captured strongman Manuel Noriega and brought him to trial in the U.S. But Venezuela presents a far more complex challenge. The country is larger, with a dense network of militias, paramilitaries and foreign allies. Maduro has fortified his regime with Cuban advisors, Russian weapons and Chinese surveillance technology. For now, officials say the administration favors a graduated response targeted strikes aimed at testing reactions and encouraging internal defections in Venezuela. The strategy echoes U.S. actions in Iran in 2025, when strikes on nuclear facilities avoided triggering a broader war. Still, risks abound. Extracting Maduro alive would be perilous, and some in his inner circle may prefer his death to the possibility of captured secrets being exposed under U.S. interrogation. A fragile aftermath Analysts warn that Maduros removal wouldnt guarantee a return to democracy. It could unleash a violent power struggle among entrenched criminal networks. For two decades, the regimes of Hugo Chavez and Maduro have tied the state to illicit economies granting officers, loyalists, and gangs access to oil, smuggling routes and drug profits. The sudden collapse of that system could trigger a violent scramble for territory and resources, destabilizing any transition. Foreign actors may complicate matters. Russia, China, and Cuba have vested interests in Venezuela and may seek to undermine U.S. efforts, sow chaos and prevent a clear American victory. Still, Venezuelas opposition sees a rare opportunity. Edmundo Gonzalez, who claimed victory in the disputed 2024 presidential election with 67% of the vote, is recognized by Washington as the countrys legitimate president. Alongside opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, he represents a possible democratic alternative. The U.S. can open the door, but in the end Venezuelans will have to walk through it, analysts warn. If Maduro falls, any new goverment will face immediate challenges: Restarting oil production and refining capacity Managing a $140 billion debt and legal claims. Rebuilding the military and police while containing armed groups. Healing a politically fractured nation A ticking clock Maintaining such a large naval presence in the Caribbean is expensive, military analysts say. The current posture cannot be sustained indefinitely. Military planners will soon press for a decision: Act, withdraw, or extend the standoff. Maduro appears to be betting that Washington will back down. He has weathered sanctions, coup attempts and international isolation, outlasting adversaries at home and abroad. But the recent speedboat strikes the first lethal U.S. actions tied to Venezuelan cartels has changed the equation. The months ahead may prove decisive, experts say. For the first time in years, Maduros removal by force appears to be a real possibility. But the aftermath is far from clear. Still, for many Venezuelans, the possibility of change brings hope after decades of authoritarian rule and economic ruin. Whether that hope becomes reality may depend less on U.S. firepower and more on Venezuelans ability to rebuild once the smoke clears. Victories are never assured, but no tragedy lasts forever, Ellis said. 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Defense Commissary Agency is seeking input on the potential privatization of 178 commissary locations across the contiguous United States and Puerto Rico. (Defense Commissary Agency) The Defense Commissary Agency asked Friday for the commercial grocery industry to weigh in on the possible privatization of 178 stores that provide discounted groceries to military families in the U.S. The purpose of this [request for information] is to determine whether commercial grocery operators and investment firms are both interested in and capable of assuming commissary operations, with no government subsidy or with a materially reduced subsidy, while preserving the critical military benefit of a 23.7% average savings for authorized patrons, the agency said in a statement Friday. It based its decision to seek privatization on an April memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that called on Defense Department components to review organizational structure to increase efficiency and optimize the civilian workforce. It also called for retail and recreation functions to be prioritized for privatization something that has long been debated for commissaries. The Military Officers Association of America said in May that privatization of commissaries would risk a benefit that allows young military families to make ends meet and allows retirees, disabled veterans and survivors to keep up with rising costs. Instead, the association called for the Pentagon to strengthen the Defense Commissary Agency, which in some remote locations may be the only grocery store for miles. Fridays request focuses on commissaries in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It seeks to understand if commercial grocers would be able to meet the Defense Department policy that commissary shoppers save 23.7% as a benefit to military service with little to no help from the federal government. The commercial partner might also have to be willing to address an existing maintenance backlog of U.S. commissary facilities. This would take a one-time investment of $2.4 billion, or $500 million annually for five years, according to the information request. The annual maintenance costs for the stores is about $250 million a year. If the Pentagon decided to privatize commissaries, existing stores might be offered to the vendor rent free and in an as-is condition, according to the request. Proposals are due Oct. 21. The Defense Commissary Agency said it operates 235 stores in 13 countries and two U.S. territories with shopping privileges available to roughly 8.35 million households. Of those, about 1.8 million shop at least monthly. Marine Corps Gen. Christopher Mahoney testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON The Senate on Friday confirmed Marine Corps Gen. Christopher Mahoney to serve as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the militarys second-highest ranking officer. Mahoney has been the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps since 2023 and will take over as Joint Chiefs vice chairman from Navy Adm. Christopher Grady, who is nearing the end of his term. In his new position, Mahoney will play a leading role in technology-related initiatives and chair the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, an organization that helps assess capability requirements and review the weapons acquisition process. He will also help advise President Donald Trump a responsibility that Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee warned could mean contradicting the president. Your reputation as a candid and forthright officer will be depended upon and tested in this role, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the panels top Democrat, told Mahoney during his confirmation hearing earlier this month. Mahoney was repeatedly questioned by Democrats on his ability to provide unvarnished military advice and resist orders that are unlawful. He vowed to push back against illegal directives. If I am ever put into a situation where 38 years of an oath is put at risk to do something different the answer is simple: I will adhere to my oath to the Constitution, he said. That is what is expected. Mahoney joined the military 38 years ago, training as an infantryman in the Marine Corps and a fighter pilot in the Navy. He has held numerous leadership posts, including deputy commander of U.S. forces in Japan. For several months from 2023 to 2024 he performed the duties of Marine Corps commandant, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while Gen. Eric Smith recovered from a cardiac arrest. Mahoney told senators his vast experience will shape how he approaches his priorities as vice chairman: continuing modernization, innovating at speed and scale and maintaining a technical edge against adversaries such as China and Russia. We must recognize that the security environment is more contested and dynamic than at any point in recent memory, he said. The most nascent domains space, cyber are no longer novel, they are the new normal for the joint enterprise. Sailors assigned to Naval Support Facility Thurmont, commonly known as Camp David, and Marines assigned to Marine Security Company Camp David prepare to greet South Koreas president as he arrives for a summit at the installation, Aug. 18, 2023. (Thomas Mahmod/U.S. Navy) FREDERICK, Md. (Tribune News Service) More than a dozen people on Wednesday attended an open house in Sabillasville that was led by the U.S. Navy and local and state health officials to discuss testing private wells for possible contamination. The Navy is seeking permission from property owners to sample private drinking water wells within the next week in a specific area around the Naval Support Facility Thurmont a presidential retreat known as Camp David. Owners within this area received letters in the mail from the Navy requesting permission to sample their wells. The sampling area was identified by considering the direction of the groundwater flowing away from the facility. The samples, conducted by a team of two professionals, are free for property owners and typically take less than an hour. The open house held at Camp Round Meadow gave residents the opportunity to gain more information on the issue, ask experts and officials their questions and make appointments for sampling. The Navy previously identified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the groundwater at the Thurmont facility and detected the chemicals in nearby wells likely due to the use of aqueous film-forming foam at the facility. This firefighting foam contains PFAS and has now been removed from the facility. PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are widely used chemicals that may be linked with negative health outcomes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2023, the Navy conducted more than a dozen samples of drinking water in the area around the Thurmont-area facility. PFAS were not detected above 70 parts per trillion, which was the EPA advisory level and Department of Defense action level at the time. Last year, the EPA established the maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in public water systems at 4 parts per trillion. In response, the defense department implemented a policy to incorporate these new standards into its PFAS cleanup process and prioritize private wells with the highest levels of the contaminants as a result of the departments activities. The department also established its own PFAS levels to address in private wells at 12 parts per trillion. When the 2023 samples of the Thurmont area were reevaluated after these changes, 11 samples had no detection of PFAS and eight had detections below the new department action levels. None of those samples had detections at or above the action levels. But as the Navy undergoes the cleanup process, it must work to evaluate the extent of PFAS in affected areas for its investigation to identity remediation strategies. Further groundwater testing on the facility, the new action levels and advancements in lab methods have led the Navy to conduct more sampling of private wells in the Thurmont facility area. The current sampling area was expanded from the 2023 area in the direction of the groundwater flow. Julie Brigham, a pastor at Mount Moriah Lutheran Church in Sabillasville, said the church and its nearby Foxville School House fell inside the sampling area and received letters about the well testing. She made an appointment at the open house for the properties wells to be tested. This was a real surprise. It was a shock, Brigham said. Brigham has ensured the kitchen equipment at her home and the church were chemical-free but was unaware of there being possible concerns with drinking water. Brigham has a daughter who recently had a baby. Her mother is 90 years old. When Im thinking about peoples health, Im thinking about very vulnerable people, she said. The pastor said Wednesdays event was helpful for people to receive information and ask questions. The church community will discuss this issue at a meeting on Sunday. Once the Navy receives the sampling data, it might conduct more testing depending on the results, according to Curtis DeTore, chief of the federal assessment and remediation division for the Maryland Department of the Environment. After the drinking water samples are complete, a Navy representative will call the property owner within 30 days with the preliminary results. The final results will be mailed within three months. If the samples detect PFAS at or above the defense departments action levels, the Navy will discuss next steps with the owner and work on possible solutions, such as a treatment system or connecting the property to public water. If the sample detects PFAS above 70 parts per trillion, the Navy may also provide the owner with bottled water until a long-term solution is implemented. Some attendees lived outside of the sampling area but visited the open house to learn more about the issue. Tyler Romero said he was interested in learning the cause behind the contamination issues. At the open house, he learned of the area most impacted and said it looks like the Navy is doing everything they need to resolve this issue. Arthur Drager was concerned why his property was not in the sampling zone. His property is east of the identified area. Im in a vulnerable situation, Drager said. ... [The Navy], in my humble opinion, have an obligation to not only test peoples water that want it tested, but to remedy the problem. 2025 The Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Md.). Visit www.fredericknewspost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins would be directed to develop a blueprint for using artificial intelligence to streamline claims processing under the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act that passed the House this week. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Deploying artificial intelligence to process veterans claims faster and expanding access to free gravestones for families of deceased veterans are among 14 proposals that are headed to the Senate for a vote after House adoption. The sweeping set of bills aims to streamline delivery of benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs through automation, improve oversight of veterans job training and make the VA supply chain more efficient via a cloud-based inventory system. Legislation the House adopted this week also expands access to free headstones and burial markers furnished by the VA. The Honoring Our Heroes Act, led by Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., sets up a pilot program that allows eligible family members to request free government-issued gravestones for veterans who died on or after Dec. 7, 1941, when America entered World War II, and are interred in private and local cemeteries. The bill, which passed the House unanimously on a 413-0 vote, ensures that military service is honored consistently, regardless of when a veteran passed away, Kennedy said. The legislation provides a free headstone, marker or medallion for veterans who died on or after Dec. 7, 1941, but before Nov. 1, 1990. Kennedy said the bill would end a discrepancy in the law that prevented veterans who died during certain periods from being commemorated with government headstones. Current law restricts the VA from providing the free markers for veterans who died before Nov. 1, 1990, unless the grave is unmarked. Other bills that passed the House bring special focus to using new technology to bring more efficiency to processing thousands of veterans claims each year for disability compensation and other benefits. The Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act is an ambitious bill for developing an AI system to assist processing disability claims, survivor benefits and pensions. The new AI system would retrieve veterans information, compile evidence, guide decisions, share data between agencies and generate claims-related correspondence. The VA backlog of claims for disability and pensions tops 145,000, according to an online agency dashboard. In August, it took the VA on average 95 days to complete a disability claim. The bill also directs VA Secretary Doug Collins to develop a blueprint for using AI that would be submitted to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., who led the legislation, described claims processing as outdated, leading to backlogs and burdening veterans with unnecessary paperwork. Another bill that seeks to reform the VA through better technology is the VA Hospital Inventory Management System Authorization Act. Led by Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., the bill would modernize VAs supply chain with a cloud-based inventory management system. Too often, outdated systems and poor logistics have led to wasted taxpayer dollars, missing medical equipment and delays in care for our veterans, said Kiggans, a former Navy helicopter pilot and nurse practitioner. Kiggans bill would test-run a cloud-based inventory management system at one VA medical center as a precursor to deploying it across the VA. Cloud-based systems use remote computer servers to store information, provide real-time inventory data and inform decision-making through analytics, according to supporters. The Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act would require VA to collect more evidence to measure outcomes in employment programs. The bill requires VA to track the number of participants who land employment through its job training program as well as their annual wages. VAs Veterans Readiness and Employment Program helps veterans with training and education but lacks performance metrics to gauge success, said Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., who is helping lead the bill. Willibald C. Bianchi, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, poses in his Army uniform in this undated photo. His missing remains have now been identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. (U.S. Army) NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, Hawaii The Defense Department announced Friday that it had identified the missing remains of a Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in the Philippines in 1945 while a prisoner of war. Capt. Willibald C. Bianchi was awarded the medal posthumously for his actions in defense of the Province of Bataan from Japanese invasion in 1942, during which he was taken prisoner. He was killed when carrier-borne aircraft attacked and sank the Oryoku Maru, a Japanese transport ship in Subic Bay that was holding Bianchi and other POWs. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency officially accounted for Bianchi on Aug. 11, but the public announcement of his identification was made to coincide with National POW/MIA Recognition Day, held each year on the third Friday of September. When wounded early in the action by 2 bullets through the left hand, he did not stop for first aid but discarded his rifle and began firing a pistol, the MOH citation reads. He located a machinegun nest and personally silenced it with grenades. When wounded the second time by 2 machinegun bullets through the chest muscles, 1st Lt. Bianchi climbed to the top of an American tank, manned its antiaircraft machinegun, and fired into strongly held enemy position until knocked completely off the tank by a third severe wound. Bianchi died Jan. 9, 1945, at age 29. Gen. Douglas MacArthur presented his mother the Medal of Honor six months later. During a ceremony Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Fern Sumpter Winbush, DPAAs principal deputy director, told the audience that the agency had accounted for 220 missing service members in the current fiscal year the first year to break 200 since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The magnitude of DPAAs mission is a stark reminder of sacrifices made and the work that remains and the numbers of the unaccounted-for are daunting, she said. From World War II, there remain 70,850, from the Korean War 7,398, from the Vietnam War 1,566, and six still unaccounted for from the Iraq wars and other operations. Behind each number is a family who awaits answers. Winbush said. Among them is Natalie Rauch, who said during the ceremonys keynote speech that she was 8 years old when her father went missing in his Air Force reconnaissance jet over North Vietnam on April 26, 1966. Natalie Rauch, whose father was shot down during the Vietnam War and remains missing, speaks at the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on Sept. 19, 2025. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes) My mom actually hoped that he was one of the prisoners of war, Rauch recalled. On Jan. 27, 1973, a peace accord was signed ending U.S. combat operations in Vietnam, and the Defense Department learned the names of all living American POWs to be released. And so the military had to call every missing-in-action family, and say yes or no, your person is coming home, Rauch said. I remember that day. My mom got a no. After seven years just think, seven years of just not knowing, seven years she knew he was not coming home. Rauch has waited a lifetime to hear otherwise. I want to say you might see a little gray hair up here, she said, pointing to her head, but on the inside, Im just that 8-year-old little girl waiting for her dad to come home. Key Points New spot crypto ETFs could start trading later this year, leading to new demand for Solana. Digital asset treasury companies continue to accumulate Solana at a rapid clip. Growth in decentralized finance is building a strong foundation for Solana blockchain activity. 10 stocks we like better than Solana It might come as a surprise, but Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) is now the top-performing major cryptocurrency during the past 30 days. During that time period, Solana is up a robust 22%. By way of comparison, market bellwethers Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) are little changed. It's all lining up for what some investors are already calling "Solana Season" -- a spectacular year-end rally that ends with Solana topping the $300 price mark. Here's why that could be a reality. New Solana ETFs First and most importantly, new spot Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are due to start trading sometime in October. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to rule positively on a handful of spot Solana ETF applications, with Bloomberg currently estimating the chances of approval at 95%. Once these spot Solana ETFs start trading, they could lead to new money from institutional investors cascading into Solana. Earlier in the year, JPMorgan Chase predicted that anywhere from $3 billion to $6 billion might flow into Solana as soon as they're available. Image source: Getty Images. The new ETFs will create a source of consistent long-term demand for Solana. It's difficult to predict how much of this new demand has already been priced into Solana, but there's certain to be at least some upward pressure as Solana becomes an increasingly mainstream cryptocurrency. The emergence of Solana treasury companies Another exciting development is the emergence of new Solana treasury companies. These companies, just like their Bitcoin treasury company counterparts, do just one thing: raise capital from outside investors, and then immediately plow that money into purchases of a specific cryptocurrency. Right now, there are several different companies that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in new capital solely to buy Solana. The heavyweight here is Forward Industries, a former medical design firm, which raised a mind-boggling $1.6 billion to scoop up Solana. The goal of Forward Industries, quite simply, is to become the world's foremost Solana treasury company. More Solana treasury companies could be on the way, especially if the price of Solana continues to rise. It remains to be seen, of course, how much staying power these new treasury companies will have. If the price of Solana stalls out or declines, they may no longer be able to raise new capital from investors. A crowd gathers for the opening of a new exhibit at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., honoring POWs. (National Naval Aviation Museum/Facebook) Three Vietnam veterans, whose time as prisoners of war ranged from months to years, attended the opening of a new exhibit Friday at the National Naval Aviation Museum to honor POWs. They had a common bond as prisoners at the infamous Hanoi Hilton, but each had his own experiences. John Jack Ensch, a retired Navy captain, flew 285 combat missions during the war. In August 1972, he was forced to eject from his plane in North Vietnam and was immediately captured. Ensch was a prisoner for about seven months when he was released as part of the last group of POWs in March 1973. John Jack Ensch, a retired Navy captain, flew 285 combat missions during the war. (National Naval Aviation Museum/Facebook) John Jack Ensch was a prisoner for about seven months when he was released as part of the last group of POWs in March 1973 (National Naval Aviation Museum/Facebook) My experience was more like a walk in the park compared to what they went through, Ensch said, referring to other POWs attending the event at the museum in Pensacola, Fla. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday in September to honor prisoners of war and those who remain missing. The day was established in 1979 through a proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter, and each subsequent president has issued an annual proclamation commemorating the third Friday in September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Everett Alvarez, a Navy fighter pilot at the time, was shot down on his second mission on Aug. 5, 1964 only three days after the Gulf of Tonkin incident that triggered Americas full-scale entry into the war. (National Naval Aviation Museum/Facebook) Everett Alvarez, a Navy fighter pilot at the time, was shot down on his second mission on Aug. 5, 1964 only three days after the Gulf of Tonkin incident that triggered Americas full-scale entry into the war. I used to tell people I started the war, he said, drawing a few laughs from the crowd. Alvarez was the first American to be shot down over North Vietnam and first to be taken prisoner there. He would ultimately spend 8 years as a prisoner of war much of it in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. I was probably the first American into the prison that we now call the Hanoi Hilton, Alvarez said. And I told people, told the guys later on that when they complained about the room, I said, You had to come early to get the good one. Michael Mike McGrath was shot down by an antiaircraft fire June 1967. (National Naval Aviation Museum/Facebook) Michael Mike McGrath, a Navy fighter pilot in Vietnam, was also shot down. McGrath was shot down by an antiaircraft fire June 1967, according to Veteran Tributes. He told the audience when he was shot down his left arm was broken, and his left knee was dislocated, to go along with other injuries. Im going to keep it simple, because I dont want to offend anybody here. But in general, our captors were brutal, McGrath said. For three days he was interrogated but stuck with his training giving only his name, rank and serial number. After three days, his arm was behind his back with his shoulder and elbow dislocated. They left me for 12 days on the floor to live or die. I was in and out of delirium, McGrath said. He did finally scribble a confession, which was nothing. [A guard] came in at that point. He says, This is your confession. Now you will die. At that time, I said, Thank goodness. Im ready to go, McGrath said. I was hurting. He ultimately survived and was released in March 1973 as part of Operation Homecoming. McGrath explained that everyone who survived was broken. No one stuck to providing just his serial number, he said, giving in because of the brutality of the captors. McGrath then cited James Stockdale, a senior Navy officer who spent the next seven years in Hanoi. Stockdale said, Guys, dont feel guilty. You did the best you could. Resist to bounce back again and resist again. McGrath said. And if they break you again, dont feel guilty. People who attended the ceremony were able to stick around for the unveiling of the exhibit that the museum describes as an immersive experience to tell the personal stories, struggles and strength of U.S. troops during this time. The stories featured here today will continue to live on in this new exhibit, said Sterling Gilliam, director of the museum and retired Navy captain. Macquarie Asset Management, an investment management company, released its Macquarie Core Equity Fund investor letter for the second quarter of 2025. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The US large-cap equity market surged in Q2 2025, with the S&P 500 Index rising 10.94%. The equity markets strength was due to reduced concerns over the possibility of President Trump quickly imposing harsh tariffs. Later, the administration put a pause on the tariff implementation. In this environment, the Macquarie Core Equity Funds Institutional Class returned 11.94% surpassing the benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. Eighty percent of the relative performance was driven by sector selection, and individual security selection accounted for the remainder. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, the Macquarie Core Equity Fund highlighted stocks such as The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR). The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is a US-based insurance company. The one-month return of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) was -2.79%, and its shares lost 6.65% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On September 18, 2025, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) stock closed at $242.00 per share, with a market capitalization of $141.86 billion. Macquarie Core Equity Fund stated the following regarding The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) shares declined nearly 6% during the quarter. Like AutoZone, Progressive tends to be a defensive security balancing out more aggressive holdings within our diversified portfolio. Progressive continues to be the industry leader in direct sales of auto and home insurance with significant greenspace to grow market share in coming years." Is Progressive Corporation (PGR) the Best Low Volatility Stock to Buy Now? The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is in 30th position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 99 hedge fund portfolios held The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) at the end of the second quarter, which was 91 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. Ray Dalio warned at the Future China Global Forum that Americas $37.5 trillion debt poses a crisis risk, but argued the U.S. cant realistically cut spending. Dalio noted a greater realization in the Trump administration of the debt challenge, though the growing gap between spending and revenue leaves markets wary of long-term sustainability. On a spectrum of opinion about Americas national debt, Ray Dalio comes down on the end of crisis. The Bridgewater Associates founder has long warned Americas fiscal trajectory is on a dangerous path owing to its $37.5 trillion national debtwith additional interest payments of $1.13 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year to date. But Dalio, speaking at the Future China Global Forum in Singapore this week, doesnt think the U.S. is in a position to pull back on its spending. Economists arent concerned about the amount of U.S. national debt per se, more its debt-to-GDP ratio. If a country is borrowing at a rate which outpaces its growth, then investors at some point will begin to question the security of the returns on the debt they are holding. This could either result in investors backing out of purchasing the debt, or demanding higher interest payments to offset the risk. Of course, a nations central bank could also assist in the latter option with quantitive easingessentially printing more money to reduce the value of debt. Governments therefore have two options to rebalance their debt-to-GDP ration: Cut spending or increase economic growth. Dalio, 76, seems to be of the opinion that cutting spending is not an option for the U.S. government, it cannot cut back on its spending for various reasons, he said during the panel, per Bloomberg. Americas national debt burden is not attributable to one side of the political spectrum or the other: It has been added to by administrations from both parties. That said, President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act has raised eyebrows, even among his supporters. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates it will add approximately $3.4 trillion to national debt, though between 2025 and 2035 tariffs will offset $3.3 trillion of that. Indeed, CBO projections for 2025 estimate the U.S. will spend approximately $7 trillion this year but will only bring in $5 trillion. That gap widens as time goes ongrowing to $10.7 trillion in spending by 2035 and $8.03 trillion generated in revenues. The market in the world does not have that same sort of demand for that debt, and that creates a supply-demand imbalance, Dalio said. He didnt place blame on one government policy or another, saying the debt is merely human nature. SUR in English Malaga Saturday, 20 September 2025, 10:00 Share The Idiliq Foundation hosted its annual holidays that change lives gala on Thursday at the Safari Restaurant, located at Wyndham Costa del Sol. The event celebrated the foundations impactful work, bringing together around 250 attendees for an evening of camaraderie, music, and inspiration. Sponsored by the Idiliq Group, the gala has become a key event in Malaga provinces social calendar, attracting associations, media, sponsors, collaborators, company representatives, ambassadors, volunteers, and prominent figures from the regions political and business communities. Among the guests were officials from the town halls in Fuengirola, Benalmadena, and Mijas - including the mayor Ana Mata. Now in its fourth year, the gala featured heartfelt testimonials from three Spanish families who benefited from the Foundations "holidays that change lives programme, also known as Kind Holidays by Idiliq. Each story reflects a journey of struggle and triumph, inspiring us to continue fulfilling dreams, said Juan Miguel Marcos, President of the Idiliq Foundation. In 2025, we provided 50 weeks of free accommodation to partner associations, and in 2026, we aim to welcome 100 families through this initiative. Marcos also expressed gratitude to attendees and volunteers, saying, Your participation, effort, and enthusiasm make our year-round campaigns possible. Mayor Ana Mata praised the programmes impact, stating, These holidays with heart embody the generous spirit of the Idiliq Foundation. Offering vulnerable families a chance to rest and recharge creates unforgettable memories, not just for them, but for everyone involved in making it happen. The gala served as a platform to celebrate the foundations commitment to the community and to thank its supporters for their invaluable contributions. It issued special thanks to the event sponsors: Idiliq Group, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Sagesa, Roman y Martos, Cervezas Victoria, Special Needs, Sanchez Valle Lawyers and Economists, ACT- Advanced Computer Technology, Anea Cocinas, Arbentia Empowering Consulting, Ariza Villanueva Electrical Consultants, Arkimueble, Autos Lido, Comercial Garcia Moreno Los Malaguenos, Comercial de Hosteleria Riveiro Parra, Construcciones Jamal & MM, Cuatrecasas, Chull Multiservicios, Fizz Benefits, Frigo, Galpe Agencia de Seguros, Jimara Packaging, Laboratorios Biocean, Mondant Bakers, Pinturas y Decoracion Costa del Sol, Proycon Merino, Vithas. Acknowledgement was offered to the foundation's supporters including Area Costa del Sol, Essential Magazine, Familia Martinez Zabala, Homegrafic, La Opinion de Malaga, Mijas Comunicacion and SUR in English. A Walmart in western Pennsylvania has banned a customer from bringing his emotional support alligator with him to shop. Per NBC News, Wesley Silva can no longer bring his alligator, Jinseioshi, into the store, as of this month. This new rule comes after Silva, 60, and Jinesioshi, a 7-year-old, 5-foot-long, and 32-pound female reptile, have been shopping at that location together for over three years. We have been going to that Walmart for about 3 years, and normally the reaction is Thats pretty cool or That is awesome that you have a pet alligator, man! Silva, 60, explained the outlet. In a statement to NBC News, Walmart didnt elaborate on why it was banning the reptile acquaintance. Instead, it said: The safety of our customers and associates is our highest priority. We welcome service animals in our stores, but it is unacceptable to expose members of the public to potential danger. USA Today more recently reported that Jinseioshi was banned after a female shopper, who didnt wish to be identified, shared photos of the alligator with local TV station WPXI. In one of the photos, Silva had Jinseioshi wearing a dress and was pushing her around in the shopping cart. This new attention on the Walmart store seemingly prompted a policy check. According to Walmarts website, only ADA-defined service animals are allowed in store. Pets are not welcome. Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, told USA Today that alligators do not qualify as service animals per the ADA. The DOJ updated these regulations in 2008 to clarify qualified service animals, in response to efforts to treat monkeys and other animals as service animals, she said. Dhillon continued: It is not helpful to Americans with legitimate disabilities and trained service animals, to attempt to insert exotic or dangerous pets into such roles. Finally, emotional support animals are not considered service animals within the meaning of the ADA. Silva told USA Today that he had Jinseioshi certified as an emotional support animal through US Service Animals in early 2022. However, as the website notes, ESAs are closer to pets than service animals. Still, Silva maintains that Jinseioshi means no harm. I describe her as a cross between an active infant and a very slow puppy, he told the outlet. Silva said that his neighbors initially bought Jinseioshi as a gift for someone in their family, but when she started to get bigger, they could no longer care for her. Thats when Silva, who works as a pastor, decided to take her in. He spent around 10 hours a day with her in the beginning, ensuring she was safe to bring around his kids. It wasnt long before he began running errands with her and going out to eat. Silva was able to take her to a local Dennys after asking the restaurants permission. The employees were just smitten with her, and invited her back, he said. Other places Jinseioshi has visited include the hospital and a kindergarten class with 22 students. Silva said he only let kids pet her if their parents approved. They were feeling her feet and moving her tail, and they were feeling the scales on her back and everything, he said of the kindergarten class visit. She just kind of laid there. She was completely comfortable. To see more of Silva and Jinseioshis outings together, you can visit their TikTok page @Jinseioshiandfriends. Canadian childrens book author Robert Munsch is getting candid following his 2021 dementia diagnosis. In an interview with the New York Times published on Sept. 14, Munsch, 80, revealed that he has applied for and been approved for MAID, which stands for medical assistance in dying or physician-assisted death. This process was legalized in Canada in 2016. Munsch, best known for his beloved childrens books like The Paper Bag Princess and Love You Forever, began considering MAID after watching his brother endure a slow and painful death from Lou Gehrigs disease. They kept him alive through all these interventions. I thought, Let him die, he told the outlet. Although Munsch is unsure when he will go through with MAID, he understands that he must do so while he is still able to legally consent. I have to pick the moment when I can still ask for it, Munsch explained. This timing can be challenging to determine, as no one can predict the exact moment before his neurological capabilities completely deteriorate. Munsch says his tell-tale sign will be when I start having real trouble talking and communicating. Then Ill know. Robert Munsch seen on Canada's Walk of Fame at The Four Season Centre of the Performing Arts on September 12, 2009 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage) WireImage Born in Pittsburgh to a Catholic family with nine children, he decided he wanted to become a priest at age 18. He went on to study for seven years before realizing he was lousy priest material and that his true calling was to work with kids. He switched gears and enrolled in the early childhood education program at Tufts University. After graduating, he began working at a nonprofit daycare in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood, where he entertained children by telling them made-up stories. During his time at the daycare, he got close with his colleague Ann, who would later become his wife. Two years later, they moved to Canada together to work at the University of Guelph Family Studies Laboratory Preschool. Munschs storytelling talent was unmatched, prompting the schools director to encourage him to write these stories down and send them to publishers. Despite facing several rejections, one publisher agreed to publish Mud Puddle, which became his first-ever book. Munsch continued to write and quickly became a best-selling author in Canada. However, his popularity skyrocketed in the U.S. after the release of Love You Forever. As Munsch explained on his website, the New York Times updated its list of bestselling childrens books in 1994 after Love You Forever took the top spot with eight million copies sold that year. Interestingly enough, the Times staff was not familiar with the book since it had been published in Canada. However, American children were seemingly obsessed. Somebody from the Times called me up and wanted to know, Who are you? Munsch wrote. Today, Munsch has authored more than 70 books, many of which feature characters inspired by children he has met throughout his life. Jordan Jensens first-ever Netflix comedy special, Take Me With You, debuted on the streaming platform on Sept. 9. In the special, which is just over an hour long and not intended for a family audience, the Ithaca, New York native talks about the trials and tribulations of womens underwear, having her sexuality questioned, getting waxed, and the bouncy balls she was given at school to help manage her ADHD. She gives audiences little glimpses of her untraditional upbringing with lines like I have three lesbian moms and a dead dad. She also harps on her fat mall goth teenage phase and how learning that otters have tiny pockets on their bodies for rock storage has changed her life. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times ahead of the specials release, Jensen outlined her unique career path, explaining that before she started delivering punchlines, she worked as a carpenter in Upstate NY. I built houses with my parents and Ive roofed, she told the outlet. Ive done mason work and landscaping and stuff. But in New York I did remodeling, so Id do things like turn a crepe shop into a hair salon. According to The Ithaca Voice, Jensens father, Jack, who passed away from a heart attack at age 58, was a construction magnate in the community. He was a member of numerous neighborhood housing organizations. The Cornell graduate also owned and operated two private contracting firms for 28 years. Jensen told the LA Times that at the time of her fathers 2014 death, she had relocated to Buffalo, NY, so she could be close to a friend who had become paralyzed. There, she had attempted doing open mics, but nothing stuck. After her dads passing, some friends convinced her to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to live with them, where she really cultivated her comedic talent. Now, shes back in the Northeast and lives in New York City. She filmed her special at the Gramercy Theater. Although Jensen moved away from her home turf, she reveals in the special that she did buy a house somewhere in Upstate New York, where she got emotional after closing the deal. Much to her chagrin, her mom asked her if she was upset because she envisioned buying her first house with a husband. While Jensen admitted that it was partially due to the fact that the house needed work and she missed doing carpentry with her dad, she had a much more twisted reason for shedding tears in her new digs. Her off-colorful thoughts, along with many other dark comedic anecdotes, can be found in Take Me With You, which is now streaming on Netflix. A 95-year-old woman was arrested this week after allegedly beating her roommate to death at their New York City nursing home. Per USA Today, Galina Smirnova was booked at Rikers Island without bond on Friday, Sept. 19. Court records show that Smirnova was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a criminal weapon. Police officers responded to a 911 call at Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on West 29th Street in Coney Island, New York, on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 10:27 p.m., per the affidavit. There, they found Smirnovas 89-year-old roommate, Nina Kravtsov, suffering from head trauma. Detectives found that a nursing home employee checked on Smirnova and Kravtsov at 8:55 p.m. that night, where Kravtsov was seen sleeping in her bed. An hour later, the employee checked on the room again, where Kravtsov was still in her bed, but this time covered in blood with gash marks about her face and head. Meanwhile, Smirnova was discovered washing her hands in the bathroom. Her shirt was covered in blood. The employee further noted that a wheelchair inside the room was missing its foot pedals. One pedal was found outside on the ground under a window. The other was on inside the room covered in blood. Kravtsov was taken to a hospital, where she died the next morning as a result of blunt force trauma, per the affidavit. Smirnova was linked to Kravtsovs death after video surveillance footage showed no one else entering their shared room between the employees hourly check-ins. According to NBC News, Smirnova was a dementia patient and had only been in the Coney Island facility for 48 hours. Meanwhile, Kravtsov, a Holocaust survivor, ended up at the nursing home after having a stroke five years ago. Both women spoke Russian, which may be why they were roomed together. Smirnova has pleaded not guilty to the charges. She is due back in court on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Rob Arnott had just finished his burger when we ended up on perhaps the most interesting detail of an hourlong interview: He has seen 18 solar eclipses. That's quite the resume, considering they only happen once every year and a half. He's traveled to see them in Antarctica and Australia. He's seen one from a plane off the coast of Iceland; another he saw in Bhutan, and one while on a boat in the Black Sea. "It's the most amazing sight the sky has to offer," Arnott, the founder of Research Affiliates, told Business Insider over lunch last week. "It's emotional, and it's hard to put your finger on why. On one level, you feel very small. Just a little speck in the universe. And on the other hand, you're very moved by the sheer beauty of it." Initially, Arnott's passion for the celestial phenomenon surprised me. Then I connected the dots. Earlier in our conversation, Arnott had briefly mentioned that his passion for math in high school had him split between a career in finance or astrophysics. Ultimately, of course, he chose the former. Natalie Keyssar for BI "I was good at math, but not extraordinary," he said. "To make a difference in astrophysics, you have to be extraordinary." What kind of career astrophysicist Rob Arnott would have had, we'll never know. But in the world of investing, we can be certain that Arnott has made his mark. Arnott has been a pioneer in index investing products, pointing out flaws in popular mainstream indexes like the S&P 500 that can hurt investors. Since these indexes are passive, cap-weighted strategies, they can have an investor unwittingly overweight one sector or theme, like technology or AI. In the early 2000s, Arnott was the first to introduce alternative index strategies to the market, launching his Fundamental Index in 2005. Firms like BlackRock, Charles Schwab, Invesco, and PIMCO have funds that use Research Affiliates' indexes. Today, Arnott is still launching new products that challenge market dynamics. His most recent focus is on the stocks that get kicked out of or added to the S&P 500 and other indexes. Last year, he put out the Research Affiliates Deletions ETF (NIXT), which is a collection of fundamentally attractive stocks that have been taken out of the S&P 500. Last week, he released the Research Affiliates Cap-Weighted US ETF (RAUS), which takes a cap-weighted approach to indexing only after undergoing a fundamentals-based selection process. Arnott sees it as an improvement on the inefficiencies of the current selection and removal process for major indexes, which can diminish returns. President Donald J. Trump shared a new update about the TikTok US Deal after his Friday-scheduled phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, claiming that they have made progress on this matter. However, the update from Trump is not what the world expects to hear, and while Trump points toward good news, there are significantly limited details as to what took place during the call. Trump Gives TikTok US Deal Update After Call With China Earlier today, President Trump shared an announcement over at Truth Social and claimed that the call with Chinese President Xi Jinping had finished with significant updates on the TikTok US Deal. According to Trump, China and the United States have "made progress" on the TikTok sale to an American group, which will soon take over the Chinese platform. "I just completed a very productive call with President Xi of China," Trump said. "We made progress on many very important issues, including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal." Trump revealed that he appreciates President Xi's "approval" of the TikTok deal, following almost an entire year of back-and-forth negotiations with China to broker the United States' many different proposals. Since January of this year, China has already green-lit the US TikTok sale under the Trump administration, with the US President suggesting a 50-50 ownership between ByteDance and an American group. Trump TikTok Deal: Not the Update You Were Expecting As delighted as President Trump was with his recent call with the Chinese president, there are many details yet unknown regarding the deal. Trump's announcement does not have any details regarding what China has approved and what progress they made during the said call. The Verge noted that Trump's latest update was "ambiguous," especially as it also had negating information on what took place during the call. According to the publication, Trump's remarks saying that he appreciates the TikTok approval made it sound like the deal is already set, but in the earlier part of his statement, he said that they only "made progress" during the call. Trump is yet to reveal the people, companies, or organizations behind the TikTok US deal, which he initially regarded as a "very wealthy" group looking to purchase the platform and take over ByteDance's app. Moreover, Trump also failed to mention anything about ByteDance handing over the source code and the United States having an American version of the app meant for the region. Nevertheless, Trump revealed that he and the Chinese president are speaking yet again by phone and meeting in person at the APEC summit taking place in Korea on October 31 to November 1. Mark Zuckerberg's highly anticipated reveal of Meta's new AI-powered smart glasses took a surprising turn on Wednesday, as back-to-back live demo failures marred the Connect 2025 keynote in Menlo Park, California. According to FoxBusiness, the $799 wearable, called Meta Ray-Ban Display, was pitched as a breakthrough in "agentic AI"a digital assistant that can act on behalf of users. But during the live launch event, two separate demonstrations failed in front of a packed room, exposing technical problems that caught even the Meta CEO off-guard. In one segment, Zuckerberg was joined by cooking creator Jack Mancuso to showcase LiveAI, a feature designed to walk users through everyday tasks like cooking. Mancuso asked the glasses for help making a Korean-inspired steak sauce. But instead of guiding him step-by-step, the AI became confusedskipping ahead and giving instructions that didn't make sense. "You've already combined the base ingredients, so now grate the pear," the assistant said, even though nothing had been prepared yet. Mancuso attempted to reset the instructions several times, but the AI didn't correct itself. Eventually, Mancuso laughed off the moment and blamed the glitch on poor Wi-Fi, tossing the segment back to Zuckerberg. "The irony of this whole thing is that you spend years making technology, and then the Wi-Fi on the day catches you," Zuckerberg said with a smile. Wi-Fi Blamed as Zuckerberg Struggles With AI Glasses Onstage The second demo didn't go much better. Zuckerberg tried to show off the Neural Band, a wrist device that lets users control the glasses using tiny hand gestures. He successfully sent a message to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth. But when Bosworth tried to video call back using WhatsApp, the glasses failed to respond. Zuckerberg tried multiple gestures to accept the call, but nothing happened. Bosworth eventually walked onstage and joked about the "brutal" Wi-Fi, drawing laughter from the audience. "You practice these things like a hundred times, and then you never know what's gonna happen," Zuckerberg admitted, Mint reported. Despite the setbacks, Zuckerberg remained upbeat, calling the new glasses a step forward in wearable AI. He emphasized that the technology is still evolving and represents Meta's vision for a future where digital assistants are hands-free and deeply personal. Tech journalist Lance Ulanoff, who attended the event, noted, "The AI was clearly confused and jumping around. But I give Zuckerberg credithe handled it with calm and humor." Originally published on vcpost.com By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY (Reuters) - Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said on Friday he has no plans to retire and expects a sharp jump in cash flow in the next few years to boost the Australian gas producer's shares, after its third suitor in seven years did not proceed with a takeover bid. An $18.7 billion bid for Santos by a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) collapsed on Wednesday over disagreements on commercial terms, which sparked analyst speculation that Gallagher, in the job since 2016, may face pressure to quit. Gallagher said cash flow improvements as two new projects in Australia and Alaska start producing should help Santos' share price, which has significantly underperformed the market in the past three years. "The last three or four years have been tough for Santos. We got smashed in COVID and then of course with the heavy investment period from 2022 through to today and that has suppressed our share price. That's a fact of life," he said. "But I'm looking forward now to a lower capital expenditure intensity over the next two years, higher cash flows from new production from Barossa and Pikka, supplementing the strong portfolio." The $4.5 billion Barossa gas project off northwestern Australia and the $3.1 billion Pikka oil project in Alaska are due to start producing within the next six months. Investment bank Jarden estimates Santos' free cash flow will jump from $293 million in 2025 to $2.45 billion in 2027. Gallagher said while Santos would evaluate any takeover approach, including asset sales or sell-downs, the company did not need to find a buyer. "We're not running a sales process for the company. The reason people are looking at Santos is because we've got a good portfolio," Gallagher told reporters on a conference call. "There's a lot of future value that we want to develop in a disciplined way for our shareholders," he said, highlighting that its assets have development potential close to existing infrastructure. "That's a to-die-for scenario in an industry these days," Gallagher said. He said as long as shareholders and the board wanted him in the job, "I'm happy to stay here," adding that key shareholders were asking him to remain focused on the business. Santos shares closed 0.45% higher on Friday at A$6.77 after falling by more than 13% on Thursday in the first trading session since ADNOC's overseas unit XRG said it was walking away from its proposed takeover offer. XRG baulked after it was revealed capital gains tax payments were due soon on Santos' assets in Papua New Guinea, according to a person familiar with the matter. Central Park horse-drawn carriages face ride into the sunset New York, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 The rights and wrongs of the horse-drawn carriages that carry tourists around New York's Central Park have been loudly debated for years, but the mayor has signalled they may be at the end of the track. Critics say the animals suffer, pointing to deadly collapses and dangerous escapes, while advocates point to the jobs they create and the heritage they uphold. The rides, which cost $150 for 45 minutes to several hundred dollars for a marriage proposal (no refunds), are popular with visitors to the Big Apple's most famous natural attraction, which draws 42 million people annually. Native New Yorkers however have been calling for the rides to banned "for so long," according to animal rights campaign group PETA's outreach director, Ashley Byrne. The group leading the charge against tourist carriages, NYCLASS, was founded in 2008 and, in 2022, a survey found 71 percent of New York voters were against them. Mayor Eric Adams recently weighed in on the emotive debate and called on the city council to rein in the practice as he cannot do so himself. He also signed an order allowing for the voluntary surrender of carriage licenses and supporting the re-employment of the 170 people involved in the carriage trade while also hardening animal welfare and safety checks. - Hurdles to reelection - The summer season proved decisive in sounding the death knell for the Manhattan carriages, Byrne said. "This has been a summer where the danger and cruelty of this industry has been on full public display. Between (carriage horse) Lady dropping dead in the streets, four different incidents -- that we know of -- of horses breaking loose, spooking and running wild," she said. The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the US's most visited urban park, also threw its weight behind the calls for a ban. "With visitation to the Park growing to record levels, we feel strongly that banning horse carriages has become a matter of public health and safety for Park visitors," Conservancy chief executive Elizabeth W. Smith wrote to city leaders. One way to phase out the carriages would be for the city council to adopt legislation first proposed in 2022 by councillor Robert Holden, who applauded the mayor's intervention. But the union representing carriage drivers says "developers have long sought to see the carriage-horse stables...vacated so they can build skyscrapers" and that Adams "has betrayed working class New Yorkers." Carriage driver Christina Hansen added that "this is good work for horses" which number about 200 and benefit from comprehensive veterinary care and "are highly regulated." Hansen says that the far greater threat to park users are the ubiquitous ebikes and escooters. As early as 2007, a democratic city councilor unsuccessfully sought a ban after failing to garner support from powerful then-mayor Michael Bloomberg. His successor Bill de Blasio campaigned on a ban -- but only managed regulation of the industry which bills itself as a custodian of New York's cultural heritage. But Adams's window to abolish the carriages is closing -- New York goes to the polls on November 4 and polling suggests the sitting mayor is unlikely to clear the final fence. pel-gw/dw Sri Lanka tries to hook anglers on invasive fish species Deduru Oya, Sri Lanka, Sept 20 (AFP) Sep 20, 2025 Sri Lanka urged people on Saturday to catch and cook invasive fish species, including the giant snakehead and piranhas, that threaten fragile freshwater ecosystems and are now banned. The Fisheries Ministry launched a nationwide campaign by hosting a fishing competition at a reservoir in central Kurunegala district, where more than 1,000 anglers were instructed to reel in only the introduced predators. Ministry secretary Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa said the import, sale and transportation of live redline giant snakehead, knife fish, alligator gar and piranha was banned from Saturday. People who already keep the scarily named breeds in their homes or in private aquariums will also be given three months to register them with authorities. "It is not easy to catch them with a net, because they are very aggressive and their teeth are very sharp," Jinadasa told hundreds of anglers during the competition targeting snakeheads at Deduru Oya reservoir. "In one day, we can remove a large number of fish from the natural environment, and then we can control their population," he said. Jinadasa labelled the day a success, although only 22 snakeheads of between two and four kilograms (4.5 to nine pounds) were weighed in the best angler competition. Recreational fisherman N. A. V. Sandaruwan, 37, won the top prize of 20,000 rupees ($66) and a rod and reel. "I nearly had another big snakehead, but it managed to get away," he said. Officials also encouraged competitors to take their catch home and cook them, although it is not usually a species consumed by locals. Two anglers from India, Dinesh Kumar and Raj Thilak, joined the competition but neither was able to bag a snakehead. "Some days you get one, some days you don't, but that's fishing," Kumar told AFP. Jinadasa hoped there might even be a tourism spinoff in the campaign to rid Sri Lankan waters of the invasive species. He said snakeheads, which can grow to more than a metre (3.3 feet), were multiplying rapidly in the Deduru Oya reservoir, threatening smaller native species. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Nothing fills a film fan with as much dread as a remake of one of their favourite movies. Too often, our cinema screens are bombarded with horrendous reimaginings think Lilo & Stitch (2025), Planet of the Apes (2001) orSnow White (2025) that leave audiences disgruntled and out-of-pocket. That said, there are other films that manage to honour the original while adding their own fresh spin on the characters or plot. Some have even gone on to win awards of their own, with critics and fans alike suggesting that maybe, just maybe, the remake was better. Take note that a remake can often be mistaken for a reboot, such as the excellent Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) series of films. Were talking about the literal remake, in which the essential plot, characters and dialogue are, for the most part, kept the same. Here are 13 of the best remakes of great movies. 13. Cheaper By the Dozen (2003) Tim Baker (Steve Martin) accepts a new job while his wife, Kate (Bonnie Hunt), embarks on a major book tour. Following the family as they navigate a big move and a fresh start at school for their 12 children, the film is based on the autobiographical novel by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey of the same name, published in 1948. open image in gallery Piper Perabo, Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt in Cheaper by the Dozen ( 20th Century Fox ) Well-received upon its premiere in 1950, the original film adaptation observes Frank Gilbreth (Clifton Webb) as he carries out unorthodox parenting techniques, from filming his childrens tonsillectomies to flirting with his teenage daughters classmates at the prom (no, it hasnt aged very well). Still ridiculous in its nature, the 2003 version benefits from Martins offbeat comedy on top of his especially good chemistry between onscreen daughters Alyson Stoner and Hillary Duff. 12. Bedazzled (2000) open image in gallery Elizabeth Hurley in Bedazzled ( 20th Century Fox ) Brendan Fraser stars in the 2000 update of Bedazzled as Elliot Richards, a hapless IT employee who swears hed do anything to go out with coworker Alison Gardner (Frances OConnor). Enter the devil (Elizabeth Hurley) who will grant Elliots wishes in exchange for his soul. As the poor sap gets what he thinks he wants, those wishes end up being served with an unwelcome surprise. The 2000 edition is a reimagining of Stanley Donens 1967 version, starring Dudley Moore as Stanley Moon with Peter Cook as the Devil. Fraser was at the height of his fame at the time, having received critical praise for films such as Still Breathing and Gods and Monsters, while also asserting himself as box-office dynamite in 1999s The Mummy (another remake!). Bedazzled (2000) succeeds in part thanks to Frasers dedication to the role, along with Deena Appels elite costuming that took the films humour to another level. Reserve praise for Hurley, too, starring in what The Independents Adam White branded the ultimate Elizabeth Hurley movie, for it asks little from her besides being suitably withering and looking sensational in a parade of fantastic outfits. 11. The Fly (1986) open image in gallery Jeff Goldblum in The Fly ( 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock ) David Cronenbergs sci-fi horror stars Jeff Goldblum in his prime as scientist Seth Brundle who meets journalist Ronnie Quaife (Geena Davis) as he conducts experiments on himself that quickly go awry. Fitting in with Goldblums collection of sci-fi features Earth Girls are Easy (1988), Jurassic Park (1993), Independence Day (1997) this was the actor at his peak when it came to whacky, outlandish films. Ultimately, its not Goldblums grotesque humanoid fly transformation that makes the film succeed, but the looming tension between himself and Davis that adds a sense of psychological terror. 10. True Grit (2010) open image in gallery Hailee Steinfeld and Matt Damon in True Grit ( Paramount Pictures ) Based on Henry Hathaways 1969 original, the 2010 remake of True Grit stars Hailee Steinfeld in her breakout role as Mattie Ross, who hires the drunkard sheriff, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), to hunt down murdering outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) with help from Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon). The original starred John Wayne as Cogburn and is regarded as one of the all-time great John Wayne films. Quite the feat, then, to even come close to matching it. But, if anyone was perfect for creating a new take on the classic Western then its the Coen Brothers. The duo had spent the previous decade adapting literary classics into films such as O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) and No Country for Old Men (2007). Their True Grit successfully honours the original screenplay while inserting tasteful humour on top of the exciting yet intense plot. The results earnt them an Academy Award nomination, along with a Best Actor nod for Bridges and Best Supporting Actor for the 13-year-old Steinfeld. 9. Freaky Friday (2003) open image in gallery Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday ( Buena Vista ) Arguably even better known than the 1976 original, which was in turn based on the novel by screenwriter Mary Rodgers, 2003s Freaky Friday stars Lindsay Lohan as Anna, the rebellious, teenage daughter of Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis). Constantly at each others throats, the pair suddenly find themselves swapped into one anothers bodies after reading a fortune cookie. The more recent version thrives on some fantastic chemistry between Lohan and Curtis, with the latter especially having a ball by playing a teenage girl trapped in the body of a boring, grumpy adult. Theres room for more poignant moments, too, such as scenes where Anna and Tess finally begin to understand one another. 8. Dune (2021) open image in gallery Timothee Chalamet and Kathy Bates in Dune (2021) ( Warner Bros ) The year is 10191 AG (After Guild) and Paul Atreides is navigating the pressures of his noble houses expectations, political stirrings, and the prophecy that the arid planet Arrakis has for him. Taking what had long been considered an unfilmable text, director Denis Villeneuve steered the franchise in a powerful new direction after David Lynch first adapted Frank Herberts epic sci-fi novel in 1984. Benefitting from cinemas advances in special effects and the work of Paul Lambert, the film was brought to life in a way that had never been seen before. 7. The Parent Trap (1998) open image in gallery Lindsay Lohan, 12, in Disneys The Parent Trap ( Walt Disney Pictures ) Annie and Hallie (Lindsay Lohan) are from two different worlds: one hails from the sun-soaked vineyards of California, the other from rainy, sophisticated London. When they are thrown together at summer camp, though the pair realise they are identical twins separated by their parents (Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid) after they divorced. Each wanting to get to know their estranged parent, they switch places, putting on accents and learning each others habits in order to deceive the unwitting adults. Lohan was superb in her role, easily succeeding Hayley Mills in the 1961 version with help from a fantastic supporting cast including Elaine Hendrix in her iconic role as Meredith. 5. Little Shop of Horrors (1986) open image in gallery Rick Moranis in the 1986 musical comedy 'Little Shop of Horrors' ( Warner Bros ) Rick Moranis plays Seymour Krelborn a poor, nerdy florist in Frank Ozs 1986 musical adaptation, Little Shop of Horrors. When Seymour brings in an alien plant, Audrey II, to help boost sales, he realises too late that its lust for human blood will never be satiated and it will only get bigger! Despite the controversial changes to the ending, the 1986 version stands out for its cult status in the film and musical theatre world with outstanding comedic performances from Steve Martin as a sadistic dentist and true dedication from Ozs direction. 4. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) open image in gallery Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan in The Thomas Crown Affair ( United Artist ) Why would a billionaire need to steal Monets painting of San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk?Ask Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) a mega-rich mastermind who, in the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, schemes to Trojan Horse the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was based on the 1968 original, with Steve McQueen in the title role. James Bond star Brosnan is cast perfectly as the smooth, suave Thomas Crown. 3. Scarface (1983) open image in gallery Al Pacino in Scarface ( Universal ) Brian De Palmas 1983 crime drama was a bold and frequently graphic retelling of the 1932 film, in turn based on Armitage Trails 1980 novel. It stars Al Pacino as ex-con Tony Montana, who arrives in Miami and sets about taking over a drugs empire leaving a bloody trail of destruction in his wake. The film has left an indelible mark on society and pop culture, influencing everyone from hip-hop stars to actors, directors and even real-life mobsters. 2. Oceans 11 (2001) open image in gallery George Clooney in Oceans 11 ( Warner Bros ) An incredible remake from Steven Soderbergh that managed to succeed the original. Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is a newly paroled con artist who can never say no to a good heist. This time hes creating a scheme to simultaneously rob three Las Vegas casino vaults to get back at his ex. Outperforming Lewis Milestones 1960 film starring crooner Frank Sinatra as Ocean alongside Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr the 2001 version is mostly faithful to the originalBut Soderberghs benefits from the comic, cool on-screen chemistry of castmates Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. 1. Nosferatu (2025) open image in gallery Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu ( Focus Features ) In 19th-century Germany, Ellen (Lily Rose Depp) finds herself pursued by the evil Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard). Based on Dracula, Bram Stokers 1897 gothic novel, cinemas first ever vampire motion picture was the silent film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, directed by the German filmmaker FW Murnau from Henrik Galeens screenplay. More than a century later, Robert Eggers successfully captured the aesthetic and mood of Murnaus silent masterpiece, aided by fantastic performances from a star-studded cast including Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe and an unrecognisable Skarsgard. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Oscar-winning actor Brenda Fricker has said she is having a dreadful death in a rare interview. The 80-year-old Irish star, who won Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot in 1990, has opened up about her health struggles after being confined to her bed in Dublin. Fricker said she spends every day in pain and gets out of breath just talking, stating: Ive never known tiredness ever in my life The weary former Coronation Street and Casualty star, who is also known for playing the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2, said that she asks herself: Will I ever get up again? Im having a dreadful death, Fricker told The Guardian. Im just dying every day in pain, she said, wryly adding: Ill probably live to be 100. The actor didnt go into specifics, but said that when shes unable to sleep, she watches The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Its better than sex. Its better than getting drunk. I just love it. open image in gallery Brenda Fricker opened up about her health in a new interview ( Getty ) Fricker also revealed that she occasionally gets a phone call from Daniel Day-Lewis, her co-star in My Left Foot, the biopic of Christy Brown, a man born with cerebral palsy who could control only his left foot. Fricker, whose other credits include The Field, So I Married an Axe Murderer and Veronica Guerin, originally retired from acting in 2014 after six decades, having started out in the late 1970s playing nurses in Coronation Street and Casualty. However, in 2021, she agreed to a role in Holding, the series based on Graham Nortons debut novel, as well as Channel 5 series The Catch. Fricker also provided the voice of a deceased character in the 2023 film The Miracle Club. While discussing her Christmas plans, Fricker told Radio 1 in 2021: I would be lying if I said it would be a nice and happy Christmas because Im old and I live alone. It can be very dark. open image in gallery Brenda Fricker played the pigeon lady in Home Alone II: Lost in New York ( 20th Century Fox ) She continued: I turn the phone off and put the blinds down. I do pre-record some good programmes and I have my dog and I get myself through it that way. I dont want to be sounding kind of negative but it is a different kind of Christmas, thats all. While I dont find Christmas all that difficult, what I do find difficult is New Years Eve. Fricker has written a new memoir, titled She Died Young. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Canadian government has banned rap trio Kneecap from entering the country over allegedly glorifying terrorist organisations with the band announcing they will take legal action against the wholly untrue and deeply malicious accusations. The Belfast group, made up of Naoise O Caireallain, Liam Og O hAnnaidh and JJ ODochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their pro-Palestine stance. They have repeatedly hit headlines this year, including in April when footage emerged that appeared to show a band member saying Up Hamas, up Hezbollah at a gig; in June when their Glastonbury Festival set was investigated by police who later said they would be taking no further action; and when O hAnnaidh has appeared in court charged with the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a show. On Friday, Canadas parliamentary secretary for combating crime announced in a video on social media that Kneecap have been deemed ineligible to enter the country. Vince Gasparro said: Recently, the rap group Kneecap has engaged in actions and have made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government. The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. These are not expressions of art or legitimate political critique, they are dangerous endorsements of violence and hate. Notably, one member of the band is currently facing terrorism related charges in the United Kingdom. Criticism of foreign governments is protected under Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms, however, advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organisations and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government. That is why, as parliamentary secretary for combating crime, I am announcing that effective immediately, the members of Kneecap have been deemed ineligible to enter Canada. open image in gallery J.J.O Dochartaigh, from the music trio Kneecap, performs in Finsbury Park in July 2025 ( Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP ) The trio responded with a statement on X, titled A Message to Vince Gasparro, in which they announced legal action and said they will beat the politician in court. They said: Your comments about us are wholly untrue and deeply malicious. We will not accept it. No member of Kneecap has been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER. Whilst you outrageously try to claim we are antisemitic, the Times newspaper in England today wrote of our headline show in London last night as emphatically anti-sectarian. We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you. We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel. When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent to assist some of the thousands of child amputees in Gaza. open image in gallery Crowds watch Kneecap Perform at the Electric Picnic festival at Stradbally in Co Laois (Niall Carson/PA) They also posted a message to their Canadian fans, saying that Canadas immigration/eTA (electronic travel authorisation) authorities requested information from them, which they provided on Thursday, adding: It is our view that when they realised there was no legal basis on which to stop us that they today, via Vince Gasparro, sought to maliciously misrepresent Kneecap. We have played in Canada many times with zero issues and a message of solidarity and love. We are sorry we cannot be with you next month, but we will not be silenced and will always oppose genocide. It comes after a performance at Londons Wembley Arena on Thursday in which the trio addressed Donald Trumps state visit to the UK, including a message displayed on the wall before the start of the show, which read: Starmer welcomed Isaac Herzog to this city like a king last week. Today, Trump is here, the man who permits the slaughter. O hAnnaidh will return to Westminster Magistrates Court on September 26, after his legal team argued the case should be thrown out due to a technical error in the way the charge was brought against him. At the adjourned hearing in September, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Bosh. If Strictly bosses were hoping for a smoother ride after last years controversy-hit series, it appears theyre already in trouble. BBC Ones shiny floor show is back tonight and the lineup announcement has naturally sparked the usual debate over the calibre of stars set to appear. Love Islands Dani Dyer and trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein may be among the highlights, but this year, theres one booking thats been dominating conversation: Thomas Skinner. If you dont know who he is then congratulations for quitting Twitter (or X, depending on when you pulled the plug), and ditching The Apprentice before the show became a monotonous farce. Skinner first strode onto our screens in the 2019 series, and by the time he was fired by Lord Sugar in week nine, hed proved to be reality TV gold with his confident, cheeky persona and his pathological tendency to say bosh after every minor achievement. Afterwards, he popped up on TV a few more times with bookings including 8 Out of 10 Cats and Celebrity MasterChef, while also returning to family life and his businesses albeit with a significantly bigger social media following. Its on X, Instagram and TikTok that Skinner has really made a name for himself in recent years, at first by going viral with motivational morning messages, often filmed in his much-loved Dinos Cafe in east London as he eats a steak pie and chips for breakfast. But its social media that has also proven, critics would argue, to be his undoing. Well, X to be specific. As Elon Musks reign has brought far-right content and conspiracy theories thundering onto everyones timelines, Skinners content has taken a political turn. Hes praised Donald Trump as brilliant, declared London unsafe and weighed in on migrant hotels. Savvy as ever, he monetised his X account in July and has said hes donating any money made to a local childrens charity. To his fans, Skinner is a straight-talking, hard-grafting Cockney geezer; an everyman with the gift of the gab; a patriot who isnt happy with the way his country is being run. To his critics, hes a populist activist with a criminal conviction; a privately educated salesman masquerading as a regular Joe; a potential Reform candidate who spouts misinformation with the help of Chat GPT. Thomas Skinner will compete on Strictly 2025 ( BBC ) In a twist that was unexpected but nowhere near as absurd as it would have been in the pre-Maga era Skinners posts, and his defiance in the face of a backlash, culminated in him receiving support online from US vice-president JD Vance. Skinner then created even more headlines when he met up with the Vance family, who are holidaying in the UK, earlier this week. Just days later, he was confirmed as a contestant for Strictly. And while the bookers for many shows would be delighted to sign someone who is already proving newsworthy and controversial, its a decidedly un-Strictly move. ITV has sent many divisive characters into the Im a Celebrity jungle (most recently Nigel Farage), and Celebrity Big Brother bosses never missed the opportunity to book an outspoken D-lister. But Strictly? The shows policy has usually leant more towards the less controversial, the better. For years, bosses even allegedly banned reality stars, and on the rare occasion one has made it into the ballroom, mention of their Love Island or Towie past has been kept to a minimum. Its worth noting that this year, its Skinner and three others who found their fame on reality TV: Dyer, Geordie Shores Vicky Pattison and RuPauls Drag Race UK contestant La Voix. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The announcement that Skinner is taking part has much like his X posts sparked an onslaught of criticism. Among the commentators is Narinder Kaur, a TV personality who says she was deemed too controversial to be on Strictly. While she has criticised Skinner, Kaurs issue also seems to be with the BBC itself, which she claimed only hire[s] quiet brown and Black women that fit in a box. So what will Skinners signing mean for the series? Mainly, an early headache for the PR team. Given Strictlys decades-long (and often failed) bid to ignore scandal, its hard to imagine that bookers set out to intentionally sign someone so divisive especially after the 2024 series, which saw two pros exit amid serious allegations before it had even begun, the Wynne Evans hand-gate incident, and weeks of furore over Pete Wicks outlasting his far more skilled rivals. It feels more likely that the decision was made a decent amount of time before Skinners recent leap from occasional Trump advocate to Vances BBQ buddy. Regardless of when the ink dried on Skinners contract, Strictly is now waltzing into another series with a controversy on its hands. And fans might be left wondering, whatever happened to the wholesome Saturday night show that was all about the dancing? Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Steve Martin has canceled multiple comedy tour stops due to Covid. The comedian, 80, and his Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short were scheduled to perform in Virginia Beach and Richmond, Virginia this weekend as part of their The Dukes of Funnytown! Tour. Martin shared news of the two cancelations shortly before showtime Friday. Dear Virginia Beach and Richmond. Sadly, I have come down with Covid. I cant possibly do the shows that you deserve. So Marty and I must cancel tonight & tomorrow. But we will return under better circumstances, Martin wrote in an initial Instagram post caption featuring a photo of a sad-looking dog wearing Mickey Mouse ears. He followed up hours later with another post, this time a photo of a joint flu and Covid test, showing a positive line indicating the latter, with the jokey caption: Hey! No flu! Ticket holders for those performances will receive a refund. Steve Martin has canceled multiple comedy tour stops due to Covid ( NBC ) Fans offered well wishes to Martin in the comments section of his Instagram posts. I hope you feel better very soon, Steve. Take extra care of you, one person wrote while another said: Please come back when you feel better. Ive wanted to see you in person for over 40 years. The duo is next scheduled to appear October 4 in Florida, a date rescheduled from January after Short contracted Covid. Theyll then continue on with their tour, stopping in cities including Las Vegas, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Austin. The tour is set to conclude in Cleveland in April 2026. Martin and Short attended last Sundays Emmy Awards alongside Only Murders in the Building co-star Selena Gomez. Currently in its fifth season, the hit Hulu show is releasing episodes weekly. The show was nominated for seven Emmys, including an acting nod for Short, but ultimately walked away empty handed. Since its inception, it has received 56 total nominations, winning seven trophies. Longtime collaborators Martin and Short star with Gomez as three New York City true crime sleuths. Neighbors Oliver Putnam (Short), Mabel Mora ( Gomez) and Charles-Haden Savage (Martin) continuously find themselves wrapped up in solving grisly murders. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Season five features a brand new murder mystery along with a new set of guest stars, including Renee Zellweger, Keegan-Michael Key, Christoph Waltz, and Logan Lerman. The first three episodes of Only Murders in the Building season five premiered September 9 on Hulu, with weekly episodes debuting on Tuesdays. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Starbucks has issued a statement clarifying its company policy after an employee refused a customers request to write Charlie Kirks name on their cup. The murder of 31-year-old Kirk, a right-wing political activist, on September 10 has further polarized an already divided nation and sparked fierce debate about free speech across the country. In a now-viral TikTok video, a woman claimed that Starbucks refused to write or say Charlie Kirks name. I never went in talking about politics, just mentioned his name to have it written on my cup to honor him. The clip shows the woman entering a California-based location of the popular coffee chain to order a Mint Majesty tea with two honeys Kirks preferred Starbucks drink. When asked for a name for the order, the woman tells the barista, The name is Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk supporters have started using his name on their Starbucks orders, sparking a debate about the coffee chains policy ( Getty ) We cant do political names, but it [the register] didnt even ask for a name to begin with so its going to be $3.75, the barista responds with a smile. The woman then fires back, asking: Well, cant you write the name on the cup? I could write Charlie? the barista replies, with the woman questioning why she cant write the full name. Because its political, the worker explains, before the woman tells her to forget it. I dont want it. The barista walked over to my husband and handed him the drinks instead of using the name Charlie, the woman added in the posts caption. She is the one who brought up politics if she would have said okay then written the name, no politics would have been mentioned. Starbucks has since released a statement in regard to the social media uproar about their supposed policy throwing the barista who wouldnt write Kirks name under the bus in the process. There are no restrictions on customers using Charlie Kirks name on their order, and we are following up with our team, the company said Tuesday. The chain followed up the next day with a lengthier statement, which read: Starbucks is a company built on human connection. Having a name, rather than a number, attached to a customer order has been a core part of the Starbucks coffeehouse experience for decades. Most customers use their own name. And when a customer wants to use a different name including the name Charlie Kirk when ordering their drink in our cafe, we aim to respect their preference, it continued. Over the years, we have had instances where some people have tried to abuse the system. For example, theyve provided something that isnt a name at all, but rather a political slogan with the aim of having our barista shout it out as they hand off the finished drink. And in some cases, as their name, they have provided words that are sexually explicit or otherwise offensive. We aim to be a community coffeehouse where everyone feels welcome, so we have previously provided guidance to our partners to respectfully ask the customer to use a different name when attempting to use political slogans or phrases in place of their name. We are clarifying with our team now that names, on their own, can be used by customers on their cafe order, as they wish. The Independent has contacted Starbucks and the TikTok creator for additional comment. Kirks alleged assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah, has been officially charged with aggravated murder and six other counts, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Utah prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Robinson. Officials say Robinson was radicalized online and subscribed to a leftist ideology, and that he had had enough of Kirks hatred, according to text messages he is claimed to have sent to his roommate. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Matthew McConaughey has recalled being abducted as a teenager, saying he was lucky to get away alive. The Oscar-winning actor revealed in his 2020 book Greenlights that he was knocked unconscious and taken to the back of a van where he was sexually assaulted by a man when he was 18. The star, whose credits include Interstellar and Dallas Buyers Club, said he has never felt as helpless as he did in that moment, stating in a new interview: Ive never felt so vulnerable and unable to do anything about it. McConaughey, 55, was able to escape after waking up right before it could have been worse, with the star telling The Guardian: Talk about divine intervention. I got out relatively unscathed. It could have been worse is what Im saying. He said the nightmare experience, which he escaped from, was defining in ways he doesnt even understand. Did it crush some innocence of mine? That my nice guy, young Matthew, believed in the innocence of the world and no one would try to do harm to me or anyone else unless I provoked it? Sure. Elsewhere in the interview, McConaughey said he doesnt know what to believe anymore when it comes to politics and that Trumps disregard for the truth concerns him. Ive been around politics and politicians enough to see and hear that the score is not always what they say it is; that they dont keep the score accurately, he said. But thats nothing new, either. You can go back and there are many things to question over decades and centuries about what the truth was. Trumps going about things in a different way than other politicians have. Its direct. Hes cutting out the middle man. Matthew mcCaonughey was abducted and assaulted when he was 18 ( Getty Images for IMDb ) The How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days actor recently reflected on his decision to quit acting for two years because of the romantic comedies he repeatedly got offered. McConaughey shot to fame after appearing in the courtroom drama A Time to Kill in 1996, and became one of the most illustrious leading stars of romantic comedies in the 2000s. Among his credits are The Wedding Planner (2001) co-starring Jennifer Lopez, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), which he starred in alongside Kate Hudson, and Failure to Launch (2006) with Sarah Jessica Parker. After a solid decade of starring in these films, though, McConaughey, 54, had had enough and considered changing professions over fears he was typecast. McConaughey described the acting break as scary, and said he considered teaching high school or becoming a wildlife guide as he stepped out of Hollywood and had got out of my lane. However, he secured a series of more serious roles, which led to what was branded by film critic Mark Kermode as the McConaissance. He turned his career around after starring in William Friedkins Killer Joe, Richard Linklaters Bernie, Jeff Nicholss Mud and Steven Soderberghs Magic Mike. The actor also won the Academy Award for Best Actor with his performance in Dallas Buyers Club. Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673) Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has returned to the dancing show after two years of being unable to compete due to health complications. The 35-year-old ballroom dancer, who joined the programme in 2017, was absent from the series in 2023 as she underwent treatment for stage three breast cancer. She returned in 2024 and was briefly partnered with JB Gill, but was forced to drop out due to a stress fracture to her shin. Fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley took Dowdens place for the remainder of the competition. Dowden has since admitted she went back on Strictly too soon after she received the all-clear from breast cancer in early 2024. Speaking on the Breast Cancer Uncovered podcast, she revealed she didnt fully process her diagnosis and was fixated on getting back on the dance floor. Dowden stated she went back on the show when she had not fully recovered from her cancer treatment, believing her broken bone was a by-product of her chemotherapy and hormone therapy. She added that she felt like cancer was still punishing her. The dancer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage three breast cancer in May 2023 after finding a lump in her breast the day before her Maldives honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and fertility treatment in those nine months and experienced a series of major setbacks in that time, including doctors finding a blood clot in her lung, sepsis and undergoing fertility treatment. During her chemotherapy treatment and recovery period, Dowden frequently kept fans updated on her condition via social media. open image in gallery Amy Dowden is competing on the 2025 series of Strictly after two years of being unable to compete due to health reasons ( CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston ) In Autumn 2023, while Dowden was still receiving treatment, she would make small cameo appearances on Strictly despite not being able to compete like reading out the terms and conditions or joining the stars backstage in the Clauditorium (the area hosted by Claudia Winkleman). However, in November 2023, Dowden was unable to make any appearances in the remaining episodes because she fractured her foot. That journey is documented in the BBC film, Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which follows Dowden from the beginning of her diagnosis as she navigates each stage of her treatment. At some of the most difficult parts of her treatment, Dowden recalled being in agony as she wore a cold cap during treatment to try and retain her hair but eventually decided to shave it off. open image in gallery Amy Dowden documented her cancer journey in the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me ( BBC ) She revealed in November 2023 that she had completed all eight rounds of chemotherapy, and she was told she had no evidence of disease in February 2024. Reflecting on the hardest year of her life in the documentary, Dowden said: In the past year, Ive had a mastectomy, fertility treatment, chemotherapy, sepsis, blood clots, a broken foot and finally its time for me to get back on that dancefloor. We are finally here, Dowden said on Instagram as she arrived at the hospital for her final session of chemotherapy. Ive cried all morning! Right, an afternoon of chemo and then Im so lucky and grateful to be able to ring that bell! Will never take it for granted! Thank you to the incredible Sheldon Unit! You are all amazing NHS, all true heroes. When she did return to the series in 2024 alongside Gill, she was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a stress fracture to her shin, telling fans she was heartbroken and gutted that her Strictly participation had been interrupted again. open image in gallery Amy Dowden and her partner JB Gill on Strictly 2024 before she left the competition ( BBC ) Dowden also has Crohns disease, a lifelong gut disease that causes chronic bowel inflammation. She revealed her diagnosis in 2019, and fronted the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Crohns And Me, in which she spoke about her experience and met other people living with Crohns. Crohns is described by the NHS as a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. People with the disease commonly experience phases of intense abdominal pain, severe vomiting, exhaustion and bloody diarrhoea, among other symptoms. Dowden is dancing in the 2025 Strictly season, and her celebrity partner will be revealed during the launch show on 20 September. (Corrects number of employees at Vision Fund to more than 300 instead of 44, paragraph 2) By Krystal Hu (Reuters) - SoftBank Group (SFTBY) will lay off nearly 20% of its Vision Fund team globally as it shifts resources to founder Masayoshi Sons large-scale artificial intelligence bets in the United States, according to a memo seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the plan. The cuts mark the third round of layoffs at the Japanese investment conglomerates flagship fund since 2022. Vision Fund currently has over 300 employees globally. Unlike previous rounds, when the group was saddled with major losses, the latest reductions come after the fund last month reported its strongest quarterly performance since June 2021, driven by gains in public holdings such as Nvidia and South Korean e-commerce firm Coupang. FILE - The logo of Japanese mobile provider SoftBank is seen at its shop in Tokyo on June 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS The move signals a pivot away from a broad portfolio of startup investments. While the fund will continue to make new bets, remaining staff will dedicate more resources to Sons ambitious AI initiatives, such as the proposed $500 billion Stargate project - an initiative to build a vast network of U.S. data centers in partnership with OpenAI, the source added. A Vision Fund spokesperson confirmed the layoffs without commenting on the details, and said in a statement: We continually adjust the organization to best execute our long-term strategy - making bold, high-conviction investments in AI and breakthrough technologies, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. The restructuring marks a return to Sons classic high-risk, high-reward approach of making massive, concentrated wagers, moving on from the sprawling venture capital model that defined the last era of the Vision Fund, and a period in which the group was forced to de-risk, sell assets and rebuild credibility after incurring billions in losses on its once high-flying bet on the office-sharing startup WeWork. This shift toward capitalintensive AI infrastructure reflects where Son - who made his name with outsized bets and was an early champion of AI - sees the path back to the top. He is now aggressively pursuing new investments in foundation models and the infrastructure layer, sometimes at premium valuations. In the past 12 months, Son has invested $9.7 billion in OpenAI through Vision Fund 2, which manages about $65.8 billion in total. SoftBank is also plotting a capital-intensive infrastructure strategy centered on its crown jewel, chip designer Arm. It has acquired chip firms Graphcore and Ampere Computing and taken stakes in Intel and Nvidia. These moves aim to build an ecosystem spanning chips, data centers, and models to support future AI adoptions. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Luigi Mangiones lawyers have moved to have the murder case against him dismissed, arguing that it has become highly politicized and prejudicial, citing the perp walk where the accused killer was made to look like a monster out of a Marvel movie. At a minimum, Mangiones lawyers urged a federal judge in New York to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the case, and called out Attorney General Pam Bondi for making factually-misleading, prejudicial public statements. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently awaiting trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was gunned down in Manhattan last December. The 27-year-olds lawyers argue the indictment against him should be dismissed because of false, damaging, public statements made by Bondi and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and arguing that the staged perk walk on December 19, violated Mangiones right to due process such that this death penalty case should be dismissed, the motion said. Potential jurorsgrand and petitwere imprinted with a scene out of a Marvel movie, with dozens of agents needed to protect the public from the shackled monster Mangione, his lawyers wrote, referring to the heavily publicized perp walk. open image in gallery Luigi Mangiones lawyers have moved to have the murder case against him dismissed and, at a minimum, have the death penalty provision dropped, citing Decembers prejudicial and politicized perp walk ( Getty Images ) The lawyer's 118-page motion argues that Bondi used incendiary language that invoked economic and class division, and included examples of press releases issued by the Justice Department and social media posts. In April, Bondi announced that she was directing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for an act of political violence and a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. It was this kind of language that was used intended to prejudice the rights of Mangione, feeding the false crime wave narrative that established and affluent members of society, including CEOs, were under siege from a seething and disgruntled underclass, Mangiones lawyers wrote. The latest effort from Mangiones defense team follows their success in getting two state terrorism charges against him dropped last week. Justice Gregory Carro, of the New York Court of Claims, dropped the charges of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism, and murder in the first degree in furtherance of terrorism, stating there was insufficient evidence provided. Mangione is still facing second-degree murder charges and eight weapon-related charges. open image in gallery Lawyers for Mangione succeeded in getting two state terrorism charges against him dropped ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Tuesdays ruling was a blow to state prosecutors, who argued that terrorism charges were appropriate because Mangione allegedly targeted Thompson and carried out the shooting in front of the hotel where UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference. Mangione's next federal court appearance is on December 5, and U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, who is overseeing the case, has said she may then set a trial date for 2026. If Garnett allows the death penalty and a jury convicts Mangione of murder, the same jury would consider whether he should be executed. An intense manhunt was launched after Thompsons killing, which prompted Americans across the country to share horror stories of health insurance claims that had been denied over the years. Mangione, who had reportedly been angry about the health insurance system, allegedly shot Thompson early in the morning on December 4 as he was walking into the Midtown Manhattan hotel ahead of the conference. After the shooting, Mangione is said to have fled on a bike through Central Park, hopped in a taxi, and then got on a bus to Pennsylvania. Nearly five days after the shooting, law enforcement arrested Mangione after he was recognized in a McDonalds. Prosecutors have argued that the killing has inspired others to embrace violence over debate. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Megachurch pastor Jack Graham was in the middle of his Sunday message to Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, this past weekend when he paused to cue up an unusual sermon illustration. After encouraging people to respond to the killing of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk by turning to God, he instructed the congregation to listen to a roughly minute-long audio clip of what sounded like Kirk delivering a short speech. Hear what Charlie is saying regarding what happened to him this past week, Graham said. As the clip, which encouraged listeners to pick up your cross, and get back in the fight, ended, the congregation burst into applause. A few seconds later, they rose to their feet in a standing ovation. But the clip they listened to was not, in fact, Charlie Kirk from beyond the grave. As Graham made clear when he introduced the segment, the congregation was listening to a production generated entirely by artificial intelligence: The clip, which has gone viral online, was a cloned version of Kirks voice delivering what appeared to be an AI-generated response from a chatbot asked what Kirk would say in the wake of his own death. Church plays AI clips of Charlie Kirk saying words he never said, gets standing ovation: Its unclear where the video originated, but at least two other large evangelical Protestant churches Dream City Church in Arizona and Awaken Church, San Marcos in California also played it during their services that day. Pastors at both churches made clear the clips were AI; even so, the segment triggered applause each time. The message was part of a wave of AI-generated content that flooded social media in the wake of Kirks killing, with supporters and even Kirks former colleagues sharing images, videos and audio messages that featured the felled activist and that were made by artificial intelligence. Amid outrage over Kirks killing and debate about his legacy, the surge, which has been most visible on social media platforms, showcased a new form of public mourning and remembrance, one in which the dead are grieved with hyperreal but entirely fictional reconstructions crafted in seconds by AI services. AI-generated images and videos of Kirk appeared within hours of his death, some growing in popularity over the next few days. Many featured religious themes, a byproduct of Kirks own personal and political shift toward evangelical Christianity near the end of his life. open image in gallery This combination of images gathered in September 2025 from social media posts shows AI-generated content depicting conservative activist Charlie Kirk ( Religion News Service ) Imagining Kirk in heaven was a common theme. In one clip, which has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on Facebook and X, Kirk stares into a camera as soft piano music plays. Im Charlie. My faith cost me my life, but now I stand forever in glory, the AI-generated Kirk says. The fictional Kirk then introduces four historical Christian martyrs and saints Paul, Stephen, Andrew and Peter. These, also AI-generated characters, briefly recount their own stories of martyrdom before the AI Kirk urges listeners to root themselves in a Bible-believing church, join in a spiritual battle and overwhelm the world with Jesus. Other clips are shorter, but more direct. One depicts an AI-generated Kirk taking selfies in heaven with prominent Americans who were assassinated, such as Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy as well as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. As the digital Kirk poses with the historical icons in a cloudy vista, Knocking on Heavens Door plays in the background. Many AI-generated clips depict Kirk with Jesus Christ. One shows Kirk sitting in the same tent where he was shot and killed, but then suddenly leaping out of his chair and running up a staircase to a smiling Jesus. Another features an AI-generated Kirk praying on a park bench as Scripture is flashed across the screen and Come Jesus Come by CeCe Winans plays in the background. Eventually, a radiant Jesus arrives, and the two embrace. Yet another shows Jesus and Kirk, holding a Make America Great Again hat, walking toward the camera among the clouds. Welcome, my son, Jesus says, embracing the AI Kirk. Your work is done. Come rest. Apparent AI-generated images have even been used by Kirks former co-workers. Andrew Kolvet, who produced The Charlie Kirk Show and has hosted the program multiple times since Kirks killing, posted what appears to be an AI-generated image of Kirk alongside other assassinated Americans from U.S. history such as King and Lincoln, as well as Jesus Christ. (The image sparked criticism, with detractors noting that the real-life Kirk criticized King. The Rev. Bernice King, one of Martin Luther King Jr.s daughters, said of the image, there are so many things wrong with this.) open image in gallery People pay their respects during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 19, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Depictions of famous figures in heaven, or even in relationship with Jesus, are hardly unusual. But the particular utilization of AI to commemorate Kirk with content flooding the internet within hours of his death may be an outgrowth of the technologys wide use among devotees of President Donald Trump. That includes the Trump administration itself: On several occasions, AI-generated images and memes have appeared on official government accounts. As Charlie Warzel, who writes on technology and media, observed in The Atlantic in August, the high-resolution, low-budget look of generative-AI images appears to be fusing with the meme-loving aesthetic of the MAGA movement. Warzel added: At least in the fever swamps of social media, AI art is becoming MAGA-coded. The GOP is becoming the party of AI slop. Kirk, of course, was an avid Trump supporter who played a significant role in helping the president return to power, and some of the AI-generated content that proliferated after the activists death has been tied to conservative causes. Many images, for instance, linked Kirks death to the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee whose slaying on a bus in Charlotte, North Carolina, became a source of outrage for Kirk and other conservatives shortly before Kirks own assassination. One widely shared image shows an AI-generated Kirk comforting Zarutska as she sits on the bus where she was killed, bleeding. At least one person created a video version of the image that features the hymn How Great Thou Art. A similar AI-generated video shows Kirk embracing Zarutska on the bus as they both flap newly grown angel wings. Another AI-generated video pushed a pro-Israel message a topic that has sparked division among conservatives, and which Kirk was reportedly trying to mitigate shortly before his death. In the video, an AI-generated Kirk, adorned with angel wings and a white robe, speaks from heaven as he declares: Im in a better place now, but America and Israel will never be the same. The AI Kirk insists that the U.S. and Israel are both based on faith, on freedom, on family, shortly before a bald eagle is shown landing on his head as he stands in front of Israeli and U.S. flags. Despite their viral nature, its unclear precisely what role these virtually enhanced remembrances play in the lives of those who mourn Kirks death. But social media boosters of the creations often frame them as a form of catharsis: On TikTok, influencer Taylor Diazmercado posted a short video of herself last week reacting to the AI-generated audio clip of Kirk which she clearly labeled as such that would later be used in churches. As an entirely fabricated voice speaks lines Kirk never said in life, Diazmercado can be seen visibly weeping, frequently wiping away tears as she nods along in-between sobs. Beneath the video, which had 123,000 likes as of Wednesday (Sept. 17), she added a short caption: What a man. Soybeans posted Thursday losses of 6 to 7 cents across most contracts. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price as down 6 1/4 cents at $9.60 1/2. Soymeal futures were 90 cents to $2 lower in the front months on Thursday. Soy Oil futures were down another 36 to 67 points on the day. President Trump is expected to hold a phone call with Chinas President XI on Friday morning, as the two are likely to discuss trade talks. More News from Barchart Weekly Export Sales data from this morning indicated a total of 923,018 MT of 2025/26 soybeans booked in the week of September 11, down 47.2% from the same week last year, but in improvement of 70% from last week. The largest buyer was Mexico at 195,400 MT, with Spain at 179,400 MT, as China has yet to log a purchase. Meal sales were tallied at 31,151 MT for the current MY, with 151,344 MT for 2025/26, in the range of 0 and 400,000 MT estimates. Bean oil business totaled 22,367 MT, in the middle of the trade ideas of net reductions of 5,000 MT and sales of 41,000 MT. CONAB estimates the 2025/26 Brazilian soybean crop at 177.67 MMT, up from 171.47 MMT last year if realized. That increase is mainly due to an increase in acreage, up 1.73 million hectares (4.27 million acres) from last year at 49.08 million ha (121.28 million acres). Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.37 1/2, down 6 1/4 cents, Nearby Cash was $9.61 1/1, down 6 1/4 cents, Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.56 1/2, down 6 1/2 cents, Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.71 1/2, down 6 1/2 cents, On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder 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 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 This story is part of the September 20 edition of Good Weekend. See all 16 stories . There was a time and it doesnt seem so long ago when your typical wardrobe was a large stick of standalone furniture shoved into a corner of a room or if you were lucky enough to have something fancier a set of built-ins spanning one wall, perhaps with mirrored sliding doors in apartment bedrooms. The idea of having a separate room for your clothes that is, a dressing room seemed like the prerogative of the wealthy. But over the past decade or so, the humble wardrobe has undergone a design reimagining. Walk-in robes basically a dedicated space for clothes have become a standard feature of new homes and high-end apartments. In some cases, older-style units are being retrofitted to include a dedicated clothing space even if it means losing a bedroom. Whats more, architects, interior designers, joinery makers and even fashion stylists are collaborating, often at the very start of a general renovation or new build, to deliver jaw-dropping wardrobes that have echoes of a vintage Hollywood movie: dressing rooms brimming with sparkling lighting, display cases for showcasing jewellery and watches, luxe wall-to-wall joinery and marble vanities that scream look at me. This new breed of wardrobe is about not only organising, but showing off your clothes, shoes and accessories. And as is the case with all design challenges, the beauty is in the detail. Helen Fowler and her partner George Clark recently sacrificed a bedroom to have a walk-in wardrobe space in their sprawling 150-square-metre apartment in Melbournes Republic Tower, one of the first residential high-rises to be built in the CBD back in 1999. Their main bedroom, formerly two smaller bedrooms, now includes an open-plan en suite bathroom, with the vanity dividing the space between it and attention-drawing built-in cupboards with clear acrylic doors and sides. Even in this bigger space, Fowler had to cull her clothes collection, she says, which comprises mostly suits from her long career as a public servant. The scene-stealers are racks of 1940s and 50s clothes, some of which were her mothers. At the end of the transparent clothing pod is a single cupboard for George. Hes happy to wear virtually the same thing every day, smiles Fowler, who, even as a child of seven, would sew and knit. Look at this wool and cashmere coat, she beams, removing a Max Mara three-quarter-length coat from the wardrobe. A silk pleated skirt, with a bright graphic print by American artist Roy Lichtenstein, is one of the easiest to spot. A black-and-white hatbox depicting the Arc de Triomphe is a reminder of shopping trips to Paris while living in France. While the pod functions as the frame for more tactile and colourful clothing, the bank of soft greyish-green joinery behind contains everyday separates jeans and trousers at one end, blouses, then knitwear and accessories. Because light is filtering through the acrylic, items are much easier to locate. Advertisement When it comes to dressing and designing wardrobes, its usually very specific, says Tim OSullivan, director of Multiplicity, the design-based architecture firm in Melbourne that planned the wardrobes. The process starts by literally photographing everything people have in their current wardrobes and even under beds to allow us to fully gauge the amount of storage we need to provide. Sioux Clark, co-director of the practice (no relation to George), says wardrobes can be designed to suit needs well beyond functional storage. For Helen, its the ability to see her beautiful clothes as much as wear them, she says, adding that some inspiration hails from the apartments CBD location: Being in the city, you get to constantly see how clothes are displayed in boutiques. Although the acrylic pod, supported by a steel frame, appears weightless, almost ethereal, each 1.2- x 2.4-metre panel is extremely heavy. Weight is a major issue when working with this type of material, says Todd Cooper, director of Colonial Cabinets, which built the wardrobes. You really need to use the appropriate screws and place each one in the exact place, to the precise millimetre. Youll find that each of these panels costs about $350 more than using traditional materials, such as MDF. And if you need to use five or six, as was the case with this project, that already adds about $2000 to the cost. Unlike Fowler, who delights in being able to see her clothes, most people prefer to just hide everything behind closed doors, Cooper says. One major failing of closed wardrobes can be a lack of good ventilation. Eloise da Silva, a manager and buyer at Eastern Market, a fashion and jewellery boutique in Fitzroy, prefers to store her clothes in open wardrobes for this reason and also to easily reach for what she wants to wear. Having perforated cupboards or slats allows air to circulate and reduces the risk of moisture, she observes, picking up an exquisite cashmere jumper from a shelf in her inner-city home. Items of clothing such as this jumper are an expensive investment and deserve the right storage environment if you want to keep them in top-notch condition, she says. Although spotlights in dressing areas are on trend, da Silva has opted for standard floor lamps in her bedroom. These set the mood and make dressing more pleasurable, she says. As with many bespoke wardrobes, da Silva has set aside a separate area for accessories such as silk scarves and for shoes, which are slightly elevated to allow air to circulate. Advertisement Donna Cameron, a Melbourne fashion stylist who operates her own business, DC Style, has consulted on wardrobes across the globe. A wardrobe that works is generally one thats organised jackets together, skirts in one section and other items all having their own place. I also recommend colour-coding clothes, like some do with the spine of books on shelves. Another tip is to use the same type of hanger throughout a wardrobe to ensure theres a consistency with the length of each garment. Womb-like room In a house overlooking the harbour in Sydneys Vaucluse, owner Sascha* has created a dressing area from a single bedroom, while her husbands clothes are kept in the main bedrooms built-in cupboards. Sascha acknowledges that setting aside an entire room for a wardrobe might appear an indulgence, but its something shes dreamt about since she was a child. I grew up appreciating great clothes, she says. My parents and grandparents took extreme pride in the way they dressed. And although Im working as an academic, I see my passion for clothes as like an accessible art practice. Sascha in the womb-like dressing area that shes dreamt of since childhood. Credit: James Brickwood Sascha relishes creating a look from her extensive wardrobe, deciding on a certain character for how she wants to dress that day maybe Lady Diana Spencer at Balmoral Castle in 1981 in a Fair Isle jumper, or model Jerry Hall entering New Yorks Studio 54 nightclub in the late 70s. Theres also a fair dose of plaid to choose from, also influenced by Princess Diana as well as numerous designers from the 1980s, including Vivienne Westwood. Sascha takes pleasure from wearing the outfits when shes out and about, but also at home. But there is also the joy of just looking at them. I enjoy seeing my clothes as much as wearing them, she says. Pointing to a red velvet ottoman in the centre of the dressing area and a colour scheme of soft pink hues, Sascha says that her brief to architectural and design firm Pohio Adams was to create a space that felt womb-like. Sascha wanted a place where she could enjoy dressing as well as having a girlfriend or two coming over to see what shes just bought, says Bianca Pohio, a director of the practice who works with her life and business partner, architect Christopher Adams. The dressing area comprises open-fronted, dark-stained white oak veneer wardrobes on opposite sides. Brass hooks on the outside of the wardrobes, designed by Henry Wilson, allow clothes to be displayed front-on and made easier to accessorise. A built-in credenza, supported on slim brass legs, is finished with an oak top edged in brass. Incorporating 12 drawers, it houses sunglasses and scarves higher up and jumpers lower down. The top of the unit is used to display bags and objets dart. Advertisement Mirrors above the wardrobes increase the sense of space in the 3.5-square-metre room, and there are two other mirrors, a larger one for full-length vision and another framing a built-in marble dressing table. The table includes a marble drawer for jewellery and other items; it is complemented by a Warren Platner stool from the 1960s. Loading The dressing area, part of a larger renovation of the home, springs to life through its lighting. The centrepiece is a four-pronged pendant light by Melbourne lighting designer Anna Charlesworth thats evocative of the 1920s. More warm LED lights are hidden behind the mirrors. Pale pink linen curtains allow for diffused soft sunlight in the morning from the east-facing window while providing privacy; the many mirrored surfaces make the room feel like it extends indefinitely. Although there are a few pairs of shoes at the bottom of the wardrobe, theres also a separate shoe cupboard at the end of a passage adjacent to the dressing area. Ideally, shoes should be placed separately to clothes, given they require a little more airing, says Bianca Pohio. Marc Rinaudo, director of Ital Furniture, was responsible for the joinery. You have to be extremely careful about matching the colour and the grain, being mindful that each tree and where its sourced is unique, says Rinaudo, who approaches his work in an old-school manner, drawing up individual joinery by hand rather than relying on the computer. I draw everything to scale and then create a template to see how it will be built. More hanging space, please Another noticeable trend in high-end walk-in wardrobes, designers say, is that theyre getting bigger. A major renovation of a 1930s townhouse in Melbournes inner south-east involved creating a lavish main bedroom, dressing area and en suite in a new wing. Designed to resemble a hotel suite, theres an absence of doors between the bedroom at one end and the en suite at the other. This type of arrangement is becoming more prevalent, particularly at the top end of the market, says Paul Conrad, of Paul Conrad Architects in Melbourne. Ideas from the retail sector also influence the design of dressing areas at home. Advertisement The central dressing area is in the middle of the main bedroom, forming a U-shape in dramatic black joinery imported from Italy, with Calacatta Viola framing a built-in dressing table and separate vanity. Clothes look better when wardrobe interiors are dark. White tends to look cheap, declares Adam Wells, director of Shadowline Joinery, which built the robe. Each cupboard is opened by brass handles and has been crafted to suit the owners clothing. Suits in the walk-in wardrobe of a Melbourne townhouse owned by Michael (right). Credit: Peter Tarasiuk Theres hanging space and drawers, both external and internal, and adjustable shelves to allow clothes to be moved around as new items are added. Wells says that some clients can spend up to $100,000 on even more deluxe designs. And while cost is one factor, another is the skill needed to ensure that valuable joinery isnt damaged during the building process. In any build, he adds, whether its a renovation or a new home, some panels for a wardrobe have to be installed well in advance which means avoiding scrapes when builders walk past with their tool belts. Although Wells and his team still see the majority of designs as flat-fronted cupboards, hes noticed a recent trend to curved edges, which he says is considerably more expensive and time-consuming, given each curve is produced by hand rather than being a standard dimension. Loading Michael*, the owner of the townhouse, is exacting when it comes to allocating wardrobe space. Before the renovation, he purchased a number of racks from IKEA to help him estimate the precise amount of space he would need for his jackets and shirts: at least a metre-and-a-half for each. Now, when he opens the doors of his new wardrobe, theres a sense of organisation reminiscent of a showroom on Londons Savile Row. On a lower shelf, just below several suits, sits a portrait of Michaels great-great-grandfather, sporting a long, manicured beard with a tailored jacket and tie. I used to wear a lot of suits when I worked in corporate real estate, Michael says, but I now tend to wear more relaxed clothing. He points out a drawer of pristine white T-shirts framed by neat groups of rolled-up coloured socks arranged in hues of green, purple and blue. Advertisement Advertisement Exclusive Eating outJust open Find $11 chicken schnitzel rolls at a post office in Melbournes leafy east Pops Postie Roll transforms part of a family-run post office into a takeaway window, dealing in fast and wallet-friendly chicken rolls inspired by those you can get in Ireland. Tomas Telegramma September 21, 2025 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the October 2025 hit list. See all stories . Melbourne loves an eatery in an unexpected location, and its a big month for new finds. First, a pizza bar in a laundromat. Now, a chicken roll shop in a post office. On Canterburys Maling Road, a charming east-side shopping strip with a village vibe, Hayden Connollys parents have run the local post office for more than two decades. He worked there during his high school and uni years; now hes returned to the family business to open hole-in-the-wall takeaway shop Pops Postie Roll in the front window. Owner Hayden Connolly at Pops Postie Roll, a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop in Canterbury. Eddie Jim Its an effort to diversify income streams and drum up new interest in the post office, while the Connollys grapple with the decline in trade thats come with digitisation. When I was a kid ... we used to sell thousands of newspapers every day. Now were lucky to sell $300 worth, says Connolly. That transition has been difficult. Advertisement Over the past week, while quietly trialling Pops, Connolly says theyve already had people back in the post office who we havent seen in years because they want to see something different. Working as a business manager in the food industry gave Connolly the acumen. But the quirky concept came from his gap year, when he discovered the chicken-fillet rolls sold in nearly every second newsagent and convenience store in his ancestral Ireland. The Irish-inspired rolls are filled with chicken schnitzel, shredded lettuce and cheese, sliced tomato and mayo. Eddie Jim Named for Connollys Irish grandfather, Pops is out to replicate the rolls from the Emerald Isle, which means making them cheap, quick and easy above all else. The first box is ticked, with prices set at $11 for a whole roll and $7 for half, plus a dollar off if you buy something at the post office. Advertisement Price is the most important thing to maintain, says Connolly, whose target market is tradies, school kids and Irish expats. Speed is also top of mind, despite the shop being less than eight square metres and only having room for two staff members, with two portholes in its glass frontage for service. Sandwiches are passed through the porthole window. Eddie Jim Crumbed chicken fillets are fried in bulk, so you dont have to wait. Iceberg lettuce and cheddar cheese are pre-shredded. Tomatoes are pre-cut. Your choice of those fillings goes into a long, soft Bakers Delight roll from down the road, which are filled to order. The sauce rotation currently includes two mayos from popular Irish brand Blenders that are hard to get in Australia: one thats chilli- and honey-infused, another thats Mexican-inspired. (But theyre only around while stocks last due to importing issues; after that, its tomato sauce, mayo or mustard.) Advertisement There are no fancy, cheffy flourishes. But if youre after the kind of generously priced and sized sandwich you might find at a no-frills country bakery, Pops is for you. And if it succeeds, it may even transplant elsewhere, with Connolly considering franchising. For now, its an uncommonly fresh face on a street full of longstanding businesses, which also recently welcomed new cake and pastry spot Beurre, just across from Pops, following the opening of the neighbourhoods first wine bar Lennox in 2023. Breakfast and lunch Mon-Sat 104 Maling Road, Canterbury, popspostieroll.com Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will allow Americans to add such alternatives as cryptocurrency, real estate and private equity into their 401(k) retirement savings, per CNBC. Specifically, the order instructs the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise their rules and guidelines so as to grant American 401(k) investors eventual access to such alternative currency assets as crypto. Check Out: 5 Ways Trump Signing the GENIUS Act Could Impact Retirees Try This: Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 As CNBC noted, Trumps historic executive order is a significant win for the digital currency realm, as the crypto industry has made considerable efforts for private assets to be incorporated into contribution plans in a more significant way than ever before. In response to the news in August, the price of bitcoin jumped 1% on the stock market. GOBankingRates breaks down the implications for your retirement accounts and planning. What Does This Mean for Your Retirement First, as ABC News has reported, by signing this executive order President Trump has given access to a huge new pool of retirement funds for alterative asset managers. This also allows you to diversify your retirement fund portfolio (never a bad thing). That said, private companies are not yet required to add crypto to their 401(k) plans; companies will need to examine the risks and liabilities of doing so before adding digital currency to their retirement plan policies. Learn More: 4 Ways Trumps Big Beautiful Bill Will Change How You Plan for Retirement Such risks regarding crypto, though, should give everyone pause while private digital assets can provide high returns and additional diversification for retirement investors, cryptocurrency is also extraordinarily volatile, and come with a far higher risk of loss. Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, warned ABC News that the incorporation of alternative assets to retirement accounts is going to be slow going, adding that if you want to have a small part of your portfolio in crypto, that could make sense. Generally speaking, index funds are the best way to go for the average person. Just kind of keep it simple, match the market over time, get low fees. The Bottom Line Ultimately, to keep your retirement funding secure and mostly risk-free, maintain a focus on things such as index funds, with only a small allocation given over to digital assets once they become available for your 401(k) plan. A man in shorts so oversized they make Justin Biebers saggy-pants era look like a skinny jeans revival slouches against a streetlight on Ocean Drive. Beside him gleams a candy-red convertible, and he rattles his keys just enough to broadcast: yes, its mine. Behind him, neon flickers awake while the night air blends salt, perfume and something fried. Cars prowl past, and the breeze catches the mans shorts, inflating them into twin hot-air balloons preparing for lift-off. Art Deco hotels along Ocean Drive on a sunny morning in Miami. Credit: Getty Images Its my first foray into the Miami night after arriving by train from Orlando, and after ditching my luggage at the hotel Im already hooked half dizzy from the chaos, half giddy from the energy. South Beach, where Im staying, screams excess flashing signs, blaring music and the confident strut of people who seem to own the pavement. Although Im soaking it all in, I feel out of place. Its sweltering and Im in a maxi dress; here, I look like a covered-up librarian. Women glide past in tiny skirts and high heels that click like percussion, their laughter spilling into the night. After weaving up and down Ocean Drive, watching cars cruise and tourists pose, I finally settle into a restaurant that spills onto the sidewalk. People-watching is the sport here, and I happily join in over dinner, sipping a drink slowly to stretch out the show. KB: Language is important. Our words are windows into the way Australians have lived, worked and thought. Every major variety of English deserves a record of its own. For us, thats the AND, and to lose that record would be to lose part of ourselves. The value of tracking changes in Australian English over time is enormous, of historic importance, and beloved by the wider public who adore words. The AND is more than an academic resource its insights inform media, education and everyday life. You need it for government style manuals, for historians, for researchers, and linguists. And you know, before every November when the AND announce its word of the year strollout, democracy sausage, teal theres great excitement, trumpet blasts and fanfare. Words are the rock stars of linguistics. Theyre important, and they say a lot about our identity. Loading Fitz: An identity that, as previous editions prove, is nothing if not colourful? KB: Yes, whats also interesting about this dictionary is that right from the start, it never branded words in the same way that other dictionaries do, giving them labels like colloquial, vulgar, informal because the editors have always maintained that this kind of sensitive handling is over-restrictive for Australian English a deep love affair with vernacular language has meant the lines between informal and formal have always been very fuzzy in Australia. Fitz: Interestingly, there is a fraternity between dictionaries, and the Oxford English Dictionary people have themselves put money towards the AND? KB: Yes, the centre works closely with Oxford University Press to produce many Oxford dictionaries, including The Australian Oxford Dictionary and The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary. And not only that, the OED draws on the AND for Australian vocabulary and Australianisms. Contributions include pretty boisterous slang, too, like no wuckers and no wucking furries. To lose that record would be to lose part of ourselves. Fitz: I confess a little shock. So no wucking furries, which turns into something much more vulgar if you swap the first letters of the second and third words, is correct English, or at least recognised as a phrase in wide use, including in Britain? KB: Yes. And thats how it is these days. Slanguage is breaking into dictionaries faster than ever before. As I said, Australia was always very fond of the vernacular and the in crowd is now catching up with us! Fitz: As a matter of interest, despite you being from Melbourne, do you understand quintessentially Sydney phrases like, he shot through like a Bondi tram, or, shes got more front than the Hordern Pavilion? KB: Of course, and with a lot of these expressions, it is a bit like pouring new wine into old bottles. Theres a framework, and we just update it with new idiom, and that evolution is all recorded in the AND. I love the way we reinvent slang. So the fair go of the 1800s becomes the fair crack of the whip, becomes the fair suck of the sauce bottle, or, if you want to be polite, the fair shake of the sauce bottle, or the fair suck of the Siberian sandshoe, or fair bite of the pineapple doughnut, or even the fair suck of the raw prawn (a gorgeous turn of phrase that conflates two Australian English expressions). Fitz: In a piece you co-authored in The Conversation, you quote linguist Sidney J. Baker saying that the pages of the AND sing with the words and phrases of boundary riders, larrikins, sundowners, fizgigs, diggers and other dinkum Aussies. Is that right? KB: Yes, and you have to imagine all that went into that giant melting pot in those early days to forge the new colonial vernacular. Into the mix were words from Indigenous languages. So, hard yakka, for example, derives from a word used by the Yagara people of southern Queensland, yaga, for hard work or labour. That was added to the slang and colloquial language of whalers, sailors, jackaroos, gold diggers and, obviously, a big dollop of convict slang also went in there. And a lot of those convict slang words still exist. Fitz: Which ones, particularly? KB: Well, theres grub food, stink uproar, croak die. And bloody is another good example. See, bloody took on special significance in Australia because it was part of underworld slang, and it became known as the great Australian adjective. This would help explain its downfall. You see, it wasnt considered an obscenity in early times. It was just an adjective from the word blood (as in bloody murder). But its colourful associations of bloodshed and murder made it a very suitable intensifying word, and it then fell from grace because people considered it to be blasphemous language or profane. Fitz: And yet, sadly, I would argue that its usage has now fallen away from wide use as a favoured adjective as, at least in the vulgar circles I move in, its been replaced by variations of the word f---. Id also argue that the fact I even feel comfortable saying that word out loud to an eminent professor and I dont think I would have done that 20 years ago is either an indication of indeed my own baseness or that f--- is in such common use, it has lost all power to shock? Loading KB: [Laughing] Oh, most certainly, and there are a number of things going on there. One is the fact that we are all more laid back, and colloquial language is making an appearance like it never has before. When Keith Allan and I started working in the 1990s on bad language, we had a lot of trouble getting our work published because journals and publishers didnt want to offend. Now, theres no problem we can hear that word even when we turn on the television. Its everywhere. Unedited, colloquial, scruffy language is going public, much more than ever before, and audiences are quite receptive. Fitz: Therefore, Professor, will you join me in saying it out loud? Is it f---ing outrageous that Australian National University had suddenly pulled the pin on this third edition of the dictionary, only for a two-year reprieve at the last minute? KB: Well, I think it is. We should all be grateful for the donors generous support. But temporary philanthropy is no substitute for the universitys responsibility to safeguard something of such significance. This is important work. The value of tracking changes in Australian English over time is enormous to the public, to government style manuals, to historians and to other researchers (linguists like me). Its a labour that secures for us not just the words of today, but the living story of Australian English itself. And the thing is what youve got to remember is the ANU gets a very large annual National Institutes Grant (to the tune of $220 million, I understand), precisely to look after national assets, and to protect things of special significance, like the AND which is nothing less than a monument to our language. The phrase cultural vandalism has been bandied about a lot lately to describe the ANUs decision. Fitz: So if it does fold, despite the generous donation to keep it alive for the moment, what happens to all the work thats been done since the last edition nine years ago? KB: It will be lost. And once its gone, we lose this living record of our national voice. Say goodbye? What future is there for the Australian National Dictionary? Credit: Rohan Thomson Fitz: Thats shocking. Is it a victim of what I call the rising damp of Coca-Colanisation, whereby, because so many Australians are immersed in Americana, the Americanisms are overflowing into ours and killing off a lot of our darlings, so there is no further need to go to such effort to record ours? KB: Not at all. If anything, it is more a victim of the American-style managerialism which has taken over our universities an approach to management that puts short-term cost-efficiency over enduring scholarly value. I imagine the Australian National Dictionary Centre would be regarded as low-hanging fruit. Greater Melbourne has more than five times as many psychiatrists on a per capita basis as the City of Melton, and seven times as many psychologists working in community mental health. Werribee GP Joe Garra said his patients mental health often deteriorated while they waited for an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Werribee GP Dr Joe Garra says many of his patients cannot afford to see private psychologists. Credit: Joe Armao I have to give them antidepressants so that they are OK until they can see a psychologist, said Garra, who has previously run as an independent candidate in the state election. You have to keep them safe. Depression is the main mental health condition among his younger patients. It definitely has gotten worse since COVID, Garra said. A lot of kids spent two years of their lives not socialising, they were limited to the internet and didnt have outlets like sport. Loading He added that many patients could not afford the gap fees to access private psychologists and psychiatrists. Headspace chief clinical officer Vikki Ryall said the Werribee site was recruiting new allied health practitioners. Headspace services nationally continue to experience high demand for service, due to the well-documented increase in youth mental health and wellbeing difficulties, Ryall said. Headspace Werribee is one of the very few bulk-billed and free mental health services for young people in the area an area that is fast-growing. We will continue to listen and respond to the needs in the community alongside each other. She added that help was always available through Headspaces national online service, eHeadspace. Teagan Carrison, executive director of the Australian Association of Psychologists, said while psychologists had immediate availability to help new clients in the western suburbs, cost was the number one barrier. The way to create better access to psychologists is to raise the Medicare rebate to $150 for every appointment, she said. Mental health presentations to emergency departments across Victoria have increased by 5 per cent in the past year, according to the latest state government data. One Western Health source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said paediatric patients with mental health issues were placing significant pressure on the health services emergency departments. Loading Their parents reach this crisis point, and the only place they are able to go is a public emergency department, he said. They spend hours in our emergency department waiting for a psychiatry review. Its less than a therapeutic environment. If you are a child whos distressed with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, its just not a great place to be. Headspace founder Pat McGorry said he was thankful that the Albanese government had promised to deliver $1 billion for more free mental health services. McGorry said headspaces in Sunshine and Melton were already slated to receive an extra $3 million or so a year to recruit more staff. Because Werribee has got such a massive population growth, it should definitely benefit from the same kind of boost, he said. It urgently needs it as well. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare speaking at Headspace Werribee in August last year. McGorry added that more state and federal funding was needed for other mental health providers in Melbournes booming west. Mental health disorders are among the four most prevalent conditions being managed by primary care as well as impacting health and wellbeing in Melbournes north-western suburbs, according to a Commonwealth health needs assessment. The other most prevalent conditions are heart disease, diabetes and chronic pain. A spokesperson for Western Health which manages the major public hospitals in the western suburbs said approximately 5 per cent of emergency department presentations at Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals between April and June this year were primarily due to mental health issues. Loading Over coming months, The Age is strengthening its focus on Melbournes booming west with a special series examining the positives and challenges the region faces. In October, The Age reporters will moderate a West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliances (WoMEDA) summit to discuss a vision for the western suburbs success. The alliance of university, industry, community and local government experts works to unlock the wests economic potential. Additional mental health infrastructure is part of the wests hospital pipeline. The new, $1.5 billion Footscray Hospital site due to open in February next year will host a new mental health, alcohol and other drugs hub. The Western Health spokesperson said the hub would have eight cubicles, a lounge area and calming spaces for relaxation and de-escalation. It will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians with experience in emergency mental health and addiction medicine. However, the $900 million Melton hospital and $100 million Werribee Mercy Hospital emergency department expansions which will also offer emergency mental health services wont be complete until 2029. A spokesperson for the Allan government said it was bringing world-class mental health facilities to Melbournes west. Were also delivering more free mental health services locally, the spokesperson said, citing expanded services at the Brimbank mental health and wellbeing local and Sunshine Hospitals mental health hub. In the past financial year, the Sunshine hub which also treats patients affected by alcohol and other drugs had more than 2500 admissions. Credit: Matt Golding To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Learn from history If the Immigration Museum closes (Immigration Museum set up to fail, 20/9), the collective record of the significant contributions of the multifarious cultures to Australian society may be consigned to the mists of history. The recent anti-immigration protests will be the sole voice heard and the rich tapestry of food, culture and colour may be lost to the generations to follow. It will be a metaphorical return to the days of meat and two veg. When I was a child in the early 1960s, my Nonno was catching squid at Dromana. Asked by an Australian observer what he would do with his catch, he was too embarrassed to say he would eat it and said, Ill be using it for bait. That wasnt so long ago. Our children are now proud of their heritage, as rightly, the Indigenous and other cultures that form a part of our collective history should be. Peter Russo, West Brunswick Mass is missing Congratulations for exposing the neo-Nazi push behind the March for Australia rallies (The great March for Australia deception 20/9). Built on some peoples dissatisfaction with housing, traffic and other issues, the central focus of these rallies has been the issue of migration using the phrase mass migration. I have yet to see this concept challenged. Discussion has centred around accepting this as fact and some politicians exploit this for their own purposes. In the year 2023-24, net overseas migration was 445,600. Although this is higher than it was pre-Covid, it is only 1.64 per cent of our population of 27.2 million. I fail to see how anyone can call this mass migration. Pauline Brown, Woodend Call out racism I implore our political representatives to take whatever consensual means are required to curb the ever-increasing racism that appears to be running rampant in our society. I am not sufficiently naive to believe that dangerous and irrational fears and hatred of different racial groups is not embedded in the Australian community and has always been the case. What fuels my concern is the almost complete inability of political factions to call this out and adequately provide legislation to address the problem and properly punish instigators and perpetrators of racism. Racism is divisive and totally without any logical foundation. Lets put a stop to it now. Mark Bennett, Manifold Heights At the end of a China trip punctuated by an agreement between Jacinta Allan and Beijings education minister to boost student exchanges, the Victorian premier concedes her government has work to do at home to ensure universities deliver their end of the bargain. Revealing further details of her meeting with Huai Jinpeng in Beijing, Allan says the pair spoke about international education being the truest form of securing the future between two countries co-dependent in trade but geostrategically at odds. When you have got kids learning language and culture, through education opportunities, they are building trust, they are building collegiality, they are building friendship that are going to provide a more secure world into the future because they understand one another, Allan told The Age shortly before flying back to Melbourne. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan meets Chinese and Australian students at the Langya Road Primary School in Nanjing. Too much of what we have seen written and commented about China is driven by conservative politicians who are telling people every day that China is bad for people. I say jobs and relationships are good for people. That is what our future relationship with China looks like. Advertisement Reviews & adviceTripologist Opinion Were keen on visiting the Stan countries. Whats the best way? Michael Gebicki is Travellers expert Tripologist. Each week he tackles the thorny issues in travel as well as answering your questions. Got a question for the Tripologist? Email tripologist@traveller.com.au Michael Gebicki The Tripologist September 21, 2025 5:00am September 21, 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 4 View all comments Do you have any insight into tours of the Stans? We are three lively 67- to 74-year-olds who are excited by the prospect of a grand 21- to 28-day adventure on the Silk Road. Culture, comfortable accommodation, limited travelling times and a small group are key. My two friends will be coming from Nairobi, and Im departing from Sydney. S. Pilkington, Sydney NSW Samarkand, Uzbekistan. iStock Wild Frontiers is a UK-based operator with many years experience in taking travellers to extraordinary places. It has several Silk Road tours, including a 16-day tour of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan that might work well for you. Another 15-day tour takes in the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It also has more intensive trips such as Classic Kyrgyzstan and Classic Tajikistan, which could be linked to the Silk Road tour. Group size is a maximum of 12. Whichever company you choose, some of the cities you visit are far apart, and a couple of long rides in a bus or four-wheel drive are unavoidable. Apart from the 600-kilometre Tashkent-Bukhara rail line, there are no high-speed trains. Tashkent is likely to be your starting point, and your friends coming from Nairobi would most probably transit through Dubai, from where there are non-stop flights to Tashkent. Coming from Australia, you can take a non-stop flight to Tashkent from Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. My partner and l have four nights in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before our Caribbean cruise. Can you suggest the best area to stay, relying on public transport? Hotels in the Dania Beach area are quite close to local shopping, restaurants, the airport and cruise terminal. We are considering a day trip down to Miami as well as a day trip to Cape Canaveral is this too far? A. Chinn, Sandringham, Vic Advertisement Dania Beach would not be your best choice. While it is close to the airport and cruise port, public transport is limited and you will probably end up using taxis or Uber. However, there are several better choices, including Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Las Olas area. The Downtown Fort Lauderdale area around Las Olas Boulevard gives you easy access to the Brightline train to Miami and museums, and the area is packed with restaurants, bars and shops. The Sun Trolley connects this area with the beach and the cruise port. For your day trip to Miami, the Brightline train takes less than 40 minutes to make the journey from Fort Lauderdale station to Miami Central. Once in Miami, you can use the free MetroMover to get around or Uber. Cape Canaveral is more difficult. It would be almost impossible to reach via public transport, and even in a hire car it would be at least a three-hour drive each way. Other activities that are easier from Fort Lauderdale include an Everglades day trip, exploring Miamis Little Havana, Wynwood, South Beach and Vizcaya and a day at Palm Beach, accessible via the Brightline northbound. We are a family of four with a 48-hour stopover in Harbin, China, in late December. Should we get a driver, or is it fairly easy to travel using public transport? Any tips for the cold? C. Wong, Kew, Vic Layer up if youre heading to Harbin in winter. AP Advertisement A driver would be the best choice for your short stay. Public buses are slow and crowded, and while taxis and DiDi rideshares are widely available, you might find yourselves waiting in sub-zero temperatures. A private driver gives you door-to-door transfers between the various sights of the Ice Festival Harbin if your visit takes place in late December, with Central Street and St Sophias Cathedral as other highlights. In December, you can expect temperatures to vary between -20C and -11C, and an average of six hours of sunlight a day. Layering is key, with a thermal base layer, a mid-layer of wool or fleece and a puffer jacket on top. Hats and gloves are essential, and a scarf is optional but recommended. Take lip balm and moisturiser, the air is very dry, and sunglasses will protect your eyes. If you start to feel cold, head for a cafe or shop to defrost. My wife and I are heading to Northern France, travelling by train from Paris to Saint Malo, and we would like to spend eight days exploring the area before making our way to Bordeaux. Places of interest are Mont-Saint-Michel, Honfleur and Bayeux. Can you suggest a time frame for visiting sites and places to stay using public transport? Also, how to get from Saint Malo to Bordeaux? B. Stubbs, West Hobart, Tas Youll be exploring some of Frances most atmospheric towns, a blend of Norman and Breton history, food and landscapes. Since youre relying on public transport, you need to base yourselves in hubs with good rail and bus links and make day trips. The fastest trains from Paris Montparnasse Station take less than three hours to reach Saint Malo, with one change at Rennes. Spend your first afternoon or evening exploring the walled port town, the ramparts and streets of the old town. Saint Malo is noted for its shellfish dishes and galettes, Breton buckwheat crepes, which are a local specialty. Advertisement Next day, take a train to Pontorson, then a bus to Mont-Saint-Michel and spend the day exploring the abbey and medieval village. The following day, take the 507 bus to Dinan: its a lovely riverside medieval town with cobblestone streets threaded through half-timbered houses. On the following day, take a train or bus to transfer to Bayeux, spend four nights and visit the Bayeux Tapestry and cathedral, take a guided tour to visit the D-Day landing beaches and visit Honfleur by bus. Rather than travelling all the way back to Saint Malo, you could take the train from Bayeux to Paris. The trip takes two hours to reach Gare Saint-Lazare, from where youll need to take a 15-minute taxi ride to Gare Montparnasse for the two-hour train trip to Bordeaux. Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Tripologist For subscribers Travel tips Michael Gebicki is a Sydney-based travel writer, best known for his Tripologist column published for more than 15 years in Traveller. With four decades of experience, his specialty is practical advice, destination insights and problem-solving for travellers. He also designs and leads slow, immersive tours to some of his favourite places. Connect via Instagram @michael_gebicki Connect via email Washington: If and when Anthony Albanese meets Donald Trump in New York and it may be no more than a brief pull aside amid a whirlwind of events it will be in the context of Australia joining an international push to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations. This adds a layer of difficulty. The US is against this move. The two men will meet just as Australia is doing something Trump fundamentally opposes. President Donald Trump pats British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the back during their joint news conference at Chequers. Credit: AP In overlooked remarks this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed the countries deciding to recognise Palestine which includes Australia, France, Canada and potentially the United Kingdom for the latest push by hard-right Israeli politicians to annex the West Bank. On a visit to Israel and Qatar, Rubio was asked by reporters what he thought of the Israeli ministers who were campaigning for complete or partial annexation, and whether they were jeopardising the Abraham Accords. 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 It was the end of January, just a week after Donald Trump returned to office, when the email arrived in the inboxes of FHI 360 in Papua New Guinea. As an organisation implementing the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, with funding distributed through the US Agency for International Development, FHI was expected to stop work immediately. The Trump administration and its savings razor gang, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, then led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, was going to dismantle USAID, accusing it of being a cesspool of fraud, waste and wokeness. A healthcare worker in Papua New Guinea reviews clients before supplying antiretroviral therapy. Credit: FHI FHI (formerly known as Family Health International) had little choice. Its work with local clinics patient tracking, data entry, lab support ground to a halt, as did its community engagement, or trying to get people tested for HIV. We had about a 70 per cent reduction in HIV testing volume, a 70 per cent reduction in new ART [antiretroviral therapy] initiations, says the non-profits regional director, Poruan Temu, who is based in Port Moresby. More critically for PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis], we had a reduction of over 90 per cent in access to prevention services. There has been a significant increase in HIV infections in Papua New Guinea over the past few years. In 2024, new cases reached 11,000 double that of 2010, with nearly half of them among children and adults under 25. The steep rise prompted the PNG government to declare an HIV crisis on June 26 this year. Advertisement The sudden cessation of USAID funds sent shockwaves around the world, including in Australias backyard, the Pacific. Cuts to frontline health services were the obvious and immediate impact. Boxes of food and nutritional paste piled up in US warehouses, unable to be distributed to those in need. Beyond that, though, there is a broader question: As the US retreats, who steps in to fill the void? In the Pacific, there is a clear answer China, which has already spent billions of dollars in the region on new roads and vehicles, school upgrades, bridges and development assistance, often in the form of controversial loans. For Australia, which is by far the largest aid donor in the Pacific, this poses a particular challenge amid strategic competition with China for influence in the region. In July, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a respected bipartisan Washington think tank, released a report warning that American actions in the Pacific, including Trumps tariffs, were harming perceptions of the US and not just leaving space for China to fill but elevating the narrative of China as a responsible, predictable global partner. Speaking to the Lowy Institute on a recent visit to Australia, one of the reports authors, CSIS Australia chair Charles Edel, said the Trump administrations moves had left some of us scratching our heads about the US mission to project power and influence in a region that it describes as central to its national security. The perception of the US as sometimes interested and sometimes not, and taking actions that are frankly bewildering to the region, seems to be at cross purposes to the stated rhetoric, Edel said. Advertisement His colleague and co-author, Kathryn Paik, noted that while none of the USAID cuts or Trumps tariffs were specifically aimed at the Pacific, everything has had quite a large impact on this really critical region. The Centre for Global Development estimated that many Pacific nations lost 100 per cent of their USAID funding, including PNG, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau and Solomon Islands. The CSIS report suggested Canberra was spooked by the cuts. Countries such as Australia, which has a deep appreciation of the importance of development assistance to its own national security, are racing to assess the extent of the fallout and recalibrate their own work in the region, it said. Some of Trumps own Republican allies have also raised concerns, including California congresswoman Young Kim, who sits on the House foreign affairs committee and chairs a subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. [Chinese President] Xi Jinping is watching, and hes waiting for the chance to fill any US vacuum, she told a hearing in February. Even critics of USAID acknowledge the critical soft-power value of targeted and efficient programming. Over the past fortnight, Australia received a reminder of the potential for Beijing to exploit uncertainty in the region, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese failed to lock in security pacts with both Vanuatu and PNG. While Chinese influence was not explicitly identified as a factor in the obstruction, it looms large as a possible cause. Advertisement During a visit to Australia, former US president Joe Bidens top Indo-Pacific adviser, Kurt Campbell, told the National Press Club on Tuesday: I think it suggests that this is a region at strategic play, and that China is relentless, and they use all venues of engagement to try to block and block initiatives like the ones that Australia has initiated. Loading Michael Schiffer was an assistant administrator of USAID from 2022 to 2025, heading its Asia bureau, and has worked at the Pentagon and on the US Senates foreign relations committee. He says the gutting of foreign assistance will be deeply damaging for the USs strategic interests in the region. His military contacts are telling him they are concerned about what it means for the Indo-Pacific Command, which is responsible for defending and promoting US interests in the Pacific and Asia, as well as the regional relationships the US needs to maintain and strengthen. Im sure that Beijing is going to look to where it can fill the void, Schiffer says. Its not like people in the Pacific are going to say, Alright, I guess we wont have the internet, or, OK, we wont have cell phones. Theyre going to rely on China because they have no choice. Itll be terrible for the people in the Pacific, terrible for US strategic interests, and countries like Australia are going to be left holding the bag. Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific program at the Washington-based Centre for a New American Security, had much the same message when she addressed the United States Studies Centre in Sydney this week. We are doing tremendous damage to ourselves when we cut US foreign aid so drastically, she said. Its going to impact US global power and influence, and our ability to deter China. Advertisement The CSIS report noted that while there has been persistent discomfort in the Pacific about the way Beijing engages with the region an awareness that it is ultimately a self-interest exercise the narrative is shifting. China has already made hay of the US drawdown. CSIS notes Chinas ambassador to PNG, Yang Xiaoguang, quickly labelled Trumps tariffs economic bullying and said Beijing stood as Port Moresbys most reliable partner, with open and consistent trade. In late August, the Chinese embassy in Port Moresby hosted a bilateral trade and economic meeting, along with representatives from Chinese companies in PNG and a business delegation from China. At the same time, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Yang placed an article in PNGs two major newspapers with a pointed message about the US and China. In todays world, deficits in peace, development, security and governance continue to grow, it said. A certain country is putting its own interests first and engaging in hegemony and bullying, attempting to replace multilateralism and the postwar international order with unilateralism and its self-imposed rules, subjecting the UN to unprecedented challenges. Faced with the choice of unity or division, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, China remains committed to actively guiding the reform of the global governance system in keeping with the principles of fairness and justice, practising true multilateralism, promoting international unity and co-operation. Schiffer says that Trumps tariffs and withdrawal of USAID have allowed Chinese diplomats to tell Pacific nations: We told you the Americans arent reliable, we are. But there is a catch to Beijings apparent generosity. Advertisement By Aditya Soni, Kristina Cooke and Jeff Mason SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the U.S. or quickly return. The change could deal a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration. The step to reshape the H-1B visa program represents his administration's most high-profile effort yet to rework temporary employment visas. "If you're going to train somebody, you're going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land," said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs." Trump's threat to crack down on H-1B visas has become a major flashpoint with the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign. Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters. They advised employees on the H-1B visas who were outside the U.S. to return before midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT on Sunday), when the new fee structures are set to take effect. "H-1B visa holders who are currently in the U.S. should remain in the U.S. and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance," read an email sent to JPMorgan employees by Ogletree Deakins, a company that handles visa applications for the U.S. investment bank. Microsoft, JPMorgan, law firm Ogletree Deakins, which represents the bank on the issue, and Amazon did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Critics of the H-1B program, including many U.S. technology workers, argue that it allows firms to suppress wages and sideline Americans who could do the jobs. Supporters, including Tesla CEO and former Trump ally Elon Musk, say it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive. Musk, himself a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa. Some employers have exploited the program to hold down wages, disadvantaging U.S. workers, according to the executive order Trump signed on Friday. The number of foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers in the U.S. more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 to nearly 2.5 million, even as overall STEM employment only increased 44.5% during that time, it said. Another LeT commander tears apart Paks lies Confirms destruction of Markaz Taiba camp in Muridke during Op Sindoor NEW DELHI : MONTHS after Indias precision strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), a viral video of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Qaasim has surfaced. The video exposes Islamabads denials of the strikes by confirming the destruction of the Markaz Taiba terror camp in Muridke, in Pakistans Punjab province. In the viral video, Qaasim, standing amidst the rubble of the destroyed camp, admitted that the place had trained numerous terrorists, including Mujahideens and Talaba, who he claimed went on to achieve victory (Faiz), while vowing to rebuild a larger facility there. I am standing in front of the Markaz Taiba in Muridke... It was destroyed in the attack [during Operation Sindoor]. We will be rebuilding it and making it even bigger... From here, big names in Mujahideen got trained here and achieved Faiz [Victory], the LeT Commander said in the video. This revelation came days after Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, in another viral video, admitted that the strikes on Markaz Subhan Allah at Bahawalpur, JeMs operation headquarters, during Operation Sindoor had killed the family of JeM Masood Azhar. Earlier in May, sources told ANI that Mohammad Yusuf Azhar and Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, brothers-in-law of Masood Azhar and Mohammad Hassan Khan, were killed during the strikes. Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, was wanted for the IC-814 hijacking case. He also used to handle weapons training for JeM and was involved in multiple terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The eldest brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, was another target who was in charge of Markaz Subhan Allah in Pakistans Bahawalpur. He was actively involved in the radical indoctrination of youth and fundraising for JeM. After sacrificing everything, on May 7, the family members of Masood Azhar were torn into pieces in Bahawalpur, Kashmiri said at an event in the viral video, validating Indias assertion that the attack hit key terrorist elements. The LeT commander Qaasim, in another viral clip, also brazenly urged youths to join the Daura-e-Suffa training programme at the site, which includes basic combat training and jihadi indoctrination, further exposing the camps purpose. Markaz Taiba, Muridke, established in the year 2000, is the alma mater and the most crucial training centre of LeT in Pakistan. The complex holds arms and physical training facilities, as well as dawah and radicalisation for terror entities, both from within Pakistan and abroad. Meanwhile, the Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, which has been operational since 2015, is the main centre of JeM for training and indoctrination, serving as the operational headquarters of the organisation. It is associated with terrorist planning by JeM, including the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. The strikes on May 7 under Operation Sindoor targeted these key strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Bomb threat email fails todisrupt Bombay HC proceedings MUMBAI : PROCEEDINGS in the Bombay High Court took place as usual onFridaydespite an emailwarningofanimpendingbombexplosion on the premises, which was received early in the morning at the courts official address. The threat was later declared a hoax by the police. Thiswas thesecondsuchhoax bomb threat message received by the High Court in a week, the police said. The threat mail received on Friday came a day after a bench headed by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad heard an appeal seeking reversal of the acquittal of all seven people,includingformerBJPMP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. OnFriday,soonafter the threat email landed in the HCs official mail inbox, an office employee alertedsenioradministrativeofficials. The information was immediately passed on to the Mumbai Police, who pressed their Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and dog squad into service.Amassivecombingoperation was launched to cover the entire campusinSouthMumbai to look for possible explosives, but the search by the BDDS personnel did not find anything objectionable, said a Mumbai Police official. Apart from the courtrooms, thebombsquadalsoscanned the parking lot for judges vehicles and thewaitingarea forlitigants, the police said. EC delists 474 more parties Action initiated against 359 others NEW DELHI : A total of 808 RUPPs have been removed since August 2025 for failing to contest polls continuously for six years THE Election Commission (EC) on Friday said it has de-listed 474 more registered unrecognised political parties for flouting norms, including not contesting elections in the last six years. In the first phase of the exercise, the EC de-listed 334 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) on August 9. In continuation, in the second phase, ECI delisted 474 RUPPs on September 18, based on non-contestation in elections conducted by ECI continuously for 6 years. Thus, 808 RUPPs have been delisted in the last 2 months, EC said in a statement. The guidelines for the registration of political parties note that if a party does not contest elections continuously for six years, it will be taken off the list of registered parties. Till recently, there were 2,520 RUPPs. After the de-listing exercise, 2,046 RUPPs remain. Besides, there are six recognised national parties and 67 State parties. Of the 808 RUPPs de-listed in the last two months, 14 are from Bihar, where Assembly polls are due in November. Separately, 359 RUPPs have been identified for not having submitted their annual audited accounts in the last three financial years -- 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023- 24 -- within the stipulated time period and contesting polls but not filing election expenditure reports.These parties are from 23 States and Union Territories. Since 2001, the EC has carried out the exercise of weeding out defunct RUPPs three to four times, officials said. The Supreme Court had earlier barred the poll panel from derecognising political parties, noting that it was not prescribed under law. However, the EC has found a way to delist parties. The parties de-listed can be listed again by the poll authority without getting into the process of giving them fresh recognition, a former EC functionary pointed out. Some RUPPs were in the past found flouting the income-tax and money-laundering laws. Political parties (national, State and RUPPs) in the country are registered with the EC under the provisions of section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Under the provision, any association once registered as a political party gets certain privileges and advantages, such as tax exemptions. This exercise has been conducted with the aim of cleaning up the political system and de-listing such parties that have not contested any election to the Lok Sabha or the legislative assemblies of the States and Union territories or bypolls since 2019 and those that could not be physically traced, the officials said. Major push to industry Mah Govt inks 9 MoUs worth Rs 80,962 crore Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and State Iindustries Minister Uday Samant along with the representatives of Rashmi Group after signing the Memoranda of Understanding in Mumbai, on Friday. Rashmi Metallurgical Industries to set up Rs 25,000 cr steel plant Rs 5,135 cr joint project of Sumedh Tools and Hariom Pipes in Groli Rs 1,482 cr sponge iron project in Mul; n Rs 850 crore unit in Chanda n Rs 1,375 cr ISP project in Nagpur THE Maharashtra Government, on Friday, signed nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with various companies for a total investment of Rs 80,962 crore, said a statement released from the Chief Ministers office. The projects envisaged under these MoUs are expected to create more than 40,300 jobs, they said. The agreements were signed at the Steel Mahakumbh organised by AIFA in Goregaon, Mumbai, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and state industries Minister Uday Samant. The projects will come up in Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Wardha, Raigad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Satara districts, said a statement from the Chief Ministers office. Among the major investments, Rashmi Metallurgical Industries will set up an integrated steel plant in Wardha with a capital outlay of Rs 25,000 crore, which is expected to generate 12,000 jobs. In Raigad, Jindal Stainless Ltd will establish a stainless steel plant worth Rs 41,580 crore, creating around 15,500 jobs, the statement said. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, NPSPL Advanced Material (Atha Group) will invest Rs 5,440 crore to set up a critically advanced lithium battery material and carbon complex, which is expected to employ 5,000 people. Gadchiroli will see joint projects by Sumedh Tools and Hariom Pipe Industries, bringing in Rs 5,135 crore investment and creating 5,500 jobs. Other projects included Icon Steel India Pvt Ltds Rs 850-crore sponge iron unit in Chandrapur, Filtrum Autocomps Rs 100 crore automotive steel parts unit in Wai, Satara, G R Krishna Ferro Alloys Rs 1,482 crore sponge iron project in Mul and Jaydeep Steelwork Indias Rs 1,375 crore ISP project in Nagpur. (PTI) Nagpurs Koradi Mata two-tone wooden sculpture adorns Prime Minister Mementoes e-Auction 2025 Staff Reporter : 101 other exclusive items from Maharashtra included among more than 1,300 mementoes gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in e-auction The e-auction is live online at www.pmmementos.gov.in from September 17 to October 2 A remarkable two-tone wooden sculpture of Koradi Mata, a revered deity of Nagpur city, took the spotlight at the 7th edition of the Prime Minister Mementoes e-Auction 2025, conducted by Ministry of Culture, Government of India through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, recently. The e-auction is live online at www.pmmementos.gov.in from September 17 to October 2. The wooden sculpture of Koradi Mata is showcasing the artistry of local craftsmen and the spiritual traditions of the State. Along with this, 101 other exclusive items from Maharashtra included among more than 1,300 mementoes gifted to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in e-auction. These unique treasures highlight Maharashtras rich cultural, spiritual, and artistic legacy. A bamboo-crafted Tarpa wind instrument adorned with intricate Warli motifs depicting musicians and dancers, symbolising Maharashtras tribal vibrancy, harmony, and storytelling heritage is another attraction of the e-auction. Along with this, a finely detailed silver depiction of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman under an ornate Torana, presented in a protective Fiberglas case, representing devotion and craftsmanship at the event. Since its inception in 2019, the Prime Minister Mementoes e-Auction has offered citizens across India and abroad a chance to own memorabilia presented to the Prime Minister, while supporting a noble cause. All proceeds go to the Namami Gange Project, the Government of Indias flagship mission to rejuvenate and conserve the river Ganga. Over the past editions, the auction has raised more than Rs 50 crore for this initiative. Citizens, collectors, and art enthusiasts are invited to participate in this years auction to acquire rare artefacts that embody Maharashtras spirit while contributing to the preservation of Indias cultural and ecological heritage. For details and participation, visit www.pmmementos.gov.in. Pathetic ! THOUGH officially nobody in India would like to state that, it is obvious that the attempts of United States President Mr. Donald Trump look clearly pathetic trying to tell the world that he is very close to India ... very close to the Prime Minister of India ... We have a very good relationship .... Such mutterings by Mr. Trump in the past few weeks point to an unstable personality that Destiny placed in a key position. Of course, even as Mr. Trump wished him a Happy Birthday To You My Friend Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, too, reciprocated by a little warmer than a formal response. For, as the whole world wished Mr. Modi a Happy Birthday, Mr. Modi did not want any bad blood. Therefore, he reciprocated Mr. Trumps message with some warmth. However, inwardly, Mr. Modi is all cautious and is calibrating his response to the US President very carefully (not letting out a single loose word or emotion). He is shrewd enough to weigh the American leaders somersaulting in appropriate terms. Inwardly, Mr. Modi must be having a wry smile to himself -- suggesting how shallow the US President has been in his behaviour of late. Mr. Modis 75th birthday did offer Mr. Trump a good chance to make up to an extent the damage caused to American relations with India by his own diatribes. So, the Prime Minister of a dead economy suddenly became Mr. Donald Trumps friend who is very close to India. Mr. Modi, of course, did not mind -- since it was not he who initiated a damage to bilateral ties. He just decided to go along -- mostly wordlessly. That is the beauty of Mr. Modis maturity as a world leader who knows well how uncertain diplomatic waters often are. Trade talks between US and India have begun. Expectations, too, are being expressed that in the next few weeks, the tariff issues, too, would get sorted out. Though nothing can be predicted correctly, there are possibilities that both the countries would make serious efforts to mend matters and move on. For Indias part, however, serious efforts would be needed to overlook the acidic treatment some close associates of Mr. Trump gave to India. With an eye on long-term gains, India will certainly overlook the American stupidity in the past few weeks. But obvious it is that New Delhi will always carry a grudge -- mostly unspoken -- about the crudeness of the US Presidents assertions about India. It is clear that no personal angle should interrupt goodness of bilateral ties in the international realpolitik. Yet, given the manner in which Mr. Trump behaved in the past few weeks, India has every justification for its strong reservations about the American intentions -- no matter the assertion of Narendra Modi my friend ... ! The fact that Mr. Trump chose to make that statement from England in the presence of British Prime Minister Mr. Keir Starmer, shows that he wanted the world to become a witness to his goodwill for India. Of course, anybody can see through such a shallow showmanship, all right. Yet, Mr. Trump did not mind any such interpretation -- and made the statement assertively, leaving it to India to decide how to respond. But there is no doubt that Mr. Trump proved to be a not so good a diplomatic somersaulter -- particularly against a seasoned player like Mr. Narendra Modi. As the two countries grapple with trade issues, relationship would limp back to (a new) normal. The old warmth is not likely to return. The trust deficit would be rather too wide to be bridged easily. So bad did the situation look at one point that the talks started doing the round that a new world order is about to emerge. It is this possibility that Mr. Donald Trump found dangerous to American interest. Hence his somersaulting. Of course, he may not learn any lesson voluntarily. It would be only a compulsion for him. Recent changes in GST will boost business: Chief Commissioner CGST Business Reporter : Chief Commissioner of CGST, Central Excise & Customs, Sandeep Puri said that the recent changes and simplifications introduced in GST will greatly help in expanding business, increasing compliance, and reducing disputes. GST 2.0 will provide significant relief to major companies across the country and is expected to bring benefits to smaller firms as well. This will lead to a reduction in costs, giving a competitive advantage in exports. The benefits of these reforms will be passed on to the business sector, he said at an interactive session organised here by the Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) Taxation & Corporate Law Forum in association with Vidarbha Tax Practitioners Association. Sandeep Puri said the new system will make GST easier and simpler for both taxpayers and the department. He said the Government has made several efforts to strengthen GST. He pointed out that although there have been challenges in implementing GST since 2017, India has emerged as one of the best countries in the world in terms of GST system and structure. Sandeep Puri observed that with higher disposable income, tax collection will also increase. Earlier, CA Ashok Chandak, Chairman of VIA Taxation & Corporate Law Forum, in his welcome address highlighted the significance of the reforms announced after the 56th GST Council meeting. At the outset, VIA President Prashant Mohota welcomed Sandeep Puri and said the industrial sector would fully cooperate in ensuring compliance with tax laws with complete transparency and simplicity. VIA Vice President, CA Naresh Jakhotia, made opening remarks while CA Sachin Jajodia, Convener of VIA Taxation & Corporate Law Forum, moderated the question & answer session. CA Mahendra Jain, President VTPA summed up the session and also proposed a vote of thanks. Use of AI, cutting-edge tech vital for Armed Forces: CDS (Top) Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth (L) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, (Above) Army personnel stand next to a 155 mm/39 Field Howitzer 77 B02 Bofors displayed at the East Tech Symposium 2025, jointly organised by the Armys HQ Eastern Command, Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers and the Confederation of Indian Industry, in Ranchi, on Friday. (PTI) RANCHI : CHIEF of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, on Friday said that adopting modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is of critical importance in strengthening Indias defence preparedness. Future wars would not only be fought with conventional weapons but also on new frontiers such as cyber and space, and India must remain fully prepared for these challenges, the CDS noted. In his address at the East Tech Symposium 2025, organised by the Armys Eastern Command at the Khelgaon complex in Ranchi, General Chauhan said: We need to strengthen the foundation of defence manufacturing, keeping in mind the rapidly changing technology. AI and other innovations will play a decisive role in future battles. He stressed that the selection and use of weapons in modern warfare must be guided by strategic thinking and foresight. For this, research and development (R&D) should be aligned with evolving geopolitical and technological scenarios. Acknowledging that Indias journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing began late, General Chauhan said the country is now taking firm and systematic steps in the right direction. He pointed out that the Government is consistently working to develop indigenous capabilities to counter emerging challenges, especially in the domains of cyber and space warfare. Linking technological advancement to national policy, the CDS also referred to the central governments Act East Policy. He said its objectives could only be achieved if eastern states like Jharkhand and West Bengal actively contribute to building a robust defence ecosystem. Talking about the evolving nature of warfare, he remarked: Warfare is both a science and an art. In todays times, a warrior must be creative and innovative. He urged defence experts, technologists, and entrepreneurs present at the symposium to prioritise innovation so that India can become self-reliant in defence and emerge as a global competitor. The three-day East Tech Symposium, aimed at fostering collaboration between the Armed Forces, defence industry, startups, and academia, was jointly inaugurated by Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The Chief Minister underlined that Jharkhand, endowed with mineral wealth including uranium, could play a pivotal role in contributing to defence and nuclear development. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth attended the event as the special guest. This is the fourth edition of the East Tech Symposium organised by the Armys Eastern Command. The first edition was held in Kolkata in 2022, followed by Guwahati in 2023 and Kolkata again in 2024. By Jody Godoy NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. antitrust enforcers are on guard against anticompetitive behavior in the artificial intelligence sector as part of the Trump administration's plan to cement U.S. AI dominance, a Department of Justice official said in New York on Thursday. Protecting competition in the industry supports innovation, Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater said at a conference at Fordham University, signaling that President Donald Trump's antitrust enforcers are looking out for anticompetitive conduct and consolidation. "The competitive dynamics of each layer of the AI stack and how they interrelate, with a particular eye towards exclusionary behavior that forecloses access to key inputs and distribution channels, are legitimate areas for antitrust inquiry," she said. Access to data is one area the DOJ will monitor, Slater said. A judge in Washington recently ordered Alphabet's Google to share some of its search data with competitors including AI companies, in order to boost competition with its online search engine. Google has said it will appeal. Slater said that demand for data could drive mergers or business combinations between companies and their suppliers, known as vertical integration, "especially in industries where downstream businesses may have access to valuable and sensitive data like healthcare data." "We may also increasingly see the desire to acquire data, or to deprive rivals of data, play a role in driving transactions," she said. Slater also said that open source AI models can boost competition, something Trump's AI action plan envisioned as a way to spread American technology. "Of course, a truly open-source model must be one that is not unilaterally maintained by a single vendor that exerts unwarranted influence and impose restrictions," she said. Antitrust enforcers during President Joe Biden's administration expressed similar concerns about AI competition, and scrutinized Big Tech partnerships with AI startups. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New YorkEditing by Matthew Lewis) You do not go to space alone, you ride on shoulders of many: Shukla on teamwork Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla being felicitated by FICCI FLO National President Poonam Sharma during the Future Frontiers Conclave 2025 organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), in New Delhi, on Friday. Motivational speaker and spiritual mentor BK Shivani was also present. (PTI) NEW DELHI : Swollen faces, slowed heartbeats, painful backaches and loss of appetite were some of the realities Shubhanshu Shukla said he faced in orbit SWOLLEN faces, slowed heartbeats, painful backaches and loss of appetite were some of the realities Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said he faced in orbit, far removed from the glamorous image of space travel is often associated with. Speaking at an event organised by the FICCI CLO, Shukla said life on the International Space Station (ISS) was a gruelling test of human endurance that offered powerful lessons in resilience, teamwork and perseverance. Now you might imagine that space missions are thrilling from the very beginning, which, to be honest, they are. But once you reach in microgravity, your body is in a microgravity environment. It rebels because it has never seen that environment, everything changes, he said. The blood shifts upwards, your head becomes puffier, your heart slows down, your spine elongates and you have backaches. Inside (your body), your stomach is also floating and so are its contents, so you dont feel hungry. All these changes happen the moment you reach space, Shukla said. He recalled a particularly difficult moment when just before an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he was battling nausea and a headache. You cannot even take medication because nausea drugs make you drowsy. So you feel bad and you still have to do the work, Shukla said, noting that one of his crew members quietly set up his camera and microphone. That is teamwork, not in words but in action. Shukla explained that astronauts must rely on one another in countless small ways -- from crewmates setting up a fan near his face during long experiments in a glove box to passing a bottle of water when he was trapped for hours. These small gestures indicate how important teamwork is, he said. Collaboration is not optional, it is essential. You do not go to space alone, you ride on the shoulders of many. Beyond the physical discomfort, Shukla said the emotional impact of space travel was profound. He described looking down at Earth and spotting India as a deeply-moving experience. Of all the places on Earth, India looks the most beautiful when seen from above. The coastlines and plains stand out.... It is truly saare jahan se acha.... In those moments, the connection to home feels overwhelming, he remarked. Shukla said the real legacy of space missions lies not only in science but in representation and inspiration. He recounted how children he met in Lucknow admitted that they only learned about the ISS when he went there. They told me, We cared because you were there. That moment hit me like gravity itself. Your presence in boardrooms, labs, Parliaments and even in space capsules is not just symbolic, it is catalytic, he said. Shukla also talked about perseverance in the face of rejection, sharing the story of American astronaut Peggy Whitson, who applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 10 times before finally being selected and went on to set records. Even if the world says no nine times, the 10th yes can change history, he said. Looking ahead, Shukla pointed to Indias ambitious plans of the Gaganyaan mission and a lunar presence by 2040 as milestones that would propel the country forward. Make no mistake, this will take much more than rockets and spacecraft. It will take the energy of the entire nation, he said. Shukla reminded the audience that space exploration is about lifting spirits as much as lifting rockets. When we send a few to orbit, we lift millions back here on Earth. Sky was never the limit -- not for me, not for you and not for Bharat, he said. (Reuters) - Investors withdrew massive capital out of U.S. equity funds in the week to Sept. 17 as they turned cautious about the market's lofty valuations following the recent rally through a policy rate cut by the Federal Reserve and rushed to lock in profits. According to LSEG Lipper data, investors pulled out a net $43.19 billion from U.S. equity funds in the week, logging their largest weekly net sales since a $50.62 billion weekly outflow in mid-December 2024. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) hit a record high of 6,656.8 on Thursday, close to a 37.7% gain from nearly a 1-1/2 year low of 4,835.04 hit of April 7. "The S&P 500 forward price-to-earnings ratio, at 22.6x, is in the 99th percentile over the past 20 years," said Mark Haefele, Chief Investment Officer at UBS Global Wealth Management. "After such a strong recent run, a period of consolidation should not come as a surprise, in our view," UBS's Haefele said. U.S. large-cap funds had a net $34.19 billion weekly outflow, the biggest since at least 2020. Investors also shed mid-cap funds of $1.58 billion but invested a marginal $50 million in small-cap funds. Sectoral funds saw a net $1.24 billion outflow, the first weekly net sales in four weeks as investors dumped technology sector funds of a robust $2.84 billion. U.S. bond funds, meanwhile, saw a 22nd successive weekly inflow to the tune of $7.33 billion. The short-to-intermediate investment-grade funds, general domestic taxable fixed income funds and municipal debt funds stood out with $1.59 billion, $1.14 billion and $1.04 billion, respectively in weekly inflows. Investors, meanwhile, ditched $23.65 billion worth of money market funds, bringing a three-week trend of net purchases to an end. (Reporting by Gaurav Dogra; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Edison International (NYSE:EIX) is one of the Best Electric Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On September 10, UBS reduced the price objective on the companys stock to $66 from $68, while keeping a Buy rating, as reported by The Fly. As per the firm, reports of work happening on investment securitization legislation, which may include a wildfire amendment consistent with concepts of Governor Newsoms proposal, California Lawmakers Reach Initial Agreement on Wildfire Fund, will be a catalyst for Edison International (NYSE:EIX)s stock. UBS Reduces PT On Edison International (EIX) Stock However, UBS revised its price objective lower to reflect the change in the utility groups average multiple, as highlighted by the analyst. Elsewhere, Edison International (NYSE:EIX) reported Q2 2025 net income of $343 million as compared to net income of $439 million in Q2 2024. Southern California Edisons Q2 2025 core EPS fell YoY, mainly because of the higher operations and maintenance expense and the net impact of regulatory decisions received in each period. Edison International (NYSE:EIX) also announced that the California Legislature approved Senate Bill (SB) 254. Edison International (NYSE:EIX) is the ultimate parent holding company of Southern California Edison and Edison Energy, LLC, doing business as Trio. While we acknowledge the potential of EIX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. UPS said Thursday it has ended plans to acquire Mexican express delivery and logistics company Estafeta because the companies were unable to satisfy all closing conditions. The Atlanta-based parcel giant disclosed the turn of events in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We remain committed to growth in Mexico and delivering the reliable service our customers expect, a UPS spokesperson said in an email response. UPS announced the deal in July 2024 and said it expected to close on it by the end of the year. CEO Carol Tome told analysts during the companys July 29 earnings call that efforts to acquire Estafeta were taking longer than expected to clear regulatory and pre-closing conditions. UPS had said the deal allowed it to take advantage of Mexicos growing role in cross-border trade as manufacturers relocate from China to be closer to the U.S. market and to minimize geopolitical and tariff impacts associated with U.S.-China tensions. So far this year, UPS has conducted more than 600 supply chain mapping assessments to help customers evaluate reshoring options, the CEO said. Mexico City-based Estafeta provides truckload, less-than-truckload, freight forwarding, distribution and customs brokerage services, in addition to express parcel delivery. The companies said the combination would help customers in Mexico with small package, healthcare logistics and contract logistics services. Mexican shippers would gain better access to global markets, while UPS customers would have more efficient access to Mexico. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com. RELATED STORIES: UPS posts tepid results amid tariff, restructuring challenges The post UPS cancels deal for Estafeta appeared first on FreightWaves. By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge allowed an affiliate of hedge fund Elliott Investment Management on Thursday to move towards completing its offer for Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum's parent through a court-ordered auction of shares, while restricting rival bidder Gold Reserve from doing the same. This followed a separate judge in another U.S. court upholding the validity of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's 2020 bonds on Thursday. Delaware Judge Leonard Stark instructed a court officer overseeing the auction of shares to terminate a stock purchase agreement (SPA) with a Gold Reserve subsidiary and sign a new one with Elliott's affiliate Amber Energy, Gold Reserve said in a release. That came at the end of a 4-day sale hearing, where some of the 15 Venezuela-linked creditors lining up to cash proceeds from the auction for Citgo's parent asked him to move the auction forward by granting key agreements with frontrunner bidder Amber. The creditors have resorted to U.S. courts seeking compensation for debt defaults and expropriations in Venezuela. An SPA is a legally binding contract that outlines the terms for the sale and transfer of a company's shares. In an auction of shares, the SPA is a key step to allow a frontrunner to secure financial commitments and complete regulatory filings for the shares' transfer. Gold Reserve's unit Dalinar Energy and Amber have been competing neck and neck in recent months for Citgo's parent, PDV Holding. Because Amber's $5.9 billion offer includes a separate $2.1 billion agreement to pay holders of a defaulted Venezuelan bond, the Delaware court has recommended it as the best bid. Dalinar's offer did not include a similar provision. Judge Stark has not made a final decision on the winner. But he also denied on Thursday a motion by Gold Reserve to disqualify Amber's bid, the miner said in a statement. "The decision was delivered orally from the bench. Gold Reserve expects a written opinion and order to be issued shortly," it added. A New York judge on Thursday confirmed the validity of defaulted Venezuelan bonds collateralized with Citgo equity, supporting the holders' claim and boosting Amber's bid. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) (BRK.A) , has long been admired for his ability to capture complex economic truths in simple, memorable language. One of his most pointed insights is his assertion that an iron law of business is that growth eventually dampens exceptional economics. This message first appeared in his 1985 shareholder letter, but its something he has repeatedly reiterated over the past several decades. Most recently, during the 2025 annual shareholder meeting, he reiterated his concerns on the same issue. During the Oracle of Omahas final shareholder meeting, he said Its too bad that Berkshire has gotten as big as it is because we love that position and Id like it to be a lot larger than it is. Continuing along this line, he explained, Weve got in the range of $20 billion invested, and Id rather have $100 billion than $20 billion. Size is an enemy of performance at Berkshire, and I dont see any good way to solve that problem. More News from Barchart Those comments were in reference to a sizeable position theyve built in Japanese trading conglomerates. The trading houses resemble Berkshire Hathaway in their structure, but own substantial stakes in many of the biggest names in Japanese technology and manufacturing. But the issue is, while $20 billion is massive for nearly every entity on the planet, its a drop in the bucket for Berkshire. For a company worth $1 trillion, thats only about 2% of their company. This issue shows how Berkshire is increasingly limited by their size. Theyre trying to find companies with meaningful upside, at good valuations, and where they can spend tens of billions without becoming a majority shareholder. The number of target companies where this is possible is very small. The number of companies that fit Berkshire Hathaways investing thesis is even fewer. Those that meet both of these criteria and can be purchased at a valuation fitting for Berkshire? These opportunities are what Berkshire aims for, but they typically only come around due to specific events. For example, Berkshire recently purchased a substantial position in United Healthcare (UNH) due to their stock dropping from ongoing controversy. The remark reflects a principle that applies across industries and eras: businesses that generate extraordinary returns in their early stages often find it increasingly difficult to sustain those levels as they expand. High returns attract competition, markets become saturated, and the opportunities to reinvest profits at similarly favorable rates decline. Buffetts phrasing underscores the inevitability of this process growth, while often celebrated, can erode the very advantages that made a business special in the first place. Ironically, despite his initial warning some 40 years ago, Berkshire has managed to still perform incredibly well, despite its growing size. With a market cap of $18.2 billion, Waters Corporation (WAT) is a leading global provider of analytical instruments and workflow solutions. The company operates through two segments, Waters and TA, offering technologies in liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, rheometry, and calorimetry, along with software and consumables. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally classified as large-cap stocks, and Waters fits this criterion perfectly. Serving pharmaceutical, life sciences, industrial, academic, and government customers worldwide, Waters supports critical applications in research, development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. More News from Barchart Shares of the Milford, Massachusetts-based company have fallen 27.7% from its 52-week high of $423.56. Waters shares have decreased 9.7% over the past three months, underperforming the broader S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 10.9% gain over the same time frame. www.barchart.com In the longer term, WAT stock is down 17.4% on a YTD basis, lagging behind SPXs 12.8% increase. Moreover, shares of the lab equipment maker have dropped 8.1% over the past 52 weeks, compared to SPXs over 18% return over the same time frame. The stock has been trading below its 200-day moving average since April. www.barchart.com Despite posting stronger-than-expected Q2 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.95 and revenue of $771.3 million, Waters stock fell 1.6% on Aug. 4. Investors focused on concerns around the costly acquisition of Becton Dickinsons bioscience and diagnostics unit, viewed as a high-priced deal of a weaker business with potential integration risks. Additionally, academic and government sales declined 3% amid uncertainty around U.S. research funding, tempering sentiment despite the company raising its annual EPS guidance to $12.95 - $13.05. In contrast, rival Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) has outpaced WAT stock. DGX stock has gained 21.5% on a YTD basis and 17.9% over the past 52 weeks. Despite the stocks underperformance, analysts remain moderately optimistic on WAT. The stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the 17 analysts in coverage, and the mean price target of $361.88 is a premium of 18.1% to current levels. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal 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 Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is included among the 13 Incredibly Cheap Dividend Stocks to Invest in. Why Ford Motor Companys (F) Dividend Record Appeals to Cheap Dividend Stocks Investors Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is recognized worldwide for manufacturing and selling vehicles across a wide range of sizes, designs, and powertrains. Beyond its products, the company has built a reputation for its attractive dividend yield, which currently sits around 5% and provides shareholders with steady, though not flawless, income. On top of that, Ford occasionally pays out extra dividends, such as earlier this year when it issued a $0.15 per share regular dividend alongside a $0.15 per share supplemental payout. What sets Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) apart is that, unlike most high-yield dividend stocks, it also carries meaningful growth potential. This comes largely from Ford Pro, its commercial vehicle unit, which boasts strong margins and serves as a growth engine for the business. Of course, the auto industry remains prone to volatility, with issues like potential tariffs creating uncertainty. Even so, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)s strong financial footing, including $28.4 billion in cash and $46.6 billion in total liquidity as of the second quarter, provides a buffer against the sectors ups and downs. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.16%, as of September 19. While we acknowledge the potential of F as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Best High Dividend Stocks to Buy Under $100 and Dividend Stock Portfolio For Income: 12 Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. Publicly traded asset manager Caliber made its first significant buy of Chainlink (LINK) this week, adding 278,0111 LINK worth around $6.5 million to its treasury, it announced Thursday. The Arizona-based firm has now acquired around $6.7 million worth of LINK in just over a month since announcing its Chainlink treasury strategy. While other firms are stacking assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, or XRP, Caliber saw something unique in LINK. We found that Chainlink was the obvious choice for us, Caliber CEO Chris Loeffler told Decrypt about the firms new connections to crypto. It had institutional adoption, it had utility inside our actual business, and Chainlink was starting to announce some really sizable partnerships. In addition to stacking LINK, the firm will look to utilize Chainlinks network to bring valuable off-chain data used in its every day business on-chain, potentially reducing operating costs and increasing profitability in the process. One such prominent example for the firm is in valuations. Because were a public asset manager, every quarter we have to produce valuation work on all of our assets and all of our funds, said Loeffler, who added that it is typically a complex and manual process. To value an apartment complex, you may need to have 10 points of data, he said. Maybe thats comparable sales, vacancy rates, and current rental rates. Those pieces of data are critical to be plugged into a financial model that is run to produce the value every quarter. Using Chainlinks network, though, the firm believes it will be able to bring that real-world data on-chain and better validate and automate its valuations, ultimately providing more transparency to its investors in the process. Loeffler said that further use cases like automated fund administration may be possible, as well. Chainlink operates as an oracle network, helping securely pull verified data from off-chain sources on-chain for integration with blockchains. The network recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring GDP data on-chain, and founder Sergey Nazarov has teased further integrationsand hopes to help aid with election integrity, as well. To pursue its on-chain goals, Caliber is looking for the right person to join the firm. Our next step, as far as the implementation, is we're looking for a key person who would be like a strategic hire inside of the company, said Loeffler, who said the firm is looking for someone with experience in real estate tokenization and blockchain. I'd like to have that person hired and functioning before the end of the year, he added. Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) is one of the 9 Most Profitable Penny Stocks to Buy Right Now. On September 15, Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) announced that it is set to launch Wipro CyberShieldSM MDR in collaboration with CrowdStrike. Wipro has expanded its partnership with CrowdStrike to launch Wipro CyberShieldSM MDR, which is an AI-powered unified managed security service (MSS). Wipros MSS will help in simplifying and strengthening enterprise security operations. CyberShieldSM MDR has a modern SOC that offers enhanced visibility, greater efficiency, and AI-driven automation. Wipro Limited Set to Launch Wipro CyberShieldSM MDR In Collaboration With CrowdStrike Wipros CyberShield platform, powered by CrowdStrikes AI-native product suites and strengthened by our security ecosystem, will help enterprises contain threats swiftly and ensure continuity of digital operations. This integrated platform approach enables AI automated workflows, prevents lateral threat movement, and eliminates potential security gaps that fragmented solutions often miss, said Tony Buffomante, Senior Vice President & Global Head Cybersecurity & Risk Services, Wipro Limited. CyberShieldSM MDR, backed by CrowdStrikes Falcon Next-Gen SIEM, addresses major security issues such as fragmented security operations across endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data drive complexity that increase costs and create operational blind spots. Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) is an IT consulting and business process services company. The company operates through the IT Services and IT Products segments. While we acknowledge the potential of WIT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Inside Delhis Crafts Museum, after weaving through a maze of displays celebrating Indias artisanal legacy, visitors will find something different this weekend: a hall devoted entirely to the shimmering legacy of Dhakaiya Jamdani. From September 19 to 23, the walls will be dressed with some of the finest Jamdanis from Bangladeshsarees of delicate cotton, in luminous colours and complex geometric patterns. Stacks of the garment are on display, ready to be admired or acquired. In one corner, two national awardwinning weavers, Mohammad Jamal Hossain and Mohammad Sajeeb, both with more than two decades of experience, sit at a traditional loom. Before a rapt audience, they show how the centuries-old textile is painstakingly woven, thread by thread. Jamdani, still crafted in and around Dhaka, is the last surviving heir to Bengals once-fabled muslin weaving tradition, a craft systematically dismantled under British colonial rule. What sets it apart is its method: unlike other sarees, its motifs are not embroidered or stamped but woven directly into the fabric. The practice is familial and handed down like an heirloom through generations. At the heart of Dhakaiya Jamdani lies Phuti Karpas, a cotton that once grew only in the mineral-rich silt of the Meghna River in Bangladesh. Its handspun yarn, paired with the extraordinary precision of weavers, produced gossamer cloth that bore motifsjaam (flower), dani (vase)--with Persian echoes. Over time, those motifs transformed muslin into what the world now reveres as Jamdani. The idea to bring this heritage to Indias capital was, in the words of Bangladeshs High Commissioner to New Delhi, M. Riaz Hamidullah, almost serendipitous. We had a small exhibition of Jamdani while marking our Independence Day earlier this year, he told the audience at Fridays inauguration. It drew immediate attention, and we were urged to mount something on a larger scale. That is how this exposition was born. Mounting an exhibition of Jamdani is no simple feat. The weave itself - complex, labour-intensive, and nearly extinct - resists easy presentation. But for Bangladeshs envoy in New Delhi, the task became lighter once he found two allies who knew the fabric as intimately as the weavers themselves. The two Chandrashekharsone from Bangladesh, one from India. A unique bond, High Commissioner M. Riaz Hamidullah said with a smile, introducing Chandrashekhar Saha and Chandrashekhar Bheda. In Dhaka, Saha is revered among textile circles. A [former] driving force behind Aarong, now Bangladeshs largest craft brand, he has spent decades documenting the traditional bulis--mathematical rhymes once whispered across looms--that guide the making of intricate Jamdani motifs. At the inauguration, his voice, gentle but assured, carried the weight of that heritage: Once, Bengals muslin reigned supreme. Jamdani stands on that same pedestal an art you must see and feel to grasp. May its legacy endure. If Saha represents Jamdanis roots, Bheda brings its resonance across borders. A graduate of Indias National Institute of Design, he has spent more than three decades reviving handwoven traditions across the subcontinent. His view of Jamdani was characteristically unflinching: It cannot be replicated by machine, he told the audience. Its sheer transparency and delicacy are like weaving magic that floats in the air. Not long ago, Jamdanis future seemed uncertain. The community of weavers that once clothed emperors and enchanted poets was dwindling. In the 1980s and 1990s, a revival effort led by Bangladeshs Small and Cottage Industries Corporation, with help from designers, scholars and craft patrons, established the Jamdani Village in Sonargaon. There, the old ways were protected: every saree still woven by hand, every motif built on patient hours rather than machines. A single piece can take anywhere from a week to a year to complete. That painstaking devotion was what Indian designer Sunita Kohli, winner of the Padma Shri, sought to capture in her remarks at the inauguration. She invoked Jamdanis storied past, once described as woven air. Emperors coveted it, traders carried it across seas, and poets struggled to capture its fineness, she said. UNESCO calls it intangible cultural heritage I call it intangible luxury, measured not by price, but by patience, time, and the human hand. For Kohli, Jamdani is more than fabric. We must celebrate it not just as a textile, but as a philosophy: proof that finesse and beauty outlast speed and disposability. As Dostoevsky said, Beauty will save the world. Filmmaker and designer Muzaffar Ali added his own cinematic flourish: Jamdani, he said, was a true delight of light and texture, a beauty that can unite nations through a shared appreciation of craft. Faisal Mahmud is the Minister (Press) of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. After the Donald Trump administration's new move to impose an annual fee on H-1B visas from September 21 onwards, various companies in the US have urged their foreign employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas to stay in the country. ALSO READ | New H-1B policy: Netizens point out THIS loophole, say Donald Trump move 'falls short' Employees who are currently outside the US for vacation or other purposes have also been urged to return to the US before 12:01 AM EDT on September 21 (9:01 PM PT on September 20). "If you have H-1B status and are in the US, stay in the country for now," Amazon said in a note to its employees. "H-1B visa holders who are currently in the US should remain in the US and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance," read an email sent to JPMorgan employees by Ogletree Deakins, a company that handles visa applications for the investment bank, as per a Reuters report. Microsoft and Meta issued similar email notices to their employees, the report said. ALSO READ | H-1B visa policy: What is Project Firewall? How will the $100,000 hike impact employers in the US? "The Proclamation was released within the last 30 minutes, so we realise that there isn't much time to make sudden travel arrangements. But again, we strongly encourage you to do your best to return," the email from Microsoft added. BREAKING: Microsoft asks all its foreign staff to return to US by Sunday after Trump's H1-B bombshell: Microsoft has urged its H-1B and H-4 visa employees to promptly return to the United States before the September 21 deadline. This follows President Trump's announcement of pic.twitter.com/lcvvJNNEG6 OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) September 20, 2025 The White House order detailing the new move also mentions that the departments of State and Homeland Security were now authorised to reject entry to petitions that did not comply with the measure. "H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time, New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta said in an X posta sentiment shared by numerous others who will be stranded abroad due to the change in H-1B visa policy. H-1B visa holders who are out of the US on business or vacation will get stranded unless they get in before midnight September 21. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time https://t.co/Ae2q6NKFCF Cyrus Mehta (@cyrusmehta) September 20, 2025 US-based immigration attorney Rajiv Khanna also pointed out a particular clause in the new policy, as per which Homeland Security might consider hiring an individual if it were in the national interest, and if they posed no security threat. The full impact of the H-1B visa policy update on various industries in the US and abroadespecially techis yet to be seen. On September 17, 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan inked the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), a pact declaring that an attack on one is an attack on botha bold echo of NATOs Article 5. Forged in the shadow of Israels September 9 airstrike on Doha, which targeted Hamas leaders with scant US response, this alliance reshapes Middle Eastern and South Asian geopolitics. For India, the SMDA is a stark challenge, amplifying tensions with Pakistan and threatening regional stability A deepening alliance rooted in history The Saudi-Pakistan bond is no fleeting affair. Anchored in shared Sunni identity, their partnership dates back to the 1960s, with Pakistan training Saudi forces and conducting joint exercises. Riyadhs financial aid has long propped up Pakistans fragile economy, with whispers of Saudi funding for Pakistans nuclear programme in the 1980s. The SMDA transforms this informal alliance into a formal pact, potentially laying the groundwork for a broader 'Islamic NATO' involving other Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, wary of Irans growing influence and its Houthi proxies targeting its infrastructure, seeks robust defence options amid doubts over US reliability. For Pakistan, mired in economic collapse, the pact promises financial salvation and strategic clout. The nuclear shadow The pacts nuclear undertones are chilling. Pakistan, the only Muslim nation with nuclear weapons, boasts roughly 170 warheads. While the SMDA avoids explicit mention of nuclear capabilities, its vague reference to all military means suggests a Pakistani nuclear umbrella for Saudi Arabia. This is particularly alarming as Saudi Arabia advances its uranium enrichment programme with Chinese support, potentially bypassing US oversight. This de facto nuclear alignment escalates regional tensions, particularly for India, which faces a Pakistan bolstered by Saudi resources and Chinese arms. Economic lifelines and strategic costs Economically, the pact is a lifeline for Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, a key provider of oil subsidies and home to 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates, is set to funnel over $5 billion into Pakistans defence and infrastructure. This support is vital for Pakistans military modernisation, including new jet fighters, amidst IMF scrutiny. For Saudi Arabia, however, this financial commitment risks straining its Vision 2030 diversification plans. The pacts economic entanglement binds the two nations closer, but raises questions about long-term sustainability. Regional ripples and global shifts The SMDA has sparked alarm across the region. Iran views it as a direct counter to its influence, deepening rivalries in Yemen and Syria. Turkey, despite its NATO membership, sees an opportunity to bolster its Islamic army ambitions, strengthening defence ties with Pakistan through arms sales. The pact also signals waning US influence, underscored by Washingtons passivity during the Doha strike. Gulf states, sensing Americas pivot to Asia, are forging independent security frameworks. Israel, emboldened by its Doha operation, now faces a fortified Saudi-Pakistan axis, halting prospects for Saudi-Israeli normalisation and reinforcing Palestinian solidarity. Indias precarious position For India, the SMDA has strategic implications. Pakistan, already a nuclear-armed rival, gains Saudi financial and strategic backing, narrowing Indias conventional military edge. Saudi investments could modernise Pakistans arsenal, escalating risks in future conflicts, as seen in Indias Operation Sindoor post-Pahalgam. Pakistan is presently managing a delicate equilibrium in its relationships with China and the United States, each considered a close partner, thereby complicating Indias strategic calculations. Indias $43 billion trade with Saudi Arabia, including 18 per cent of its crude oil imports (over 600,000 barrels daily), faces uncertainty if Riyadh tilts further toward Pakistan. India must now bolster its defences, deepen ties with Israelits second-largest arms supplierand engage Gulf states diplomatically to counter the pacts fallout. A potential Sunni military axis risks sparking a costly arms race, diverting resources from Indias economic priorities. Navigating a multipolar future The SMDA heralds a multipolar world where declining US dominance fuels unconventional alliances. India, reliant on Saudi oil and trade, must tread carefully to balance security and economic interests. While the pact does not immediately heighten our nuclear threats, it complicates Indias rivalry with Pakistan, risking entanglement in broader regional conflicts. By strengthening defences and fostering Gulf ties, India can mitigate these challenges, ensuring its sovereignty amid shifting geopolitical tides. The Saudi-Pakistan pact is a wake-up callIndia must act decisively to safeguard its future. While promoting her latest film, Telugu actress Lakshmi Manchu encountered an unpleasant situation when a senior journalist questioned the "dressing sense" of a 47-year-old woman. Lakshmi countered by asking if he would pose the same question to a middle-aged male superstar like Mahesh Babu, and the journalist admitted he would not. She has since filed a complaint with the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, calling out the journalist's behaviour and demanding an apology. FIRSTLY CHANGE THE MINDSET AND BE RESPONSIBLE #lakshmiManchu is on FIRE with facts. pic.twitter.com/TK3ljpBehJ Telugu Bit (@Telugubit) September 16, 2025 In her complaint, Lakshmi wrote: India is a country that reveres women as Shakti, yet when we step into professional spaces, we are subjected to casual misogyny, humiliation, and disrespect. This cannot continue. I owe it not only to myself but to many young women who look up to me to call this out. I will always be open to tough questions, to criticism, and to scrutiny as a public figure. But I will not tolerate cruelty masked as journalism. Respect is not optional. Accountability is not negotiable." Before filing her complaint, Lakshmi released a longer statement, calling the journalist's remarks "belittling" and suggestive of "ageism" and "body shaming." She wrote, "His questions had no intent of understanding my work; they were designed only to provoke, demean, and diminish," while adding that the interviewer's mode of questioning cannot be called "journalism" or "critique" but rather "a blatant attempt to go 'viral' at the cost of another person's dignity." Lakshmi's latest release is Daksha: The Deadly Conspiracy, directed by Vamsee Krishna Malla and co-starring her father, Mohan Babu, P. Samuthirakani, and Chitra Shukla. It's produced jointly by Lakshmi and Mohan Babu. Those who couldn't catch Hridayapoorvam in theatres or are waiting to see it a second time at home video will be pleased to know that the Sathyan Anthikad directorial starring Mohanlal and Malavika Mohanan will be arriving on JioHotstar on September 26, almost a month after its theatrical release. The feel-good film, which also features Sangeeth Prathap ("Premalu") as a key character and Mohanlal's witty sidekick, revolves around a restaurant owner and chef, Sandeep (Mohanlal), who travels to Bengaluru to stay at the home of the late army colonel whose heart now beats in Sandeep's body. A tale of unexpected friendships and dealing with loss of varying degrees, and second chances, Hridayapoorvam marks another solid entry in the filmography of Sathyan Anthikad, who directed Mohanlal in some of his most celebrated classics. In its review of the film, THE WEEK wrote that Mohanlal is "at ease in the role and film" and that it's an "unsurprising cakewalk that doesnt require him to do much heavy lifting, but also one that brings the necessary emotional beats that one finds relatable in a couple of instances." The review also points out that the film's most enjoyable scenes involve the playful banter between Mohanlal and Sangeeth Prathap. ALSO READ: 'Hridayapoorvam' review: Mohanlal brings joy and cheer to Sathyan Anthikad's breezy entertainer Hridayapoorvam is scripted by Sonu TP, based on a story by Akhil Sathyan, Sathyan Anthikad's son and a filmmaker in his own right, who recently wrote and directed the Fahadh Faasil-starrer Pachuvum Athbudha Vilakkum. His twin brother, Akhil Sathyan, also a filmmaker, made his directorial debut with Varane Avashyamund. Anoop is part of the Hridayapoorvam crew as an associate director. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas, Hridayapoorvam has Anu Moothedath handling the camera and K Rajagopal on the edits. Justin Prabhakaran is the film's music composer. Hridayapoorvam sees Mohanlal reuniting with Sathyan Anthikad after a decade. Before this, they worked together in Ennum Eppozhum. The duo collaborated on numerous hits in the 80s, such as Nadodikaattu, Varavelpu, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, and Gandhinagar 2nd Street. In the wake of Congress leader Rahul Gandhis allegation that attempts were made to delete names of 6,018 voters in Karnataka's Aland constituency in the run-up to the 2023 assembly polls, the party-led government in the state is likely to form a special investigation team to probe the case. IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would take a decision in this regard in a day or two. He also accused Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbukumar of lying about sharing information with the CID. Gandhi, while stepping up his vote chori charges against the BJP government at the Centre, claimed that in Aland, systematic attempts were made to delete 6,018 votes. Election Commission of India must stop protecting Vote Chors. They should release all incriminating evidence to Karnataka CID within 1 week. #VoteChoriFactory pic.twitter.com/Abiy1OHLQP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 18, 2025 The deletions, Gandhi said, were done using software and not by individuals, as the process of filling the form was done within seconds and in the early hours of the morning. The Congress leader alleged that, though the local EC officials filed an FIR after the Congress's Aland unit exposed the fraud, the Chief Election Commission blocked the investigation by not providing the required information to the CID. In a direct attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Gandhi accused the CEC of protecting vote chors. The poll panel, however, refuted Gandhis claims and said the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Karnataka had handed over all available information to the Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi district, on September 6, 2023, for completing the investigation. The Karnataka CEO says all data related to the Aland voter deletion has been handed to the police. This follows claims that thousands of voter names were erased from the rolls. The election officer insisted the roll supplements submitted to the EC are complete.#karnataka pic.twitter.com/Mq4Kj0cYSL THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) September 19, 2025 The shared information included objector details such as Form Reference Number, name of the objector, EPIC number, mobile number used for login, mobile number provided for processing, software application medium, IP address, applicant place, form submission date and time, and user creation date, it said. Priyank, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, dismissed the poll panels claims. The CEO has said that all information was provided to the police on September 6, 2023. In that case, why did the CEO's office, on February 4, 2025, write to the Election Commission principal secretary listing out letters written between March 2023 and January 2025 seeking information? The CEO should clarify on why he's lying," he was quoted as saying by the Deccan Herald. India's main adversary is its dependence on other nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a public address in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The speech comes right after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation requiring companies to pay $100,000 annually for each H-1B worker visa. The PM called for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and for the indigenous production of everything from semiconductor chips to ships. Modi said all problems of India have only one solution, and that is self-reliance, while addressing the 'Samudra se Samruddhi' event. We have no major enemy in the world. Our only real enemy is our dependence on other countries. This is our biggest enemy, and together we must defeat this enemy of India, the enemy of dependence, Modi said. He noted that greater foreign dependence leads to greater national failure. "For global peace, stability, and prosperity, the world's most populous country must become self-reliant", Modi said and cautioned that reliance on others compromises national self-respect. #WATCH | Gujarat | Addressing a public rally in Bhavnagar, PM Modi says, "Duniya mein koi hamara bada dushman nahi hai. Agar hamara koi dushman hai toh woh hai dusre deshon par hamari nirbharta..." "Today, India is moving forward with the spirit of 'Vishwabandhu'. We have no pic.twitter.com/f6zNRbN9Rc ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2025 We cannot leave the resolution for the country's development to the dependence on others. We cannot put the future of future generations at stake. There is only one medicine for a hundred sorrows, and that is a self-reliant India," he said Modi said that when the globalisation era began, the then governments focused solely on imports, which led to scams of thousands of crores. "These policies caused significant harm to India's youth and prevented the nation's true potential from emerging," he added. He highlighted India's shipping sector as a major example of the damage caused by flawed policies. Modi said that India had historically a very vibrant shipbuilding industry. "Ships built in India's coastal states once powered domestic and global trade. Even fifty years ago, India used domestically built ships, with over 40 per cent of its import-export conducted through them. Till 50 years ago, our trade was carried out by 40 per cent ships made in India, but this has now come down to just 5 per cent," he said. He called Indian ports the backbone of the nation. The PM also criticised the Congress and said that the party suppressed the inherent talent of Indians by placing restrictions like the licence raj. During the visit to Gujarat, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects related to the maritime sector worth more than Rs 7,870 crore, including the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal today. He also unveiled and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects of the Central and state governments, worth more than Rs 26,354 crore, catering to various sectors in Gujarat. In total, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of development projects worth over 34,200 crore during the visit. With inputs from PTI US President Donald Trump's recent order hiking the annual fee for H-1B visas to a whopping $100,000 will come into effect in a few hours, and Indian visa holders are scrambling for return flights. Amid uncertainties, the US authorities clarified not all would feel the "pain" of the sudden fee hike. According to reports, Indian visa holders, who are already vacationing in India, have cut short their trip and are en route to the nearest airports. Likewise, many Indians who were planning to travel to the country for Diwali have cancelled their trips owing to uncertainties. However, a senior US official clarified that current H-1B visa holders will not be affected by the sudden fee hike. A senior US official told ANI, "Those who are visiting or leaving the country, or visiting India, they don't need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee. $100,000 is only for new and non-current holders." In an unprecedented move, President Trump hiked the fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, and it would come into effect from September 22. About 70 per cent of H-1B visa seekers are Indians, and the move is considered to severely affect Indian youth's 'American dreams'. Trumps decision is likely to impact Indian IT services companies, which have traditionally used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level engineers to the US for client projects and skills development. Reacting to the developments, the Ministry of External Affairs said the move could disrupt families and "is likely to have humanitarian consequences". "The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned", the ministry said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh broadside against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump imposed a staggering USD 100,000 annual fee for H1-B visa, a move that is likely to impact thousands of Indians working in the US. Gandhi reshared on X a 2019 post in which he had called Modi a weak PM, citing two newspaper reportsone on New Delhis acceptance of the USs usage of the term administered Kashmir and the other on the H1-B visa issue not being figured in the talks between Modi and Trump. I repeat, India has a weak PM, Gandhi said in his fresh post, where he attached a media report claiming that Indians hold 71 per cent of H1-B visas and that the US decision would hit them hard. Trumps decision to impose a staggering annual fee for H1-B visas came days after he talked to Modi over the phone and extended birthday wishes to his close friend. The Congress has raked this up, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge mocking the new visa policy as another birthday return gift for Modi. In a long post on X, Kharge listed several moves, perceived to be detrimental to Indian interests, taken by the Trump administration recently. .@narendramodi ji, Indians are pained by the return gifts you have received after the birthday call. Birthday Return Gifts from your Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar Govt! $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, hits Indian tech workers the hardest, 70% of H-1B visa holders are pic.twitter.com/CEcVrdv5tI Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 20, 2025 He cited the 50 per cent tariff imposed on Indian goods, the HIRE Act and the lifting of Chabahar port exemption to claim how India's national interests are being sabotaged. Indian National interests are Supreme. Bear Hugs, Hollow Slogans, Concerts and getting people to chant Modi, Modi is not Foreign Policy!, Kharge said. The latest proclamation signed by Trump is likely to alter how American companies hire skilled foreign workers. Indian nationals receive the majority of H-1B approvals in the US. The new move could have an impact on whether they can continue to stay in the US if their companies decide not to pay the USD 100,000 fee annually now required to retain the visas. Trumps decision is also likely to impact Indian IT services companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, which have traditionally used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level engineers to the US for client projects and skills development. Gandhis fresh attack on Modi, meanwhile, came days after he stepped up his vote chori charges against the BJP-led central government and accused the Election Commission of protecting the vote chors. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged attempts to delete over 6,000 votes from the electoral roll for the Aland Assembly constituency during 2023 Karnataka elections. This is the second probe ordered by the Karnataka government over Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chori' charges. Additional Director General of Police - CID, will head the probe and will be assisted by two Superintendent of Police rank officers - Saidulu Adavath and Shubhanwita. The SIT was formed after Aland MLA B.R. Patil lodged a police complaint stating that 6,670 voters across 256 polling stations were unlawfully removed from the electoral rolls. According to authorities, the SIT has been vested with police station powers under Section 2(U) of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and tasked with investigating all related cases across Karnataka, PTI reported. The SIT will submit its report to the competent courts and also forward it to the state government. Recently, during a press conference in Delhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, alleged attempts were made to delete names of over 6,000 voters from the electoral roll for Aland constituency in the run-up to the election. According to Gandhi, though the Karnataka police launched a probe, the Election Commission has been refusing to share details with the probe team. Gandhi charged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was protecting the vote chors. However, the Election Commission denied the allegations and said though it received 6,018 applications enmasse for deletion of votes, after due checks, only 24 names were removed from the list; the remaining 5,994 applications were rejected. The Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, denied Gandhi's allegations and said it had registered an FIR with Kalburgi police in 2023 itself and had shared all available details with investigators. Valley-based insurgent groups like the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) are under the scanner after the fatal attack on Assam Rifles in Manipurs Bishnupur district on Friday. The attack comes at a time when renewed activity of the proscribed outfit has been noticed ahead of its Raising Day on September 25. We bow in deepest respect to Nb Sub (GD) Shyam Gurung (East Khasi Hills, #Meghalaya) & Rifleman (GD) Ranjeet Singh Kashyap (Bastar, #Chhattisgarh) of #AssamRifles, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at Bishnupur, #Manipur #Today. Their courage will inspire pic.twitter.com/RXDwOYV3vn PRO Defence, Manipur, Nagaland & South Arunachal (@prodefkohima) September 19, 2025 While no outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Assam Rifles so far, security sources suspect it to be the handiwork of insurgent groups active in the Valley. The PLA, being the most dominant group, continues to run underground camps in the Valley, especially in districts like Bishnupur and Thoubal that open up access into Myanmar through routes criss-crossing hill districts of Chandel and Kamjong. In recent days, intelligence sources said the PLA cadres were actively preparing for their Raising Day, and the attack on Assam Rifles is suspected to be a desperate bid to assert presence and put the spotlight on its demand of liberating Manipur. It has been New Delhis worry that its porous borders with neighbouring countries, whether it is Bangladesh or Myanmar, can provide a safe haven to militant groups who have enjoyed Chinese funding and continue to run their bases within and outside Indian territory. Last year, the PLA observed its Raising Day in Thoubal district, where its political wing referred to the students' protests in Bangladesh among other geopolitical factors that allegedly had a bearing on the Northeastern state. The armed cadres of PLA and United National Liberation Front factions are still active in the Valley. Their underground cadres are targeting security forces to derail the peace process, said a senior security official in Manipur. In 2023, the government signed a peace agreement with the United National Liberation Front, one of the oldest Valley-based insurgent groups, but some of its factions are still creating a nuisance for security forces. While the Pambei group supported the peace agreement, the UNLF-Koireng faction opposed it. The latest peace initiatives by New Delhi in trying to bridge the divide between the Hill and Valley districts are being opposed by these militant groups, who want to keep the pot boiling. At least a dozen insurgent groups are active in the valley, including the UNLF (K), RPF/PLA, factions of KYKL, PREPAK, and KCP, besides UPRFM, CorCom (an alliance of UNLF, RPF/PLA, PREPAK), and ASUK, a grouping of KCP and KYKL supported by Myanmar-based NSCN(K). Valley-based insurgent groups are backed by Naga insurgent groups like NSCN(K) that are also trying to derail the peace initiatives, with a vested interest in putting a spanner in efforts to fence the porous Indo-Myanmar border, which has, for long, given a free run to militant groups smuggling arms and ammunition into Manipur, Nagaland, and other Northeastern states. Recent operations by security forces against the Valley and Hill-based insurgent groups have prompted them to consolidate on either side. The renewal of the Suspension of Operations pact with Hill-based militant groups like Kuki National Organisation and United Peoples Front under renegotiated conditionslike relocating camps away from areas vulnerable to ethnic clashes and reducing the number of designated campshas also stirred the militant outfits to sow seeds of further unrest. Security sources said the latest attack on the Assam Rifles is already being used as an excuse by the Hill-based insurgents to complicate matters further. The ability of the armed outfits in the Valley to strike at security forces is likely to once again spur the hill insurgents to demand a separate administration, citing lack of trust in local governance, said an official. The attack on the Assam Rifles, therefore, has repercussions not just on law and order in Manipur but also on ongoing efforts to restore peace and normalcy through peaceful dialogue between the two sides. What continues to pose a major challenge is the continuing movement of armed cadres of the Valley-based insurgent groups, derailing peace several months after Biren Singh resigned as chief minister, paving the way for Presidents rule in Manipur. Train services were disrupted after Kurmi members, under the banner of Adivasi Kurmi Samaj (AKS), staged a rail blockade protest in Jharkhand and West Bengal, demanding the inclusion of the community in the Scheduled Tribe (SC) category. Defying prohibitory orders, thousands of people, led by Mandu MLA Tiwari Mahto, squatted on the track at Charhi railway station in Jharkhand, halting all train movements. The sudden agitation caught hundreds of long route passengers off guard and left them stranded for hours. "At least three trains, including Hatia-Barddhaman Memu and Tatanagar-Gua-Tatanagar Memu, have been cancelled, one has been short-terminated and four were controlled," the railways said in a statement. Ramgarh, Jharkhand: A large number of people from the Kurmi community gathered on railway tracks as part of their Rail Roko protest, demanding the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the ST category pic.twitter.com/JYpd2HEWYm IANS (@ians_india) September 20, 2025 Even though the railway authorities deployed additional personnel to manage the crowd, the protesters refused to relent. They raised slogans highlighting years of alleged neglect faced by the community. The agitators demand ST status for the community, alleging that the Other Backward Classes are not getting the benefits that the STs receive through quotas. They also demand official recognition of Kurmi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Addressing the crowd, Mahto vowed to continue the stir until their demands are met by both the state and the central governments. "This is a peaceful protest, but it will intensify if our legitimate demands are ignored. The government must act decisively," he said. The Ranchi administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS in a 300-metre radius of various stations falling in the district. In Jamshedpur, the Railway Protection Force said a few women tried to stage protest but they were whisked away at the gates. It said local trains are passing through the station without any disruptions. VIDEO | West Bengal: Heavy police presence at Khemasuli Railway Station in view of rail blockade called by the Kurmi community. The Kurmi community is demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and inclusion of Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.#BengalNews pic.twitter.com/zGzpYzmuBw Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 20, 2025 In West Bengal, the protesters, led by state president Rajesh Mahato, plans to conduct rail blockade road blockade protests in Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and Paschim Medinipur. India could gain from US President Donald Trump's move to impose a hefty fee of $100,000 for H-1B visas, said S Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister. Reacting to the development, Dev said the move could add momentum to India's 'Viksit Bharat' vision. The Council member said the move would deter talented professionals from leaving the country and launch startups in top Indian cities. "We will have more startups, more companies in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gurgaon," Dev told ANI. He added that the hefty visa fee would also encourage youths to look for opportunities in other countries. US President Trump signed a proclamation, increasing the fee for H1-B visas to a staggering $100,000 annually. The move could heavily impact Indian techies seeking a visa in the US. Trump's move will impact how American companies hire skilled foreign workers. Indian nationals reportedly receive the majority of H-1B approvals. Trumps decision is likely to impact Indian IT services companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, which have traditionally used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level engineers to the US for client projects and skills development. The Opposition Congress targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the hike in visa fees. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came down heavily and said, "India has a weak PM." Reacting to the development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern that the steep hike would affect families. "This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. The government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities," official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement. An attempt to block the return of the snapback mechanism against Iran, which France, Germany and the United Kingdom triggered in late August, collapsed at the Security Council yesterday, despite weeks of diplomatic parleys to reach a consensus. The measures will now be fully in force by the end of the month, restoring the sanctions regime that existed before the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Only China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria backed the proposal put forth by South Korea, the council president. Nine membersthe United States, Britain, France, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, Panama and Somaliavoted against the motion. Guyana and South Korea abstained. The outcome sealed the diplomatic breakdown, confirming that the Europeans, despite years of delicate mediation, have chosen to confront Iran over its nuclear programme. #BREAKING Security Council FAILS TO ADOPT draft resolution aimed to prevent snapback of sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. The text which sought to maintain sanctions relief did not get the required nine votes. In Favor: 4 Against: 9 Abstain: 2 pic.twitter.com/8mFsjOEbrc UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 19, 2025 For months, the European powers have accused Iran of systematically breaching the JCPOA. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported in June that Tehrans stockpile of enriched uranium exceeded the agreements limit by more than 40 times. The agency also concluded that Iran was not meeting wider international safeguards. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Tehrans attempts to avoid the snapback were not serious, and European officials argued that they could no longer ignore such violations. The sanctions being restored will replicate those in place before 2015. They cover restrictions on ballistic missile development, a ban on conventional arms transfers, freezes on Iranian financial assets abroad and limitations on nuclear-related technology. Although Iran has already been hit hard by years of American maximum pressure, the return of UN measures adds legitimacy to Washingtons approach and underlines Irans deepening isolation. Russia and China denounced the decision, accusing the Europeans of using the Security Council as a political weapon and destroying nearly a decade of painstaking diplomacy. Moscow described the move as a bad-faith play, while Beijing insisted that sanctions would not resolve the nuclear issue. For both, the vote reflected Europes alignment with Washington after years of attempting to maintain strategic distance. This morning (19 September), the #UNSC failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have continued providing sanctions relief for #Iran under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The draft text received 4 votes in favour, 9 against, and 2 abstentions. pic.twitter.com/mmb6HmT8lB Security Council Report (@SCRtweets) September 19, 2025 Iran itself reacted angrily. Officials called the snapback unjustified, illegal and without legal basis, and branded it a direct assault on international law. Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans ambassador to the UN, accused the Europeans of abusing the JCPOA mechanism and pursuing politically motivated goals. Todays action is hasty, unnecessary and unlawful. Iran recognises no obligation to implement it, said Iravani. Any attempt by the E3 to reimpose sanctions already terminated is not only baseless but a direct assault on international law and the credibility of the Security Council itself. Tehran maintains that it upheld its commitments until 2018, when US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the deal and reimposed sanctions. Iranian leaders now warn that they may be forced to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether, a step that would echo North Koreas move in 2003 and could pave the way for nuclear weapons development. The implementation of the snapback mechanism should be seen against the backdrop of the conflict in June, when Israel, supported by the United States, launched a twelve-day offensive against Iran. Air strikes destroyed or damaged several nuclear facilities and weakened Iranian air defences. At the IAEAs General Conference soon after, Iran, backed by Russia and China, introduced a resolution condemning what it described as deliberate and unlawful attacks on its nuclear sites. The text was withdrawn after intense US lobbying, with Washington warning that funding for the agency could be reduced if measures seen as hostile to Israel were adopted. American officials defended the strikes as decisive action ordered by President Trump to counter the growing nuclear threat. Despite the hostile exchanges, Britain insisted that the door to diplomacy remained open. The Europeans had earlier offered to postpone the snapback for six months if Iran granted full inspector access and engaged in direct talks with Washington. Yet the EUs foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has admitted that the opportunity for a negotiated solution is closing quickly. The sanctions may not inflict much additional economic pain beyond what Iran already suffers under US measures. The political consequences, however, are expected to be severe, pushing any new agreement further out of reach. Experts caution against assuming that the June air strikes have ended the nuclear threat, pointing out that Iran retains the capacity to rebuild its programme. The risk, they argue, is of sliding into a cycle of repeated military action, a forever war that fails to deliver lasting security. The U.S. Department of Labor announced the launch of Project Firewall, an initiative that aims to protect the rights, wages, and jobs of skilled American workers. The initiative was announced right after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. What is Project Firewall? Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the US Secretary of Labour, said in the official press release, The Trump Administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. As we re-establish economic dominance, we must protect our most valuable resource: the American worker. Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our workforce, The days of employers abusing H-1B Visas are over. Introducing PROJECT FIREWALLour plan to ensure high-skilled jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST pic.twitter.com/XPwBJSZfto U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) September 19, 2025 In addition to the $100,000 fee for applicants, the project also intends to hold employers accountable if they violate or abuse the visa process. The project will allow the Secretary of Labor to personally certify investigations into violations, a first for the department. Violations could lead to monetary penalties, back wages, and employer exclusion from the visa program for a prescribed amount of time. By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first, Chavez-Deremer said. The Office of Immigration Policy, Employment and Training Administration, and Wage and Hour Division will lead Project Firewall within the Department of Labor. They will be working in tandem with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Indians make up a majority of all H-1B applications. The hike in the fees will make U.S. employers reconsider hiring from outside the country. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said that the fee hike is a "reckless attempt to cut America off from high-skilled workers who have long strengthened our workforce, fuelled innovation, and helped build industries that employ millions of Americans." It is still unclear how the project will affect foreign nationals who are currently in the US on H-1B visas. The couple of little experiments that I have carried out with AI suggest to me that at least this far, it does not have a sense of humour. And it is not original. What it can do is to duplicate things that have been fed into it. But good art is original, and I dont think that AI has an original bone in its body. Salman Rushdie author The unexpected defeat [to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series] has sent Indian cricket fans into a tizzy. They ask why our side lost so badly on tracks they knew much better than their opponents. The more self-aware fans will ask whether our obsession with the Indian Premier League has led to our becoming less competitive in Test cricket. Ramachandra Guha historian I think people who believe in God are egoistic. To believe that, despite being just one among trillions of creatures created by God, one deserves special treatment if they believe in and pray to God is a highly egoistic [notion]. Whats in your hands is what you are capable of. Dont depend on an external power for that. Ram Gopal Varma filmmaker Traffic rules are the same for everyone. The vehicle is religion and adhering to traffic rules is dharma. Religion can be changed, but dharma cannot [be changed]. Dattatreya Hosabale RSS leader We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please visit my profile to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, disable notifications and hide this message. Local survival stories, rising costs and all manner of diplomacy dominates our reading tonight as we check pop culture, community reporting and top headlines for late night & early morning denizens of the cowtown discourse . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . 8 & 3/4ths Lives Left . . . Kitten recovering from leg amputation after being shot by pellet gun Shot with a pellet gun and left for dead, a 13-month-old kitten in Kansas City is recovering after having its leg amputated Monday. Friday Forgiveness 'I forgive him': Man whose brother died in Independence house explosion speaks out The surviving brother who was involved in a house explosion in Independence said his deceased brother had been fighting addiction and mental illness. Local Street Life Dreams 'Reconnecting the East Side' project seeks to reimagine US 71 Highway The City of Kansas City, Missouri, is asking residents for help in reimagining U.S. 71 Highway as part of the "Reconnecting the East Side" project. Slow News Day Passengers report delays Friday afternoon at Kansas City International Airport Several passengers at Kansas City International Airport reported delays Friday afternoon for both arriving and departing flights. Dead-Tree Accusations KC-based American Shaman hit with new lawsuit over 'dangerous' gas station drug Owner Vince Sanders and his company were the subjects of a recent three-part investigative series by the Kansas City Star about the smoke shop drug. For Old Time's Sake Madonna, 67, nearly busts out of sheer lace dress in racy photo shoot Madonna left little to the imagination in a sheer lace dress with a plunging neckline in photos she posted on Instagram to announce a sequel to her "Confessions on a Dance Floor" album. MAGA Demands Money Trump to impose $100K fee on H-1B visas in new immigration action | CNN Politics President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday that would impose a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas - an effort to curb overuse of the program, a White House official told CNN. Meet New White House Boss?!? Socialist 'Squad' member AOC eyeing 2028 presidential run: report Ocasio-Cortez has also doled out millions this year on growing her social media presence and obtaining a list of possible supporters and donors. Counselor Cancelled US attorney tasked with inquiring into Trump critics resigns after president says 'I want him out' Erik Siebert leaving after his investigation finds insufficient evidence to charge New York'a attorney general Letitia James with a crime Debating Supreme Walking Papers Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow end of deportation protections for Venezuelans The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a case about its efforts to end temporary protected status for Venezuelans. GOP Argues For Free Speech 'Dangerous as hell': Ted Cruz compares FCC chair's threats against ABC to mob tactics | CNN Politics GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday denounced Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr's threats to pull ABC's broadcast license as "unbelievably dangerous" and compared some of his rhetoric to "mafioso" tactics. We All Have Our Probs Hot mum moans it's 'not easy' being stuck in a mid-thirties body and feeling 20 A HOT mum has complained it's not easy having such an attractive, youthful appearance. Jen Ferguson, 34, who describes herself as "not your typical mum", often shows off her... Local Animal Advocate Honored Kansas City animal activist wins service award for helping shelter dogs get adopted Scott Poore, founder of On A Mission KC, helps overlooked pets find a home and provides resources for rural animal shelters. It recently earned him the Spirit of Service award from the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, which came with a check for $20,000 to continue his work. Maybe Soggy Weekend Rain chances across the Kansas City metro this weekend It's not expected to be a washout this weekend, but those with outdoor plans will want an umbrella. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry has issued a statement on 20 September State Sovereignty Day, Trend reports. "Today marks State Sovereignty Day in Azerbaijan. On 19-20 September 2023, local anti-terror measures were carried out in less than 24 hours to disarm the remnants of the armed forces of Armenia and completely remove them from the Karabakh region of our country, and to restore the sovereignty and constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan in these territories. The restoration of sovereignty over its lands by Azerbaijan on 20 September is not only one of the most glorious pages in our history, but also a triumph of international law and justice. The glorious armed forces of Azerbaijan, led by the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, are the main architects of this victory. It was the determination of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the courage of our armed forces that ensured this victory. Despite the commitments it took as a result of the Patriotic War in 2020, it was known that Armenia not only did not withdraw its armed forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the course of nearly three years until 2023, but also deployed additional weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and landmines in Azerbaijans territories. The Armenian sides continued propaganda of the so-called regime it created in our territories by all means, its congratulations to the separatist regime on the so-called independence on 2 September 2023, the so-called presidential elections conducted on 9 September, as well as the military provocation that killed 6 Azerbaijanis on 19 September, further aggravated the situation. It was imperative to prevent such behavior by Armenia and its so-called regime, which did not give up its groundless claims against the territories of Azerbaijan, grossly violated the principles of international law, and continued its policy of aggression. Despite the provocative efforts and propaganda of the Armenian side, during the anti-terror measures, the civilian population was not targeted, and civilian infrastructure was not damaged; only legitimate military infrastructure and facilities were destroyed. Azerbaijani soldiers and military officers demonstrated true heroism, patriotism, and self-sacrifice. After the restoration of Azerbaijans state sovereignty in 2023, efforts to normalize Armenian-Azerbaijani relations were further intensified. On 8 August 2025, a historic meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia was held in Washington. As a result of the meeting, a Joint Statement was signed by the leaders. Azerbaijan and Armenia initialed the text of the peace agreement. Furthermore, in accordance with appeal of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures, a remnant of the past conflict, were terminated by the decision of the OSCE Ministerial Council on 1 September 2025. The outcomes of the Washington meeting once again confirmed the peace agenda put forward by Azerbaijan. In order not to miss this historic peace opportunity and to sign the peace agreement, it is necessary to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan in the constitution of Armenia. On this historically important day, we deeply honor the dear memory of our sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Happy State Sovereignty Day, Azerbaijan! the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, currently on an official visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Alley of Honors on September 20 to pay tribute to the memory of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, Heydar Aliyev, and laid flowers at his grave, Trend reports. The visit also included a tribute to the prominent ophthalmologist and academic, Zarifa Aliyeva, with fresh flowers placed on her grave. In addition, the graves of prominent public and state figure Aziz Aliyev and talented physician Tamerlan Aliyev were visited, and flowers were laid in their memory. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, Trend reports. He paid tribute to the Azerbaijani martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity, and laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. President Paul Kagame then viewed Baku from a panoramic point and was briefed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs and the citys redevelopment efforts. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. Rwanda has also supported most of our initiatives aimed at strengthening solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement and joined them, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a joint press statement with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Trend reports. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Mr. President, Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, First of all, I'd like to express gratitude to Mr. President for visiting Azerbaijan. We met last time in Baku last November at COP 29, and at that time I invited Mr. President to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. I'm very grateful that he accepted my invitation, and today is an official visit to our country. I'm sure that this visit will give additional impetus to our bilateral ties. We have already discussed different aspects of our cooperation and expressed the mutual will to deepen and broaden our partnership. Azerbaijan and Rwanda are good partners and friends. We participate jointly in different international institutions and always support each other. During our chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, Rwanda always supported us. They supported us to be elected chair, and then, when our chairmanship was extended for one more year, they also supported us and joined many of our initiatives to strengthen solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement. Definitely, we always actively cooperate in the United Nations and extend mutual support to each other. I'm glad that in recent years our relations have become more result-oriented. There have been different delegations from Azerbaijan visiting Rwanda. Last year, the delegation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation visited Rwanda, and I'm grateful to Mr. President for receiving the Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva. She was very impressed with what she had seenthe large-scale development of the country and also the commitment of the people to statehood, independence, and their independent policy. We are also glad that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has a chance to support educational programs in your country. By the way, this area, I think, should be one of the priorities in our bilateral relationship. I looked at some information prior to Mr. President's visit and found out that we have only one student from Rwanda studying in Azerbaijan. I think we can jointly work to increase the number of students. It's within the framework of the state scholarship of Azerbaijan. There was a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year and also a delegation from the ASAN Agency, the public services agency, to Rwanda with respect to established cooperation and maybe to set up something similar to ASAN. I have already discussed it with Mr. President. He will be visiting one of the public services centers in Azerbaijan and will be very glad if we can provide technical and financial assistance in order to establish this kind of agency in Rwanda. We discussed today opportunities in the energy sector. Both our countries are actively working on that, and also in the area of mining, where there is potential to strengthen our cooperation. We just need to have maybe more regular contacts on different levels and exchanges of business delegations, delegations of different ministries, in order to explore the opportunities of doing business together and also investment opportunities. I expressed our readiness to engage in investment projects in Rwanda, and I'm sure that the visit of Mr. President, our discussions, and the discussion which will follow the press conference will create a very solid platform for partnership in the economic and trade area. We have an excellent political relationship, so we need to have the same level of relationship in all other areas. Once again, Mr. President, thank you for visiting us. I wish you a pleasant stay. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaija BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, and the delegation led by him commenced their visit to Serbia at the invitation of the Chief of General Staff, Serbian Armed Forces General Milan Mojsilovic, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense told Trend. First, the monument of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in Tasmajdan park in Belgrade was visited, a wreath was laid and his memory was honored. During the visit, Colonel General K.Valiyev held discussions with his Serbian counterpart on the prospects for enhancing military cooperation and attended the military parade held in Belgrade. The events were attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Serbia, Kamil Khasiyev. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. A range of events was held across the Azerbaijan Army on the occasion of 20 September, State Sovereignty Day, Trend reports. The ceremonies commenced with a tribute to the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. Personnel of the Azerbaijan Army were conveyed the congratulations of the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov. The speeches emphasized that by the Decree signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, on September 19, 2024, September 20 is celebrated as State Sovereignty Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan every year. It was proudly stated that the ideas of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev regarding the happy future of Azerbaijan are being successfully continued by the worthy successor of his political legacy, the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. It was noted that the 44-day Patriotic War and subsequent operations carried out in 2020 for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan were a historic mission that made an unparalleled contribution to sustainable peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus. It was highlighted that State Sovereignty Day is a symbol of the centuries-old struggle of the Azerbaijani people for independence, the full restoration of the constitutional structure of the state in all the territories, the strengthening of national solidarity, and the celebration of the path to independent statehood. As part of the events, personnel of the Azerbaijan Army visited the graves of Martyrs, laid wreaths, and honored their memory with solemn respect and reverence. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. During a hearing at the Sabayil District Court in Baku, Adnan Ahmadzada was ordered to remain in custody for four months, Trend reports. Ahmadzada faces charges brought by the State Security Service, including subversive activities threatening economic security and embezzlement of funds on a particularly large scale. Previously, Ahmadzada served as the deputy head of the investment department at SOCAR. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konakovic, met with the Charge dAffaires of the United States Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, John Ginkel, Trend reports. During the meeting, Minister Konakovic expressed gratitude for the continuous assistance and support that the United States, as the countrys most important partner, provides to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He expressed hope that the two countries will continue to work together and contribute to the development of friendly relations in areas of mutual interest. He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to European and Euro-Atlantic integration as well as to implementing reforms. The meeting also covered the current political situation in the country and security challenges. The importance of maintaining security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina was highlighted as a prerequisite for stronger economic development and attracting investments. In this context, the countrys energy potential through joint projects and strategic initiatives was emphasized. Charge dAffaires Ginkel confirmed the United States commitment to maintaining and deepening cooperation and partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina in all fields. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. As part of his working visit to Washington, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, Timco Mucunski, held separate meetings with Congressmen Robert Aderholt, Claudia Tenney, and Daniel Webster, Trend reports. The meetings focused on bilateral relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States, NATO alliance matters, the modernization of the Army, as well as North Macedonias perspective on developments in the Western Balkans and the European integration process. Special emphasis was placed on advancing parliamentary cooperation, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and the development of democracy, as well as on shared security and hybrid challenges. In this context, continued support from the United States for the countrys reform processes was also highlighted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. Following the successful completion of the synchronization of the Baltic States with the continental European power grid earlier this year, the transmission system operators of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are moving on to the next phase: strengthening resilience to hybrid security threats, Trend reports. ''To this end, the operators have applied for European Union funding to support projects aimed at protecting critical infrastructure connected to the Baltic synchronization,'' the information notes. The connection of the Baltic power systems to continental Europe this February was a success, but the work is not over. We are now entering the next stage of the synchronization projects: strengthening resilience, said Acting Minister of Energy Zygimantas Vaiciunas. The security situation in the Baltic Sea Region remains tense, so measures are needed to protect critical energy infrastructure from potential cyber and physical attacks. By supporting and providing assistance to Ukraine, we are learning lessons from them in critical infrastructure protection. We aim to make the Baltic Sea Region a model for strengthening the security and resilience of critical infrastructure across Europe. Litgrid CEO Rokas Masiulis added, We are planning investments to ensure the security, reliability, and stability of the power system and energy supply. The use of protective measures is wide-ranging from protective barriers and drone neutralization to measures designed to quickly restore the operation of damaged infrastructure. We are working together with our partners in Estonia, Latvia, and Poland this is not only a national, but also a pan-European security project. On February 8, the Baltic States disconnected from the IPS/UPS system, and the following day, they successfully connected their power systems to the synchronous grid of Continental Europe. Synchronization allows the Baltic States to manage their electricity systems in cooperation with other European countries, ensuring stable frequency regulation, energy independence, and stronger energy security across the region. The Continental European network serves more than 400 million users in 26 countries. The transmission system operators Litgrid (Lithuania), AST (Latvia), Elering (Estonia), and PSE (Poland) have jointly applied to the European Commissions Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for partial funding to implement resilience projects. The total investment amounts to 382 million, including 82 million for Lithuania. Litgrids program alone includes 13 projects, seven of which are seeking CEF support. These initiatives cover the physical protection of critical facilities, the creation of emergency and crisis reserves for transmission network assets, the installation of electronic safety systems, drone detection and neutralization technologies, enhanced perimeter security, and preparedness to operate in critical mode. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. Tallinn hosted Korea Export Day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing together Estonian companies, Korean partners, and industry experts to explore new cooperation opportunities and share insights on entering the Korean market, Trend reports. The business seminar was opened by Mariin Ratnik, Deputy Undersecretary for Economic and Development Cooperation at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She noted that ties between Estonia and Korea have grown significantly in recent years. We opened our embassy in Seoul in 2020 and a business center in 2023, while Korea established its embassy in Tallinn earlier this year, Ratnik said. Estonian exports to Korea have increased by nearly 50 percent over the past two years, with defense industry cooperation emerging as a major new sector. Ratnik highlighted the example of Koreas aerospace and defense company Hanwha Aerospace, which has signed cooperation agreements with Estonian firms Milrem, Nortal, and SensusQ. Other focus areas include timber and wooden houses, energy, maritime and shipbuilding, biotechnology, and the food and beverage sector. The event also featured remarks by Estonian Ambassador to Korea Tanel Sepp, Korean Ambassador to Estonia Ileung Kim, and Enterprise Estonias Head of Export Department Eva-Kristiina Ponomarjov. An overview of Koreas economy and business opportunities was presented by Samsik Lee, Director General of KOTRA Helsinki. Lee pointed to opportunities for Estonias timber industry, noting that Koreans jokingly refer to their country as the Republic of Apartments since more than half the population lives in apartment blocksmany of which are now in need of renovation. A panel discussion on defense industry cooperation included Hanwha Aerospace Romania Senior Vice President Peter Bae, Milrems Director of Industrial Partnerships Paul Clayton, and Estonian Defense Industry Association Cluster Manager Rene Ehasalu. The discussion was moderated by Carmel Tellis, Deputy Head of Mission at the Estonian Embassy in Seoul. Participants agreed that building trust requires face-to-face meetings and mutually beneficial partnerships rather than one-off projects. Bae emphasized that investment can take many formsfrom product orders and joint development to direct investments or joint venturesand encouraged Estonian companies to collaborate with Hanwha. Ehasalu stressed that long-term partnerships are key in Korea, while Clayton compared building cooperation with Korean partners to learning a dancefirst observing and evaluating, then taking steps toward deeper collaboration. A separate discussion on green technologies and the energy sector, moderated by Enterprise Estonias Marek Roostar, featured Samsung C&T Senior Vice President Jung E. Kim, Fermi Energia CEO Kalev Kallemets, and Estonian Green Technology Association CEO Kadi Ristkok. Ristkok underlined the importance of moving beyond pilot projects toward scalable business opportunities. Enterprise Estonias Korea export advisor Soyoung Im and business center project manager Hyejeong Yu presented upcoming plans for 20252026, inviting Estonian companies interested in the Korean market to get involved. The day concluded with sector-specific matchmaking sessions, where participants explored concrete business opportunities and exchanged advice with experts from both Estonia and Korea. Irans economic footprint in Azerbaijan shrinks in 6M2025 Direct foreign investments from Iran into Azerbaijans economy totaled about $180 million in the first half of the year, marking a slight decline from the previous period. Overall, Azerbaijan attracted more than $3.2 billion in foreign investments during the same timeframe, while its overseas investments rose to nearly $1.4 billion. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 20. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree granting the state-owned concern Turkmenhimiya the right to conclude a contract with the Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and the Turkish company Gap Insaat Yatirim ve Dis Tiaret A. S. for the construction of a large industrial complex in the Turkmenbashi district of the Balkan region, Trend reports. The plant will be designed to produce 1,155,000 tons of urea per year, along with developing the surrounding areas. Construction is scheduled to start in July 2026, with commissioning planned for February 2030. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), a Japanese multinational corporation specializing in engineering, electronics, and industrial machinery, is a core company of the Mitsubishi Group. Gap Insaat Yatrm ve Dis Tiaret A.S. is a leading Turkish construction company established in 1996, and it is part of the Calk Group, with a long history of carrying out large-scale infrastructure, industrial, and real estate projects internationally, including in Turkmenistan. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a working visit to New York on September 2024 to attend the events of the 80th jubilee session of the United Nations General Assembly, Trend reports via the Uzbek president's office. On the opening day of the general debate, the head of state will deliver the keynote address at the plenary session of the UN General Assembly. This years jubilee session will focus on pressing issues, including strengthening global security and stability, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, reforming the United Nations and international financial architecture, addressing the consequences of climate change, and tackling other contemporary global challenges. On the sidelines of the summit, President Mirziyoyev will hold meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, heads of state and government, as well as leaders of major international financial institutions. As part of his business program in the United States, the Uzbek leader is also expected to meet with representatives of leading American companies and investment structures. A package of new agreements and contracts is planned to be signed. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. A delegation of Uzbekistan led by Nozimjon Kholmurodov, First Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, paid a working visit to the port city of Aqaba to explore opportunities for expanding trade, transport, and investment cooperation as part of the official mission to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Trend reports. The delegation included representatives of leading Uzbek enterprises as well as senior officials of relevant government agencies. Aqaba, recognized as a key transport and logistics hub of the region, accounts for nearly 65 percent of Jordans imports and 80 percent of its exports. During the visit, the Uzbek delegation studied the operations of the Industrial Free Economic Zone, held meetings with resident companies, and engaged in negotiations with the leadership of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. Particular attention was devoted to the infrastructure of the Aqaba Container Terminal, which has an annual throughput capacity of 1.3 million containers, along with the citys advanced logistics and warehousing facilities. Following the visit, the parties highlighted Aqabas strong potential as a strategic logistics and investment hub, established direct business contacts, and outlined practical areas for future cooperation. Meanwhile, in August of this year, another Uzbek delegation led by Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov held a series of official meetings in Jordan. A key outcome of those discussions was the agreement to prepare a draft preferential trade agreement between the two countries, marking the beginning of a new stage in the development of bilateral economic relations. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov, met with Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, and they signed a communique, Trend reports via Saidovs post on the X platform. Together, we signed the Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Kenya is demonstrating remarkable progress as one of Africas most dynamic economies and a hub for technology and innovation, Saidov wrote. He added, We discussed a wide range of opportunities for fruitful cooperation that will bring tangible benefits to the peoples of both nations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. The Contract of the Century, signed in Baku on September 20, 1994, was Azerbaijans first and most significant step in attracting foreign investment to its oil sector. The agreement established the first large-scale production-sharing contract for the joint development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) fields in the Caspian Sea with an international consortium. The main participants included 13 leading oil companies from eight countries: Azerbaijan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Turkiye, Norway, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Key shares were allocated as follows: BP (United Kingdom) 17.12 percent, Ramco (UK) 2.08 percent, Amoco (USA) 17.01 percent, Unocal (USA) 11.2 percent, Pennzoil (USA) 9.81 percent, McDermott (USA) 2.45 percent, Lukoil (Russia) 10 percent, Statoil (Norway) 8.56 percent, Turkish Petroleum 1.75 percent, and SOCAR 20 percent. The contract successfully implemented Azerbaijans new oil strategy and doctrine. Initial recoverable reserves were estimated at 511 million tons and later revised to 730 million tons based on appraisal wells, with investment requirements of $11.5 billion. The contract was originally set for 30 years and extended in 2017 until 2050. A revised agreement was signed for deeper sections of the ACG fields, which included a $3.6 billion bonus for Azerbaijan from foreign investors, SOCAR participation as a contractor, an increase in SOCARs share from 11.6 percent to 25 percent, and a 75 percent share of profit oil for Azerbaijan. By 2025, 436 million tons of oil had been produced from ACG, with an estimated 500 million tons of oil still remaining. The Contract of the Century attracted billions of dollars in foreign investment, setting an example in the post-Soviet space and establishing Azerbaijan as a stable and reliable country for investors. Revenues from the contract significantly strengthened the state budget, funding infrastructure, social programs, military modernization, and other sectors. The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), established in 1999, ensured transparent and efficient management of oil revenues, protecting resources for future generations and maintaining economic stability. The agreement linked Azerbaijan closely with the West in energy matters, making the U and the European Union important energy partners and strengthening the countrys international position. It also laid the foundation for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, enabling Caspian oil to reach global markets. Thanks to this contract and the subsequent strategic steps, Azerbaijan emerged as the energy leader of the South Caucasus, enhancing its influence in the region and positioning the country as a key player in regional initiatives. At the time of the agreement, Azerbaijan faced economic instability, but the contract demonstrated that foreign states and companies had a vested interest in the countrys stability and proved that Azerbaijan, as an independent nation, was fully capable of managing its own energy policy. The Contract of the Century fundamentally transformed Azerbaijans economy and energy sector. It created thousands of jobs, allowed Azerbaijani specialists to gain international experience and technological knowledge, and facilitated the education of thousands of students abroad. Social infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, and hospitals, were funded from oil revenues. Today, Azerbaijan is working to develop a post-oil economic model, with the Contract of the Century providing the necessary capital and experience base. It represents a turning point in Azerbaijans history of independence, political stability, economic growth, international influence, and geostrategic balance, serving not just as an oil contract but as a platform for the countrys long-term development and energy strategy. The BTC pipeline has transported 605 million tons of crude oil since 2006. In the first half of 2025, approximately 13 million tons (106 million barrels) of crude oil and condensate were exported through BTC, with operational costs of around $60 million and capital expenditures of $30 million. Since its launch, a total of 4.6 billion barrels of crude oil have been transported via the 1,768 km BTC pipeline. Since the start of production in the ACG block until September 1, 2025, 612.2 million tons of crude oil and 238.7 billion cubic meters of associated gas have been produced. SOCAR currently holds the largest share in the ACG contract at 31.65 percent. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan paid an official visit to Georgia, where he met with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other senior officials, Trend reports. The talks, held at the Government Administration in Tbilisi, brought together members of both countries cabinets. Georgias Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, and Eagle Hills Group founder and chairman, Mohamed Alabbar, signed agreements paving the way for two large-scale investment projects in Georgia worth a total of $6 billion. The official signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Kobakhidze and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, underscoring the importance of the agreements for strengthening bilateral economic ties. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. Uzbekistans Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov, met with Wu Bingjun, Chairman of the Board of the Chinese company Transit Group Tianjin Rail, to discuss prospective projects aimed at developing urban transport infrastructure, Trend reports. In particular, the parties exchanged views on cooperation within projects for the modernization of existing stations and the construction of new stations for the Tashkent Metro. Following the meeting, the sides outlined the next steps on the discussed issues and agreed to intensify cooperation in this area. Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and China continues to grow rapidly. In the previous fiscal year, trade exceeded $14 billion, marking a 23 percent increase since the beginning of 2025. This strong growth underscores the deepening economic ties between the two countries and highlights Chinas position as one of Uzbekistans most important and reliable partners. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. Sherzod Asadov, Press Secretary of the President of Uzbekistan, held a meeting with Stephane Dujarric, Assistant Secretary-General and Spokesperson for the United Nations in New York, to discuss key issues related to strengthening bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the Press Secretarys post on Telegram. I was pleased to note the traditionally close interaction and mutual support between our services in organizing media coverage of joint UzbekistanUN events, including high-level visits, Asadov wrote. Particular attention was given to prospects for implementing joint projects aimed at sharing experience and enhancing the capacity of journalists, including through the opportunities provided by various UN structures and institutions. In this context, we expressed our readiness to create conditions for the broad participation of representatives of our media in covering initiatives jointly implemented by Uzbekistan and the UN, he added. Earlier, it was also announced that the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will pay a working visit to New York from September 2024 to participate in the events of the 80th Jubilee Session of the United Nations General Assembly. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. Uzbekistans Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Djamshid Kuchkarov, held a meeting with IsDB President Muhammad Al Jasser and discussed the deepening partnership and expanding multilateral cooperation, Trend reports. The meeting was also attended by Timur Ishmetov, Governor of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. Discussions focused on scaling up impact in key sectors, including infrastructure, public-private partnerships (PPPs), human capital development, renewable energy, water resource management, and Islamic finance, to foster inclusive and sustainable growth for the people of Uzbekistan. The joint project portfolio between Uzbekistan and the IsDB surpassed $5 billion, covering key sectors such as transport, infrastructure, housing, energy, healthcare, and education, with over 40 percent of investments directed to the private sector. Iran, Azerbaijan identify key energy cooperation projects (Exclusive) Iran and Azerbaijan cooperate on Caspian oil, electricity grid synchronization, and gas swaps involving multiple countries. Theyve built joint hydrojunctions on the Araz River and plan new hydropower plants. Energy ties between the two countries are strong and growing. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, September 20. Mirziyod Yunusov, Chairman of the Ozeltexsanoat Association, held a meeting with Karthik Sivarman, Vice President for Innovation and Technology at Flowserve Corporation, and the companys senior management team to discuss expanding cooperation in the industrial sector, Trend reports. In particular, the talks focused on attracting international brands to Uzbekistans industry, implementing joint projects, and advancing collaboration in the field of industrial equipment and digital technologies. Flowserve Corporation is a global leader in the industrial sector, specializing in the production of pumps, valves, mechanical seals, and digital solutions for industrial process management. Its products and services are widely used in the oil and gas, chemical, energy, water, and other major industries, with operations in nearly 200 countries. In 2024, Flowserve reported revenues of $4.6 billion and employed around 16,000 people. The company operates more than 50 manufacturing and service centers worldwide, with leading brands including Durco, Worthington, Byron Jackson, IDP, Valtek, Limitorque, and Flowserve RedRaven. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 20. In the first eight months of 2025, the Atyrau Oil Refinery in Kazakhstan achieved a record output of light petroleum products, reaching 77.5 percent, with a refining depth of 88.6 percent, Trend reports, citing KazMunayGas. Output benchmarks for diesel and aviation fuel surpassed expectations by 15 percent and 13 percent, respectively. "This enabled the enterprise to transfer 129 billion tenge (approximately $232 million) to the state budget, which is 24 billion tenge (about $43 million) more than planned," the company stated. At a recent KazMunayGas meeting, strategic development objectives for the Atyrau Oil Refinery were addressed. These goals include boosting annual refining capacity to 6.1 million tons and lengthening the period between maintenance shutdowns to 36 months. Additionally, initiatives to enhance financial efficiency were emphasized. KazMunayGas (KMG) operates as Kazakhstan's sovereign entity in the oil and gas sector, embodying a comprehensive, vertically integrated model that encompasses the full spectrum of the hydrocarbon value chain, including exploration, extraction, logistics, refining, and ancillary services. Founded in 2002, it serves as the governmental entity overseeing the national oil and gas landscape, orchestrating a diverse portfolio of assets and subsidiaries spanning the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the industry. Azerbaijan boosts crude shipments to Netherlands in 8M2025 Azerbaijan increased its oil exports to the Netherlands to about $127 million and 223,000 tons in the first eight months of the year, up significantly from last year. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared details about his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, Trend reports via the President's X account. Erdogan emphasized that the discussion will cover a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, and the defense industry, reflecting the comprehensive strategic relationship between the two allied nations. The Turkish leader expressed confidence that the bilateral talks will strengthen cooperation between the countries. "I believe that our meeting with President Trump will contribute to ending wars and conflicts in our region within the framework of our shared vision for global peace and will further reinforce the collaboration between our countries," the post reads. (Yasuo Osakabe, 374th Airlift Wing) The government-chartered Patriot Express that connects Andersen Air Force Base with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, flies that route every other week throughout the year. A stop at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa is also available. The aircraft leave Seattle, stop on Guam and then push on to Kadena. Those flights return to Guam before heading back to Seattle. The Patriot Express sometimes referred to as the Rotator or Cat B flight ferries travelers on official duty to U.S. military installations around the globe. It also allows eligible passengers to fly on a space-available basis. Travelers can make reservations for families and pets through their installation transportation office. Families making PCS moves are permitted two animals, restricted to dogs and cats, and must meet all shipping and country entry requirements. Capacity is limited based on the carriers cargo configuration. Space-A travelers may not travel with their pets. Pet fees Military personnel who PCS with pets do not have to pay everything out of their pocket. Service members can submit associated expenses for reimbursement during their PCS voucher process. The entitlement is for only one pet (dog or cat) and is limited to $2,000 for an overseas move or $550 for movement within the United States. Travelers using AMC Patriot Express missions will receive a memo receipt for pet travel fees. Please ensure you receive a receipt for your pets travel fees during check-in for your flight. Travel to Japan Per the Foreign Clearance Guide, the regular blue tourist passport is required to fly to Japan while on leave status. Clearance Guide Andersen Terminal FB Andersen Terminal Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Mohammed bin Salman to address UN Palestine Statehood Conference In a major diplomatic push, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has announced to address the Palestine Statehood Conference scheduled to be held at UN Headquarters in New York on September 22, 2025 Saturday September 20, 2025 5:12 PM , ummid.com News Network Riyadh: In a major diplomatic push, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has announced to address the Palestine Statehood Conference scheduled to be held at UN Headquarters in New York on September 22, 2025. A number of countries, including Israels key allies France, United Kingdom and Australia, have announced to recognize the Independent State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2025. Mohammed bin Salmans decision to address the conference hence is significant. New York Declaration According to the official Saudi Press Agency, Mohammed bin Salman will address the United Nations high-level conference on the Palestinian issue and the two state solution either through a live remote connection or a pre-recorded message. This is the first time the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia will address the UN General Assembly. The Palestine Statehood Conference is coming less than two weeks after the UN General Assembly with overwhelming majority passed the New York Declaration on implementing the two-state solution and establishing the independent State of Palestine. The latest UN Conference on the Israel-Palestine issue is set to bring together heads of state and government to deliberate on advancing the two-state solution and mobilizing international support, according to Saudi Gazette. In a related move, the General Assembly approved a resolution granting Palestine the right to deliver its statement via a pre-recorded video during the debate, with 145 votes in favor, 5 against, and 6 abstentions. The decision was taken as the United States has refused to grant the Palestinian leadership visa to participate in the ongoing UN General Assembly Session. US complicity in Israeli Genocide The Palestine Statehood Conference to deliberate on the solution to the Middle East crisis is being held as the Israeli Occupation Forces are continuing their Genocide in Gaza with complete military and financial support, from the United States. How the U.S. is complicit in the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian came to fore this Thursday again when it vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza for 7th time. The UNSC Gaza Ceasefire resolution Thursday was backed by 14 of the 15 members of the Council. But it could not be adopted due to the U.S. veto. The Israel occupation forces are using extreme force against the Palestinians to forcibly displace them from Gaza. The Israeli forces, along with airstrikes and indiscriminate bombings, are also using starvation as a tool to force Palestinians out of Gaza. Palestinians are, however, holding their ground and refusing to leave and abandon their land. Meanwhile, a high level probe by a UN agency in its report said there are sufficient grounds to conclude Israel is committing genocide of Palestinians. In a related development, as many as 46 vessels with activists from more than 60 countries onboard, are sailing towards Gaza to end the Israeli blockade. As part of the Global Sumud Flotilla , the activists said their mission is humanitarian. Despite this there are attempts to forcibly stop the aid ships from reaching Gaza. The Israeli occupation forces had using military power to stop earlier aid flotillas from reaching Gaza. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic U.S. universities are disciplining employees over social media posts celebrating or defending Charlie Kirk's assassination, sparking debate over free speech, professionalism and political pressure on campuses. Universities across the United States are moving quickly to discipline employees over social media posts that appeared to celebrate or defend the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. In the aftermath, several faculty and staff members at institutions nationwide drew outrage after posting messages online that critics said mocked his death or justified the attack. Screenshots of the posts spread rapidly, prompting calls from lawmakers and conservative groups for universities to take action. Here are some of the universities that have taken action, and the nature of the posts in question: At the University of Mississippi, Lauren Stokes, an executive assistant to the vice chancellor, was fired after sharing a message that described Kirk as a "reimagined Klan member." Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce said her remarks "run completely counter to our institutional values of civility, fairness and respecting the dignity of each person." At Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, respiratory therapist Stephen Byrom was placed under review after a post suggested Kirk "deserves an unnamed ditch in the middle of nowhere" and called him a "waste of oxygen." The university condemned the post but did not confirm whether he would be terminated. In South Dakota, professor Michael Hook of the School of Fine Arts faced termination proceedings after calling Kirk a "hate-spreading Nazi" in a profanity-laced message. His faculty page has since been removed from the university's website. Middle Tennessee State University dismissed assistant dean Laura Sosh-Lightsy after she wrote, "Looks like ol' Charlie spoke his fate into existence. Hate begets hate. ZERO sympathy." The University of Tennessee began termination proceedings against assistant professor Tamar R. Shirinian, who posted that Kirk was a "disgusting psychopath" and said his children were "better off living in a world without him." At the University of Pennsylvania, climate professor Michael E. Mann mocked Kirk online, at one point referring to him as "the head of Trump's Hitler Youth." Mann later deleted some of his posts and said the language had been inappropriate, but he has not been fired. The disciplinary actions highlight a broader debate about the limits of free speech in academia. While employees have First Amendment protections, universities are weighing whether inflammatory posts violate standards of professionalism and institutional values. Critics argue that political pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups is influencing decisions, while supporters say institutions have a duty to distance themselves from rhetoric that appears to condone violence. The fallout underscores growing concerns about the normalization of political violence and the tone of online discourse. Universities are expected to continue reviewing similar cases in the weeks ahead, raising questions about where the line will be drawn between private expression and professional accountability. A week ago I attended the 2025 edition of KDE Akademy in Berlin, Germany. Akademy Photo by Andy Betts Akademy is a week of hanging out with old and new friends that also happens to have two days of presentations and multiple days of BoFs attached to it. It was slightly weird hearing from public administration/public agencies in their talks how important digital sovereignty and public funding for FOSS are, its not like we havent been telling them for years and its them rather than us who are in a position to really change this. Anyway, Id consider that a sign of success. Youll find a couple of reports about Akademy on Planet KDE already, Ill focus on a few things I was involved in below. Topics Emergency and weather alerts On Saturday I presented our work on free and open infrastructure for receiving emergency and weather alerts. My main goal was to collect input on how this should eventually be integrated client-side. The plan there is now to have a module in Plasmas System Settings to manage areas of interest and keep the current stand-alone app prototype as the thing that opens when receiving push notifications. We can then gradually expand that to have more things (such as Itinerary) manage relevant areas. With more people installing the current prototype and the venue Wi-Fi being a bit flaky at times we also managed to identify an issue in our current push notification infrastructure, namely an unfortunate interaction between KDEs UnifiedPush server and Qts broken HTTP2 implementation in 6.9.1. Push-based alerts werent the only thing though, we also got a chance to test cell broadcast alerts during the week. Since last year the Linux Mobile stack has made big improvements there, receiving cell broadcasts now just works, including wakeup from suspend and Unicode decoding. We now merely miss Plasma Mobile UI for this. Simulated cell broadcast with Unicode characters on a Linux phone. On Thursday we then got a chance to test both of this in action, as Akademy once more coincided with Germanys nation-wide alert infrastructure test. Plasma Desktop notification for the nation-wide test alert. This worked flawlessly both for cell broadcasts and push notification, for the latter easily within the one minute latency the system is designed for. Details for the test alert. Itinerary And while my own (non-)travel to Akademy was very boring this year, others did provide ideas, test cases and merge requests: Kai added support for noting down hotel room numbers and key codes. Searching trips to/from the current location, also by Kai. The travel document extractor got a couple of improvements, with a PDF boarding pass with partially upside-down text being particularly difficult. Thats when Akademy shines, you just happen to have experts for all kinds of things around, such as a PDF parser maintainer when you need one. We decided between different approaches on how to best represent journey search results when specifying an arrival time. Sensitive test documents A challenge when working on the travel document extractor is that this often requires access to actual booking documents for development and testing. Those are donated by people, and full of their personal information. The current historically grown trust me approach without documented rules is far from ideal, and makes the people holding those documents single points of failures. There had been several ideas already on how to improve this, but what I had missed until discussions during Akademy is that e.g. the Poppler and Okular team has exactly the same problem. So rather than coming up with something for just Itinerary well now look at a more general solution for this. Probably worth its own post eventually. Notification configuration While we have a cross-platform API for showing notifications we lack a way for application to show the platform-specific notification configuration dialog for themselves. Thats relevant on platforms where the presentation of notifications is controlled by the platform rather than the app itself (such as KDEs Plasma or Android). This isnt particularly hard to implement when running in a Plasma host system, but its a bit more challenging for applications inside a Flatpak containment: The notification configuration needs to see the applications notifyrc file, either by the Flatpak exporting that or by Plasma looking into installed Flatpaks for this. file, either by the Flatpak exporting that or by Plasma looking into installed Flatpaks for this. The application needs a way to open the corresponding configuration page. On the host this can be done by launching kcmshell with the right arguments, inside a Flatpak wed probably need some kind of URL scheme for this. Moving KMime to KDE Frameworks Id finally like to get the moving of PIM libraries back to KDE Frameworks going again. Being under Frameworks API stability guarantees would simplify a few things. For this we now at least have a basic agreement that this should be done and what API details should be reviewed and possibly cleaned up beforehand. The biggest remaining task however is porting to the new API documentation infrastructure, which well have to do for all other non-Frameworks libraries as well. Help very much welcome. Flatpak and Flathub There were also a couple of discussions around our own distribution of applications. Theres still some historic artifacts like external distributors having a one week lead time for getting access to release tarballs, while our own packaging can only start at the moment of the public announcement (and then takes a couple of days). Albert kindly showed me how the automatic update monitoring infrastructure for Flatpak works. I could directly apply that for the Itinerary Flatpak (which thus will eventually have all features enabled on Flathub as well). Even more interesting though was discussing how that could be integrated with Craft so we can use that for our packages on all other platforms as well. And finally I learned how I could log into Flathub to see validation errors for apps Im responsible for. Thats very useful as so far I only hear about those by chance in random pastebins shared in unrelated chat channels. Well, in theory at least, as that doesnt seem to actually work for my account unfortunately. More events Akademy was just the start into the autumn conference season for me, with the Open Transport Community Conference, the CAP Implementation Workshop 2025 and 39C3 still to come, next to the KDE PIM sprint in Paris and an OSM Hack Weekend or two. The countdown is on for the prestigious Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards, which will be held at the iconic Great Southern Hotel in Killarney on Friday, September 26. This national final is a major highlight of Ireland's business calendar, celebrating the incredible talent, ambition, and leadership of professional women across the country. For the second consecutive year, the Network Ireland Waterford Branch is proudly sending eight exceptional finalists to represent the vibrant business community in the South East, with a representative in each of the eight award categories. These outstanding women were crowned Network Ireland Waterford Branch Award Winners on May 23, following an interview process with an expert judging panel. The panel included Rosemary Ward of Propelor Bic, Marian Keane of Ezfees Financial, Clare Barrett from the House of Waterford, James Taylor of Taylor & Associates, Aisling Carey of LEO Kilkenny, and Natasha Hayes of AIB Kilkenny. The branch winners recently completed their national interviews at AIB Headquarters in Dublin. From accomplished entrepreneurs to emerging leaders, the Network Ireland Waterford branch is bursting with pride as its finalists prepare to represent the region among Ireland's finest business talent. The eight finalists representing Waterford with distinction are: Established Businesswoman: Suzanne Parker Parker Law Solicitors Solo Businesswoman: Lynn Shead Natures Alchemy Emerging Businesswoman: Pippa Halley Halley Consulting Creative Professional: Louisa Murphy Saints Colour Specialist STEM Professional: Dr. Mary Doyle-Kent Department of Engineering Technology, SETU Networker of the Year: Sinead O'Neill Sinead O'Neill Consulting Employee Rising Star: Cody King MacuHealth Employee Shining Star: Catherine Power Albatel Ann Marie Shannon, President of the Network Ireland Waterford Branch and Managing Director of Veritas Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors, expressed her immense pride in the branch's trajectory. "The energy and passion of our finalists is simply incredible. To see women from a wide range of industries - both employees and employers - representing Waterford across every single award category is a powerful testament to our growing membership base. "We are a branch that is truly going from strength to strength, and these leaders are a direct reflection of our community's commitment to supporting, developing, and collaborating with our members to achieve even greater success. "It's an honour to have them represent us on the national stage." Network Ireland Waterford Branch Vice President and Awards Co-ordinator, Claire Mooney of Reduce Costs, shared her excitement. "I'm so excited and proud of our eight wonderful Waterford finalists. These women represent the talent and dedication of women in both employee and ownership roles across multiple industries and showcase the expertise and power of Waterford Businesswomen. "Their journey is an inspiration to everyone, and it shows what can be achieved when we collaborate, support each other, and act as leaders in our communities." The Network Ireland Waterford branch extended a warm thank you to their national partner, AIB and the Waterford Local Enterprise Office, for their unwavering support. They also thanked the local businesses that have provided crucial support by sponsoring the branch's Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2025 categories. They are: Granville Hotel, sponsor of the Solo Businesswoman category; Energia, sponsor of the Emerging Businesswoman category, Haleon, sponsor of the STEM Professional category, and UPMC Whitfield Hospital, sponsor of the Employee Rising Star category. Ann Marie Shannon expressed her gratitude, stating: "We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our local business community. The support we've received this year is what makes it possible for us to celebrate and uplift the incredible women who are shaping the future of business in Waterford. "Their commitment is a powerful statement of belief in the talent and ambition of our local businesswomen and a testament to the collaborative spirit that makes Waterford such a fantastic place to do business." To find out how you can join Network Ireland's Waterford branch, email waterford@networkireland.ie. Photos Network Ireland Waterford Businesswoman of The Year Awards 2025 Winners - Waterford Castle 23/05/2025 Back Row: L to R: Established Businesswoman Suzanne Parker, STEM Professional Dr. Mary Doyle Kent, Networker of the Year Sinead O Neill, Emerging Businesswoman Pippa Halley. Front Row: L to R: Solo Businesswoman Lynn Shead, President Ann Marie Shannon, Employee Rising Star Cody King, Creative Professional Louisa Murphy. Missing from Photo: Employee Shining Star Catherine Power. The Murphy brothers return once again to The Seanti bar to enthrall audiences with their intimate acoustic show. The multi-award-winning band have nine albums under their belt and a back catalogue of memorable songs that have featured on American, British and Irish TV and film soundtracks. To this day, their smash hit 'Mary', remains one of the most played tracks on Irish radio. Founding members and brothers, Brendan and Declan Murphy have been captivating audiences with their superb acoustic performances. The brothers, from County Down, make a welcome return to The Seanti, following a major UK and Irish tour with folk legends Fairport Convention, and as special guests of Robert Plants latest band Saving Grace. Attendees to the upcoming gig can expect all the old hits, as well as tracks from their recent critically acclaimed album, Sugar Island. The success of this most recent album, along with the bands inclusion in prestigious lists such as TV3s Top Ten Irish Bands of All Time has led to a string of sold-out live performances and rave reviews. Tickets available for the September 26, gig are available at eventbrite.ie A man who allegedly threatened to burn down the house of a security doorman of a bar in Portlaoise appeared at the local District Court last week. Brian Ryan, whose address in court was initially given as 9 Briot Walk, Templars Hall, Waterford, but later stated as Morette, Emo, is charged with threatening to burn the house of the doorman on December 21 last at The Vibe, Main Street, Portlaoise. Garda Paul Dooley brought the accused to court on foot of a bench warrant. Judge Susan Fay asked for the allegations of the offence so as she could decide whether she had jurisdiction to hear the case. Outlining the allegations, Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said that it is alleged that on the night, the accused was refused entry to the premises. An alleged altercation ensued between Mr Ryan and one of the door staff and that during that the defendant allegedly threated to burn down the house of the doorman telling him that he knew where he lived. Accepting jurisdiction in the case Judge Fay remanded Mr Ryan on continuing bail to October 28 to allow him time to consider which way he was proceeding with the case, on a guilty or not guilty plea. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share If nothing else, Peter Dunn knows how to gauge a threat. In 1970, he was shot down in a helicopter near Long Hai in South Vietnam during a reconnaissance mission while serving as a military adviser to the 302 Regional Force Battalion. In 2003, he was among the firefighters in Canberra who fought the blaze that took four lives and 470 homes. It was the first time a fire tornado was documented to have occurred in Australia. In 2019, he was at Lake Conjola when one of the most savage fires of that awful summer hit the village. By the time it passed, 89 homes had been lost. Fire supercharged by extreme weather scares him more than combat, says Dunn, who retired from the army as a major general and went on to serve as commissioner of the ACTs Emergency Service Authority. The fires at Lake Conjola were among the fiercest of Black Summer 2019. NYT Those fires are the most horrifying things that Ive been through, says Dunn, now a member of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action. In a combat situation, youre surrounded by people in uniform, generally, and youre armed, and youre trained, and youve got plans, and youve got actions you take. When we were hit, both in Canberra and in Lake Conjola, were surrounded by people who were community members. They were the bakers, the farmers, the pharmacists, [people with] no experience with this whatsoever, and you did not have that cohesive structure around you. Advertisement With the total unpredictability of the extreme weather events that were facing now, you have none of that, and I had none of that in Canberra, certainly my wife and I had none of that down in the Lake Conjola area. Last year, Dunn was one of the 250 scientists and experts called on to contribute to the Climate Risk Assessment Report the government released on Monday, part of a carefully choreographed lead-up to its announcement on Thursday of the new 2035 emissions reduction targets Australia will submit next week at the UN General Assembly as a signatory to the Paris Agreement. Related Article Analysis Paris Agreement Bowen has committed Australia to reducing emissions by 62 to 70 per cent by 2035. What does this even mean? These targets, known in UN jargon as Nationally Determined Contributions, are at the very heart of the global effort to hold warming to under 2 degrees and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees. Under the terms of the treaty, each country must set its own target and update it every five years. The agreement acknowledges that advanced economies like Australia must move faster than those still developing. It is a cumbersome and complex system that demands the ongoing political will and engagement of every nation signed up to the effort. The process recognises that no single country can address global warming alone, and it seeks to ensure that the burden of doing so is shared fairly. Clearly, if the Albanese government was going to call for a national effort to remake the entire economy in a single decade, it was going to need political support and, for that, it would need to again explain to Australians why it was necessary, which brings us back to Dunn and the risk assessment report. Advertisement The report laid out the impact on Australia of global warming at 1.5 degrees, 2 degrees and 3 degrees. The outlook is grim. In releasing the document, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said: Its important that we dont gild the lily or downplay its impact in any way. We have to be honest with the Australian people. Bowen described the impact of climate change as now inevitable due to the amount of carbon dioxide already released into the atmosphere. The changes would hit every sector of society and the economy in waves that were cascading, compounding and concurrent, he said. Those impacts include a spike in the incidence and intensity of drought, an expanded threat of bushfire, flood and coastal inundation, an escalation in disaster costs, a decline in agricultural production, damage to infrastructure and disruption of supply chains. Its too late to avoid any impacts, but its not too late to avoid the worst of the impacts, said Bowen. As the report makes clear, the difference in terms of impact between 1.5 and 2 degrees of warming, let alone 3, is very real for Australia. So hence, our efforts on mitigation must and will continue. Advertisement According to Dunn, the assessment is, if anything, a conservative reflection of the views of the contributors. He describes a process in which experts in various fields attended workshops hosted by the CSIRO to present evidence about predicted climate impacts. Dunn contributed to the areas of national security and defence. Once the workshops began, the views and opinions put forward were tested. It was quite obvious that some of the words that were being used by various people, ourselves included, needed to be both explained and perhaps moderated. So unless there was such absolute factual evidence to demonstrate [a point] then there had to be some moderation, he says. [They would say] Well, you cant prove that. What can you prove at the moment? Where is the scientific basis for what youre saying? Where is the constantly observed basis for what you are saying?. Even with this moderating pressure, Dunn recalls the draft sections he saw as both alarming and confronting, especially since it was clear that even as they were being called upon to cast forward to consider a future in which Australia had warmed to 1.5 degrees, it was clear we were already racing past that. Peter Dunn was in Lake Conjola when the fires came through and was involved in recovery efforts. James Brickwood Despite his frustration that some of the language he heard used in the workshops was tempered, Dunn says he remains impressed with the rigorousness of the approach. Every line in the final document, he says, is defensible. Advertisement Because carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, each year that the world fails to drastically reduce emissions means that the path to net zero where warming might be halted becomes steeper, and the political and economic reforms needed to set us on that path become more radical. For that reason, climate activists say Australias 2035 targets must be ambitious. On Thursday, Anthony Albanese hosted a press conference at the Commonwealth Parliament Office in Bligh Street, flanked by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Bowen and Matt Kean, chair of the Australian Climate Change Authority, which was charged with drafting advice to the government on what Australias updated climate target should be. I announce that we have accepted their advice that Australias 2035 emissions target be 62 to 70 per cent. This is a responsible target, backed by the science, backed by a practical plan to get there and built on proven technology, he said. Climate analysts were unimpressed. Its worse than I feared, Bill Hare, a physicist and one of the leaders of the global climate action monitoring think tank Climate Analytics, told this masthead via text at once. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveils the nations new emissions targets flanked by the chair of the Climate Change Authority, Matt Kean (left), Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen (right) and Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Dominic Lorrimer No climate scientist on the planet would say this target aligns with limiting warming [to] 1.5 degrees, texted Dr Simon Bradshaw, a climate researcher with environmental activist group Greenpeace. Asked about this, Bowen bristled. The Climate Change Authority did as it had been instructed it recommended to the government the maximum level of achievement possible. Advertisement But just out of frame near Sewell, wearing sunglasses and an oversized peacoat, was another key organiser for the rallies that day: 21-year-old Hugo Lennon. Marching up the steps of Victorias parliament house last month, the image of Australias best-known neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell addressing cheering crowds was beamed around the world just as he knew it would be. The mustachioed Sewell had donned his black uniform and even brought his own podium for the occasion. And they lay bare the strategy of Australias most prominent neo-Nazi group, the National Socialist Network, as they move to radicalise the right to their dangerous fascist ideology under the cloak of the Australian flag. Leaked chatlogs, recordings and insider accounts tell the full story of how the March for Australia rallies grew out of a mysterious TikTok video in early August and descended into a day of chaos and violence across the country on August 31 . An investigation by this masthead can reveal how neo-Nazi leadership is using far-right influencers to sell the March for Australia rallies as a spontaneous groundswell of everyday Australians , while they stack crowds with plain clothes Nazis and send key members interstate to headline rallies. Some neo-Nazis have even donned yellow vests to act as official safety marshals in order to bring marches under the groups control. Anti-immigration rallies that have drawn out tens of thousands of Australians in capital cities are being secretly controlled by neo-Nazis part of a co-ordinated fraud on the public experts say could become even more violent when they march again next month. Lennons account asked to collaborate on NSN projects, even as he told them he should keep playing the concerned centrist online. Sewell encouraged followers to connect with international terror group Combat 18, and to take down as many as you can and die with honour during brawls with people of colour. But this masthead can reveal that Lennon has far more concerning connections. More than a year before the March for Australia rallies, an account traced to Lennon was in a secret Telegram chat with Sewell and dozens of key neo-Nazi figures. There, they discussed doxxing enemies and their preferred translations of Adolf Hitlers autobiography, Mein Kampf . Lennons wealthy family runs a major property development empire, and his transformation from a Gen-Z TikToker making health videos about icing your balls to a far-right influencer blaming migrants for the housing crisis has certainly raised eyebrows. Known as auspill online, the Scotch College graduate had previously filmed the odd neo-Nazi demonstration as a curious bystander. Yet, by the time he joined Sewell to rail against the invasion of immigrants at last months rallies, Lennon was spouting views on racial purity that concerned even the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk . During a debate just months before Kirks assassination at a college campus, he had urged baby-faced Lennon to turn away from white ethno-nationalism. As black-clad neo-Nazis took formation and centre stage at the March for Australia rallies around the country, some rally goers yelled out in alarm. Stop hijacking our rally! cried a woman draped in the Australian flag and alien antennas in Melbourne. Whats going on? Meanwhile, a March for Australia planning chat for Melbourne leaked to this masthead is stacked with known NSN members. Some have bragged of turning a crowd with just a handful of men. Others are calling for more violence lionising the scenes that played out at the end of the Melbourne rally when Sewell and some of his followers allegedly stormed a nearby Indigenous camp and assaulted counter-protesters. Footage analysed by this masthead as well as research group The White Rose Society shows neo-Nazi leadership played a key role at every major march held in capital cities on August 31, including Sydney, Hobart, Perth and Brisbane. The man who handed federal MP Bob Katter a rune-covered megaphone during the Townsville march can be revealed as the head of the NSNs north Queensland chapter, for example. While key organisers of the rallies have previously distanced themselves from white nationalism, this masthead has uncovered new associations to Australias growing neo-Nazi movement. Lennon continues to deny any involvement with the NSN, but he did not denounce the group when asked more than five times by this masthead. After this masthead approached those involved in the marches this week, key NSN figure Joel Davis confirmed the groups involvement on a far-right podcast. He detailed how neo-Nazis had sought out influencers who were calling themselves nationalists pushing pretty strong messaging on race to put the plan for an unbranded rally in motion. (Nationalist is a term that white supremacists, including the NSN, have long identified as more palatable to the masses , McSwiney says.) Theres a reason they put the Australian flag on the flyer and not the NSN logo, he says. They couldnt have got the numbers. The running design had to be plausible deniability. But we have to be clear-eyed about whos had the leading role in this, from the start. While neo-Nazis gleefully spread propaganda clips from the marches and glorify leader Sewell now charged and held on remand over the camp attack far-right researcher Jordan McSwiney says the marches drew crowds only because most people hadnt realised who was really involved. Of course, she says, the days victory was also based on a con. Far-right researcher Dr Kaz Ross is inclined to agree with him; it was the NSNs rally. Weve not seen it anywhere in the world, she says. A neo-Nazi movement able to mobilise forces of that number to move towards their goals. Aldridge has since quit the organising team and disavowed the marches, saying: NSN are setting up rallies for October 19th at 12pm Neo Nazi propaganda insults this nation. As Aldridge tried to stop him speaking, dozens of plain-clothes NSN members up the front leapt to Joshs defence. The NSN leader railed against parasites and migrants for more than two minutes before Aldridge and others in the crowd were able to wrangle him down in a messy scrum. But the damage was done. A woman in an official safety marshal vest held Joshs fist in the air in victory. Then, on the day, another organiser gave the microphone to a man in black. He rose to the stage and introduced himself as Josh from the National Socialist Network. He considered pulling out, but he says thousands of regular South Australians were due to descend on the city whether he was there or not. He figured he could control things, given hed obtained the council permits, hired the PA system, and organised the speakers. But the flyers sent by lead organiser Bec Freedom Walker to Aldridges team were a dead giveaway, Aldridge says. One decreed only Australian flags were welcome, no Aboriginal flags. The other singled out Indian migration for attack. Once I saw [that], it was pretty clear, Aldridge tells this masthead. In Adelaide, organiser Mark Aldridge suspected the NSN was involved days out from the citys march. Hed been approached by another local to help in early August. A call to rally against immigration had appeared on TikTok, said to be the work of an 18-year-old particularly nostalgic for Australias lost white heritage. Within 48 hours, Lennon and a discrete, non-public group of far-right influencers, as Lennon described it, were promoting the marches all over Australia. A key strategy for the NSN on the day, say experts such as Ross, was sending a large contingent of their members in plain clothes to masquerade as regular Australians supporting the uniformed neo-Nazi group and antagonise counter-protesters. It was the same strategy deployed in recent influence stunts during the federal election, then revealed by this masthead, including the booing of Anzac Day Welcome to Country ceremonies. In an email to supporters ahead of the rallies obtained by this masthead, the neo-Nazi group urges new and prospective recruits to come down on the day in plain clothes and with Australian flags and make their way over to our uniformed members. Neo-Nazi leaders Thomas Sewell and Tim Lutze (left) mingling with the public at the March for Australia rally in Melbourne. Chris Hopkins The deception worked, says McSwiney. Not everyone who attended the marches was a neo-Nazi, but this was probably the best bit of legitimising theatre the NSN have ever had. I dont think theyve shared microphones before with politicians at multiple stadiums across multiple cities. A livestream of the Townsville march reveals that a man confirmed as the local head of the NSN was running speeches there, passing his megaphone covered in Nazi-linked runes among speakers, including Bob Katter and several young boys, before making his own speech. Footage of a woman asking Katter Party MP Nick Dametto to kick the neo-Nazis out of the event shows Dametto replying every Australian has a right to march today. But both Dametto and Katter later downplayed the role of the neo-Nazis at the event, claiming they made them uneasy, and they hadnt been aware which group they belonged to at the time. At the Sydney rally, lead organiser Walker was captured on camera speaking to a group of men in plain clothes. Five of the men, including Oscar Tuckfield, whose neo-Nazi infiltration of the NSW Young Nationals made headlines in 2018, then don yellow safety marshal vests to control the crowd. The others in the group are seen joining the marked neo-Nazi contingent by putting on their black shirts. Walker now considers herself a nationalist. But she continues to deny NSN involvement in March for Australia. She told this masthead she didnt know some of her Sydney marshals were neo-Nazis, noting several volunteer marshals had reached out on social media to help and all volunteers acted in a well-respected professional manner. Her partner and fellow Sydney organiser Jesse Stewart the son of a prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist also considers himself a staunch nationalist. On the day of the rally, Stewart opened speeches by spruiking the great replacement conspiracy, making false claims about a clear global agenda to beat down, shame and replace people with Anglo, Celtic and European heritage the founding stock. He later handed the microphone to key NSN leaders Jack Eltis and Joel Davis, who declared Heil Australia to cheers from the crowd. At the Brisbane march, which had support from NSN leaders and at least one bikie chapter, photos obtained by this masthead show a man performing a Heil Hitler salute. Prominent neo-Nazis Jacob Hersant and Jimeone Roberts had been sent up from Melbourne especially for the march and led chants calling for mass deportation. Later, the NSN railed against the lead Brisbane organiser for allegedly breaking a deal that Hersant could speak officially to the crowd. The organiser, who goes by Bender online and has previously posted neo-Nazi content, said he and his family were now receiving serious threats to love the NSN or else. Walker told this masthead she didnt regret letting the NSN speak at the Sydney rally, citing freedom of speech. Why would I condemn them? They did nothing wrong, she said, though of the Melbourne rally she said: Violence is never OK. Appearing on a recent YouTube show with another freedom leader, Walker later said she whispered to the Nazis in Sydney: Dont mention Hitler and youre sweet. Loading The concerned citizen While some organisers of the March for Australia like Aldridge have disavowed the rallies since neo-Nazis showed their hand, the groups two key leaders Lennon in Melbourne and Walker in Sydney are busy promoting the next one in October. Tracking Lennon through social media and closed Telegram chats reveals even closer connections to white supremacists. Screenshots obtained by this masthead of a chat with NSN leaders and key recruits that ran from June last year show an account traced to Lennon spoke of running doxxing campaigns targeting the NSNs enemies on social media and other propaganda projects. When members suggested Lennon seemed like prime recruiting material for the NSN, key figure Joel Davis confirmed Lennon was already in the chat. The logs show Lennon soon after outing himself and defending his use of more toned-down language on his popular auspill accounts to hardcore NSN members. Later, he asked where to find their preferred translation of Mein Kampf. The chat was shut down in February this year over security concerns after screenshots from a separate NSN group were leaked to the media. In early September 2024, Lennon asked the group if he and a few mates could revive the NSNs Black Rose Society project to dox anti-fascists and researchers. A senior NSN member confirmed the side project had been put on hold by orders from leadership. Lennon said it could run separately under the guise of a centrist concerned citizen rather than an open Nazi banner. Soon after, Lennon posted from his public auspill account, confirming allegations he was collaborating on the new Black Rose account. Ross herself contacted Lennon at the time, separate screenshots reveal, warning him hed be associated with Nazis. Lennon told Ross he would shut the project down as he hadnt realised the connection. When approached by this masthead, Lennon at first denied involvement in running any Black Rose account at all, calling his post tongue in cheek. But he later reiterated the story he had told Ross, though he could not explain why an account appearing to be him in the closed NSN chat had already detailed his plans to create the project the day before his public announcement. Lennon denied he had ever been a member or affiliate of the neo-Nazi group, been in a chat with members or given them money, but defended their involvement in the rallies as freedom of speech. He also denied ever promoting NSN activities, though his public accounts often feature both footage from NSN rallies and content from their aligned far-right news site The Noticer. He denied knowing Sewell, despite the NSN leaders role in his August 31 rally. Lennon frequently advocates for Australia to stay majority white, saying that the countrys founding stock and class should not be erased. His online platforms are filled with racist content and coded references to Nazi conspiracies, including the great replacement theory, but he did not clarify these views when asked. Loading Walker in Sydney has her own concerning social media history. This masthead has uncovered posts and recordings of the freedom movement leader promoting white supremacists such as Blair Cottrell and Matt Trihey, referring to people as a friggin or a crying jew, and defending the actions of the NSN, including key figure Joel Davis. She has said that Australia needs violence like the 2005 Cronulla riots to see change, and in a recent stream on X, she revealed the August 31 marches are designed to protect white heritage. She went on to deny the story of 15-year-old Holocaust victim Anne Frank. The great March for Australia deception almost fell apart just days after it began. As a small team of far-right influencers began handpicking organisers in each state, word spread that something big was afoot and others in the freedom movement wanted in. Sewell had been out bush for a few days, building that podium at the NSNs national conference. He quickly took to Telegram to rant about foreign fifth columns trying to hijack our rally in his absence. Walker spoke out publicly as the lead organiser to deny neo-Nazi involvement, and was soon joined by Lennon as well as Trihey, a white nationalist formerly part of Sewells Lads Society. Trihey still regularly hosts events frequented by neo-Nazis and confirmed his early involvement in the marches to this masthead but he said he has never been a member of the NSN himself. Meanwhile, leaked chatlogs from a Melbourne March for Australia planning group reveal Harrison McLean, a former member of far-right extremist group The Proud Boys, has also been lending a hand behind the scenes. When approached by this masthead, all the key organisers, including Lennon, Walker and McLean, offered different stories for who was in charge, downplaying their own involvement and pointing fingers at each other. Like Walker, McLean and Trihey made names for themselves in the so-called freedom movement during the pandemic years and they have called for it to now embrace nationalism. Both men were also among a small group with ties to the NSN this masthead previously exposed for secretly co-ordinating influence stunts during the last federal election posing as everyday citizens asking reasonable questions to ambush politicians on the campaign trail about immigration. Since speaking alongside Sewell on August 31, McLean has been booted from his worldwide freedom rally council. Splinter rallies took to the streets on September 13 across Australia as freedom leaders angry at NSN infiltration vowed to take their own stand on immigration just without the Nazis. But experts say Sewells disciples are now using the assassination of Kirk to radicalise the centre right. Key NSN leaders have ranted online in recent days of the left coming for all of you if theyll do that to a moderate in a suit, what will they do to you? and called on the right to declare war and neutralise their enemies. Experts wonder how well the group will hold their discipline with Sewell off the streets on remand, and younger leaders in charge. This is the most emboldened, violent and volatile theyve ever been, says Ross. Aldridge fears the NSN is taking an even more central role in the organising of next months march too, as they push out remaining moderate organisers. It really does frighten me, he says, predicting more violence. The fact that they got hold of the microphones in most states and I believe theyve worked very hard to cut us out. This will be purely an NSN event. To Aldridge, the march really was meant to be for Australia to demand better services for communities struggling under poor immigration planning. Now, to those intending to join the next rally, he issues a warning: [The neo-Nazis] are using your voices. I was a nut for free speech until that day. With Nick McKenzie Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share 13 View all comments Nairobi, Kenya: The citys last functioning hospital has been bombed more than 30 times. Between 30 and 40 severely malnourished children arrive every day, seeking help. Theres nothing to give them but animal feed. Even were eating animal feed, says Dr Omar Selik, tilting his camera during a video call to show his meal: a sludgy paste made from pressed peanuts that is usually given to cows, camels and donkeys. Theres nothing else. El Fasher is the worst battleground of Sudans brutal civil war. For nearly 18 months the city, in the western region of Darfur, has been under siege by paramilitaries trying to starve it into submission. Fighters have erected a 30-kilometre earthen wall around its boundaries. Residents gather to receive free meals in El Fasher last month. AFP That leaves residents with a dire set of choices. Stay, and risk being bombed or starved. Run, and risk being killed, robbed or sexually assaulted. People seem to have forgotten us, Selik says, breaking into tears. Oh my God, its a very painful story. The war in Sudan started more than two years ago, when clashes broke out between Sudans army and its paramilitary rival, the Rapid Support Forces. The fight has engulfed Africas third-largest country, forcing about 12 million people from their homes, killing tens of thousands and setting off a major famine. Aid groups call it the worlds biggest humanitarian crisis. Advertisement Since March, when the Rapid Support Forces was expelled from the capital, Khartoum, the group has redoubled its effort to capture Darfur, the vast region in western Sudan where most RSF fighters are from. El Fasher is the last city in their way. More than 500,000 people have fled El Fasher since April, when the RSF rampaged through Zamzam, a famine-stricken camp 11 kilometres south of the city, killing between 300 and 1500 people in what the United Nations described as one of the worst massacres of the war. A month later, the RSF began to circle the city with the giant earthen berm, according to satellite images published by the Yale School of Public Health. On August 27, construction to extend the berm was continuing. An estimated 260,000 people are left in El Fasher, trapped by the tightening siege. A kilo of pasta sells for $US73 ($110), 10 times the normal price, says Taha Khater, one of the few aid workers left in the city. His group, known as the Emergency Response Rooms, has recorded the deaths of 14 children from malnutrition in the previous two weeks. Cholera is spreading. Photo: Maxar Technologies Food convoys from the United Nations, which has not been able to deliver food to El Fasher in more than a year, have been attacked by drones as they approached the city. One strike in June, on a convoy of 15 trucks, killed five aid workers; another last month destroyed three trucks and forced the rest to turn back. It is unclear which side carried out the attacks. Advertisement Young men attempting to flee the city, scrambling over the berm at night, have been executed by fighters, Khater said. International aid groups offer help in Tawila, a small town 60 kilometres to the west now heaving with more than 600,000 refugees. But the journey to Tawila is perilous. Fighters roam the area, robbing or extorting fleeing civilians. The road is lined with hastily dug graves and abandoned bodies, aid workers say. Patients infected with cholera are treated at a refugee camp in Tawila, in western Sudan, last month. AFP They are just left there, Sylvain Penicaud, head of the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Tawila, says by phone. Rape is commonplace. The hospital treats about 40 sexual assault victims every week, but anecdotal evidence suggests that is nothing compared to the true rate, Penicaud says. Sudans military has also been accused of widespread war crimes, including bombing raids on crowded markets near El Fasher that killed several hundred people. In January, the United States imposed sanctions on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudans military, for alleged use of chemical weapons. Advertisement But only the RSF has been accused of genocide, and this month UN investigators determined that the long list of atrocities committed by its troops in El Fasher amount to crimes against humanity. An RSF spokesperson did not respond to questions for this story. Sudans head of the military, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in 2021. AP Foreign involvement in the war in Sudan has worsened the siege. The United Arab Emirates has supplied guns, drones and medical support to the RSF, hoping to push the group towards victory, The New York Times has reported. This month, Sudans military-led government submitted a dossier to the UN Security Council that accused the Emirates of hiring a group of Colombian mercenaries, known as the Desert Wolves, to fight alongside the RSF. An aid convoy arrives in Tawila in March. Mohamed Galal/World Food Program The dossier, which included passport copies, contracts and a list of 170 people said to be mercenaries, came soon after video footage and photos purporting to show Colombian fighters in central El Fasher circulated online. The Times was able to verify the location of one video, but not the identities of the fighters. The Emirates has repeatedly denied supporting either side in Sudans war and dismissed the Sudanese dossier as a fabrication. Advertisement Hospitals are a major target in the conflict. Of about 200 medical facilities in El Fasher before the war, just one remains the Al Saudi hospital, where a handful of besieged medics are hanging on, despite bombs, starvation and a vanishing supply of medicines. Targeted more than 30 times in the war, the worst strike was in January, when an RSF drone fired a missile into a crowded ward, killing 70 patients and staff, says Suleman, a senior doctor who works there. Sudanese volunteers prepare free meals for residents of El Fasher on August 11. AFP Related Article United Arab Emirates The sheikh who conquered soccer and coddles warlords Now, doctors shelter in foxholes during bombing raids, and malnourished patients are sustained with animal feed, says Suleman, who asked to be identified by one name because he has received death threats for his work. The animal feed, known locally as ambaz, is a desperate solution because it is prone to fungal contamination, especially in the rainy season. At least 18 residents have died in recent weeks after eating ambaz, local responders say. But there is no other option, Suleman says. Advertisement Mayo University Hospital management has come under fire from the Minister for Health. Speaking in the Dail last week, Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill spoke of a recent unscheduled visit to the Castlebar hospital. "There were 47 patients in the emergency department. Of those patients, 20 had been admitted for beds, but there was no discharging going on up the hospital. "Mayo University Hospital remained red all through August, which is completely unacceptable. Last weekend, there was not sufficient work being done to discharge during the weekend. "There were 16 discharges in the hospital on Saturday, there was one on Sunday and there were 47 on Monday, said the Minister. She pointed to an imbalance of staffing rather than a lack of staff. "The only explanation is that there is an imbalance in staffing. I was there on a random Saturday in August and the emergency department was absolutely overwhelmed. There was a serious patient safety issue there. "The rest of the hospital was completely empty. There were practically no diagnostics going on. There were not even people in the diagnostics area. "The hospital is not understaffed but it has an understaffing area in the emergency department, specifically because it is not being correctly staffed on the other side, she stated. "Let us not confuse ourselves; this is not a staffing issue in Mayo hospital. It has one of the best staffing ratios of all of the Model 3 hospitals, the Minister added. However, Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh, who met members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) last week, rejected the claim that the hospital has enough staff. "I have very direct experience of being in the emergency department in Mayo University Hospital in the last number of weeks. I commend the staff there for the job they are doing but they are expected to do that job even though there are not enough of them." She said the Ministers insistence that there is a 32% increase in staff at the hospital is not borne out. I am telling her that there are not enough staff in the emergency department to provide safe service there. "I am also telling the Minister that it is a deterrent for so many people who want to, and probably need to, go to hospital. They want to do everything to stay out of hospital. "Those nurses and other staff members are absolutely run off their feet. "They are expected to operate on a corridor with trolleys each side of it, patients in pain moaning, looking for help and trying to get a bed when they cannot get a bed, yet the minister is telling me the hospital has enough staff. Deputy Paul Lawless has said nursing staff are exhausted beyond measure". Student nurses are telling me openly that the system to support them simply doesnt exist. This is not how you build a workforce - it is how you break one. He said mismanagement cannot be allowed to happen. Mayo needs management that will take responsibility for these failures. If they will not, they must be shown the door. Our nurses and doctors cannot keep shouldering the consequences of mismanagement. And Mayo families cannot be left to wonder if their loved ones will receive proper care simply because illness strikes on a Saturday night instead of a Monday morning. A crowd of more than 100 people turned out in Louisburgh Parish Hall on Friday, September 12, for the local launch of Sean Caddens eagerly awaited new book. Seventy Years in the Wild West: The Rise and Fall of Irelands Largest Sheep Farm, Southwest Mayo, 1851-1923 is a fascinating and detailed examination on the complex and dark story of Dhulough Farm. Published by Mayo Books Press and written by renowned local historian and Teagasc agricultural advisor, Sean Cadden, this meticulously researched work uncovers the story of Irelands largest sheep farm, Dhulough Farm in southwest Mayo, and the tragic human cost of its creation. The launch was performed by Ciaran Staunton of Louisburgh and the USA, whose great-grandfather Patrick Staunton was 13 when his family were evicted and their home levelled to the ground to clear the area for a sheep farm. In harrowing conditions, they were evicted onto the side of the road. The priority of the day was livestock over people, Mr Staunton said at the launch. This publication is a story of resilience and survival and determination. "Our ancestors lived despite these odds and their priority was their children. This is more than a book. It is a profound historical document and I think it should be in every school in the country. Its our history, he added. He introduced Sean Cadden then to an immediate standing ovation. Pictured at the launch of Sean Caddens book 'Seventy Years in the Wild West' at Louisburgh Parish Hall was author Sean Cadden and his wife Peggy, who played a significant role in its research and production. The seeds of the book were sown over 60 years ago when Cadden, then a young advisor, listened to elderly farmers around Louisburgh recall the devastating evictions that followed the Great Famine. Their memories told of families forced from their homes across 44 townlands by the Marquis of Sligo and the Earl of Lucan to make way for massive sheep enterprises under Captain William Houstoun and John Louden. Houstoun established the 45,000-acre Dhulough Farm, working with imported Scotch Blackface sheep, while Louden ran the neighbouring Killary Farm. This could be described as the last plantation of Ireland, writes Cadden. The inhabitants did not have to move to Connacht; they were already there, but to a nearby overcrowded townland with bad land. Alongside this turbulent history, Cadden examines the Houstouns experimental farming methods, the building of Dhulough Lodge, and the writings of Matilda Houstoun, whose own memoir Twenty Years in the Wild West inspired the title of Caddens book. While Matilda acknowledged the misery caused by their arrival, her words also reveal the contradictions of a family whose presence reshaped Mayos landscape and memory. The book is also rich in genealogical records and rare photographs, offering families in the region a unique resource to trace their past. A Westport launch will take place on Thursday, September 25, at 8pm in the Plaza Hotel. Catherine Keena, Head of Countryside Management with Teagasc will perform the launch. The Castlebar launch will be part of the Wild Atlantic Words Festival on Thursday, October 9, at 7.30pm. Harry Hughes of Westport Historical Society will launch the book there. Seventy Years in the Wild West: The Rise and Fall of Irelands Largest Sheep Farm, Southwest Mayo, 18511923 is available now from all good bookshops and online at www.mayobooks.ie. When you see and hear the news that Charlie Kirk, a Trump supporter and advocate of free speech (mostly his free speech!) has been shot and killed by a lone shooter at a University campus in Utah you begin to think that America is a dangerously sick society. But, we should be slow enough to pass judgement. We have our own problems. Now I have to admit that I was unaware of the existence of Mr Kirk until the news came through of his shooting and subsequent death. However it is now clear that he was a rising force in the Republican Party, having played a prominent role in the conversion of young Americans to the Trump cause during the past election. When he was shot, he was on the first stage of a crusade across the US to convert young people to his argument that his right wing politics was the future and the way to that future was through debate and discussion. By all accounts he was against violence as a means of achieving his aims. But there was violence in his use of words. He clearly saw himself as part of that future and a possible Republican candidate in a future Presidential election. But the lone shooter had other ideas and, in a country where the right to carry guns is as important (constitutionally) as the right to free speech it was a simple matter for the gunman to acquire a suitable weapon and end the life of the man advocating the freedom to express contrary ideas. The parallels between Kirk and former President Kennedy were clear to see. Both privileged, both capable, both ambitious, both handsome, both exemplars of the US dream, both family men, both assassinated. Only their politics differed. Kirks assassination was rightly condemned by every right thinking person in the US and across the world but US politics being the partisan and divisive disease that it is, particularly at this time, failed to take the opportunity to show sense and seek healing. Mr Trumps first reaction was to point the finger of blame at the Democratic left wing liberals. He couldnt resist the opportunity and that bitterness found its way into the institutions of democracy on Capitol Hill where there followed some unsightly scenes and shameful commentary. Mr Trump did tone down the rhetoric later, probably at the behest of more sensible people in his circle of advisers, but the message had gone out to the MAGA people: the Democrats are to blame. That type of message has resulted in the deaths of Democratic politicians in the recent past and assaults on the partners of democratic politicians. The message has probably played a role in gun attacks on schools and churches. Vitriolic words, even if uttered with tongue in cheek, are processed sensibly by most people but there are those out there who take the remarks as an incitement to take action and, in the US, action very often includes the use of guns. As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, we have our own problems. Perhaps not on the same scale as the US but, then again, relative to our population we are in no position to pass judgement. We now have a murder (or sometimes two/three) every week here and little notice is taken. Politicians might wring their hands and sympathise with the bereaved but thats it. There is no follow up, no action taken to see how society might be changed so that murders occur less often, that late night assaults, often resulting in death, might become less frequent. We have taken action against drunk driving (without eradicating the problem) but we seem to be incapable of action on late night drinking and the inevitable consequences of rows and, in tragic cases, deaths. And it is not all simply alcohol. In recent times the alcohol is boosted by drugs with horrific consequences. Drugs we were told were the preserve of the disadvantaged who were being brought to addiction by the drugs lords. That is no longer the case. If a person has money to spend there are people who will, can and do supply drugs. So-called middle class and respectable people are now in the market for drugs. Even our politicians think it is OK to admit that they have taken drugs (in the past, of course!). The problem with our liberal society is that theres nobody to cry halt. The church enjoyed the role in the past but nowadays there is no condemnation of societal misdemeanours from the pulpit. The reality is there are no, or very few, pulpits and no one, in our multi-cultural, liberal and to a large degree unlicensed society takes any heed in any event. Once upon a time when the Gardai were respected and supported by society they could intervene and utter a word of caution. Nowadays, the boot is on the other foot. It is the public and errant miscreants who caution the Gardai to be careful or they will be up on disciplinary charges. Perhaps we have a distance to go yet to catch up with the US when it comes to taking violent action against the political classes here. But we are in no position to be complacent. There is anecdotal evidence that many of our politicians, including councillors, have been subject to threats, mostly online but also in person. Much of the online stuff should be taken with a pinch of salt but we have instances of abuse and threats that are more serious. The threats against Simon Harris and his family are in that serious category. He has rightly brought his complaint to the Gardai and there is an investigation ongoing. It would be interesting to see a few cases of these online threats brought before the courts. I would hazard a guess that the court, while it might utter words of condemnation, would refrain from imposing a penalty to fit the crime. Or indeed, if the court imposed a penalty it would be appealed by some overpaid lawyer, paid for by the taxpayer, who would succeed in having the penalty reduced or even thrown out by a superior court. Our green and welcoming Emerald Isle is pretty much a thing of the past. The green is fading fast as we continue to exist as if climate change was not happening. We all agree with the need to do something but not at the expense of our own personal comfort. The welcoming part is also becoming much frayed at the edges. In the recent past weve had a number of instances of assaults on innocent visitors going about their holiday experience. Im not hearing of their assailants being brought to justice. People who prop up our health services or who provide expertise in our technology industries are being attacked in our capital city simply because of the colour of their skin. It is pure and simple racism. There are people with a political agenda who incite people to violence. These people can be traced. They should be brought before the courts, but we prefer to play about with regulation of the social media platforms. Sure, social media platforms should be brought to heel but not to the exclusion of chasing down the bigots and racists who use the platforms. Thought for the day All changed, changed utterly - William Butler Yeats Claremorris Gallery is delighted to announce the forthcoming solo exhibition, Slow Heat, by the acclaimed artist Emma Stroude. The exhibition will be officially opened on Saturday, September 27th, with a guided tour by Emma herself from 4 to 5pm, followed by the public opening from 5 to 6pm. All are welcome to attend this special event. Emma Stroude grew up in the North of England and is now based in Sligo. A graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design and the Slade School of Art, University College London, she holds a Post Graduate Higher Diploma in Art and Design Teaching, awarded with First Class Honours and the Terence Gayer Prize. Over the years, Emma has become widely recognised for her distinctive approach to painting, drawing, and mixed media, creating work that resonates with both emotional depth and technical mastery. Slow Heat promises to offer an intimate insight into Emmas evolving practice, reflecting her ongoing engagement with texture, form, and subtle colour. The exhibition is part of a continuing series of solo and group presentations both nationally and internationally, following her recent participation in the 195th Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition and a summer showing at Cairde Visual in Sligo. Her work has also been acquired by significant collections including the Office of Public Works, Kings Inns, Kildare and Sligo County Councils, and by private collectors such as Pierce Brosnan. Emma Stroudes career has been marked by consistent involvement in major exhibitions, from group shows across Ireland and the UK to international projects in China, the Netherlands, and the United States. Past highlights include the Lapis Lazuli exhibitions at Hamilton Gallery, Sligo, the touring Drawing Box A5 Pop-Up exhibition, and participation in multiple Royal Hibernian Academy and Royal Ulster Academy annual exhibitions. She has also contributed to collaborative and commemorative projects, including work inspired by the Easter Rising and WB Yeats. Visitors to Slow Heat will have the opportunity to engage directly with the artist during the guided tour, gaining insight into the ideas and techniques that underpin her practice. The exhibition promises a contemplative and thought-provoking experience, appealing to both seasoned art enthusiasts and members of the local community seeking to connect with contemporary Irish art. Claremorris Gallery invites everyone to join in celebrating Emma Stroudes latest work, marking another milestone in a career distinguished by creativity, dedication, and international recognition. Weather Alert ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 30 below expected. * WHERE...Oneida, Vilas, Florence, Forest, Northern Marinette County, Northern Oconto County, Southern Marinette County, and Southern Oconto County Counties. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Saturday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. && Factional warfare that has wracked the UKs Your Party project since its inception erupted publicly on Thursday. Since MP Zarah Sultana quit the Labour Party in July, the understanding was that the new left party would be co-led, at least initially, by her and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. That plan has now unravelled spectacularly. At 11 a.m. Thursday, Sultana announced that Your Party would now be registering official memberships prior to an already publicised founding conference in November, providing a registration link. Zarah Sultana speaking at a protest against the Strike Bill, February 1, 2023 Within a couple of hours, she posted that 20,000 people had joined, setting up standing orders of 5 pounds a month, meaning an annual total of over 1 million. Her message included the assurance that Right-wing bad faith actors are desperate to claim this link is fake. It isnt. Its safe and secure! An hour later, a statement was posted from the Your Party account declaring, This morning, an unauthorised email was sent to all yourparty.uk supporters with details of a supposed membership portal hosted in a new domain name. Legal advice is being taken. That email should be ignored by all supporters. If any direct debits have been set up, they should be immediately cancelled. The statement was signed by Corbyn and his fellow Independent MPs Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohammed and Shockat Adam, with Sultanas name absent, confirming that the message was directed against her. Sultana responded 30 minutes later admitting she had, after being sidelined by the group above and effectively frozen out of the official accounts, taken the step of launching a membership portal so that supporters could continue to engage and organise. She said in justification that she had been subjected to a sexist boys club and that she did not believe members will accept Karie Murphy [Corbyns chief of staff while he was leader of the Labour Party] and her associates having sole financial control of members money and sole constitutional control over our conference. Appealing to Jeremy to meet with me and agree to make public all agreed structures, processes and decision-making protocols, she concluded, No stitch-ups, no coronations: the members must decide. At 7 p.m., the Corbyn faction posted another statement from the Your Party account explaining that the data controller has reported the matter to the Information Commissioners Office. We will cooperate with the Information Commissioner in full, adding that they had duties under the law. Sultanas unilateral decision was cited and her allegations denied, with Murphy defended as a trusted and dedicated volunteer. The reaction of Corbyn and Sultanas supportersfrom online publications like Novara Media, The Canary and Skwawkbox to parties like the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP)was a howl of despair at how the explosion of factional conflict had undermined the huge potential of the Your Party project. An appeal was made to the Corbyn and Sultana factions to recognise the urgency of the situation, with the far-right waiting in the wings, put aside their differences and move forward with organising the founding conferencethough with Sultana holding the balance of their sympathies. Fiona Lali, national organiser for the RCP, tweeted, This party had and has potential. Announce the date of the conference. Adopt a revolutionary programme. The SWP declared that history will forgive neither side in Your Party if this blows up the project before it is even set up. Your Party should unite around some basic socialist principles, abandon electoralism and ensure that its elected representatives are subjected to party discipline over basic principles. None of this is on the table. Thursday was stark confirmation that there will be nothing democratic, let alone socialist and revolutionary, about Your Party. The pose of outrage and surprise of the pseudo-left is duplicitous. Firstly, all of them knew that Your Party was being run by rival and entirely unaccountable cliques. Secondly, what has happened is not some dramatic reversal of the Corbynites otherwise principled record: it is an essential aspect of their opportunist, pro-capitalist politics. Corbyns years long resistance to forming a new party opposed to Labour is legendary. The role played by his inner circle through Momentum in neutering left-wing sentiment in the party when he was Labour leader is also well known. As are the right-wing politics of his Independent MP allies. Commenting on the first announcement of Your Party, the Socialist Equality Party, basing itself on a Marxist examination of this history explained: The character of the party is shaped above all by its leadership. It has been developed over the last months under the direction not only of Corbyn, but many of the staff from his time as leader of the Labour Party, including Karie Murphy (his former chief of staff) and Pamela Fitzpatrick, who heads Corbyns Peace and Justice Project. To this old guard is added Sultana, representing the new generation of Corbynite MPs that entered parliament in 2017, and Corbyns Independent Alliance of four other MPs elected based solely on their opposition to the Gaza genocide and not on any record of struggle for leftist policies. One of these, Ayoub Khan MP, notoriously asked Labours Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner whether the army could be used to clear Birminghams streets during the ongoing refuse collectors strike. This apparatus will be charged with managing the inaugural party conference so that only a lowest-common-denominator programme is adopted, largely based on the minimal social reforms included in Labours 2017 and 2019 general election manifestos under Corbyn. The SWP, RCP and others have helped to cover these issues up to promote the bona fides of Your Party among workers and youth, while courting Corbyn and Sultana with the aim of securing a niche within the prospective party apparatus. Corbyn and his allies are working to place the new organisationthe massive support for which has alarmed themfirmly under their thumb. Their response to Sultanas actiontaking just a few hours to set her up for legal prosecution under data protection lawsis despicable. Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the Summit of Resistance in March this year But Sultana has acted throughout the months since Your Partys launch to pull the wool over its supporters eyes about the people in charge, complaining only to the extent that her passage into a leadership role has been opposed. Rather than politically challenge Corbyns blocking of a new party, she bounced him into agreeing by declaring its launch upon her resignation July 3 from Labour. Later stating that Corbynism capitulated over the antisemitism witch-hunt, she calibrated her remarks to try and prevent an open rift by blaming his advisers. Her launch of the membership portal was another attempt to bypass Corbyns intransigence without letting it be known more widely. But he and his allies have called her bluff and thrown her under the bus. Although some entirely unprincipled reconciliation is not impossible, it is extremely unlikely. Moreover, the debacle has already blown a hole in the side of the Your Party project. Workers and young people will be appalled and many who saw the initiative as a way forward will be disappointed. The socialist response is not to join in the pseudo-lefts chorus of despair, but to draw the essential political lessons and act accordingly. It is not a question of taking sides in this unprincipled scrimmage. There are no innocent parties involved, somehow upholding the democratic rights of members. In a polemic with the RCP, the SEP has cited Leon Trotskys description of Labour lefts of an earlier period as the expression of a shift but also its brake. Trotskys stress then, and ours now, is on the role of the Corbynite left as a political brake on the working class. Under the leadership of the Corbynitesand no one has even suggested there will be any other leadershipthis is not a party that can be pushed to adopt basic socialist principles, still less a revolutionary programme, as the SWP and RCP claim. Both the Corbyn and the Sultana factionsdespite her more militant rhetoricare advocates of a Labour Party Mark Two, a party of a few mild reforms which only serves to politically disarm the working class. The right-wing transformation and collapse of Labour and all the social democratic parties was not the result of bad leaders, but of shifts in world capitalism which rendered national reformism obsolete. Globalisation, declining rates of profit and the massive, cancerous growth of financial speculation mean that meaningful social reform can no longer be reconciled with a defence of the profit system. The order of the day for world capitalism is trade and military war for the control of essential resources and markets and class war at home to impose the brutal levels of exploitation and destruction of essential services to make this global conflict possible. Fighting back demands the independent political mobilisation of the working class, freed from the dead hand of the left representatives of the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, in a struggle against capitalism and for socialism. A party capable of carrying out such a struggle must be rooted in the lessons of history and forged in decades of struggle for socialist political principles. It is time to take up the fight for world socialist revolution by joining the Socialist Equality Party, British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Click here to read the Socialist Equality Partys Statement of Principles. The Trump administration has compelled national parksincluding Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Independence National Historical Park, and the Presidents House Site in Philadelphia to remove photographs, signs, and exhibit panels detailing the history of slavery and Native American displacement. The removals, which have come to light in recent days, came in response to a March 27 Executive Order that called for censoring history deemed by the Trump administration to promote corrosive ideology, directing the National Park Service to eliminate materials considered to unfairly disparage Americans. Parks and museums nationwide were instructed to review and remove interpretive content on slavery, Indigenous dispossession, and related subjects that the administration judged presented the nations past in a negative light. Staff at Harpers Ferry National Historical Parkwhere abolitionist John Brown led an unsuccessful attempt at starting a slave revolt in 1859flagged over 30 pieces of material on display that were potentially in violation of Trumps diktat. At Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginiawhere the First and Second Battle of Bull Run took place in July 1861 and August 1862 respectivelystaff were ordered by the Trump administration to remove a plaque which criticizes the pseudohistorical lost-cause myth propagated by ex-Confederate leaders. At Sitka National Historical Park in Alaska and Floridas Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the Trump administration is investigating displays which mention the forced relocation and mistreatment of Native Americans. But the most notable example of this sweeping removal effort is the famous photograph known as The Scourged Back, taken in 1863 during the Civil War, and showing Peter (sometimes called Gordon), who had escaped a Louisiana plantation and reached Union lines after a harrowing flight of about eighty miles. The image, taken at a Union military camp by photographers McPherson & Oliver, shows Peters back gruesomely scarred from years of whippinga visual testament to the violence of slavery. "Scourged Back," a photo taken April 2, 1863, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Original caption: "Overseer Artayou Carrier whipped me. I was two months in bed sore from the whipping. My master come after I was whipped; he discharged the overseer. The very words of poor Peter, taken as he sat for his picture." The Scourged Back photograph was first published as a wood engraving in Harpers Weekly on July 4, 1863, Independence Daythe same day news broke of the Unions victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, connecting the struggle for emancipation with national preservation. Abolitionists called for the photograph to be multiplied by the hundred thousand and scattered over the states, arguing it could do for public opinion what Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin had achieved in fiction. The photograph helped strengthen support for Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued January 1 that year. The action to pull this and other images dealing with slavery from display at places like Fort Pulaski and Independence National Historical Park has been met with outrage from historians and museum professionals. As Columbia Universitys Dr. Stephanie McCurry stated, These are not just documentsthey are witnesses. Bowdoin Colleges Anne Cross, who studies Civil War photography, notes that images like Peters altered political opinions about the need to defeat the Confederacy and preserve the Union. Historian David Blight remarked, Slavery is not an addendum to American historyit is central to it. When we remove the faces of the enslaved from our national story, we risk leaving visitors with a history that is not only incomplete, but dishonest. The removals have been condemned by the National Parks Conservation Association, whose director Alan Spears declared, Great countries dont hide from their history. The decision to remove this photograph from our national parks is as shameful as it is wrong. Former park interpreter James Parker stressed the irreplaceable pedagogical importance of the removed photographs. Without them, whole generations are denied the direct, visceral facts of the past, he said. There can no longer be any doubt that the Trump administration is attempting to stamp out the history of slavery in the US and to rehabilitate the Confederate States of America, which seceded in 1861 in a bid to preserve chattel slavery in perpetuity. Trumps moves against the National Park Service slavery photography follow on the heels of an aggressive campaign launched against the Smithsonian Institution, where President Trump has accused the museum complex of promoting anti-American ideology for its honest exhibitions about slavery and American racism. In an executive tweet and subsequent order posted on August 19, Trump condemned the Smithsonian for emphasizing how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and directed his attorneys to audit the museums exhibitions and begin purging content he considered divisive or insufficiently patriotic. The White House has threatened to revoke vital federal funding unless the Smithsonian and other cultural organizations reshape their narratives to showcase a more positive portrayal of the nationan ultimatum that risks layoffs, closures, and the privatization of priceless public collections. In recent months, Trump has reversed the removal of Confederate symbols from US military bases, restoring the original names of installations such as Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, and Fort Benningreturning honorifics to Confederate commanders who fought to preserve slavery. Paintings and monuments celebrating the Confederacy, including the reinstallation of Robert E. Lees portrait at West Point have been publicly justified as honoring our history. Since 2021, dozens of statessuch as Florida, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennesseehave enacted laws that limit classroom discussion of slavery, racism, and other forms of exploitation. In Florida, new education standards require students to be taught that enslaved people developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit, a provision widely condemned by historians as grossly distorting historical reality. Teachers report facing a minefield of vague and punitive restrictions, with some states establishing hotlines or offering bounties for reporting suspected violations. With the planned celebration of Americas semiquincentennial in 2026, the Trump administration has set its sights on improving the infrastructure and displays at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, setting July 4 as a deadline for purging materials deemed disparaging. Trumps crusade to whitewash American history mirrors his administrations attacks on art and science. It is a regime that depends for its existence on the construction of a false reality in the past as much as the present. But facts, as the old saying goes, are stubborn thingsin the past as well as the present. The brutality of human bondage was a truth so powerful as to have once moved a whole generation into Civil Wara social revolution that ended chattel slavery and destroyed the southern oligarchy built on it. This remains a memory etched deeply in the democratic, egalitarian consciousness of the American working class. And it is a memory that Trump and the billionaire oligarchy he represents dreads. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Asia Telangana government contract health workers demand unpaid wages and bonuses About 110,000 Telangana government contract health workers protested outside their hospitals and at the Medical and Health Department headquarters in Koti on Tuesday to demand pending wages and festival bonus payments for the past five months. Protesters from HIV wards demanded an additional 2,500 rupees ($US28), which was an election promise of the current Congress government. A Telangana Medical and Health Contract Employees Trade Union spokesperson alleged that outsourcing agencies deduct Provident Fund contributions from salaries but fail to deposit them with the relevant department. He added that the Congress partys manifesto had promised to abolish outsourcing agencies and establish a corporation to manage employees, but that promise had not been fulfilled. India: Ludhiana Municipal Corporation workers protest outsourcing of garbage collection Door-to-door garbage collection workers from the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, in Punjab, protested against the outsourcing of their jobs on Tuesday. The Door-to-Door Mazdoor Ekta Sangathan union coordinated the protest. Workers fear they will lose their livelihoods if the corporation goes ahead with the plan. Workers handed a memorandum of their demands to the mayor. They asked for appointment letters to be issued immediately to sewage-cleaning men, sanitation workers, manual labourers and over-aged employees, and for outsourcing to be stopped. Coal India workers and pensioners in West Bengal demand pay and pension increase Workers and retired staff from Coal India demonstrated at the company headquarters in Kolkata on Tuesday, demanding increased pensions, parity in pay scales and comprehensive medical benefits. The demonstration was called by the All India Association of Coal Executives (AIACE) and the All-India Coal Pensioners Association (AICPA) who said the workers demands had been ignored for several years. They submitted a list of demands to a company representative. Pallorbond tea estate workers in Assam protest low pay and reduced bonus On September 14, around 2,000 workers from the Pallorbond tea estate in Cachar district of Guwahati city protested irregular rations, low wages and the reduction of festival bonus. Workers demanded a festival bonus of 20 percent but the authorities offered only 8.33 percent. Workers said they would keep protesting until their demand was met. Bangladesh: Workers from Eurozone Fashion Garments resume protest Over 500 workers from the Eurozone Fashion Garments factory in Dhaka resumed their protest for several hours on the afternoon of September 11. They blocked the roads in Dhakas Kuril area, demanding unpaid wages and allowances. Police intervened and ended the protest. Earlier in the month, the workers ended a protest over the same demands, after the factory owners falsely assured them that all arrears would be cleared by September 10. Sri Lankan public school teachers protest Hundreds of public school teachers held a protest on Monday to demand that their children be admitted to the government schools where they serve. The demonstration started in front of the Presidential Secretariat and continued through the night. On Tuesday, the teachers marched to the Ministry of Education seeking a meeting with the minister to discuss their demands. However, after failing to receive a constructive response, they escalated their action by launching a Satyagrahaa peaceful protest of nonviolent resistance. The teachers protested in May over the same issue. Australia Schindler Lifts technicians in New South Wales on strike for pay parity Members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) from Schindler Lifts in New South Wales are maintaining their indefinite strike begun on September 8 in a long-running enterprise bargaining dispute. The action follows 18 rounds of failed negotiations and a series of stoppages. Workers want a 6 percent pay rise, the same amount Schindler recently gave to its Queensland workers, improved parental leave, rights for health and safety representatives and job security. Schindler locked out its entire workforce of 300 on August 8 in response to low-level work bans. The Fair Work Commission, however, declared the lockout unlawful and workers returned on August 15. The ETU claimed that the company could afford the pay increase and pointed out that in 2024 Schindler Lifts Australia paid $11.66 million in dividends and made $6.16 million profit after tax. Newcastle bus drivers to stop work for four hours The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) gave notice this week that bus drivers from Keolis Downer Hunter (KDH) in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, will attend a 4-hour stop-work meeting at 10 a.m. on September 22 to decide on the next steps in their dispute with KDH for a new enterprise agreement. Eighteen rounds of negotiations have been held since December. As part of the long-running dispute, in early April RTBU members stopped work for 24 hours and turned off their Opal card readers (fare collecting machines), giving commuters free travel. A union spokesperson said there were two key demands: a pay increase to keep pace with the increasing cost of living and at least 72 hours notice for changes to driver's shifts. The two parties were to meet in the Fair Work Commission on Thursday. The state government awarded the French firm Keolis Downer a 10-year contract to provide bus commuter services in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas in 2016. Workers are calling for the operation of the bus service to be returned to the government. Woodside oil and gas production workers in Western Australia step up industrial action Following the beginning of low-level industrial action on September 5, 250 Australian Workers Union (AWU) members employed by maintenance contractors Monos and Legeneering at five Woodside oil and gas offshore production facilities in Western Australia this week stepped up industrial action by stopping work for longer periods. The workers are in dispute with Monos and Legeneering over their proposed enterprise agreement. They are seeking industry standard wages and conditions. The workers bargaining unit is the Offshore Alliance (made up of the AWU and the Maritime Union of Australia). It claimed that Woodside is demanding that the contractors cap wages at 2.5 percent per annum for the next four years. Legeneering wants its hook-up and commissioning crew to accept a 10 percent rate cut. AWU members voted on August 28 to approve future industrial action which could include unlimited strikes from 30 minutes to 24 hours duration and up to ten work bans. Workers said they will progressively step up industrial action until maintenance comes to a standstill. South Australian public sector health and disability support workers protest low pay offer About 400 public sector health and disability support workers stopped work and rallied outside the electoral office of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas on Tuesday after rejecting the governments low pay offer in its proposed work agreement. United Workers Union (UWU) members attending the rally came from major Adelaide hospitals, disability support, aged care and early education. More than 2,000 workers are involved in the dispute, which has dragged on for over eight months. Under the governments latest offer, workers would receive a 4 percent first-year wage increase in a two-year deal, which the union claimed doesnt provide meaningful cost-of-living relief. As well as an improved pay offer, workers want a 200 percent increase to Sunday penalty rates. The Labor government is only offering a 175 percent increase, and only after July 2026. Public sector health workers rally outside the office of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskus in September 2025 [Photo: United Workers Union] In February, 1,000 UWU members, including theatre orderlies, patient service assistants, central sterilised stores department technicians, menu monitors, chefs, cleaners and kitchen services workers imposed a series of bans and various work-to-rule measures as part of their campaign. At the same time, more than 1,100 disability support workers demanding a living wage and Safe Support Services imposed bans at 240 Department of Human Services (DHS) houses. These workers are demanding pay parity with workers employed under the federal award. Meanwhile, Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation (ANMF) members in the state are maintaining rolling one-hour lunchtime stop-work rallies outside public hospitals in Adelaide in their campaign for higher pay. On Tuesday, 200 nurses and midwives rallied at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as part of the campaign. The action followed similar stop-work rallies at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre and the Womens and Childrens Hospital last week. ANMF members have rejected the governments pay rise offer of 13 percent over four years in a new enterprise agreement. The union told the media it was not publicly naming a dollar figure but said nurses and midwives wanted parity with other states. ANMF members also want rural and regional attraction and retention provisions, increased penalties for night duties, and reduced use of excessive overtime. South Australian firefighters continue industrial action United Firefighters Union (UFU) members in South Australia put in place Stage 3 industrial action this week in their dispute with the Malinauskas state government for better pay and conditions. After 13 months of negotiations UFU members rejected the governments proposed enterprise agreement on September 3 and put in place low level Stage 1 industrial action in their Fair Go For Firies campaign. The UFU accused the government of not providing adequate training and demanded it recognise and respect the true value of firefighters. Stage 1 and 2 action included a ban on charging for alarms using Code 600, wearing union t-shirts and flying union flags on work vehicles. Stage 2 involved working-to-rule on shift changeovers, a ban on Act ups in Operations, and chalking Fair Go For Firies on station windows and vehicles. Stage 3 maintains low-level action and bans certain transfers in Operations and doing relief and encourages station crew to carry out drills in public where possible. Members are also urged to attend the City to Bay Fun Run on Sunday wearing union T-shirts. The union has not reported if the government has responded to their industrial action. CDC bus drivers in the Northern Territory begin industrial action for pay increase Close to 90 Transport Workers Union (TWU) bus drivers employed by CDC Darwin, CDC Regional NT and Buslink NT commenced industrial action on Monday, seeking a pay increase and improved conditions and safety in a new enterprise agreement. After several months of failed negotiations, the workers voted on September 3 to approve taking industrial action that could include work stoppages between one minute and 24 hours, wearing union badges and placing stickers on buses, among others. The union has restricted action to placing union posters in buses and drivers wearing union hi-vis vests. Northern Territory public sector health professionals begin industrial action Over 150 public sector allied health professionals in the Northern Territory commenced industrial action on Wednesday after rejecting the state governments latest pay offer of 12.55 percent over four years. The workers are members of the Health Services Union (HSU) and are demanding an 18.5 percent pay increase over three years, a $2,500 professional development allowance and improved incentives for regional and remote work. The HSU claimed that NT allied health professionals are paid up to 20 percent less than their interstate colleagues. Even though union members voted on September 2 to approve putting in place up to 27 work bans, including work stoppages up to 12 hours, the HSU has restricted industrial action to limiting meeting attendances, and a ban on entering Medicare billing codes into the pathology information systems. Forensicare mental health workers in Victoria strike for improved pay offer Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members at the state-run Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare) hospital in Fairfield, a suburb of Melbourne, stopped work for two hours on Thursday and rallied near the Clifton Hill facility. About 350 HACSU members are employed at Forensicare and are demanding better pay and conditions in a new enterprise agreement. The workers walked out for two hours in May and have since joined other mental health workers across the state in strikes and rallies pushing for better wages and conditions. The HACSU rejected the Labor governments last offer handed down on June 6, saying it did not come close to their pay demand for allied health workers, and accused the government of trying to split the workforce by offering funds, resources, and concessions to some disciplines and denying them to others. Public hospital patient assistant workers in Eastern Health, Victoria protest outsourcing About 40 Patient Services Assistants (PSAs) employed at Eastern Health public hospitals and facilities at Box Hill and Maroondah Hospitals, Yarra Ranges Health in Lilydale, and Blackburn and Healesville Food Services, rallied in front of the Box Hill Hospital on Tuesday to protest the outsourcing of their jobs. PSAs support nurses and doctors in the day-to-day tasks of caring for patients, whether taking patients to the ward, delivering specimens to pathology or cleaning. The Health Workers Union (HWU) claimed that up to 400 jobs could be outsourced. Workers were told they would be offered positions in the proposed labour hire company ISS Facility Services. However, no compensation figure has been offered and workers fear that they will lose hard-fought-for conditions and be on lower wages with less job security. Workers said medical staff at the facilities are supporting them but the HWU has not indicated if it will mount a united campaign to save their jobs. Eastern Health was underfunded by over $100 million in 2023-24. Management claimed, The proposed change is designed to streamline operations and support long-term sustainability. Alcoa aluminium smelter workers in Victoria strike for improved pay offer About 380 Australian Workers Union (AWU) members from the Alcoa aluminium smelter at Portland, Victoria are taking strike action impacting the night shift operations. The action follows 16 weeks of failed negotiations for a new enterprise agreement. Workers rejected Alcoas latest pay offer of 12 percent over three years, which according to the union would strip away conditions. They want a pay rise of 15 percent over three years, job security, 14 percent superannuation to be calculated on total wages and backpay to June 30. The AWU alleged that Alcoa is attempting to get rid of the Senior Site Delegate position and remove the ability for members to raise a dispute over any employee related matters. Fonterra dairy processing workers in Victoria begin indefinite strike Close to 80 production workers from the Fonterra dairy processing plant at Bayswater, a suburb of Melbourne, went on indefinite strike on Wednesday in their fight for a new enterprise agreement. The action follows several weeks of rolling stoppages and work bans put in place on August 22 after workers accused management of purposely delaying negotiations for over six months ahead of the sale of the company to French dairy manufacturer Lactalis. The workers are worried about future attacks on jobs and conditions and want their new enterprise agreement extended to four years during the company takeover. They are demanding an increase in redundancy payouts by 8 weeks to 60 weeks, as well as higher allowances and health-and-safety improvements. They also want wages increased to bring them in line with Fonterra workers at other company sites, who they say are paid $5 more per hour. Early childhood educators in Victoria strike On Tuesday, Victorian early childhood educators stopped work for 24 hours after negotiations between the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Allan state Labor government broke down. Although bargaining began before the previous enterprise agreement (EA) expired in September 2024, no agreement has been reached over wage rises, staffing levels and conditions in the new Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement (VECTEA). More than 700 striking AEU members attended a mass meeting in Melbourne to hear the unions plan to put pressure on the Allan government. The union admitted that the low-level work bans it called for on August 25 were having little effect. Early childhood workers say their workloads are becoming intolerable, driven by increasing administrative and monitoring tasks, inadequate planning time, long unpaid overtime, insufficient staff, a lack of support for children in their care, barriers to salary progression and a low base wage. The union has included more than 60 items in its EA log of claims. A recent report on Victorias early childhood educator shortage estimates that by 2031 the shortfall will increase to 11,000, a number that would threaten the viability of future early childhood learning initiatives. To date the Victorian government has not issued a formal pay proposal. Royal Hobart Hospital environmental services workers walk out Dozens of environmental services workers at Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) in Tasmania walked off the job for an hour on Monday and protested outside the hospital. The strike was the latest action by Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members in their long-running dispute with RHH management and the Liberal state government over the hospitals refusal to pay a staff training allowance. The dispute began last February when RHH refused to pay the workers a training allowance and began describing new staff training as buddying. Union members say this was an attempt by RHH management to downplay the importance and responsibility workers take on when they are required to train and orientate new employees in an acute hospital setting and was aimed at denying workers the wage they should be paid for the work they do. Workers have put in place a ban on training new recruits until their demands are met. The current dispute with RHH administrators follows a strike in October last year, when HACSU members took industrial action at the hospital to oppose chronic low staffing levels, shortages of patient linen and the employment of contract cleaners. Public school facility attendants in Tasmania strike over workload and resources Education Facility Attendants, including cleaners, grounds staff and kitchen assistants, stopped work for the day on Wednesday and rallied in Hobart outside parliament and at the state premiers office. The government responded by closing 14 affected schools. According to the United Workers Union, the facility attendants enterprise agreement expired three years ago and theyve had no additional resources since the first agreement in 1997. Workers want a new agreement that provides adequate resources and reduced workload. Committee members attend a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Chamblee, Georgia. [AP Photo/Brynn Anderson] Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s handpicked Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) concluded its two-day meeting in Atlanta on Friday by voting to further restrict COVID-19 vaccine access and delay critical childhood immunizations. The proceedings represent the next stage in the Trump administrations war on science and public health. What was once a globally respected, science-driven advisory body has now become a stage for the promotion of ideology and demagoguery, rather than scientific inquiry and consensus. Expert voices were dismissed, replaced by individuals with little relevant expertise and a record of anti-vaccine disinformation, upending decades of vaccine policy built on careful data review and diverse professional input. The panels most devastating decision involved COVID-19 vaccines, with members voting to abandon universal recommendations in favor of shared clinical decision-making, a euphemistic term that places further barriers between Americans and lifesaving vaccines. The committee recommended COVID-19 vaccination only for adults 65 and older, while younger Americans must now consult healthcare providers about risks and benefits, effectively transforming a public health imperative into an individual choice. This represents the latest in a long line of restrictions on COVID vaccine access that began under Biden but have dramatically intensified under Kennedys watch. The real-world ramifications are severe. Millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance will face new barriers to vaccination, as insurers typically only cover vaccines recommended by the ACIP. The committees weakened language signals a preference for personalized consultation that could result in individuals being told they should avoid vaccination based on perceived rather than actual risk. These restrictions come as devastating new data confirms the deadly consequences of limiting vaccine access. A study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open projected that COVID-19 will cause 814,000 hospitalizations and 54,000 deaths nationally over the next 12 months. Universal COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, compared to restricting vaccination only to high-risk groups, would prevent thousands of additional hospitalizations and deaths. Specifically, expanding recommendations to all ages would prevent an additional 28,000 hospitalizations and 2,000 deaths beyond what restricting to high-risk groups would achieve. The committees assault on childhood immunizations proved equally destructive. On Thursday, the panel voted to no longer recommend the MMRV combination vaccine for children under four, replacing it with separate MMR and varicella shots. Public health experts warn this change will result in reduced vaccine uptake, greater inconvenience for families, and dangerous gaps in immunization that will allow previously controlled pathogens to reemerge among vulnerable children. The panel canceled its planned vote on delaying the hepatitis B vaccine from birth to one month of age, though only after pressure from within the Trump administration to avoid negative publicity. The universal birth dose has nearly eliminated perinatal hepatitis B transmission, dropping cases from up to 90 percent of infants born to infected mothers to just 13-17 cases annually nationwide. Delaying this protection would expose thousands of newborns to preventable lifelong infection and liver cancer. The committees anti-science agenda was embodied by several notorious new ACIP members who already have more than 1 million deaths on their hands from spreading anti-vaccine disinformation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Committee chair Martin Kulldorff, co-author of the deadly Great Barrington Declaration that advocated letting COVID spread freely, opened the meeting by challenging nine former CDC directors to a live public debate with me concerning vaccines, declaring that scientists who refuse such theatrical confrontations cannot be trusted. Retsef Levi, who leads the committees COVID vaccine working group despite being an MIT professor of operations management with no immunology expertise, has called mRNA vaccines the most failing product in history of products and advocates for their complete withdrawal from the market. During Fridays proceedings, Levi declared that vaccine assessments should avoid describing vaccines as safe and effective, calling such language inappropriate or scientific. At one point during Levis presentation, a microphone caught someone muttering idiot, reflecting the scientific communitys exasperation with the committees pseudoscientific theatrics. Other committee members, including Dr. Wafik El-Deiry and Dr. Charlotte Kuperwasser, promoted debunked theories about mRNA vaccines causing cancer and birth defects, despite billions of doses administered globally with no evidence supporting these claims. Committee member Robert Malone, a notorious anti-mRNA vaccine fanatic, at one point shouted at pediatrician Cody Meissner: There is no established correlate of protection for COVID. Period. Full stop. Dont say otherwise. While El-Deiry and Kuperwasser raise a hue and cry over purely theoretical risks of COVID vaccines, such as the long-term persistence of spike proteins or impact on the immune systemrepeating debunked arguments found in anti-mRNA and COVID-19 vaccine circlesthey said nothing about the mass disabling event of Long COVID and its monumental impact on the planets population and long-term well-being. The committee systematically excluded CDC scientists from presenting data, replaced traditional liaison groups with ideological allies, and elevated unvetted anti-vaccine propaganda over peer-reviewed research. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association condemned the proceedings, stating: Were concerned about how vaccine recommendations are being developed by this new panel, with selective data being utilized to support specific conclusions. The committees actions stand in stark contrast to overwhelming scientific evidence. Billions of mRNA vaccine doses have been administered globally, with safety profiles rigorously monitored by multiple systems. Serious adverse effects are extremely rare and manageable, with the risk of COVID-19 far exceeding that of vaccination. The international consensus from the CDC, WHO, and numerous peer-reviewed studies has consistently confirmed the remarkable safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines. Yet Kennedys panel chose ideology over evidence. CDC data presented at the meeting confirmed that febrile seizure risk after measles-containing vaccines is less than one per 1,000 doses, and that these are transient events that cause no lasting harm. Despite this, the committee voted to restrict access to combination vaccines that have protected children for decades. Perhaps more critical than these votes were the gross misrepresentations of the scientific process that has gone into making these vaccines available to the public over more than a century. In particular, Retsef Levis assertion that childhood and other vaccines have not undergone long-term placebo-controlled trials grossly distorts the realities of vaccine research and public health oversight. Decades of rigorous trials and extensive real-world monitoring support the safety and efficacy of routine vaccines, including multiple large-scale randomized placebo-controlled studies for vaccines against polio, measles, mumps, rubella and others. Ignoring this evidence, Levi has repeatedly advanced unfounded claims, particularly against mRNA vaccines, despite the scientific consensus that vaccination dramatically reduces hospitalization and death from preventable diseases. In a further departure from precedent, the ACIP board has even actively limited external critiques and participation during meetings. CDC scientists have been blocked from informing or reviewing committee recommendations, while traditional liaison groups and voting members have been replaced or removed. The proceedings exposed a committee guided not by evidence but by the personal ideologies of Kennedys handpicked appointees. By blocking external critique, limiting scientific input, and replacing transparent deliberation with anti-vaccine propaganda, Kennedys ACIP represents a fascistic departure from evidence-based public health. These policy shifts will disproportionately harm working families who depend on public health programs and insurance coverage for vaccine access. In making vaccines harder to obtain and more expensive, Kennedys agenda constitutes a class attack that will leave the most vulnerable Americans exposed to preventable disease and death. Palermo's Pizza plant in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [Photo: Dave Shapiro] Robert Cherone, a 45-year-old worker of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was crushed to death by a robotic machine during his early morning shift at Palermos Pizzas West Milwaukee manufacturing facility. First responders found him trapped in the machinery and pronounced him dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated by the West Milwaukee Police Department, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office. Palermo Villa Inc., the plants corporate owner, issued the standard corporate script, offering perfunctory condolences along with vague promises of support for the family and counseling for employees. This is the latest in an endless wave of workplace deaths. The statistics are staggering. In Wisconsin alone, 112 workers were killed on the job in 2023, according to the AFL-CIO. About one-fifth of those deaths resulted from contact with objects and equipmentthe category in which Cherones death falls. Nationally, more than 5,000 workers die on the job each year, and millions more suffer injury or illness. Each case is treated as an isolated mishap, but together they reveal a systemic crisis. Workplaces are organized not for human well-being but for the maximization of profit, which inevitably means cutting corners. Palermos Pizza has a long history of unsafe conditions. In May 2013, a 21-year-old Burmese immigrant lost three fingers in an industrial dough mixer that unexpectedly started while he was cleaning it. OSHA found that Palermos had failed to implement even the most basic lockout/tagout proceduresMachines were not de-energized during maintenance. For this gruesome, life-changing injury, Palermos faced just $13,500 in fines, the equivalent of pocket change for the company. Around the same time, OSHA also investigated Palermos industrial refrigeration system, which used a large quantity of anhydrous ammonia as a coolant. The plant stores approximately 30,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia on site in a densely populated Milwaukee neighborhood. OSHA found serious deficiencies in Palermos Process Safety Management of this system. In a news release, OSHA cited Palermos for eight violations, seven categorized as serious and one as other than serious, all related to the ammonia system. These included inadequate employee training on emergency procedures, poor maintenance and operating practices and insufficient emergency planning for a leak or explosion. Workers at Palermos have long described the plant as unsafe, due to line speeds, exhausting hours and contemptuous management. In June 2012, employees struck, citing 70- to 90-hour workweeks and injuries such as severed fingers and repetitive trauma. Former worker Cesar Hernandez recalled how a malfunctioning sealing machine, left unrepaired to avoid slowing production, nearly amputated his finger. According to The Nation magazine, when he raised concerns, a supervisor mocked him, quipping, Here, we do things as my balls say. Whoever doesnt like it can leave. In May 2012, roughly three-quarters of Palermos workers signed union cards in an effort to form the Palermos Workers Union, demanding higher pay, safer conditions and an end to forced overtime. Many earned as little as $7.25 an hour. The very next day, management announced that 89 workers identified in an ICE audit had 10 dayscut down from the usual 28to prove work authorization or be fired. On June 1, dozens struck in protest, demanding union recognition. Palermo immediately hired replacements and within a week fired 75 of the strikers. The Obama administration, despite community protests, allowed the purge to proceed. ICE briefly suspended the audit but did not reverse the firings. In November 2012, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Palermos had not broken the law in dismissing the immigrant strikers. A December settlement reinstated only nine workers, even as the company admitted to threats and coercion during the strike. The vast majority of fired workers never got their jobs back. The unions role was to contain the struggle. The AFL-CIO and United Steelworkers launched an official boycott campaign and pursued legal appeals but avoided mobilizing broader industrial action. By early 2013, the AFL-CIO had raised only about $3,500 online for the strikers, even while hundreds of thousands of dollars in dues flowed to union officials. As the WSWS observed at the time, the unions systematically isolated and betrayed the Palermos workers, channeling their fight into sterile legal proceedings and appeals to Democratic politicians while allowing the strike to be broken. Cherones death, more than a decade later, is the direct product of these conditions and the growing attacks on workers, which under the second Trump administration are only intensifying. Automation has been introduced into the plant to cut labor costs and accelerate production. In a rational system, such technology could eliminate drudgery and free human beings from the most dangerous tasks. Under capitalism, however, it becomes an instrument of death, used to intensify exploitation and drive speed-ups. Companies slash costs wherever they can, turning machines into death traps through neglected maintenance and delayed upgrades. Workers are forced into dangerous proximity with hazardous equipment. This contradiction underscores the irrationality of the for-profit system under which workers live. Earlier this year, Ronald Adams, a 63-year-old machine repairman, was crushed to death on April 7, 2025, at Stellantis Dundee Engine Complex in southeast Michigan. Adams died in a unionized facility under the watch of the United Auto Workers (UAW). Yet the UAW colluded with management to cover up the circumstances of his death. Todays unions are controlled by bureaucrats who operate as appendages of management, functioning to contain and defuse opposition rather than to defend lives. Whether in a nonunion shop like Palermos or a unionized auto plant, workers confront the same underlying danger. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) launched an investigation into the death of Adams to uncover what happened and to hold those responsible accountable. The IWA-RFC did more to fight for Adams justice than the entire UAW apparatus, despite its vast sums of money and resources. Cherones death and Adams death are not accidents but crimes of a social order that values profit above life. Appeals to OSHA, to corporate consciences, or to union bureaucracies will not prevent future tragedies. The defense of life, dignity and safety requires the independent organization of workers and the building of rank-and-file committees to uncover the cause of Cherones death and fight to ensure it never happens again. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] In a press conference from the Oval Office on Friday, President Donald Trump pledged to deploy US combat soldiers to major American cities with or without the consent of local officials or the population. After repeating comments made to him earlier this month by Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena, in which Vena told Trump he had to save Chicago, Trump named Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis and New Orleans as the next targets in his war on the enemy within. Trump said: Now we are going to go for the big one. We set ourselves up very well in Chicago, Memphis, New Orleansgoing in early, just to see what was happening. Declaring war on the some of the largest cities in America, Trump said: We are studying, we are studying the site. Its sort of like war. I hate to tell you, its like war, some of these people are really bad. They are really really sick people, they are dangerous people, they are killers, they are murderers, drug dealers and we cant have it. As with the occupation of Los Angeles and Washington D.C., Trump is making clear that he and the ruling class he represents see entire sections of the urban working class as an enemy population that must be subdued by force. Trumps comments are a concrete confirmation of the Marxist analysis of the capitalist state. Marx and Engels wrote in the Manifesto of the Communist Party, published in 1848: The executive of the modern state is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie. As Lenin explained in State and Revolution (1917), citing Engels, the modern state relies on special bodies of armed men, comprised of cops, guards, soldiers, the courts, prisons, to repress the working class and maintain the rule of the capitalist class. Lenin wrote: The state is a product and a manifestation of the irreconcilability of class antagonisms. The state arises where, when and insofar as class antagonism objectively cannot be reconciled. And, conversely, the existence of the state proves that the class antagonisms are irreconcilable. He continued: Engels elucidates the concept of the power which is called the state, a power which arose from society but places itself above it and alienates itself more and more from it. What does this power mainly consist of? It consists of special bodies of armed men having prisons, etc., at their command. The special armed body of which Lenin wrotethe FBI, National Guard, and potentially active-duty soldiersis being mobilized not to safeguard the lives and conditions of workers, but to terrorize and discipline them. The same day Trump declared war on Chicago, federal agents operating in the area were filmed violently assaulting anti-ICE protesters at an ICE facility in Broadview, part of metro-Chicago. As of this writing, at least three protesters have been arrested. In one video, a woman is seen being shot at close range with a pepper ball rounds before another masked agent pepper sprays her in the face. Throughout the press conference, Trump repeatedly congratulated himself for deploying soldiers to Washington D.C. and other cities, while attacking Democrats for mildly criticizing his actions. They want crime, Trump said, referring to the Democrats. Stoking violence against transgender persons, Trump added, They want transgender for everybody. We are not going to let bad things happen to our country. Far from opposing Trump, the Democrats have gone along with his attacks on immigrants, workers and democratic rights. Trump noted in his press conference that Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, previously endorsed and supported by Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America, had already agreed to a Republican continuing resolution to keep the government funded after October 1. This did not prevent Trump from lashing out at House Democrats for not fully backing a resolution honoring the life and legacy of the racist and fascist Charlie Kirk. Just today the House Democrats voted against condemning the political assassination of Charlie Kirk. Who could vote against that? Trump said. In fact, the resolution received significant Democratic party support, with 95 yea votes, nearly 45 percent of the caucus, including the entire Democratic House leadership. Several reporters asked Trump questions concerning the government-coerced suspension, and possible cancellation, of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has provoked outrage among large sections of the population in the US and even internationally. Under many of Kimmels YouTube videos, workers and fans of the show from around the world have left comments in support of the late-night host. The liar in the White House claimed he was strong on free speech, while steadfastly backing his FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, characterizing him as an incredible American patriot with courage. Without offering any evidence, Trump claimed that between 89 and 97 percent of newscasts about him are bad and therefore should be illegal. Trump said: They will take a great story and make it bad. I think that is really illegal, personally. In response to a question from ABCs Jonathan Karl whether he was committed to free speech, including of people critical of you, Trump snapped: People throughout Australia were shocked to learn overnight that at least three people, including an eight-week-old baby, died on Thursday because of a breakdown in the Triple 0 emergency phone system. The disaster was caused by a failure by Optus, one of the countrys privatised telecommunications providers. Optus CEO Stephen Rue held a short snap press conference at 5.30 p.m. on Friday to belatedly announce the breakdown. He provided no details or explanations, other than that an Optus network outage had caused the failure of 600 Triple 0 calls across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. South Australian police confirmed that two deaths involved a baby boy from Gawler West, 43 kilometres north of Adelaide, the state capital, and a woman from Queenstown, in Adelaides northwest. A third death occurred in Western Australia, but that person was yet to be identified. An ambulance in Sydney in 2020 [Photo by Helitak430 via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 More deaths and serious health outcomes may have occurred. Police in both states were still conducting welfare checks on the people who could not get through to the Triple 0 number. It is now known that the breakdown lasted for 10 hours on Thursday. There has been no explanation as to why emergency backups did not kick in, as they were meant to, to divert 000 calls to an alternative service provider. The disaster threw new doubt over the reliability of the Triple 0 emergency system, which is a life-and-death issue, and underscored the human cost of successive governments, both Labor and Liberal-National Coalition, handing over all the essential telecommunications services to corporate operators driven by profit. Emergency services and governments said they were unaware of the outage, and its tragic outcomes, until Friday evening. In Western Australia, the St John Ambulance service said Optus did not advise it of a network outage. St John WA was not made aware of any issues involving Optus customers inability to contact triple-0, and has had no briefing from Optus about any outage issues in recent days, it said in a statement. Labor government ministers, federal and state, tried to go into damage control. The Albanese governments Communications Minister Anika Wells said: This is incredibly serious and completely unacceptable. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas declared: I have not witnessed such incompetence from an Australian corporation in respect to communications worse than this. He said it was reprehensible. But this is not the first time an Optus service failure has shut down Triple 0 calls. An even worse breakdown occurred in November 2023. At least 2,145 customers could not access Triple 0, and Optus also failed to conduct more than 2,000 welfare checks on people who had attempted to access emergency services. That 12-hour outage in 2023 collapsed phone and internet services for approximately 10 million customers nationwide, disrupting hospitals, banks, EFTPOS payment systems and train services. Businesses across the country were brought to a halt, unable to receive cashless payments, by what Optus called a routine software upgrade. An investigation by the official government regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority said the 2023 Triple 0 outage was not only preventable but had the potential for devastating consequences. Yet Optus, a subsidiary of Singtel, the Singaporean-listed communications giant, was only penalised $12 million. That is a drop in the bucket for Optus, which has been valued at around $16 billion, and Singtel, which is valued at more than $50 billion. A formal review commissioned by the Albanese government then made 18 limited recommendations in March 2024 to supposedly prevent further incidents. Minister Wells admitted last night that six of these recommendations were yet to be fully implemented. The Australian Government accepted all recommendations from the previous Optus Outage Review and has fully implemented 12 of the 18 recommendations, with the remaining six underway, she said, without providing any detail. Optus is not alone. Telstra, the countrys largest telco, was fined $3 million last December after a reported technical issue at one of its call centres meant that 127 calls to Triple 0 were not transferred to emergency services in March 2024. Another 346 calls were transferred to emergency service using a work-around which did not include the callers digital location. Both companies have wider records as well. In 2022, about 9.5 million current and former Optus customers were caught up in a data breach, with personal information including names, dates of birth, phone numbers and email addresses exposed over three days. The personal details of about 10,200 people were subsequently published online. And just three months before this Thursdays outage, Optus had agreed to pay a $100 million penalty for unconscionable conduct after selling its services to hundreds of customers who did not want or need them. The company admitted it had sold products to vulnerable people without any regard for whether they had Optus coverage where they lived. Optus had even pursued some of the customers for debts. None of these developments can be separated from the fact that both Optus and Telstra have carried out waves of retrenchments and cheap labour outsourcing since being privatised in the 1990s, an assault that began with the trade union-backed Hawke-Keating Labor governments of 1983 to 1996. Most recently, Optus eliminated 200 jobs in early 2024, on top of 600 staff reductions in 2023. Last year too, Telstra, announced that 2,800 jobs9 percent of its workforcewould be slashed by the end of the year, lowering its numbers to less than 29,000. In 1980, before it was privatised, Telstra, then named Telecom, had a workforce of around 90,000. This deepening offensive has been possible only because the trade union bureaucracies have time and again suppressed and sold out workers opposition. Optus began in 1981 as Aussat, a government-owned satellite communications company. In 1991, the Hawke-Keating Labor government sold Aussat to a consortium known as Optus. The sale was coupled with the granting of a telecommunications carrier licence to Optus, which enabled it to establish the countrys first corporate-owned telecommunications network and start cut-throat competition with the government-owned Telecom. This was part of a sweeping privatisation agenda in Australia and internationally. Under Hawke and Keating, Labor also sold off the Commonwealth Bank, Qantas and other major public utilities, while transforming Telecom into Telstra, a profit-making corporation. That laid the basis for the following Howard Liberal-National government to complete the Telstra privatisation over three stages, between 1997 and 2006. At the time, these selloffs were falsely presented as opportunities for mum and dad investors to buy shares in iconic national enterprises. Today, both Optus and Telstra are controlled by huge corporate investment funds that ruthlessly scour the world looking for ever-higher rates of profit. Last year, Singtel reportedly entered discussions with Toronto-based private equity giant Brookfield to sell Optus in a deal said to be worth at least $16 billion. In the case of Telstra, its dominant shareholders include global financial giants, such as JP Morgan Nominees, Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street. Thursdays terrible deaths demonstrate the fundamental incompatibility between the basic needs of the populationeven for essential telecommunications and emergency servicesand the control of societys infrastructure and productive capacity by the capitalist oligarchy. To reverse the catastrophic subordination of human life to the profit interests of corporate giants, the fight must be undertaken for the socialist alternative, which includes placing public utilities, such as communications, and the major banks and corporations under public ownership and democratic workers control. Henry Ford Health System has experienced a 40 percent drop in revenue during the coronavirus pandemic The determined strike by more than 700 nurses and case workers at Henry Ford Health Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc, Michigan is about to enter its third week. The healthcare workers, who walked out on September 1, are fighting for safe staffing levels, decent pay and the protection of previously secured benefits against the brutal offensive of a multibillion-dollar corporate healthcare giant. Having voted down a concessions contract by 93 percent in August, the strikers have demonstrated their resolve to win their demands. However, the courageous stand of the strikers is in grave danger. Workers are confronting a battle on two fronts: on one side, a ruthless strikebreaking operation by Henry Ford Health, and on the other, the systematic effort by the Teamsters bureaucracy to isolate and sabotage the strike, setting the stage for a sellout contract that gives the hospital everything it wants. The Teamsters apparatus, which has a long and sordid record of betraying workers struggles, is actively blocking any independent initiative by the nurses while promoting illusions in the Democratic Party, which is part of the very capitalist political establishment that enforces the subordination of healthcare to corporate profits. To win their fight, striking nurses must take the conduct of the struggle into their own hands. This requires the formation of an independent, democratically-controlled rank-and-file committee to break the isolation imposed by the union bureaucracy, mobilize the full strength of all hospital workers to shut down the strikebreaking operation, and link up with the growing movement of the working class against austerity and inequality. What the nurses and case workers are fighting for The central issue in the strike is the dangerously high nurse-to-patient ratios, which workers say have created a nightmare for both staff and patients. Since Henry Ford Health acquired the hospital from Ascension in 2024, conditions have deteriorated significantly. Nurses report being assigned up to 10 or 11 patients at a time, and sometimes even 13, when safe ratios would be between one nurse to four patients or one nurse to five patients. One nurse explained, They have been giving new nurses, six months out of nursing school, 10 patients. These impossible workloads have a direct and deadly impact on patient care. There are studies that show that with every extra patient you add to a nurses workload, mortality goes up 7 percent, one nurse on the picket line said. Another added, In the last four years I have never seen more breakdowns, falls, infected IVs. You cant keep track of everything. Henry Ford management claims that mandated ratios are inconsistent with system-best practices and hinder adaptability, which would make the hospital unprofitable. This argument exposes the priorities of Henry Ford Health, which is seeking to provide health care to maximize profits, not to provide services to the public. Management also blames nurses for the staffing crisis, citing an increase in call-offs, which Henry Ford claims are incentivized by a premium pay clause in the old contract. The nurses reject this, pointing out that management has systematically failed to recruit and retain staff, leading to burnout and a hemorrhaging of experienced nurses. The strike is also a fight to defend pay and benefits won in previous struggles. Henry Ford is seeking to impose a single, system-wide policy, which means scrapping previously negotiated terms at Genesys. This includes cuts to holiday pay from double-time to time-and-a-half, and changes to overtime, which now only begins after 40 hours a week instead of after a scheduled shift. One nurse stated that the health insurance Henry Ford offers its own employees is too expensive for them to afford. A central demand is for pay commensurate with other Flint-area hospitals to help retain staff. Strikebreaking and Teamsters complicity Henry Ford Health has responded to the strike with an all-out strikebreaking operation, keeping the hospital open with contract nurses, or scabs, and staff who have crossed the picket line. The hospital is paying these scabs up to $8,500 per week, plus stipends and hotel costs. As nurses correctly point out, this proves the company has the money to meet their demands for safe staffing and better pay. The use of unqualified scabs places patients in extreme danger. Strikers report that the replacement workers are unfamiliar with the hospitals charting system and equipment, and that many are underqualified for their assignments. One nurse stated bluntly that scabs are scabs because they make too many errors in care to hold down permanent jobs, and it is difficult to track their mistakes as they move from hospital to hospital. Strikers have heard rumors from inside the hospital of dangerously poor care, including one horrific account of a breached baby who was transferred out too late to be saved. While management wages war on the striking nursesterminating their insurance coverage and threatening other unionized workers against showing supportthe Teamsters bureaucracy has done nothing to stop the scabbing. Critically, support staff represented by AFSCME Local 3518 are crossing the picket lines every day. The Teamsters and AFSCME leadership collaborated to isolate the nurses, with AFSCME officials rushing to settle their own contract on August 22, just before the nurses strike began. Teamsters officials have told strikers that it would be illegal for AFSCME members to join the strike, a well-worn lie used by union bureaucrats to divide workers and enforce managements dictates. Negotiations are not taking place. A session scheduled for September 10 was cancelled when Henry Ford representatives failed to show up. Another recent meeting, overseen by a federal mediator, was deemed unproductive by Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass. Negotiations resumed on Thursday without progress, according to local news reports, and there are currently no plans for another meeting. However, there is every indication that management has no reason to bargain when the Teamsters bureaucracy keeps the strike isolated and toothless. Henry Ford is relying on the union apparatus to help it exhaust the strike and force the workers back to work under the terms of a sellout agreement which will be presented as the best we can do. Instead of mobilizing the working class to defend the strike, the Teamsters bureaucracy has sought to channel the strikers anger into the dead end of capitalist politics. On September 11, the union organized a rally at the picket line featuring Democratic Party politicians, including Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson, who has announced his candidacy for governor of Michigan in the 2026 elections. The hypocrisy of the Teamsters embrace of Democratic politicians was on full display when union officials harassed reporters from the World Socialist Web Site on the picket line on September 16. They accused the WSWS of sowing division and bringing politics into the strike. However, when asked how it was that the Teamsters had no problem bringing the politics of Democratic Party candidate for Michigan governor Swanson to the picket line, the mouthpieces for the union bureaucracy and isolation of the strike had no response. The voice of the nurses Despite these efforts by the union bureaucracy, nurses on the picket line spoke powerfully about their struggle. An OR ( operating room ) nurse declared, I dont think healthcare should be a business. We are talking about peoples lives. Another said, We just want safe care. Safe staffing saves lives. They should set nationwide standards across the board. Showing WSWS reporters an ad for scab pay of between $7,168 and $8,536 per week plus a stipend being offered by Henry Ford Health, one nurse remarked, This is not being reported on the news. And they try to say we are asking for too much. Another nurse connected the immediate crisis to broader social issues: With the retirement of the baby boomers conditions are going to get worse. The CEO of Ford complains about the nursing shortage, but there is no investment in education in the United States. Her coworker added, The whole private healthcare system doesnt work. You cant have golden on the outside and rotten within. It should be golden on the inside. Another striker passionately explained the human cost of understaffing: We dont just do physical labor, we work with our minds. Sometimes we are up to 10 or 11 patients. If you divide that by, say $42 an hour, that is $4 a patient. Is that what a patient is worth? Her coworker expressed her determination, saying, I am prepared to stay out here for a while. Otherwise, the nursing shortage will get worse and worse. ... We are doing too much. It creates burnout. The way forward: Build a rank-and-file committee! The strike at Henry Ford Health Genesys Hospital is coming to a denouement. The policy of the Teamsters bureaucracy of isolating the strike, allowing scabbing to continue, and promoting Democratic Party politicians is a recipe for defeat. It is the same strategy that led to the betrayal of the 2024 contract struggle at this very hospital and countless other struggles, including the recent sellout of 340,000 UPS workers. The embrace of Trump by the national Teamsters leadership further exposes the bureaucracy as a pro-corporate agency of the billionaires that is hostile to the struggle of the working class for its interests. The only way forward is for the striking nurses and case workers to take the conduct of the struggle out of the hands of the union functionaries. This means forming a rank-and-file strike committee, democratically controlled by the workers themselves, to fight for what is necessary, not what Henry Ford Health and its stooges in the Teamsters claim is affordable. Such a committee would immediately make a direct appeal to the AFSCME-represented hospital staff to defy their own sellout leadership and join the strike to shut down the hospital completely. The committee would also organize mass picketing to stop the scabs from entering the facility by turning to the broader working classautoworkers in Flint, teachers, logistics workers, and othersfor active support. The fight for safe staffing and quality healthcare is the fight of the entire working class, which relies on this critical community resource. The struggle at Henry Ford Genesys is part of the class struggle globally against the capitalist system, which subordinates every aspect of life, including health and safety, to the accumulation of private profit. New Zealands gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 0.9 percent in the second quarter of 2025, according to statistics released on Thursday. The decline was more than twice as big as most economists had predicted. On an annual basis, economic activity was down 1.1 percent. GDP per capita fell 2.1 percent in the past year and 3.9 percent since June 2023. New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis announces 2025 budget [Photo: X/Nicola Willis] The National Party-led governments finance minister Nicola Willis blamed business nervousness, stoked by the Trump administrations plan to impose 15 percent tariffs on New Zealand goods. The economy, however, shrank in three of the last five quarters, which cannot be explained by Trumps tariff announcement in April. The economic war being waged by US imperialism, as it prepares for all-out war against China, is exacerbating the already severe global economic crisis, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand, which relies heavily on exports of agricultural products and timber to China, is particularly exposed to the downturn in China. The value of New Zealands exports dropped 1.2 percent in the three months to June and 0.4 percent in the previous quarter. Speaking to Radio NZ (RNZ), Willis also criticised the 20172023 Labour Party-led government for spending like a drunken sailor and driving up debt. In fact, both the current and the previous government have protected the wealth of the super-rich and imposed the economic crisis on the working class. In 202021, the Labour-Greens government, supported by National and the entire parliament, gave tens of billions of dollars to big business via subsidies, bailouts and tax breaks, while the Reserve Bank printed billions more to prop up the banks. All of this is being recouped from working people through attacks on public services, including health and education, mass job losses and wage cuts. The state has deliberately engineered a recession to intensify the exploitation of workers. The June quarter saw a contraction in 10 out of 16 industries. Manufacturing is down 3.5 percent, construction 1.8 percent, mining 4.1 percent. Retail, agriculture, transport, business and financial services, arts and recreation, healthcare and social assistance all recorded negative growth. In the past year, there was a staggering 9.4 percent fall in construction activity. Goods production, which makes up one-fifth of the economy, contracted 5 percent while the services sector (nearly three-quarters of the economy) recorded zero growth. The construction downturn is largely due to government cuts to public housing, under conditions where 2.3 percent of the population are severely housing deprived. Auckland Council estimates the number of people sleeping rough in the city has increased 90 percent in the past year. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon downplayed the GDP figures, telling the media: Were growing now. Were projected to grow more strongly going into the next quarter. Such claims are not credible. Steel Worx Group director Chris Barrett told the New Zealand Herald, every single manager or owner Im talking to [is] in critical freefall. Absolutely no business, no opportunities. Unemployment has risen sharply from 3.2 percent in 2022 to 5.2 percent (158,000 people). RNZ reports that as of June there were 50,000 fewer jobs than in December 2023, with 16,000 fewer filled jobs in construction, 8700 fewer in manufacturing and 6000 fewer in retail. The underutilisation rate is 12.8 percent, meaning 400,000 workers are either unemployed or only employed part-time and seeking more work. In the first half of the year, 1,270 businesses shut downa 12 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to RNZ. Auckland, the biggest city, has the highest unemployment in the country at 6.1 percent, with 15,409 job losses in the 12 months to June. Wellington, the capital, has lost 5,961 jobs, largely due to sweeping public sector layoffs. Recent announcements also include 100 job cuts by Weta FX, the visual effects company owned by billionaire film-maker Peter Jackson. In the past week, timber manufacturer Carter Holt Harvey, owned by multi-billionaire Graeme Hart, announced plans to close its plywood factory in Tokoroa, destroying 120 jobs. The small town is still reeling from the closure this year of OJI Fibres Kinleith pulp and paper mill, which had employed 150 people. Carter Holt Harvey also plans to close its Eves Valley sawmill in Nelson, making 142 workers redundant. Sealords coated-fish factory in Nelson will also shut, eliminating 79 jobs, while Griffins Snacks is proposing to shut its Proper Crisps factory, sacking 65 people. While tens of thousands are being thrown out of work, the cost of living continues to soar. Food prices have risen 5 percent in the past year. Milk is up 15 percent, cheese 14.3 percent, bread 9.5 percent, meat 9.4 percent, fruit and vegetables 8.9 percent. The cost of electricity increased 11.4 percent. Meanwhile, the government has effectively slashed the minimum wage, raising it by only 1.5 percent. Sections of the ruling elite responded to the GDP announcement by demanding more brutal austerity. The 1990s National governments finance minister Ruth Richardson and the 1980s Labour governments finance minister Roger Douglas (founder of the far-right ACT Party) have lambasted Willis for failing to halt government borrowing and to slash spending on pensions and welfare. The opposition Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins declared yesterday that the government was completely out of touch with the day-to-day reality facing New Zealand families and claimed that Labour would not have made similar cuts to housing, hospitals and other projects. Hipkins, however, campaigned for public sector layoffs in the 2023 election, which his party lost by a landslide after overseeing years of rising child poverty, entrenched homelessness and high living costs. The Labour Party has no real differences with austerity measures. It also agrees with the diversion of billions of dollars from social programs to the military in order to integrate New Zealand into US war plans. The accelerating social counter-revolution is driving workers to the left and into struggles. Tens of thousands of nurses, doctors and teachers recently held nationwide strikes against low wages and extreme understaffing. These actions, however, have been limited and isolated by the union bureaucracy, which is working with the government to prepare sellout deals. Workers must develop their struggles not only against the government, but also Labour and its alliesthe Greens, Te Pati Maori, the various pseudo-left groupsall of which prop up capitalism. To break the stranglehold of the pro-capitalist union apparatus, workers must build rank-and-file committees that will unify workers in New Zealand with those in Australia and internationally. Workers and young people must fight for a socialist solution to the crisis. The wealth of the super-rich must be expropriated and war spending halted, in order to expand schools, hospitals and housing, and put an end to social inequality. Dorit Rubinstein Reiss is a Professor of Law at UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), a member of the Parent Advisory Board of Voices for Vaccines, and a member of the Vaccines Working Group on Ethics and Policy. She writes extensively on the social and legal dimensions of vaccination in law reviews and for public-facing outlets on medicine, policy and the law. She teaches torts, administrative law and public health law. One of the main issues she focuses on in her scholarship is the legality and necessity of school vaccine mandates. Drawing on more than a century of jurisprudence (including Jacobson v. Massachusetts and Zucht v. King), Reiss explains why courts routinely sustain school-entry requirements: they rest on state police powers, reasonable limits on individual liberty and child protection. In work such as Litigating Alternative Facts, she shows why First Amendment, parental-rights, and right-to-education arguments against mandates fail. Reiss also spends considerable effort debunking misinformation, including the false vaccine-autism narrative. She has analyzed and rebutted high-profile claims and shown how anti-vaccine networks mischaracterize government proposals arguing that agencies must pre-empt distortion with clearer, faster public communication. She clarifies legal terms often weaponized in these debates (i.e., unavoidably unsafe does not mean especially dangerous) and returns repeatedly to the public-health logic of herd immunity. Professor Reiss accepted the invitation for this interview that places her analysis in todays public-health context and what is at stake for families if those legal and institutional guard rails fail. Benjamin Mateus (BM): Good morning, Professor Reiss. Thank you for taking the interview. Maybe we can begin with you introducing yourself and how you became involved in vaccines and public health? Professor Dorit Reiss [Photo by Dorit Reiss] Dorit Reiss (DR): Im Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Law San Franciscowhat used to be UC Hastings. Im also a mom of two, who I think are still asleep. I came to vaccines first as a parent. My PhD was on agency accountability in telecommunications and electricitynothing to do with health. But when my older son was two, I did what academics do: I learned about parenting by reading books, science blogs. I stumbled on an anti-vaccine comment and was surprised. So, I read more and concluded pro-vaccine parents needed to speak up online. I started thereresponding to anti-vaccine claimsthen began writing professionally. Now all my research and teaching are about vaccines: school immunization and the law, tort liability, administrative law, and Ive written more sociologically about the anti-vaccine movement. BM: Well come back to those points. I want to anchor our interview in whats happening now. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is leading the Department of Health and Human Services, and there have been dramatic changesnot for the betterat the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health. How should we understand the current moment in U.S. public health? Whats actually changing, and what are the legal and policy implications? DR: A lot is changing. Mr. Kennedy has been committed to anti-vaccine causes for over 20 years. Hes a true believer in the idea that vaccines are badand hes willing to advance that cause. He arrived with a list of changes and within a broader deregulatory pushessentially, an effort to overhaul the administrative state. Those two things are working together. One of the first steps was cutting agency staff by more than 20,000mostly firings, some resignationsand abolishing a long list of programs. The broader pattern is paring down public-health agencies and bringing in political appointees judged more by loyalty than expertise. That isnt just ACIP; its across the board. Practically, that means fewer experts inside and more loyalty tests. Youre expected to do what leadership wants and here it means aligning with Kennedys anti-vaccine agenda rather than following the data. Public health is always political to some degree, but historically FDA and CDC leadership, under both parties, gave scientists room, because obviously anti-evidence decisions backfire. Thats no longer the norm. Kennedy has clear views and agencies are being steered to align with them. The result: (a) weakened public-health performancethis is ideology over evidenceand (b) damaged trust. I dont know how easily we rebuild trust in FDA and CDC after seeing how quickly a determined political leader can gut them and yoke them to an agenda. Community rights and individual rights BM: Given the surge in vaccine skepticism, building now for decades but supercharged during COVID, plus the growing medical freedom rhetoric, what are the hardest challenges in balancing individual rights with the communitys right not to be exposed to disease? And how have appeals to American individualism and libertarianism, including RFK Jr.s role in COVID-era misinformation, shaped this debate? DR: Thats a great question, and Id answer it in three parts. A 19th century anti-vaccination cartoon First, none of this started with COVID. Opposition to vaccination is as old as vaccination and appeals to liberty have been there from the beginning. Weve gone through cycles like this since the late eighteenth century. Were in another upswing now. Although COVID-19 accelerated it, but its not the first. Second, theres the freedom frame. Historically, anti-vaccine activism in the United States wasnt neatly partisan. You saw it at the ends of the spectrum on both left and right. On the right, distrust of government; on parts of the left, distrust of corporations and a romantic idea of natural health. Those impulses are understandable in moderation. The problem is when theyre taken to extremes. Over time, especially in the 2010s and around the school-mandate fights after 2015, you saw more partisan sorting. Generally, there was more Democratic support for mandates and more Republican opposition, with exceptions. Then QAnon gained momentum. Its conspiracy logic mapped naturally onto anti-vaccine narratives, so the movements fed each other; people who entered QAnon often adopted anti-vaccine claims, and vice versa. Third, COVID turbocharged all of this. In a fast-moving pandemic, public-health agencies will make some mistakes, and those were amplified in an information ecosystem where certain outlets, with Fox News preeminent among them, regularly downplayed the pandemic and vaccines. People trust their trusted sources; if those sources turn skeptical, audiences follow. You end up with identity-driven views: vaccines were oversold, the pandemic was exaggerated, and that spills over to other vaccines. I dont want to overstate itmost U.S. parents still vaccinate their kids and dont want childhood vaccines removedbut Kennedy is building on COVID skepticism. Hes been anti-vaccine for a long time, and hes using COVID as a wedge to advance policies that undermine childhood vaccination more broadly. BM: I want to raise an analogy. A car is designed by a corporation to make a profit. We still trust cars and though sometimes there are defects we regulate and use them because we need them. In the same sense, the fact that vaccines are made by corporations shouldnt, by itself, nullify their safety. A company cant succeed with a vaccine that doesnt work. And with COVID, mRNA technology had been studied for roughly 20 years. Does that framing make sense to you? DR: It doesand its useful in two directions. First, we already trust many corporate products and cars and airplanes are good examples because we regulate them. The same logic applies to vaccines. Companies have strong incentives to make products at least reasonably safe: catastrophic failures are discovered, invite lawsuits, and can send executives to prison. Many people in pharma also choose that work to help patients, even as the firms pursue profit. Second, governance matters. Corporations exist to make money and without oversight, we should be very concerned. The vaccine oversight apparatus is extensive. There are pre-licensure trials, FDA review, post-market surveillance, manufacturing inspections; and its not confined to the United States. These vaccines are used across national health systems worldwide. The idea that pharma controls the government and the media assumes a level of coordination and competence Ive never seen in any large institution. Even if a company somehow captured a U.S. regulator, it couldnt also control independent scientists and foreign health authorities. If something were seriously wrong, it would surface. On COVID specifically, everyone, including the companies, was living through a real emergency. The world demanded vaccines; these firms stepped up. Of course, they expected profitsthats how private firms operatebut profit-seeking does not erase public need or make the products unsafe. And, as you noted, mRNA platforms had a long research runway before 2020. If you believe in markets at all, when a company makes a vaccine that saves lives, its not scandalous that they earn revenue from it. The key is accountability and transparency, which is why we keep the regulatory guardrails tight, or we should. Informed consent and vaccine mandates BM: Another critical question for our discussion: how do coercion and informed consent work in law and medical ethics? How do they apply to school or workplace vaccine mandates? DR: Let me start with informed consent, then move to coercion. Since the early 20th century, US law and medical ethics have increasingly centered on patient autonomy, the right to control what happens to ones body. Historically, medicine was patronizing. You went to the doctor and did what the doctor said. Today, the clinician must explain risks, benefits, and alternatives; the patient decides. The doctrine grew out of cases (I teach them in torts) where doctors ignored patient instructions and the courts in turn said thats unacceptable. In clinical care, informed consent belongs to adults with decision-making capacity: the clinician discloses risks, benefits, and alternatives; the patient understands and voluntarily decides. There are special rules for people who dont fit that category. For children, consent comes from a parent or legal guardian, and we often seek the childs assent when developmentally appropriate. For adults who lack capacitybecause of illness or disabilitywe use a surrogate decision-maker (or an advanced directive if one exists). And for incarcerated people, the law is especially alert to coercion and undue influence. Their dependency on the institution means extra safeguards and limits, particularly around research participation. On the research side, consent standards are even stricter. There are independent review boards, special protections for vulnerable groups, and a definite line between care and experimentation. That system was built after notorious abuses, including Tuskegee [the U.S. Public Health Services syphilis study on Black men, 193272, in which participants were deceived and denied effective treatment; a scandal that helped spur modern research-ethics rules]. One confusion created by the anti-vaccine and anti-public health layers during COVID was treating authorized or licensed vaccination in clinical practice as if it were human-subjects research, which it isnt. Public health is different because it addresses shared risks. We routinely limit individual autonomy to protect others: drive on one side of the road, dont smoke on airplanes, etc. There are medical analogs, too. People with infectious tuberculosis can be required to complete long antibiotic courses or face liberty restrictions. Courts can order treatment for minors in specific circumstances. The principle is balance; a respect for autonomy but prevent harm to others. That balance is why school and workplace vaccination policies are lawful. Schools are shared spaces, and unvaccinated attendance raises risks for classmates, infants too young to vaccinate, immunocompromised students, and staff. Parents have broad authority over their children, but not to expose other peoples children or their own to communicable disease. Courts have upheld school-entry rules on that basis for a century. Finally, coercion in law means an improper threat that leaves no reasonable alternative. Its different from pressure or inconvenience, and different again from undue influence (e.g., an outsized payment to a research subject). A neutral, evidence-based condition of participation such as school entry or certain jobs paired with accommodation and, at most, exclusion or modest penalties, is not coercion. Its the standard way we balance private choice with public risk, while keeping oversight in place: courts for constitutional review, political checks, transparency, and time-limited measures so compulsion isnt open-ended. Early 20th century Canadian cartoon depicting vaccination as an invasion of personal freedom False claims of coercion and violations of medical freedoms BM: Libertarians and medical freedoms advocates claim school vaccine mandates are coercive. But how does the law view that? DR: Fair to ask, but its worth noting that not all libertarians advocate for medical freedoms. Some accept school mandates on a classic harm-to-others theory: your liberty ends where you endanger someone elses child. Legally, the view runs the other way from coercion, for two main reasons. First, childrens welfare (parens patriae). School mandates regulate parents choices about children. Kids arent refusing on their own; adults are declining on their behalf. We protect parental rights, but theyre not absolute. The state already sets limits to prevent harm; child-labor laws, compulsory education, and medical-neglect rules are basic examples. Routine childhood vaccines have benefits that vastly outweigh their small risks, so requiring them is understood as protecting the child. Second, public health in shared spaces. Schools have shared air. Unvaccinated attendance increases risk to classmates, infants too young to vaccinate, immunocompromised students, and staff. Its not just your child; its everyone they breathe with. A friend once picked up her five-year-old with a three-week-old in tow only to learn the kindergarten had a chickenpox outbreak. That baby was too young to vaccinate. This is why the law treats schools as settings where preventing externalitiesyour choice imposing risk on othersis legitimate. Because school mandates sit at the intersection of childrens rights and community protection, courts have upheld them for a century. Theyre typically structured as conditions of attendance (with medical exemptions), not forced injections, which also matters for the coercion claim. One complication today, however, is that the courts have become more aggressive about protecting religious exercise. Some states that had tightened exemptions are being pushed to restore or expand religious exemptions. Those exemptions are difficult to police and can undermine herd protection. But the core rule remains: school-entry vaccination requirements themselves rest on very strong legal ground, precisely because they protect children and the broader school community. BM: Does coercion in law imply causing harm or removing real choice? Given that vaccines confer benefits to the recipient and others, how should we understand that term here? DR: Legally, coercion means an improper threat that leaves no real alternative. A neutral, evidence-based condition of school attendancewith medical exemptions and, at most, exclusion or modest penaltiesdoesnt meet that standard. But Id qualify the discussion in two ways. First, nothing effective is risk-free. Vaccines can cause rare adverse events. Anaphylaxis, for example, is on the order of about one per million doses. So, anyone promising zero risk isnt being candid. The point is comparative risk: those vaccine risks are far smaller than the risks from the diseases they prevent. Second, many parents who decline vaccines overestimate those risks because theyve been exposed to disinformation. Theyre not seeing the same evidence you and I are, so they interpret mandate through a fear lens. Clear communication about real, but very small, vaccine risks, and the much larger disease risks, helps put the term coercion in proper legal and ethical context. BM: Understoodand historically the disease burden faced by populations over generations makes that comparison clear which brings me to the legal foundations. Looking back at Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905) and Zucht v. King(1922), which established state authority to require vaccination and school entry rules, and considering that Lochner v. New York (1905) wasnt a vaccine case but reflected the eras skepticism toward regulation often aligned with business interests, did that mindset shape modern fights over COVID measures? How have those rulings guided or complicated todays controversies? DR: Its an interesting question. Youre right that Jacobson was decided in what we shorthand as the Lochner era, when the Court was very aggressive about protecting economic liberty and struck down several workplace-protection laws (like maximum-hours rules) in the name of freedom of contract. Even in that climate, the Court in Jacobson upheld a vaccination requirement as a valid exercise of the states police power for public health. The message was: liberty matters, but public health can justify reasonable limits. Two clarifications about Jacobson. First, it endorsed reasonable limits, not anything-goes. Cambridge, Massachusetts had a smallpox outbreak with deaths. The local board of health (under a longstanding state statute) required vaccination for anyone not vaccinated within the last five years. Henning Jacobson refused. Part of his objection was skepticism; he argued the vaccine was dangerous and ineffective. The other aspect was constitutional that the mandate violated his liberty. The Court responded by stating that liberty is not absoluteif everyone sets their own rules, society cant function. They also acknowledged that the state may impose reasonable public-health measures. And on the contested medical questions, courts generally defer to policymakers when the weight of medical opinion supports the measure. Second, that deference cuts both ways. In principle, if a policymaker hostile to vaccines heads a public-health agency, Jacobsons framework still gives some leeway to policy choices though modern administrative law scrutinizes agency reasoning more closely than in 1905. Its a mixed picture: we look to courts to protect against abuse or arbitrariness, but judges arent scientists and can get it wrong as easily as right. So, the through-line from Jacobson is not blind acceptance; it is deference bounded by reasonableness. Public-health measures must have a real, evidence-based relation to protecting health, and courts remain a backstop against overreach. Public health and business interests BM: On the Lochner v. New York (1905) case where Justice Harlans dissent tracks his approach in Jacobson, it seems the contradictions posed by public health needs and economic interests were evident then. On one side of the argument is keeping workers healthy and on the other when such measures cut into profits and business resist. In effect, they want the benefits of a healthy workforce but without the constraints of public-health rules. Is that the tension? Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan DR: Thats the tension, and its largely short-term vs. long-term. Over the medium and long term, disease is expensive. There is lost productivity, disrupted supply chains, and high turnover. If half your workforce is sick, your business doesnt function. So, employers have a real stake in effective public health. In the short term, specific measures such as temporary closures, retooling operations, buying protective equipment, offering paid sick leave can feel costly. The U.S. labor system also encourages presenteeism: many workers are penalized for staying home sick, which is bad for public health but can look cheaper in the short run on a balance sheet. So, you get an apparent dual posture. Sometimes business supports strong measures (because the alternative is shutdowns or outbreaks). For instance, early in the COVID pandemic, I found myself talking with chambers of commerce around the country about workplace vaccine mandates because many saw them as the path to staying open. In other contexts, firms resist. The short-term math is vexing. They balk at costly PPE, paid sick time, or investments in ventilation upgrades, even though sick or injured workers are bad for their business. The bottom line is that businesses often want the outcomes of public health (healthy, reliable labor) but not the inputs when they cut into their profits. Public policy exists to solve that mismatchpricing externalities and setting baseline rules so the long-term interest isnt sacrificed for short-term gain. BM: Quick question on Zucht v. King. Could you speak to it brieflywhat the case held and how it shaped school vaccination rules? DR: Zucht v. King was short but important. It came out of San Antonio, Texas, where the city required proof of vaccination for public and private school attendanceeven though there wasnt an active smallpox outbreak. A parent sued after her unvaccinated child was denied entry. Justice Brandeis, writing for the Supreme Court in 1922, essentially said: this is constitutionalsee Jacobson. The Court held that (1) school vaccination rules can be preventive, not just emergency measures; and (2) exclusion from school is a lawful consequence. Thats a key shift from Jacobson, which involved a modest fine; Zucht confirms that communities may protect schools by conditioning attendance on vaccination. Parents often experience exclusion as coercive, and some states once piled on truancy penalties, but constitutionally the principle is clear: to guard against communicable disease in a shared setting, a city can require vaccination for school entrywithout waiting for an outbreak and without granting officials arbitrary power. BM: Kennedy and his allies say they want to revamp the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. For readers new to this, can you explain why Congress created the Act, how the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) works, and what it has meant for vaccine safety, supply, and public trust since its enactment? And if the program is weakened or dismantled, what would that mean for access, prices, liability exposure, and school and workplace requirements? Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona has introduced a bill that would upend this landmark legislation. [In July 2025, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced the End the Vaccine Carveout Act, a House bill that would allow plaintiffs to sue vaccine manufacturers directly rather than first filing in VICP, effectively unwinding key liability protections of the 1986 Act; it is pending in committee.] Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump at an event in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein] DR: In the 1980s there was a surge of litigation over the DTP vaccine. Most plaintiffs lost, but the volume and cost of suits were high enough that manufacturers began leaving the market. Routine childhood vaccines are steady but not high-margin products; litigation costs eat into those margins. Within a few years, the number of DTP makers dropped from roughly 18 to five, then three; eventually only two remained, and they were considering exiting. Congress worried the U.S. could be left without vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. So, stakeholders struck a compromise that became the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. Beyond compensation, the Act improved informed consent by creating the federal Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) that must be given before vaccination; its short, clear, and standardized. It also created VAERS (the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), a public system where anyone can report a suspected post-vaccination event, part of broader safety surveillance. The role of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) The Act also created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), a no-fault system. In civil court, an injured person must prove the product was defective (design, manufacturing, or warning) and that it caused the injury. In VICP you dont have to prove defectonly causation and damagesunder a claimant-friendly preponderance standard, with relaxed evidentiary rules. The program also pays attorneys fees and costs separately (if the claim was filed in good faith), so awards arent reduced by contingency fees. There are limits. The Act channels most claims into VICP first; after a decision or 240 days without one, a petitioner can exit to court. But the Supreme Court has held that design-defect claims for covered vaccines are preempted; you can still sue later for negligence, manufacturing defect, fraud, or certain failure-to-warn theories, but not the design was too dangerous. So, manufacturers and vaccinators have limitednot absoluteliability protection. This doesnt mean manufacturers never face court cases. For example, there have been hundreds of lawsuits against Merck over the HPV (Gardasil) vaccine in general courts after VICP filings. Those cases have faced setbacks at the trial-court level and are on appeal, but they illustrate that civil litigation still happens; VICP is the first stop, not the only possible forum. Most plaintiffs attorneys will tell you that if a claim cant meet VICPs easier standard, its unlikely to succeed in civil court. Whats new are the efforts to blow up the channeling. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has introduced a bill to remove key liability protectionsallowing people to sue directly in state or federal court without first going through VICP and even filing claims without time limits. That is unusual in tort law, which typically has two or three-year statutes of limitations to preserve evidence and finality. Open-ended liability and a return to forum-shopping would likely trigger a wave of suits, raise costs, and push manufacturers to exit the pediatric vaccine marketprecisely the crisis the 1986 Act was designed to avoid. As for the current administration, it has signaled an intent to reform VICP but has been non-specific and has often skipped the usual notice-and-comment transparency. Given the anti-vaccine record of key figures, theres reason to worry about changes that undermine the program. If VICP is weakened or dismantled, expect reduced supply, higher prices, and access problems; school and workplace requirements also become unenforceable if families cant reliably get the vaccines. BM: I think the long-term consequences are stark. By my count, there are roughly 250 vaccine manufacturers globally, and more than half are in the United States. If liability protections are stripped, it could chill production, never mind the knock-on effects on school requirements and mandates. DR: When litigation risk spikes, the rational move for many companies is to step away from low-margin, high-scrutiny products and make something more profitable. If enough manufacturers exit, you get shortages and fragile supply, and then even willing families cant get vaccinated. At that point, school and workplace requirements become unenforceable in practice because access isnt reliable. BM: Next week ACIP meets under a roster reshaped by Kennedyafter replacing the CDC director and seating several appointees with little vaccine expertise but strong anti-mandate views. What should the public expect from this meeting, and what are the real downstream consequences of whatever ACIP votes? DR: As of now, the roster shows seven new members, with reports that seven more are still being vetted. Given the pattern of doing things by fiat, its unclear whether additional members will be added right before the meeting or whether the committee proceeds with the seven already seated. Most of these appointees were clearly chosen for hostility to COVID-19 vaccination, and some are skeptical of other vaccines as well. They generally lack deep vaccine expertise. The notable exception is Dr. Cody Meissner, a respected pediatric infectious-disease specialist and former ACIP member, who has voiced skepticism about certain COVID policies; that likely influenced his selection. The rest may have expertise in other areas, but vaccines arent their field. Substantively, Im concerned they will try to withdraw or narrow recommendations on COVID-19. To be clear, ACIP recommendations do not pull a vaccine from the marketthats FDAs job, and FDA licensure remains. But ACIP drives access in three critical places: 1. Medicaid generally covers ACIP-recommended vaccines. Remove a recommendation and Medicaid coverage can vanish. 2. Vaccine for Children (VFC), which covers roughly half of U.S. children, depends on ACIP recommendations; lose the recommendation and many children lose no-cost access. 3. Under the ACA, private plans are required to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines with no cost-sharing. If ACIP backs away, some insurers may still cover them on their own because prevention is cheaper than hospitalization, but others wont. The result shows up at the pharmacy counter. Were already seeing the dynamic when leadership discouraged COVID vaccination in pregnancy outside the ACIP process: pregnant people report being turned away at pharmacies. If ACIP now formally narrows or withdraws recommendations, then we can expect more denials or out-of-pocket charges. These products are not cheapon the order of $140 per dose. Professional societies will issue guidance, but they cant fix the statutory links that tie coverage to ACIPs votes. Vaccines and autism: Kennedys big lie BM: Given their track record, the antivaccine movement and distortion of scientific data, do you expect an effort to revive claims linking vaccines to autism? And could they succeed in mainstreaming that? DR: Thats a real concern. One effect of this ACIP meetingand of the broader shift under Kennedyis to hand false anti-vaccine claims a much bigger microphone. Even parents who sense something is off may still think, If officials are saying this, maybe theres something thereshould I risk it? Fear like that can push families away from protecting their children. To be specific, theres no autism item on this specific meetings agenda, but ACIP plans to discuss the hepatitis B birth dose and MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella). I worry theyll narrow or remove recommendations, making access harder. I also expect misuse of VAERS. VAERS accepts unverified reports from anyone; it cannot establish causation for an injury or death. Saying a death was reported to VAERS after a vaccine is not evidence the vaccine caused it. Using VAERS as causal proof misleads parents and drives a dangerous wedge between public health and the population: skipping vaccination is the real danger, because of anecdote-driven fear based on falsified and erroneous evidence. So yes, I expect attempts to re-legitimize autism myths indirectly, by casting doubt on safety, using bad readings of data and platforming fringe analyses. BM: Anti-vaccine figures are notorious for misrepresenting VAERS data for their agenda. The Geiers are a prime example of it, and now David Geier is advising Kennedy on autism. And with unlimited access to CDC databases that they can cherry-pick to their hearts content, the complete falsification of the science behind vaccines is assured, yes? DR: Exactly. And youre referring to Mark and David Geier. Mark, Davids father, died in March, which is why were now focused on David. In the early 2000s they published a string of thimerosalautism papers which have been repudiated by experts. They later lost federal data access after trying to get around privacy protections in restricted datasets. They also pushed a dangerous Lupron protocol, a powerful drug used to treat prostate cancer and precocious puberty, as treatment for autistic children, built on a contrived, debunked idea that mercury in the vaccines interacted and elevated testosterone levels. That was baseless and unethical. Clearly, David Geier at HHS with access to the Vaccine Safety Datalink is disturbing. Now, the VSD is de-identified, and access is limitedno one gets a free run of full medical records. But the problem isnt just privacy; its what gets said about the numbers. David Geier has a long history of misrepresenting data, slicing and re-slicing it to make it say what it doesnt and then presenting that as fact. Hes been doing that for decades. Its really concerning to see someone like that in HHS right now. BM: Given everything happening inside the United Statesleadership changes at HHS/CDC/ACIP, politicized guidance, and widening skepticismwhat are the international consequences? Im thinking specifically about the World Health Organization and global emergency readiness. DR: CDC has been a leader in global pandemic response and front-line technical partner for global healthtraining field epidemiologists, standing up labs, running surveillance, and deploying teams during crises. When the U.S. steps back from these global responsibilities, two things happen: theres less money and less expertise available to respond to emerging threats. We saw the value of that capability during West Africas Ebola outbreak and many smaller responses people never hear about. Pulling out of the WHO will have serious consequences. Trust has already taken a hit internationally. Information-sharing slows, joint studies stall, and genomic surveillance falls behind. Outbreak response becomes underfunded. Meanwhile, anti-vaccine messages from U.S. officials travel fast. They undercut measles and polio campaigns abroad and complicate vaccine procurement, because many countries take their cues from the U.S. Practically, expect fewer catch-up campaigns, thinner stockpiles (syringes, PPE, and specialized vaccines), and stalled tech transferincluding momentum behind mRNA platform hubs. The International Health Regulations still bind the U.S. (early notification, cooperation, proportionate measures), but they only work with domestic follow-through. If our coverage drops and outbreaks spread outward, other countries may impose entry requirements or travel advisories that affect trade and movement. Pathogens ignore borders. Politics doesnt change that. The short-term politics of going it alone turns into long-term risk and isolation for the U.S. and everyone else. BM: Who are the key organizations and networks working to roll back vaccine rules? How have they embedded themselves in todays political structures and social media? DR: The group of activists is small but has a significant impact relative to its size. In the U.S., many anti-vaccination organizers have more resources and social capitalwell-educated, media-savvy, and connected to donors, lawyers, and political networksso they can shape narratives, file lawsuits, and lobby effectively despite their numbers. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, some held seats on federal advisory committees, and the press routinely booked them. They sounded polishedsome had PR backgroundsand figures like Andrew Wakefield could seem persuasive on camera even while pushing false claims about MMR and autism. As evidence accumulated against those claims, mainstream outlets pulled back, though local media and talk formats kept a door open. In recent years theyve rebranded. Instead of leading with vaccines are dangerous, they front-load medical freedom, constitutional language, and parental rightswhile still working to reduce vaccination in practice. If it were truly about freedom, they wouldnt try to remove other peoples access to vaccines. They also aligned with right-wing media and political networks, which vastly expanded their reach. You see regular platforms for attorney Aaron Siri (who represents anti-vaccine groups) and physicians like Peter McCullough, alongside a constellation of influencers repeating the talking points. When a trusted outlet amplifies a message, audiences absorb these stories. And these dont respect borders either. Internationally, these networks are well connected. U.S. narratives show up in the U.K., Germany, and France; Australian or European claims flow back here. They share tactics, legal briefs, funding leads, and media assets, building an international community. Conclusion: The cost of anti-vaccine actions BM: I'd like to conclude by asking if you have any final thoughts youd like to share. Also, maybe consider commenting on two papers you wrote in 2014: Funding the cost of disease outbreak caused by non-vaccination and Compensating the victims of failures of vaccinated. I thought they were very interesting. DR: I always start from the basic premise that no one deserves to be hurt or killed by a preventable disease. I also think many people who are anti-vaccine are sincere, but they are working off disinformation and a completely different reality. But sincerity doesnt undo the harm to others. And I do think some movement leaders are willing to bend or ignore facts to push their cause. Anti-vaccine actions impose real costslives, long-term health, moneyon everyone else. Its a good idea to limit their ability to do that. Yet, were seeing government choices that chip away at vaccination, which predictably raises non-vaccination and brings disease back. Thats bad for all of us. On the two 2014 articles you mentioned, the idea is straightforward: outbreaks are expensive. Even small measles outbreaks run into millions just for the public-health response, even before you count hospitalizations or long-term consequences. Its reasonable to bring some of those costs back to those who created the risk, ideally the leaders driving the disinformation, rather than leaving everyone else to pay. The goal isnt punishment; its fairness and deterrence, so fewer families ever have to face these diseases. BM: One last point: vaccination coverage among two-year-olds in Florida is down to about 75 percent. DR: Thats far too low. Floridas leaders are essentially running a natural experiment on what will happen if we let measles, Hib, and polio come back in children. The people making these decisions wont pay the pricechildren and their families will. BM: And Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has said he didnt need to do an analysis because this is purely a moral question. DR: It is a dangerous stance, but Im almost glad he said it plainly. He admits he didnt check whether these policies will bring back disease. Hes saying its more important, morally, in his view, to let parents send children to school unprotected than to determine whether hes protecting children. Elevating an abstract principle over kids safety isnt acceptable. BM: Id call Ladapos comments hubris. DR: Yes. ***** Major legal cases and rulings in the United States on public health and vaccinations: Jacobson v. Massachusetts [U.S. Supreme Court, 1905. Upheld a local smallpox vaccination requirement as a valid use of state police power, emphasizing that liberty isnt absolute during epidemics. The Court allowed a modest fine for refusal rather than forced inoculation. This case is the backbone for modern vaccination and exclusion rules.] Zucht v. King [U.S. Supreme Court, 1922. Affirmed that cities can require vaccination for public and private school attendance, and that health authorities may exercise broadbut not arbitrarydiscretion. This solidified school-entry vaccination as a lawful tool.] Prince v. Massachusetts [U.S. Supreme Court, 1944. In a child-labor/First Amendment case, the Court stated that religious liberty does not include the right to expose the community or a child to communicable disease. Frequently cited to support outbreak exclusion and limits on exemptions.] Gottsdanker v. Cutter Laboratories [Cal. Ct. App., 1960. After the 1955 Cutter Incident, a jury found no negligence but imposed liability on implied-warranty grounds for live poliovirus in Salk vaccine lots. It signaled that manufacturers could face liability even when meeting then-current standards, shaping later vaccine-liability debates.] Toner v. Lederle Laboratories [9th Cir., 1987. Upheld a negligence verdict alleging the DTP manufacturer failed to adopt a safer feasible design, even as strict-liability claims failed. Often cited to illustrate the pre-VICP tort climate that pushed manufacturers to the brink.] Davis v. Wyeth Laboratories [9th Cir., 1968. Recognized a duty to warn consumers directly in mass-immunization settings where no individualized physician advice occurs. Narrowed the learned-intermediary shield during public campaigns.] Reyes v. Wyeth Laboratories [5th Cir., 1974. Reinforced Davis: failure to provide adequate warnings in mass clinics could render the product unreasonably dangerous. Key backdrop to warning-duty law during immunization drives.] Whitecotton v. Shalala [U.S. Supreme Court, 1995. Clarified that to use the Vaccine Injury Tables presumption in VICP, onset must be after vaccination; pre-vaccination manifestations defeat the presumption. A cornerstone timing rule inside VICP.] Althen v. HHS [Fed. Cir., 2005. Set the three-prong VICP causation test: reliable medical theory, logical sequence, and appropriate timing, proven by preponderance. Establishes the programs claimant-friendly but evidence-based standard.] Bruesewitz v. Wyeth [U.S. Supreme Court, 2011. Held that the 1986 Vaccine Act preempts design-defect suits for covered vaccines; claims must go through VICP. This locked in the legal channel that stabilizes supply.] NFIB v. OSHA [U.S. Supreme Court, 2022. Stayed OSHAs large-employer vaccine-or-test rule under the major questions doctrine, signaling limits on broad federal mandates. Contrasts with the health-carespecific ruling below.] Biden v. Missouri [U.S. Supreme Court, 2022. Upheld CMSs vaccination requirement for Medicare/Medicaid-participating facilities based on patient-safety statutes. Shows sector-specific mandates fare better than economy-wide ones.] Autism Omnibus Proceeding [U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 20092010. Consolidated test cases alleging vaccines cause autism and rejected those theories after extensive expert evidence; appellate courts affirmed. This remains the definitive legal record on the claim.] Hannah Poling (VICP concession) [2008. Government conceded compensation where routine vaccines aggravated a rare mitochondrial disorder, producing encephalopathy with autism-like features. A narrow, case-specific outcome often misrepresented as a general autism finding.] Displaced Palestinians flee Gaza City, by foot and vehicles, carrying their belongings along the coastal road in Nuseirat toward the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana] The death toll in the nearly two-year-long genocide in Gaza has reached 65,000, Gazas health ministry said Friday. This latest horrific milestone comes as Israeli forces continue their assault on Gaza City, the last remaining part of Gaza outside direct military occupation, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee south over the choked coastal road. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Friday that the Israeli military would use unprecedented force in its assault on Gaza City, urging the remaining residents to join the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing south. This current military operation is completely destroying entire blocks, and there are still families who are trapped under the debris of targeted houses, particularly in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, reported Al Jazeera journalist Abu Azzoum. Over 350,000 people have fled Gaza City since August, the Israeli military reported. Before Israel began its onslaught on Gaza City, over one million people were sheltering there. Hundreds of thousands of people remain in the city because they lack the means to evacuate or are too ill, hungry, or injured to do so. Israeli troops have repeatedly attacked Palestinians fleeing on the coastal road, Al Jazeera reported, despite it being labeled a safe zone. Nivin Ahmed, 50, told the AFP news agency that her family fled on foot to the south. We walked more than 15 km, we were crawling from exhaustion. She added, My youngest son cried from fatigue. We took turns dragging a small cart with some of our belongings. Israeli forces killed 43 people in Gaza on Friday, including 26 in Gaza City, Reuters reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government has called the onslaught on Gaza City part of the concluding moves in the war on Gaza launched in October 2023. Israeli officials have made it clear that they are planning the total displacement of the Palestinian population to the countrys south, from whence large numbers of them will be expelled to other countries. In May, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich explained that Within a year... Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to... the south to a humanitarian zone... and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries. The Trump administration is actively discussing plans to jointly occupy Gaza alongside Israel. The devastated enclave will be transformed, in Trumps words, into the Gaza Riviera, where major corporations and investors will profit from the mass killing and forcible displacement of the population. Every day, Palestinians in Gaza are dying from hunger, including a nine-year-old child who died from severe malnutrition at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza. To date, 441 people have died from malnutrition or starvation since the start of the genocide. In August, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) officially declared a famine in Gaza City, stating that this famine is entirely man-made. The report added that after 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions characterized by starvation, destitution, and death. The situation has since dramatically worsened, with the closure of the Zikim Crossing on September 12. In a statement on Wednesday, the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) warned: There are grave concerns over fuel and food stock depletion in a matter of days as there are now no direct aid entry points into northern Gaza and resupply from south to north is increasingly challenging due to mounting road congestion and insecurity. On Wednesday, the conflict tracking group Acled published figures indicating that fifteen out of every sixteen people killed in Gaza were civilians. The group said that since March 18, 1,110 members of Hamas had been killed out of a total death toll of 16,000. Another set of internal figures from the Israeli military, reported by The Guardian, estimates that civilians accounted for 83 percent of deaths in Gaza since the start of the genocide. Last week, Herzi Halevi, the former chief of Israels military, admitted that over 200,000 Palestinians in Gaza, or over 10 percent of the population, have been killed or injured during the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. The vast majority of Gaza has been destroyed by the Israeli military, with 90 percent of homes either damaged or destroyed. The enclaves medical, sanitation, and food distribution infrastructure has been largely destroyed. On Thursday, the US vetoed a resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israels restrictions on the entry of food into the enclave. The intensified onslaught on Gaza City follows the trip by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Israel. During his trip, Rubio referred to the Palestinians as barbaric animals, echoing the genocidal rhetoric of former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who said in October 2023 that the Palestinians were human animals. On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is moving ahead with a plan to sell nearly $6 billion in weapons to Israel, to be paid for with US tax dollars. The planned sale includes $3.8 billion for 30 Apache attack helicopters, which would double Israels current stock of the aircraft, as well as another 3,200 infantry assault vehicles, at a cost of $1.9 billion. French First Lady Brigitte Macron is prepared to present photographic and scientific evidence proving shes, in fact, a woman. Brigette and her husband, French President Emmanuel Macron, will offer the proof as part of their ongoing defamation case against Candace Owens, a right-wing political commentator who has promoted unfounded claims that Brigette was born a biological male. [Brigette] is firmly resolved to do what it takes to set the record straight, the Macrons attorney, Tom Clare, said on the BBCs Fame Under Fire podcast, If that unpleasantness and that discomfort is what it takes to stop this, shes 100% ready to meet that burden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clare told the hosts that Brigette planned to present expert testimony that would be scientific in nature, as well as family records and pregnancy photos from her first marriage. COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. It is incredibly upsetting to think that you have to go and subject yourself, to put this type of proof forward, the lawyer continued. It is a process that she will have to subject herself to in a very public way If that unpleasantness and that discomfort that she has of opening herself up in that way is what it takes to set a record straight and stop this, shes 100% ready to meet that burden. Clare told Fame Under Fire that the Macrons legal battle with Owens has been a distraction to the French president, which is understandable considering the defendants incredibly upsetting claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to suggest that it somehow has thrown him off his game, the attorney clarified. But just like anybody who is juggling a career and a family life, as well, when your family is under attack, it wears on you. And hes not immune from that because hes the president of a country. In July 2025, the Macrons filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the United States against Owens. The political commentator, who has garnered millions of followers across various social media platforms, has repeatedly claimed that Brigette was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which actually belongs to Brigettes older and very much alive brother. According to Time, Owens has referred to Brigette as a pedophile who spent years grooming Emmanuel. Brigette reportedly met Emmanuel in 1993, when she was working as a drama teacher at his high school. The French first lady was 39 at the time, and Emmanuel was 15. The couple tied the knot in 2007. Owens has accused the Macrons of relentless bullying and referred to the case as an obvious and desperate public relations strategy. Her legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after Clares interview with Fame Under Fire, Owens took to X to claim she was not being sued for alleging Brigette was born a male. This is verifiably false. She isnt suing me for saying shes a man, Owens wrote. She has never sued anyone ever for saying shes a dude. Because she is one. This is verifiably false. She isnt suing me for saying shes a man. She has never sued anyone ever for saying shes a dude. Because she is one. https://t.co/SFcidIaOBz Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 18, 2025 Per the Macrons lawsuit: These outlandish, defamatory, and far-fetched fictions included that Mrs. Macron was born a man, stole another persons identity, and transitioned to become Brigitte; Mrs Macron and President Macron are blood relatives committing incest; President Macron was chosen to be the President of France as part of the CIA-operated MKUltra program or a similar mind-control program; and Mrs. Macron and President Macron are committing forgery, fraud, and abuses of power to conceal these secrets. Related News Charlie Kirk Death: Report Details Messages Suspected Shooter Sent on Discord Coachella 2026 Lineup Drops Early Prompting Mixed Reactions From Fans COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. Making Culture Pop. Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows. Candace Cameron Bure opened up about feeling grief over Charlie Kirks death while attending her daughter Natasha Bures wedding to Bradley Steven Perry. The Full House alum, 49, was in attendance as Natasha, 27, exchanged vows with the former Good Luck Charlie star, 26, at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu in front of 150 guests on Sunday, September 14. The wedding took place four days after conservative pundit Kirk died at age 31 in a shooting. These last few months, but last week, has been crazy, Candace said of the wedding via her Instagram Story on Thursday, September 18. We kept a really big secret, and it was so fun to keep, Ill be honest. And, at times, it was hard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Candace described her daughters wedding day as incredible before promising to reveal more details about the wonderful celebration at a later date. However, the actress admitted that Kirks death weighed heavily on her mind throughout the festivities. Charlie Kirks Podcast Returns With Empty Chair in His Place After Death: Wouldve Wanted Us to Be Here It was also a difficult week with the assassination of Charlie, and it was really devastating, she explained. This juxtaposition of emotions feeling grief and wanting to celebrate the wedding, all at the same time. Candace continued, I kind of laid low for the most part. But, if youve been around here for any length of time, you know that Im never going to stop sharing my faith. Im never going to stop encouraging people to read the Bible. It truly is my favorite thing to do because I love God and I love Jesus, and I want to share that with all of you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former View panelist initially reacted to the news of Kirks death on September 10 by highlighting the activists background as an evangelical Christian. We love you, Charlie, she wrote via Instagram. Well done, good and faithful servant. Charlie Kirks Family Guide: Meet the Conservative Commentators Wife Erika Frantzve and Their 2 Kids Kirk was shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, and later died after being rushed to a local hospital. A nearly two-day police search culminated with 22-year-old shooting suspect Tyler Robinson being apprehended on September 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson was subsequently charged with a capital offense, aggravated murder, and felony discharge of a firearm, plus lesser counts of obstruction of justice, witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. Robinson has yet to enter a plea, but he will remain in custody at Utah County Jail without bail at least until a waiver hearing takes place on Monday, September 29. A memorial service called Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk will be held in Kirks honor on Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Charlies wife, Erika Kirk (nee Frantzve), are all expected to attend. Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate Meanwhile, Candace announced her daughters wedding on Tuesday, September 16, by offering Natasha and Perry congratulations on their milestone. We introduce to you Mr. And Mrs. Perry !! A huge congratulations to the sweetest @bradleysperry and our beautiful daughter @natashabure on the celebration of their marriage, she wrote via Instagram. We couldnt have asked for a kinder man than Bradley to love and care for our girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natasha told People in an interview published on Thursday, September 18, that her mom fulfilled a ceremonial role by wearing a blue dress to the wedding. My mom is my something blue at my wedding which is so special," Natasha explained. "She means the absolute world to me, so having her honored in that way felt so right." Natasha and Perry went public with their relationship in July 2024 and reportedly got engaged the following April. Steve Martin and Martin Shorts shows at The Dome (9/19) in Virginia Beach, VA and Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront (9/20) in Richmond, VA will be canceled. Unfortunately, Steve Martin has come down with Covid, and out of an abundance of caution, the shows will be canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Refunds will be available to ticket buyers. On Instagram, Martin shared a photo of a positive Covid-19 test and wrote in a prior post: NEW YORK Steve Martin was forced to cancel two of his comedy shows with Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short this weekend as a result of testing positive for COVID. The Its Complicated star, 80, announced on Instagram Friday that he had sadly contracted COVID and would have to miss this weekends Dukes of Funnytown! shows in Virginia. I cant possibly do the shows that you deserve. So Marty and I must cancel tonight and tomorrow, he captioned a photo of his dog looking sad in a Mickey Mouse ears hat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Emmy winner and 17-time nominee assured fans that he and Short, long-time friends and collaborators, would return under better circumstances. In a subsequent post, Martin shared a snap of a positive COVID test, captioned, Hey! No flu! The comments section got some star-studded well wishes from the likes of Brad Garrett and Rita Wilson. Martin and his Father of the Bride and Three Amigos! co-star were initially scheduled to perform Friday night at The Dome in Virginia Beach and Richmonds Allianz Amphitheater. The duo appeared together earlier this week at the 77th Emmy Awards, where Hulus Only Murders was nominated for seven awards, including outstanding comedy series and outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for Short. The works-in-progress showcases at the San Sebastian Film Festival the most important festival in the Spanish-speaking world return this year with eight anticipated projects split between its two categories: WIP Europe and WIP Latam. Both showcases run between Sept. 22-24 in the Basque city. Amongst the Latin American showcase, prolific Mexican auteur Fernando Eimbcke is set to make the most of his stay in the Basque Country by presenting Olmo, backed by Brad Pitts Plan B Ent, in Horizontes Latinos and his new project Flies as part of the WIP lineup. The Chilean duo of multidisciplinary stop-motion animators Leon & Cocina follows The Wolf House with fantasy The Neverending Plague, joining two other sophomore features in Fernanda Tovars Sad Girls and Esteban Hoyos Garcia and Juan Miguel Gelacio Ramirezs We Were No Longer Five. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement The most noticeable absence this year is Argentina. For the first time in 15 years, the powerhouse South American country is nowhere to be seen in the WIP Latam selection, reflecting the also meagre offering in the festivals main program (there are only three Argentinian films in official selection this year: 27 Nights, Belen and The Currents). Explorations of diaspora heavily permeate the European camp, with Massih Parsaeis Lovers Sleep Alone trailing an Iranian man living in exile in Berlin, and Elif Sozens Veha going the opposite direction by telling the story of a woman returning to her home country of Turkey after many years living abroad. Jonas Bak follows his 2021 debut Wood and Water with the two-hander drama Somewhere Between Sleep, and German-Ukrainian director Tatjana Moutchnik makes her first feature outing with February, Seven Days, investigating the Russian-Ukrainian tensions through the lens of a grieving family. Participating projects at last years WIP Latam have enjoyed a successful year, with Daniel Hendlers A Loose End recently playing Venice Spotlight and Ivan Funds The Messager winning Berlins prestigious Jury Prize. On the European side, Sarah Miro Fischers The Good Sister premiered in the Panorama section of Berlin, while Seyhmus Altuns As We Breathe will compete in San Sebastians New Directors sidebar. Projects at WIP Europe are all in the running for the categorys Industry Award worth 10,000 ($11,700), while the WIP Latam offers the meatier Egeda Platino Industria Award worth 30,000 ($35,200). Advertisement Advertisement Below, we look at the eight titles across the festivals two WIP lineups: WIP Latam We Were No Longer Five (A la hora de poner la mesa ya no eramos cinco), dir. Esteban Hoyos Garcia, Juan Miguel Gelacio Ramirez Colombia, USA (Selva Producciones, Chicamocha Films, Andante Producciones, Redline Enterprises) The Colombian directing duo is back to San Sebastians WIP Latam two years after their debut Selva/Jungla. Their sophomore feature is about a mother who has lost track of her son in armed conflict. Losing hope with institutions, she turns to a group of women who tell her about a mysterious village where you can ask a dead person for a favor, setting her out on a journey in search of answers that blur the lines between the living and the dead. Stars Birds of Passage actor Carmina Martinez. Sad Girls (Chicas Tristes), dir. Fernanda Tovar Mexico, Spain, France (Colectivo Colmena, Martinishot Films, Potenza Producciones, Promenades Films) Advertisement Advertisement Tovars short film Mi edad, la tuya y la edad del mundo screened at Cannes Critics Week in 2022 and received a special mention at the Morelia Festival. Her feature debut, Sad Girls analyzes the changing relationship between the two best swimmers in their team and their friends after an incident at a party. One wants to keep quiet, the other wants revenge. Their friendship, previously unbreakable, will be put to the test as never before. The project marks Colectivo Colmenas first international co-production. The Neverending Plague (La plaga sin fin), dir. Joaquin Cocina Varas, Cristobal Leon Dooner Chile, The Netherlands, Uruguay, Germany, France (Leon & Cocina Films, Globo Rojo Films, Vikings Films, Montelona, Autentika Films, Premium Films) The duo known as Leon & Cocina previously won the best short film award at Venice Horizons for Los Huesos and Berlins Caligari Award for their debut The Wolf House. Their sophomore effort is a fantasy following Princess Diana, who falls in love with young nomad Lalo against her fathers wishes. Desperate, she embarks on a journey in search of love. Stars Antonia Giesen (La Jauria) and Andrew Bargsted (My Brothers Dream Awake). Flies (Moscas), dir. Fernando Eimbcke Mexico (Kinotitlan, Teorema) Advertisement Advertisement The next film by renowned Mexican director Eimbcke (Olmo, Duck Season) is produced by Michel Francos Teorema and stars Totem breakout Teresita Sanchez. The actor plays Olga, whose dire financial situation sees her subletting a room in her flat to Tulio, whose wife is hospitalized across the road. When Tulio goes away for a few days, leaving his 9-year-old son in his place, Olga must face her biggest fear: emotional connection. WIP Europe Lovers Sleep Alone (Working title), dir. Massih Parsaei Germany (Filmfive, Filmuniversitat Babelsberg Konrad Wolf) Tehran-born Parsaei has directed a series of shorts over the last decade, including Vertraut (2016), Olelesek (2018), and Uber Anna (2018). Lovers Sleep Alone is his feature debut, which he is also writing and editing. It follows Iman, a young man living in exile in Berlin after leaving Iran and cutting ties with his family. A lonely drifter, Imans only relationship is a sexual affair with Andre. A surprise visit from his cousin comes to disrupt the mans routine, bringing back suppressed memories of a long-gone past. February, Seven Days (Sieben tage februar), dir. Tatjana Moutchnik Germany, Austria (Wood Water Films, Wega Film) Advertisement Advertisement The feature debut of German-Ukrainian director Tatjana Moutchnik (A Veterans Destiny, Bear Hill Path) takes place in Germany in 2022, where two Ukrainian brothers reunite after years apart to mourn their recently deceased mother. While the family debates on what is the most culturally appropriate mourning ritual, Russia begins its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, turning their lives upside down. Veteran Austrian producer Veit Heiduschka (Amour) is one of the films producers under his Wega Film banner. Somewhere Between Sleep, dir. Jonas Bak France, Germany (Trance Films) Baks 2021 feature debut Wood and Water got a special mention from the Compass Perspektive Award in Berlin and went on to be screened in New York, London and Uruguay, where it won the Best Film Award in the New Directors competition. His sophomore feature reunites him with mother Anke Bak, who starred in his first outing. In Somewhere Between Sleep, Anke meets Lisa by chance on a cold day as they both consider leaving their small Black Forest town. Veha, dir. Elif Sozen Turkey, France, Saudi Arabia (Kalavara Film, Les Films DIci, Red Sea Fund) Advertisement Advertisement Featuring The Unfaithful star Olcay Yusufoglu, Sozens (Celebration, One) debut finds Meral and her young son returning to their small Turkish village after the passing of her mother. When Meral disappears, it is up to her old friend Nilay to not only understand why her friend mysteriously left but also to care for her son and manage their now irreparably attached future. Sebnem Sonmez (7 Numara) is also part of the cast. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Bachelor runner-up Daisy Kent who fought for the heart of the beloved Joey Graziadei on season 28 of The Bachelor might have stepped out of Bachelor Nation for a bit, but it's safe to say she has not stepped out of the spotlight altogether. Last night (September 19), the blonde beauty stole the show on the red carpet ahead of the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, rocking a champagne-colored look that had everyone talking. Keep scrolling for all the outfit deets, as well as what people are saying about Kent's look. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 19: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Daisy Kent attends the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for iHeartRadio) For those who are unfamiliar, day one of the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival took place last night at T-Mobile Arena, featuring performances by Tate McRae, Bailey Zimmerman, Maroon 5 and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the show, celebs like Love Island: USA's Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi, DWTS' Lele Pons and more walked the red carpet, but Kent's look might have been the best of all. For the occasion, Kent opted for a champagne-colored dress comprised of crystal-embellished mesh, which she described on her Instagram profile as Vegas vibes. Underneath, she wore a champagne-colored slip to remain on the conservative side, tying the whole look together with a pair of strappy gold heels. To accompany the outfit, the Minnesota native opted for crimped hair that gave an effortless yet elegant look, as well as nude nails and bronzey makeup that left everyone in awe. Needless to say, she looked stunning! While she has yet to post any photos from the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival, Kent shared a cheeky transition video to McRae's "Revolving Door" via her Instagram profile, amassing a great deal of positive comments about her appearance: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats adorable! You are too darn cute This look is so good OMG THAT OUTFIT! Need deetz THIS IS YOUR COLOR Where will she go next? To keep up with all things Kent, you may connect with her on Instagram: @daisyykent. This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Did you ever play that game as a kid where you'd spin a globe, stop it with your finger, and imagine living in whatever place you landed on? Forgem / Getty Images Well, that's exactly how I first found out about Paraguay 20-something years ago. Waldir Felix Chirinos / Getty Images Paraguay was always one of those "so random I saw it on a globe" places that I wanted to visit someday, even though I had no idea what was actually there. So when the chance came up while I was in South America, I figured what the hell, and booked a flight. Matt Stopera Here's what I saw spending 72 hours in Asuncion, Paraguay (that's the capital). 1. are you?" messages from people who have my location. First off, Paraguay is one of the least-visited countries in South America. Some random website says it's the fourth least visited. It's basically smack dab in the middle of the continent, completely landlocked, and I definitely got a few "Where the hellyou?" messages from people who have my location. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. Likewise, that makes the capital, Asuncion, one of the least visited capital cities on the continent. That might be changing, though! In 2025, Paraguay had the highest tourism growth rate in South America. Matt Stopera Random fun fact: Asuncion is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in South America. 3. Paraguay has its own airline, Paranair (though it is not a government-owned national carrier). I have a special place in my heart for airlines named after a country, so I was excited for this. It made for a good dramatic departing-the-plane picture. Matt Stopera 4. The first thing I noticed was how Asuncion is very, very green. Like, there are tons and tons of trees. Matt Stopera To be fair, I wasn't expecting a desert lol. I just wasn't expecting SO many trees, and I get it! You need them because it's hot as ALL hell there. 5. Paraguay was, full stop, the hottest place I've ever been. I went in January, which is the middle of their summer, so I should have known. But Jesus Christ, every day felt like 100 degrees by 10 a.m. I felt like I was in a real-life air fryer. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6. Terere is the quintessential Paraguayan drink made with yerba mate and ice-cold water that eveeeeeryone drinks. I'm telling you, everyone, and at all times of the day. Matt Stopera 7. I'm not joking, people carry their own personal water coolers for their terere. Keys, wallet, phone, and big-ass jug. It's an essential Paraguayan accessory. Matt Stopera 8. As for the taste, I'd say EXTREMELY refreshing and almost a little minty. I also let it steep for slightly too long, so I was BUZZZIN. Mtcurado / Getty Images 9. Paraguay is a bilingual country where both Spanish and Guarani are official languages, and most people, indigenous or not, actually speak both. It's one of the only countries in the world where the majority of the population speaks an indigenous language. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pretty cool if you ask me! 10. There are mangoes everywhere in Asuncion. Like, literally falling from the trees, on the ground, EVERYWHERE. Matt Stopera Sorry, had to blur my foot. No free feet pics here! Message to get my rates. 11. Mall culture is THRIVING in Paraguay, and was definitely a reliably air-conditioned place of refuge. It was on this trip that I finally understood the appeal of mall-walking. Matt Stopera I basically didn't want to die from heat. 12. RadioShack still exists here. Matt Stopera It was like seeing a ghost from the past. 13. I found this "American Store" in the mall, and they were selling this shirt: Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just thought I should share. I love a good "American" store. 14. Now, let's talk about Paraguayan food because that's my shit. Piero Insfran / Getty Images That's chipa. It's made of cheese bread made from cassava flour, cheese, eggs. I give it a solid 8/10. 15. The two most famous restaurants in Asuncion are Bolsi and Lido Bar. Both are looong-standing institutions known for their traditional Paraguayan dishes. Matt Stopera 16. My personal favorite was Lido Bar. I could have eaten here every day. The food, the service, the vibe. I was living. Now, let's get into particulars. It instantly, and I'm not exaggerating, became one of my favorite restaurants in the world!! Matt Stopera No hyperbole. 17. Lido Bar has been open since 1953, and after decades just moved into a new spot. The restaurant itself is very much diner vibes, where you grab a seat at the counter and watch the waiters divvy out all those sweet, sweet (and also savory) Paraguayan treats. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They run that shit like the Navy. 18. Food-wise, I have to shout out the OG Paraguayan staple: sopa paraguaya. Yes, it's technically translated to "Paraguayan soup," but it's not soup at all. It's like a thick cornbread. Matt Stopera 19. As someone who absolutely loves cornbread, this was the food I was most excited to try in Paraguay. It turned out to be delicious. The portion was also huge, and now that I think about it, every meal I had in Paraguay was yuge. Matt Stopera 20. Another must-try is a soup called Bori Bori. I know, soup in summer is chaotic, but you gotta try this one. The soup had catfish in it because of the Paraguay River. I never had *river fish* before (TBF I never even knew 'river fish' was a thing), but no complaints. A solid 9/10. Matt Stopera Oh, and in the back that's arroz quesu. It's cheesy rice. Yeah, duh, you can't go wrong with that combo. 21. My absolute favorite thing at Lido Bar were the empanadas. Those were TOP TOP TOP tier. 100/10. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We actually went back to Lido Bar a second time just for those. 22. Oh, and meat. Duh. Matt Stopera Like its Brazilian and Argentinian neighbors, Paraguay is a capital M-E-A-T town. 23. Something I completely didnt expect, since it almost never happens outside the US, was that in Paraguay, I was served water with ice. Yes, actual ice. Matt Stopera Again, it was HOT there. 24. The main *it* attraction, like the building you see in pictures when you search "Asuncion," is the pink house. Javier Ghersi / Getty Images Palacio de los Lopez is the home of the government and the president of Paraguay. There's also a GIANT Paraguay flag outside of it. Great photo op. 25. The other main thing in Asuncion is the Paraguay River (fifth largest river in South America!). There's a boardwalk called the Costanera de Asuncion stretching along the riverbank, and I could only make it down here in the evening because, like I said, it was hot as all hell. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This picture even *feels* hot to me. 26. I'd also like to give a shoutout to some of the parks. My favorite thing to do in a new city is to check out the green spaces, and there were some pretty nice ones. Matt Stopera My favorite was Parque de la Salud. Here is an interesting garbage receptacle I found: Matt Stopera 27. . I know that might sound unappealing to some of you, but the juxtaposition was something. The downtown area of Asuncion has a bunch of historic buildings and colonial architecture, but it also has some abandoned ones that give the area a very The Last of Us vibeI know that might sound unappealing to some of you, but the juxtaposition was something. Matt Stopera Jokes aside, we love a colonial architecture moment. 28. The main street in downtown Asuncion is Calle Palma. That's where I found this thing. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No idea what is happening here. Just thought it was of note. 29. One thing to keep in mind in Asuncion is that the sidewalks are basically an obstacle course. Step wrong and its game over, so PAY ATTENTION. Matt Stopera 30. Another thing I kept on seeing in Asuncion were these people/things/creatures. I have no idea who or what these things are...but I'm sure someone in the comments will tell me lol. Matt Stopera 31. Now, let's talk beverages. There's nothing more I love than a good convenience store beverage section in a different country, and let me tell you: Paraguay does not disappoint in this department. Guarana drinks are very popular here, and they have some excellent sugar-free varieties. Matt Stopera For me, the taste is Red Bull-adjacent. 32. Another interesting bev I saw everywhere was tonic water. As someone with a strange affinity for raw tonic water (no gin), I loved to see it. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 33. Shoutout to the surprisingly new Biggie convenience stores. It's like their CVS. Matt Stopera I could spend hours in there. 34. I know this might sound weird, but I love a cemetery. Asuncion has a really *neat* one right in the middle of the city. The Recoleta Cemetery feels like a (literal) city of the dead. Matt Stopera 35. Unfortunately, some of it is in disrepair. That's a human skull. Matt Stopera This cemetery came onto my radar because Anthony Bourdain came here. His great, great-grandfather is actually buried somewhere there. 36. Paraguay is pretty flat and stuck right in the middle of South America (duh, I told you this), so people like to joke that its the Kansas of the continent. Obviously, there arent dramatic mountains or coastlines, but theres something really cool about all of that wide open space. I wanted to check out more than just the capital, so we rented a car for the day to check it out. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 37. I love a hike, and I found one on a "hill" about an hour from Asuncion at a place called Cerro Hu. That scrappy hike really gave me a sense for *just how big and vast* this place is. Matt Stopera 38. I was also the sweatiest I've ever been in my life. Drenched! But I did see a gigantic lizard I named Suzie Toot. Matt Stopera She was prehistoric. Matt Stopera 39. Another town we visited was Aregua, a *charming* little place known for its artsy vibe, colorful (and weird) pottery, and lake views. Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 40. The pottery...was...something...lol. Matt Stopera I honestly regret not picking up one of those piggybanks, though. 41. Now, lets talk about Ypacarai Lake. Yeah, its polluted, but honestly, still gorgeous. We saw it in San Bernardino, which Im pretty sure is Asuncions version of the Hamptons. Matt Stopera The town was bougie, and the lake was nice, but to be completely honest, it's annoying because you're not really supposed to swim in it. 42. Lastly, and this might be the most random thing, it just made me laugh. These Christmas tree cloth decorations were everywhere. I'm guessing it's one of those "Christmas in warm places" things. A real trade-off when youre celebrating Christmas in the summer. Matt Stopera And that, folks, was my trip to Paraguay, a true bucket list destination I was pleasantly surprised by (especially the food). Even though it was just a few days, I came away with way more than I expected: colorful towns, lake getaways, surprise ice cubes in my water, and sidewalks that quite literally kept me on my toes. And yes, Ill be dreaming of sopa paraguaya for a long time to come. <3 Matt Stopera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Carnival Cruise Line gradually reveals its ship deployment plans for the 2027/2028 cruise season, its becoming clearer that the cruise line has big plans to increase its capacity in key home ports beyond Floridas top cruise hubs. Earlier this summer, Carnival unveiled plans to send a larger ship to New Orleans in 2027 to expand its capacity from the popular port city. Now it appears that another beloved cruise port is about to get a big boost, too. As Carnival laid out strategic plans for the next five years in the spring, the cruise line teased that it was exploring the possibility of bringing a larger Conquest-class ship to Baltimore in 2027 that can accommodate about 1,000 more passengers than Carnival Pride, the ship thats long sailed from Baltimore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 20 years ago, Carnival launched the first year-round cruise program from Baltimore with the 2,100-passenger Carnival Pride and the ship continues to have a strong connection to the city. While the idea of a larger ship sailing from Baltimore sounded promising to many loyal cruisers ready for a change, others didnt want to see Baltimores signature cruise ship replaced. But it turns out that Carnival may be about to increase its capacity in Baltimore without sending Carnival Pride away. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Carnival Pride sails from Baltimore year-round. Image source: Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Pride isnt being replaced in Baltimore after all On Sept. 17, Carnival announced that Carnival Pride would continue sailing from Baltimore for the 2027/2028 cruise season offering Baltimore cruisers opportunities to vacation in The Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carnival Pride will sail a variety of itineraries from seven-day Bahamas cruises to Carnivals new Celebration Key destination and seven-day Bermuda cruises offering double overnight stays to longer Carnival Journeys voyages to sought-after Caribbean destinations. Related: Carnival Cruise Line is upgrading vacations from convenient ports Although Carnival Prides newest itineraries sound appealing to many cruisers, the fact that a larger ship isnt sailing them came as a surprise to many who assumed Carnivals idea to move a larger ship to Baltimore meant smaller Carnival Pride would be replaced in 2027. The news of Carnival Prides continued year-round deployment in Baltimore made some loyal Carnival cruisers wonder if the cruise line had abandoned its plans to bring a Conquest-class ship to Charm City, or if bigger news was still to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Is Carnival adding a second cruise ship in Baltimore? When Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald shared details about Carnival Prides 2027/2028 cruise itineraries on his popular Facebook page on Sept. 17, several cruise passengers inquired about the status of Carnivals Conquest-class proposal. Dave Churetta asked the brand ambassador, Is Baltimore still getting a Conquest-class ship as well? According to Heald, Baltimore cruise fans have exciting cruise news to look forward to in the coming days. Related: Carnival Cruise Line brings more cruise variety to popular US port Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, indeed she is and we will share more news of exactly which ship in the coming days so please stay tuned, the brand ambassador replied. Carnivals Conquest class features five ships: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Valor. More Carnival Cruise Line: The cruise line already announced that Carnival Freedom will move to Norfolk, Va. in 2027 while Carnival Liberty will remain in New Orleans. That narrows the options for Baltimore down to Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, or Carnival Valor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In previous deployment updates, Carnival revealed that larger Carnival Dream is replacing Carnival Valor in New Orleans in 2027, which could mean that Carnival Valor is headed to Baltimore in spring 2027. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Mes Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Come Cruise With Me section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Oktoberfest celebrations are just beginning, and if you love German food, this is the perfect time of year to get your fill. But going out to eat can be pricey, especially if you have a family. Luckily, Costco has a freezer find that brings the flavors of Oktoberfest right to your kitchen, no reservations required. A food reviewer recently tested the chickenschnitzel and admitted he wasnt impressed at first glance. Still, he gave them a chance and sent them into the air fryer. Much to his surprise, the first bite came out crispy, golden and delicious. See why this find is a must in this TikTok video from September 18: The chicken patties may have looked a bit wet straight out of the box, but they turned out near restaurant quality. While it didnt taste like a fresh chicken breast, he still found it satisfying, joking that the flavor was 70% chicken and 30% Dino nugget. So, the kids are likely to be fans of this easy meal, too. Related: New Deli Find at Costco Is Serving up Serious Cheese Pulls Things got even better when he spooned on the included mushroom gravy. Rich with butter and cream, the sauce transformed the schnitzel into a cozy, flavorful meal that felt perfect for fall. Bob @bobdiff gave the dish a 7.5 out of 10, which is a terrific score for anything pulled from the freezer aisle. Side Dish Ideas for Weiner Schnitzel Schnitzel is commonly made with veal or pork and it's served with sides that make the crispy cutlet even more satisfying. In Germany and Austria, it's common for this dish served with potato salad, spaetzle, or boiled potatoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A wedge of lemon is almost always served with weiner schnitzel, since the citrus gives a bright lift to the rich, fried cutlet. At Bavarian celebrations like Oktoberfest, youll also spot sides such as red cabbage or sauerkraut, both of which add that tangy bite that balances the crispy crust. Wiener Schnitzel with spaetzle. Why Oktoberfest Foods Are So Popular The history of Oktoberfest traces back to Munich in 1810, when it began as a royal wedding celebration. What started as a local festival has grown into a worldwide tradition built around music, beer, and plenty of hearty German fare like pretzels, sausages, schnitzel, and more. These days, it's celebrated well beyond Germany, with food playing just as big a role as the beer. Thats why Oktoberfest-inspired meals, like Costcos latest freezer find, feel like such an easy (and delicious) way to bring the festival home. If youre craving a hearty meal with rich flavor and a bit of history, this Costco find delivers on both. This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Imagine choosing where the skies will lead you next. Thats exactly what Delta SkyMiles Members and Delta employees got to do with the Route Race. Rather than the airline deciding in a boardroom, Delta opened up the decisionbetween August 25 and August 29, 2025to let its own loyal flyers pick which new European destination should be added in the summer 2026 schedule. The votes are in, and SkyMiles members have spokenDelta is officially adding Malta and Sardinia to its Summer 2026 route map! With more than 150,000 votes cast in the airlines first-ever Route Race, the competition was originally designed to crown just one new European destination. But the results were too closeand too compellingto stop at one. Related: Top Instagram-worthy ports in Italy you need to visit this fall SkyMiles members rallied behind Sardinia, lured by its mix of rugged coastlines, laid-back villages, and turquoise waters. Meanwhile, Delta employees showed overwhelming support for Malta, a sun-soaked island nation steeped in history and Mediterranean charm. In the end, Delta made the unexpected but exciting decision to launch flights to both destinations, giving travelers not just one but two new ways to explore the Medditerannean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don't miss a beatsubscribe now for trending travel updates and destination guides. Sardinia survival guide: Insider tips for exploring the island like a local Sardinia isnt just another beach stopits a world of glittering turquoise coves, mountain villages that feel frozen in time, and food traditions that locals guard like treasure. To soak it all in, embrace the islands slow pace. Linger over long seaside lunches of culurgiones (stuffed pasta), sip the local Cannonau wine like its a secret potion, and let the islands rhythm reset your own. Hiring a car is another must, because Sardinias best beaches and towns are scattered across its rugged coastlineyoull want the freedom to chase whichever hidden cove calls your name. Get ready to explore Sardinias sparkling beaches, charming villages, and rugged coastlinesnow just a flight away thanks to Delta!Shutterstock On the flip side, dont treat Sardinia like a quick weekend hop. The island is vast, and trying to cover it all in a rush will leave you frazzled. Skip the urge to over-scheduleno one here is timing your steps except maybe the goats grazing on the hillsides. And while the beaches are irresistible, dont forget the inland heart of Sardinia, where you can find nuraghe ruins, shepherd-led feasts, and mountain hikes that feel like stepping into another world. Above all, respect the land and the locals. Sardinians take pride in their traditions, so whether youre buying cheese at a tiny village market or clinking glasses with new friends, lean into the islands warmth and authenticity. Thats how Sardinia transforms from a trip into an experience youll never want to leave. Related: Delta wants you to vote on where it will fly next Malta travel tips: How to make the most of the islands sun, sea, and secrets Malta may be small on the map, but its huge in personality, with golden stone cities, sparkling harbors, and a history that stretches back thousands of years. Dive into the culture headfirstwander the narrow alleys of Valletta, take the ferry to Gozo for a slower pace, and dont leave without trying pastizzi, the flaky pastry that locals snack on at any hour. Take your time in the water, toowhether its snorkeling at the Blue Lagoon or swimming in tucked-away coves, Maltas coastline is every bit as inviting as its towns. Delta is bringing you closer to sun-soaked harbors, historic streets, and Mediterranean magichello, Malta!SHutterstock When it comes to donts, avoid sticking only to the tourist-heavy spots. Malta rewards explorers, so skipping the side streets or lesser-known villages means missing the islands true charm. Dont underestimate the heat eithersummer sun here is fierce, so pace yourself, stay hydrated, and plan shady breaks (preferably with gelato in hand). And while the nightlife is tempting, dont spend every evening in the same bar scene; evenings spent watching a harbor sunset or listening to live music in a piazza can be even more memorable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most importantly, connect with the islands rhythm. Maltese life blends Mediterranean ease with a strong sense of tradition, and being presentwhether youre sharing a laugh with a cafe owner or hearing bells echo from a centuries-old churchmakes the experience unforgettable. Malta isnt just a destination; its a chance to slow down and feel the islands heartbeat. Sign up for our newsletter and get hidden gems, travel secrets, and stories like this delivered straight to your inbox! This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Sep 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Shes cuckoo for cocoa. One U.K. sweet tooth claims to be so addicted to a favorite chocolate treat, she flew 2,400 miles for a 24-hour day-trip just to replenish her supply and shed do it all again in a flash. People were a little shocked when I told them I was going on a day trip to buy sweets, Kate Takacs, 35, told Jam Press of her epic confection adventure. Am I happy and satisfied? Absolutely. Will I do it again? Hell yes, declared Takacs. Jam Press/Kate Takacs The chef said she specifically traveled from London to Cluj-Napoca in Romania on September 15 to stock up on Ferrero Rocher Pocket Coffee chocolates, which include a shot of sweetened espresso inside, before returning home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Takacs departed after work at around 10pm, landing at 3:15am local time the next day, she said. She then spent the entire day in Cluj, her birthplace, where she nabbed her long-haul loot. During that time, she also managed to squeeze in sightseeing, shopping and even picking up a fridge magnet. Takacs boards her flight from London to Romania one of 17 such day trips shes done. Jam Press/Kate Takacs Takacs then flew out on a 10pm return flight, arriving back in London at 11pm and making it back in bed by 1:30am. Total price for the entire trip including flights and shopping: just $150. Naturally, taking an international flight for a box of chocolates might sound extreme Takacs friends were reportedly stunned over her epic jaunt. Everyone thought that I was crazy, as some of the items that I bought can be found in London in Romanian shops, said the globetrotter of sating her candy crush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, she advises others not to knock the international day trip until you try it. The sole reason was that Ferrero Rocher Pocket Coffee chocolate (you cant find it in the UK), and if you havent tried it yet, please do so and thank me later, Takacs said. A box of Ferrero Rocher Pocket Coffee chocolates, beloved in many European countries for the shot of sweetened espresso contained within. Jam Press/Kate Takacs This isnt the Romanians first rodeo, either. The world traveler is reportedly hooked on extreme day trips, having completed a whopping 17 total with many more fly-by vacays planned. Whats the appeal of flying to another country for 24 hours? I enjoy exploring new places and its a brilliant opportunity to see a new country on a very little budget, Takacs declared. To me, its the thrill and the adrenaline and the satisfaction I get once I get my fridge magnet. Takacs plans to embark on many more dish-centered day trips in the future. Jam Press/Kate Takacs She added, I do believe more people should do extreme day trips. Its fun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it seems like a slight hiccup could completely derail ones getaway, Takacs says generally everything goes according to plan with the exception of the odd flight delay. As for whether her eating odysseys are worth it, the chocoholic gushed, Am I happy and satisfied? Absolutely. Will I do it again? Hell yes. Takacs is not the first to take a day trip for a dish. A growing number of out-of-towners are flying to New York City to devour a meal even just a single dish at one eatery and heading back out, sometimes on the same day and even from other countries. Mikaela Ian Pearman dropped $350 to fly in from her home in Bermuda to try Top Chef alum Kwame Onwuachis impossible-to-reserve spot Tatiana before jetting to Colombia the next morning like an epicurean hitwoman. It was perfection, Pearman, who works in public relations, told The Post when asked whether the jaunt was worth it. Heres what you will learn when you read this story: The oldest evidence of mummification has been discovered in Vietnam, in the form of a single 14,000-year-old mummified arm. Unlike the Egyptian mummification practice more familiar to modern Western audiences, the mummification practices of this ancient people involved fire and smoke to dry out the corpses. Some of the mummified bones had mysterious cuts, which may have been an attempt to expedite the drying process. For modern day people, mummies have become a symbol of ancient Egypt, as much as the Sphinx, the pyramids, and the iconic gold death mask of King Tutankhamun. Their quest for eternal life would immortalize the ancient Egyptians as some of the greatest embalmers in the ancient world. What they likely never knew was that, ten thousand years before the emergence of the Old Kingdom, some pre-Neolithic peoples of East and Southeast Asia had found a different way to mummify their dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is now thought to be the oldest evidence for mummification has surfaced in Vietnam. Though a scorched arm bone is all that remains of this 14,000-year-old mummy, its exposure to smoke and soot was not an attempt at cremation. It is instead evidence of a mummification practice far more ancient than embalming. The fire-based mummification practices of these ancient people, in contrast to the better documented Egyptian practices, is in response to their climate conditions. Unlike the arid sands of Egypt, the heat and humidity of this region, especially during monsoon season, threatened decomposition soon after death. This explains why hunter-gatherer populations sought to preserve their deceased by smoking bodies over low fires. After a team of archaeologists compared the blackened bone to more complete mummies and skeletons in South China, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, they found that it was consistent with the smoking method, meant to remove moisture from a body before it began decomposing. Analysis of the arm bone and other ancient samples through imaging techniques revealed signs of prolonged heat exposure. We suggest that many [deceased] were tightly bound immediately after death and suspended above low temperatures and smoky fires for long periods, they said in a study recently published in PNAS. The partially blackened and burned bones, as observed at archaeological sites, may have resulted from fires that occasionally became uncontrolled during the smoking process, possibly when additional fuel was added. Zhen Li / Courtesy Australian National University While the tightly flexed positions of these mummies might appear unusual, it is thought they were tightly bound as soon as possible postmortem, before rigor mortis could set in; something the Dani and Anga people of Papua New Guinea are known to still practice. The researchers examined mummies from both cultures and found that their mummification practices were similar, with knees and arms being bound close to the chest in a tucked position. Dani mummies were found to have been smoked until entirely blackened. The Anga smoked the bodies of their dead over a low fire for about three months, until they were considered preserved enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some ancient mummies were buried. However, Dani families would keep their ancestors in a designated room and bring them out on special occasions, much like the Anga, who would seat them on ledges and rock shelters within the cliffs. This is probably their way of keeping the dead with them. It echoes the practices of the ancient Chinchorro people of what is now South America, who began mummifying their dead 7,000 years ago (using entirely different methods), and would keep the mummies with them in their huts, acknowledging them as if they were still alive. However macabre this may sound to us today, it was their way of transcending death. Some of the ancient bones found in Southeast Asia were marked with mysterious cuts. The researchers ruled out any form of ritual mutilation, instead suggesting that the cuts may have been made prior to smoking for faster evaporation. If bones were otherwise broken, it was probably from the extreme positions that limbs were bound in, and it appeared attempts had been made to put them back into place. The tradition of smoked mummification serves as compelling evidence of long-term cultural persistence between ancient Southeastern Asian and ethnographic Papuan and Australian mortuary practices, the archaeology team said. Furthermore, archaeological findings suggest that this tradition may have been known among hunter-gatherer societies across a vast region, for many millennia. You Might Also Like The proposal to rezone nearly 300 acres of timberland in Twiggs County for a data center passed Thursday evening after the countys Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the project, with conditions. The proposal had both support and opposition from residents, with one side arguing the county needs this development to grow and prosper while the opposing side, much larger in numbers, felt there was not enough information and analysis, independent from the developer, to make an informed decision. I see both points of view, both sides, said board chairman Ken Fowler moments before the unanimous vote. We took an oath to do what was the best thing for Twiggs County, and that oath includes the whole county. We raised our hand, thats what we swore to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The approved development, by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Eagle Rock Partners, is one of many data center projects coming to Georgia as demand grows for AI and rural areas often have an abundance of cheap land and struggling economies. The development will include up to nine buildings, three substations and two retention ponds, according to county documents. Opponents to the proposal for a Twiggs County data center listen to Eagle Rock Developers partner Ken Loeber on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Jeffersonville, Georgia. Twiggs County commissioners voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of agricultural land into land for a potential data center with some conditions at their September commissioner meeting amid backlash from many county residents. Questions raised about the review process Opponents say Twiggs County should have gone through the Development of Regional Impact process, which reviews large projects for effects on traffic, utilities and the environment beyond local borders. The state Department of Community Affairs paused DRI reviews for data centers amid a flood of proposals, forcing the department to review its process, though it later said data centers still remain subject to the process, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. (Voting yes) was not the right thing to do, said Nancy Lubeck, whose home is just 1.8 miles from the project site. They shouldve waited for the DRI process, because no independent studies were done for anything not for noise impact, not for water impact and we are so concerned about our wells. However, the county attorney said the project has followed all state-required processes and regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ken Loeber, founding partner with Eagle Rock Partners, said the data center will use a closed-loop cooling system that requires almost no daily water beyond whats needed for restrooms and drinking about 12,00016,000 gallons a day, or less than 0.1% of the Twiggs aquifers capacity. The site was chosen for its access to twin 230 kV power lines, and officials say the project wont raise local power rates. The data center will bring up to 600 jobs to the county and significantly boost Twiggs Countys tax base, noting they arent seeking tax breaks and expect the property to be worth about $2 billion once developed, according to Loeber. A handful of attendees voiced that the economic gain is too good to turn down. Its time for Twiggs to grow, said Claudia Fitzpatrick, a resident of Twiggs for 57 years. When this data center comes, its going to bring jobs, its going to bring people, its going to bring business business that Twiggs County needs to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents, however, argued that environmental impacts and strain on local resources outweigh any financial benefits. Fletcher Sams, director of the Altamaha Riverkeeper, warned that multiple data centers planned upstream, including the Twiggs County project, would collectively withdraw millions of gallons of water daily, straining the Ocmulgee River during low-flow summer months while also requiring massive power generation that could keep Plant Scherers coal operations running longer. There are nine data centers upstream this location that will drop 4.65 million gallons a day from the basin, Sams said. These nine data centers require 3,406 megawatts, almost the entirety of the (available) capacity. A Say No to Data Center sign sits off of North Railroad Street across the street from the Twiggs County Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, in Jeffersonville, Georgia. The Twiggs County Board of Commissioners is set to vote on a rezoning proposal on Thursday for a proposed data center development in the county. Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma joins opposition The opposition was joined and supported by The Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, whose ancestors lived in Middle Georgia for thousands of years before being forcibly displaced in the 1830s during the Trail of Tears. Members of the Muscogee Nation said the project could threaten archaeological sites tied to their tribal history and culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The corridor along the Ocmulgee River, which run through Twiggs County, contains mounds, villages and other important sites that experts and the Muscogee say are of national importance, according to Chris Watson campaign director with the National Parks Conservation Association. The area is home to habitats and wildlife that are important to protect, according to Watson. Various groups and organizations including Muscogee Nation and the NPCA have worked for decades to preserve the mounds and the surrounding areas, and allowing a data center into Twiggs County could endanger those efforts. The county attorney said the project has followed all state-required processes and regulations. A frantic search for a 2-year-old boy swept away by flash flooding in California came to a tragic end when he was found dead on Sept. 19, authorities said. Xavier Padilla Aguilera, 2, and his father, 26-year-old Brandon Padilla Aguilera, went missing when their car was overcome by rushing water at about 7:15 p.m. in Barstow, in the Inland Empire region of California, amid a heavy tropical storm, according to the Barstow Police Department. The father and son became separated from their car and from one another as it was swept to the north, leading to a search effort that lasted over 20 hours, officials said. A child and his father went missing Thursday night as flood waters swept their vehicle away in Barstow. The incident occurred as a tropical storm brought heavy rain, flooding and debris flows to parts of the High Desert. Rescuers found Brandon Aguilera clinging to a small island in the floodwater a short time later, police said. He was treated at a hospital and released, the Victorville Daily Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials and residents searched the area through the night looking for Xavier. 2-year-old found deceased Barstow city officials announced on Sept. 19 that the boy's body had been recovered at about 2:45 p.m. in the San Bernardino County flood control channel south of the Mojave River. "It is with profound sadness that the City confirms the discovery of a young child who lost their life in the recent flooding incident on Main Street at Lenwood Road," city officials said in a written statement. "After more than 20 hours of extensive search and rescue operations, emergency responders located the childs body this afternoon." "Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time," the statement said. "We extend our deepest condolences to those affected by this tragedy." Search effort spanned 20 hours An extensive search and rescue effort involving both authorities and volunteers sprang into action as word the missing toddler spread the night of Sept. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after sunset, Alfredo Renteria recorded a video of rushing flood waters sweeping a white car away near Main Street and Lenwood Road, near the Mojave River. The brake lights of the vehicle appeared to illuminate just as the car disappeared into the water. A car was swept away by floodwaters near the Mojave River in Barstow on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Helicopters from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department and California Highway Patrol could soon be seen flying over the Mojave River near Highway 58. Numerous volunteers from the Desert Recovery Group and other citizen volunteers joined in the effort, working "around the clock in challenging conditions," the city said. "Their dedication and professionalism during this operation exemplify the best of our community's spirit," the city said. Remnants of a tropical storm brought heavy rain, flooding and debris flows on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, to parts of the San Bernardino Mountains. Storms flood roads, stranding drivers Storms on Sept. 18 flooded streets, roads and washes in Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Lucerne Valley and other parts of the Mojave Desert. The flooding came from thunderstorms fed by the remnants of former Tropical Storm Mario, which moved in the Pacific off the Baja California and dissipated south of California. Its moisture moved northward, causing locally heavy rainfall, the National Hurricane Center said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The afternoon of Sept. 19, San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials issued an evacuation warning for the communities of Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and the Oak Glen area due to the potential for mud and debris flows from the approaching storm. Evacuation warnings were lifted later in the evening. The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, in unified command with CAL FIRE, responded to mud and debris flows, which left several roads impassable and impacted homes in Forest Falls, Oak Glen and Potato Canyon, south of Big Bear. Remnants of a tropical storm brought heavy rain, flooding and debris flows on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, to parts of the San Bernardino Mountains. There were no reports of injuries or missing persons connected to the flooding incident in the mountain communities, but authorities responded to a report of people stranded in vehicles, according to the fire department. A group of about 10 people traveling in six to seven vehicles were stranded on Highway 38, in the area of Jenks Lake. Though cut off by debris in both directions, the group made it to safety and their needs were being evaluated by emergency crews, officials said. Caltrans was also working to clear the roadway and restore access. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Child swept away in California flash flooding found dead Sep. 19Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller will face off against six challengers in the Nov. 4 election, the Bernalillo County Clerk's Office confirmed Friday. Two mayoral hopefuls, Patrick Sais and Alpana Adair, have been excluded from the list of qualified mayoral candidates, said Nathan Jaramillo, the county's Bureau of Elections administrator. Keller's six challengers are: Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America.Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico.Louie Sanchez, a former Albuquerque police officer and current city councilor.Mayling Armijo, the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and CEO of cannabis company PurLife.Eddie Varela, a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sais filed a petition Sept. 10 in 2nd Judicial District Court contending that he had collected the 3,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot but that the clerk's office credited him only with 2,880 valid signatures. Sais said he collected 3,156 qualifying signatures. An attorney for the Bernalillo County Clerk's Office and New Mexico Secretary of State's Office sought a dismissal on Wednesday, arguing that Sais failed to identify the signatures he believed were valid. Judge Joshua Allison on Wednesday gave Sais until Friday to file an amended petition and ordered a dismissal on Friday, saying Sais had failed to meet the required deadline. Sais said he was injured on Tuesday when he was making repairs under his truck and it rolled on his head, nearly breaking his back. He remained as an inpatient at University of New Mexico Hospital until he was discharged Friday, he said. Judge Allison acknowledged in his order that Sais was hospitalized "with grave injuries" following an accident. An 11-year-old Connecticut girl was found safe on Saturday after an Amber Alert was issued, according to the Connecticut State Police. Amelia Santiago was last seen with her father, 59-year-old Ricardo Santiago, on Friday evening in Manchester. According to Officer Marc Caruso of the East Hartford Police Department, Ricardo Santiago has an active federal warrant and it was believed he had Amelia with him while he tried to flee the area. Shortly after the Amber Alert was issued, Ricardo and Amelia Santiago were located in Hartford, Caruso said. Ricardo Santiago was taken into custody, and Amelia was found unharmed, according to Caruso. We would like to thank the public for their help in this matter, state police said in a social media post on Saturday. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com. By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Pentagon officials sat down with a group of European diplomats in late August and delivered a stern message: The U.S. planned to cut off some security assistance to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, all NATO members bordering Russia. More broadly, Pentagon official David Baker told the group, according to an official with direct knowledge of the comments, Europe needed to be less dependent on the U.S. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. military would be shifting its attention to other priorities, like defense of the homeland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some European diplomats fretted that the move, first reported earlier this month, could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Friday, they may have been proven right. Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace for roughly 10 minutes, Estonia said, before being chased away by Italian F-35s. Russia denied violating Estonian airspace, saying its jets flew over neutral waters. Hours later, Russian jets buzzed a Polish oil platform, Warsaw said. Last week, Russian drones were downed in Poland. The U.S. response to those incidents has so far been muted. Trump did not address the latest incursion for several hours, before saying it could be "big trouble." After last week's Polish incident, he posted cryptically on his Truth Social app: "Here we go!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His responses appear to fit an emerging pattern. After months of proposing both ideas to solve or intermediate some of the world's most intractable conflicts, Trump has largely withdrawn from diplomacy in recent weeks. Instead, he has allowed and in some cases pressed allies to take the lead, with only distant promises of U.S. help. He has increasingly turned his attention to domestic issues, like tackling crime, confronting what he calls violent left-wing extremism and overhauling a major visa program. RETURNING TO FORM After an intense summer of diplomacy, including hosting Putin in Alaska, Trump has told Europeans they must impose punishing sanctions on buyers of Russian oil if they expect Washington to tighten the financial screws on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the U.S. president spent the first several months of his term trying to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, he has lately shrugged off moves by Israel that would seem to undermine the possibility of a deal to end the war in Gaza. White House officials protested when Israel bombed a Hamas office located in the territory of U.S. ally Qatar but took no action. When Israel launched a controversial military advance on Gaza City, Trump did not object, even as European and Arab allies condemned the move, which seemed likely to doom peace talks. That Trump would be wary of U.S. involvement in major conflicts is in some ways unsurprising. He spent two years on the campaign trail arguing the nation was militarily overstretched. Political opponents called him an isolationist. But over the summer, a different Trump emerged. To the chagrin of some conservative political allies, he bombed Iran's key nuclear sites in support of Israel's air war in June. At a NATO conference in the Netherlands later that month, he indicated he would send fresh Patriot defense systems to Ukraine. In July, he intensified his threats of sanctions and tariffs targeting Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, analysts say, Trump is returning to form. Aaron David Miller, a veteran U.S. diplomat and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Trump may have simply realized the conflicts are far more intractable than he had imagined. "He's not interested in doing anything unless he sees that the expenditure of effort and political capital will be worth the return," Miller said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. MERCURIAL PRESIDENT, EXHAUSTED DIPLOMATS The president's latest zig could easily be followed by a zag. In April and May, he publicly floated walking away from the war in Ukraine, only to re-engage heavily on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the White House's disengagement has not been absolute. In recent weeks, some U.S. weapons have begun flowing into Ukraine as part of a U.S.-NATO security assistance initiative called the PURL program. Still, analysts expressed concern that the mild U.S. reaction to Russia's latest provocations will only encourage more aggressive steps by Putin. Further U.S. disengagement "would lead us to more provocative actions from Putin as he sees Europe as weaker because it can be divided - especially without the U.S. there to back it up," said Alex Plitsas, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Several European diplomats in Washington privately expressed exhaustion at Trump's changeable attitude on Russia - and suggested another hardening of his stance toward Moscow could lack credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the summer, those diplomats said, the mood was notably different. At a NATO summit in June, Trump heaped praise on European leaders and the next month repeatedly threatened Russia with direct and secondary sanctions and agreed to set up PURL. But the anti-climactic summit with Putin produced no breakthroughs and a major setback for Kyiv: Trump left the meeting saying a ceasefire in Ukraine was not a precondition of lasting peace - a position held by Putin, but not European allies. In a testy September 4 call with European partners, Trump argued that European nations were expecting the U.S. to bail them out when Europeans were still themselves supporting Russia's war machine by purchasing Russian oil, according to two officials briefed on the call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next week, Trump told European Union officials they should hit China and India with 100% tariffs to punish them for their purchases of Russian oil. He portrayed such a move as a precondition for U.S. action, one official said. Trump's supporters say he is only demanding that Europe stand up for its own security. But some diplomats sense a trap. Such measures would be hard to get through the EU's bureaucracy promptly, particularly as the bloc prefers sanctions to tariffs. Two senior European diplomats in Washington also noted that Trump has recently spoken of lowering trade barriers with India. It is unclear if Friday's Estonia incursion will alter Trump's calculus toward Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His government appeared unmoved by a letter from lawmakers in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia last week calling for reconsideration of Trump's plan to eliminate some security assistance. "Many of our European allies are among the world's wealthiest countries," a White House official said. "They are fully capable of funding these programs if they choose." (Reporting by Gram Slattery; Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Don Durfee and William Mallard) MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was arrested on Friday after shooting another man in the leg and fleeing the scene in Forrest City, Arkansas. Christopher Davenport, 38, was charged with possession of a firearm by certain persons, battery in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree, and discharging a firearm within city limits. On Sept. 1, Davenport was wanted for shooting Nautica Gardner in the leg and fleeing the scene. Christopher Davenport Courtesy of Forrest City Police Dept. Davenport was charged with Battery in the 1st Degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Gardner was taken to the Regional One and is recovering. According to reports, on Friday, the U.S. Marshals entered a home where Davenport was paroled to and found him under a bed. He was arrested and transported to the St. Francis County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A staff member with the Toolik Field Station Spatial and Environmental Data Center exchanges carbon dioxide traps in November 2019. The field station is operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Among the programs operated by the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States was PolarTREC, which matched scientists working at Toolik and elsewhere with elementary and secondary school teachers. (Photo by Amanda Young/Toolik Field Station) After nearly four decades of connecting Arctic scientists to funding opportunities, research and education projects and each other, the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States held its last community meeting on Friday before a planned Sept. 30 shutdown. The consortium, founded in 1988, is closing down after losing the National Science Foundation funding that was its major source of revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Audrey Taylor, the organizations executive director, used the online meeting to explain the ARCUS boards shutdown recommendation, made this summer. The ARCUS that we know and love, what has been ARCUS for the last 35 years, doesnt have a viable path forward at this time. And so thats what were choosing to sunset, Taylor said during the online meeting. The consortium had been coping with reduced funding for the past few years and had already taken cost-cutting steps, like slashing its staff and moving to an entirely online workspace, she said. The final blow was the Trump administrations decision to end the National Science Foundation program that had provided most of the consortiums funding, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than try to keep operating, the board determined that the best option was to close down in an orderly fashion that allows information to be properly archived and, wherever possible, services to be transferred to other management, Taylor said. Even though I think I speak on behalf of all of the board and staff that were heartbroken to take this step, we think its the most responsible path forward, she said. Wendy Warnick, who served as the executive director from 1992 to 2009, said the Trump policies have been particularly devastating. Weve gone through difficult times in the past, but I think whats happening now is unprecedented, she said during the meeting. I hope theres a way to continue the work that ARCUS has done and to keep this amazing community moving forward as much as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consortium had served as a hub for scientists from universities, private entities and public agencies in Alaska, the Lower 48 and internationally. It provided grants and financial support for research projects, supported early career scientists, supported an Indigenous Scholars Program, archived Arctic data and reports and provided other services. Scientists who participated in ARCUS programs used Fridays meeting to express gratitude for the past decades services. Larry Hinzman, a former vice chancellor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who now serves as that universitys designated Arctic professor, said the consortium had made Arctic science more relevant and responsive to people who live in the region. In the early days, anything we did in Arctic research had to be justified from the importance of why the Arctic was important to the Lower 48. And I think ARCUS really helped us change that perception and made the Arctic important in its own right, said Hinzman, who served as a science adviser to former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helen Wiggins, who served as executive director from 2019 to 2024 and is now a board member, was a bit tearful as she lauded what she said was the high standard of excellence and amazing level of professionalism in the organization. Its really about the people, its about the focus that I think weve had on authentic connections to each other, working together, supporting each other, caring about each other as people, she said. Some ARCUS functions will continue outside of the consortium structure. The Sea Ice Prediction Network, a scientific collaboration that had been established by ARCUS in 2014, will continue operating as its own entity, said Brit Myers, the consortiums strategic engagement director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The network, which provides detailed information about ice conditions off Alaska and elsewhere in the Arctic, is supported by the Colorado-based National Snow and Ice Data Center. The Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook, another scientific collaboration created by ARCUS, is also surviving. That network, which serves Alaska Native subsistence hunters and coastal communities, provides information on spring ice conditions in walrus habitat off Alaska. It is now operated by the Alaska Ocean Observing System, which also monitors harmful algal blooms, salmon habitat conditions and other aspects of Alaskas marine system. Both the NSIDC and AOOS are vulnerable to negative impacts from Trump administration policies, however. The administration earlier this year ended a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data service that the NSIDC was using to track sea ice. The center now uses satellite-derived data from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has also proposed eliminating all funding for the U.S Integrated Ocean Observing System, of which AOOS is a part. That proposal is within the administrations budget for NOAA, an agency that has already sustained deep cuts that reduced fisheries research, weather monitoring and other services. Cortnie Brooks, center, with English students Luisa Torres, left, and her daughter, Fergie Diaz. The arrest of the mother and daughter in Whitefish led to protests and questions about racial profiling. (Provided by Cortnie Brooks) A Flathead Valley mother and daughter from Honduras who were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol last weekend arrived Wednesday at a facility in Texas, the Daily Montanan confirmed. Luisa Torres and her daughter, Fergie Diaz, 17, were arrested Sunday after a call from the Montana Highway Patrol, leading to a 36-hour demonstration and additional arrests, according to a witness and authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mother and daughter were detained after arriving at the scene of a car crash, a friend told the Daily Montanan. Their arrests come just weeks before a controversial new law passed during the 2025 legislative session takes effect Oct. 1 and could further complicate the role of local and state authorities in federal immigration actions, an attorney for the ACLU of Montana said. Just before 9 p.m. on Sunday, Cortnie Brooks said she received a phone call from Torres, her English student since February 2024. Cortnie, ayudame, Torres said, and sent Brooks a dropped pin of a location along a stretch of highway three miles away in Evergreen. Tienes que venir para aca. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Translated to English: Cortnie, help me. You need to come here. Torres and Diaz had stopped to help with a car accident they were not involved in, Brooks said, adding she could hear law enforcement in the background of their call. I knew that they were being detained, Brooks said. Brooks said she was placed on speaker and spoke with a Border Patrol officer. When I asked why they were being detained, he asked if I was a lawyer. I said no, and he said, Then we can no longer speak. When Brooks arrived at the pinned location, she spoke with a Montana Highway Patrol officer, who told her neither Torres nor Diaz were involved in the accident, Brooks said. She said he told her they were arrested due to coming on scene after the fact, the same reason given to Brooks by the Whitefish Border Patrol officer who was also present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooks said she told both officers being on the scene was not a valid reason to be detained. She said when she asked if Torres and Diaz would have access to a lawyer, the Border Patrol officer responded with, Well see. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Montanan. However in a statement to MTN, Customs and Border Protection said it made five arrests Sunday of people found to have no legal status in the United States. CBP said it does not disclose the identities of those it detains due to privacy. A spokesperson for Montana Highway Patrol initially denied to the Daily Montanan involvement in the womens arrests but later confirmed the agency had contacted Border Patrol to help translate. And Border Patrol took over the investigation. MHP did not make any arrests related to this incident. Please contact the Whitefish Border Patrol station for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday nights arrests follow a string of similar incidents across the state, as federal immigration officers have increased activity in Montana communities, at times embroiling local law enforcement in controversy and legal battles. Flathead County, Gallatin County and Montana Highway Patrol signed 287(g) agreements, allowing the agencies to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties under ICEs supervision and direction. What local law enforcement is supposed to do is to protect communities and individuals from crime, said Alex Rate, deputy director at ACLU of Montana. Most police officers, highway patrol, sign on to conduct local law enforcement actions, not to become immigration authorities. The expansion of the federal immigration apparatus is alarming, and we should all be very concerned. Starting Oct. 1, the new law authorizes law enforcement officers to check a persons immigration status at a lawful stop if the officer has reasonable suspicion, and it requires them to report unlawful immigration status to federal authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law is very problematic because it essentially invites racial profiling, Rate said. It doesnt require local law enforcement to check immigration status, but if they have reasonable suspicion that an individual may be undocumented they can check, and if they are [undocumented], then law enforcement are required to report them to federal immigration authorities. The subjective nature of the law is the problematic part, Rate said. What is reasonable suspicion to believe that somebody may be undocumented? It is against the law to use things like accent or the color of somebodys skin. That is, by definition, racial profiling, said Rate. So its a problematic law on many levels, and certainly opens up local government, local law enforcement to lawsuits related to unlawful racial profiling. Word of the womens arrests made its way through the Whitefish community, and late Sunday, community members gathered at the Border Patrol station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student Colton Little,19, said he arrived at the protest around 6:30 p.m. Monday and stayed until Tuesday morning. Fergie Diaz beams after winning a game in Cortnie Brooks English class last year. (Provided by Cortnie Brooks.) I think going after anyone who is just trying to live their life, raise their kids, work a job, be part of the community, its never an OK thing to do, Little said. Its especially wrong that theyre going after a mother and her 17-year-old daughter. Its a child. A child thats two years younger than me. The protest lasted more than 36 hours until early Tuesday, with contentious interactions with Border Patrol. At one point, a video shows a Border Patrol vehicle pushing into Leanette Galaz, a local organizer with Flathead Democracy, as she walks backwards into the street. I didnt plan to step in front of that truck the way I did, Galaz told the Daily Montanan. But it was a good test to see where they were at in terms of how they respect our bodies, our lives and our safety. And it showed us very quickly that they dont. So that informed our decisions for the rest of the night in a way that made things work much better and safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Galaz said the group had called the Whitefish Police Department to be on site. A Border Patrol vehicle arrived Tuesday morning at the entrance of the Whitefish Border Patrol station, one that Galaz said the protesters believed carried Torres and Diaz. Screenshot from video of Whitefish Police Department officers arresting three protestors attempting to block a Border Patrol vehicle from exiting the parking lot of the Whitefish Border Patrol station on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. They linked arms in front of the vehicle, and Galaz said a Whitefish police officer stepped between them and the Border Patrol truck. He informed them theyd be arrested if they didnt move. When they refused, three people were arrested around 8:30 a.m. and charged with disturbing the peace, criminal trespassing, and obstruction. They were released on bail after a community fundraiser. In a statement, the Whitefish Police Department said it directed protesters to not block vehicles from leaving the U.S. Border Patrol facility. They said they had received earlier complaints about noise and protesters blocking traffic along Nelson Lane and Highway 93 West before the arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooks said she believes the arrests of the mother and daughter who work in housing construction was not in good faith. They came here to build communities for people living in the U.S., said Brooks, through tears. Theyre not making a lot of money, and whatever they make they send home to feed their kids and families. And for us to consider that criminal is abhorrent. The family detention center in Dilley, Texas, where they are being held has a history of documented human rights violations. Galaz relayed a message directly to Torres and Diaz. Ustedes estan en mi corazon, she said. Estoy contigo. Lo siento. Lo siento que no pudimos hacer mas para ayudarte. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the name of Cortnie Brooks. An Augusta convenience store has paid a $10,000 settlement to the state of Georgia over price-gouging allegations during Hurricane Helene. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced the settlement on Friday for the former Pope's Grocery at 830 Stevens Creek Rd. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, we promised Georgians that we would take action to address any allegations of price gouging or fraud, and thats exactly what we have done, Carr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outrageous: Hundreds of complaints allege price gouging in Georgia as hurricane order extended a week Area residents complained about the business online in social media posts. "They were price gouging like crazy yesterday, they were charging almost 9 dollars a gallon," a Reddit user wrote nearly a year ago. "I heard someone say that while I was getting filled up, and then I looked at my gas gauge after the fact, and it barely moved. For $20 I got barely over 2 gallons." When youre impacted by a major storm, you shouldnt have to worry about being scammed by businesses that are trying to exploit the crisis," Carr said. "Well make sure the law is enforced, consumers are protected, and any business that seeks to take advantage of hardworking Georgians is held accountable. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Store pays state $10,000 in Augusta gas price-gouging settlement Jhony Silva left his job at Stanford Hospital this month, wondering if he'd ever be able to return. The 29-year-old Honduran native worked there for the past two years, first as a cafeteria worker and then as a nursing assistant as he has pursued his dream of eventually becoming a nurse. Silva's parents brought him to the U.S. in 1998, when he was 3 years old. They were among tens of thousands of Hondurans granted temporary protected status by the U.S. government in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch killed 11,000 people and left more than 1 million people homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silva had a typical upbringing in South Hayward, listening to Nirvana, playing video games and working odd jobs. There was little in his life, he said, to remind him of his immigration status. Jhony Silva, right, and his family prepare for dinner at home in Hayward on Saturday, Sept. 13. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) Silva was one of more than 1 million people living in the U.S. under temporary protection status, a government program allowing migrants from certain countries to live and work in the U.S. when their home nations become dangerous because of war, natural disasters, unchecked gang violence or other hazardous conditions. The Trump administration ended TPS status for people hailing from a host of countries, including Honduras, one of a number of methods federal officials have employed to restrict immigration and deport millions of people. "It's a shadow over everything we do," said Sandhya Lama, a Nepalese woman who lives in Fairfax, Va., and immigrated to the U.S. 17 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Silva and other TPS holders in San Francisco and across the country are living in uncertainty and fear after President Donald Trump's decision to end temporary protected status for people from Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. Silva's fate, along with that of thousands of others, now hangs on the outcome of a lawsuit protesting the termination of TPS now working its way through the court system. Growing up, Silva said he "felt like an American, I grew up playing Guitar Hero and listening to rock and feeling like I belonged here in this country." Family photos on the fridge at Jhony Silva's home in Hayward. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) He dreamed of joining the military as a combat medic - a steppingstone to obtaining a green card and medical training that would help his future job prospects. But as he attempted to enlist, he was confronted with the fact that he was "in a different boat" than so many of his friends, he said. At the Army recruiting office, he was told his immigration status barred him from military service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silva and several other plaintiffs sued the federal government after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced in July that the U.S. was terminating TPS status for Hondurans. Initially, Silva's lawyers won a postponement of the termination, but an appellate court lifted the stay in August, allowing the government to end TPS for Hondurans, Nepalese and Nicaraguans as the case continues in federal court. The ruling left Silva on precarious ground and wondering what would happen to his 9-year-old child, Alex, if he's forced to leave. In an emailed statement, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that anyone in the U.S. who had their TPS or parole terminated - or are otherwise in the country unlawfully - "should take advantage of the (Customs and Border Protection) Home self-deportation process to receive a free one-way plane ticket and $1,000 financial assistance to help them resettled elsewhere." Honduran-born Jhony Silva lines up to enter the federal courthouse on July 29. A rally nearby was held earlier in support of temporary protected status, with a lawsuit filed by the National TPS Alliance and TPS holders like Silva being heard challenging the termination of TPS for people from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) TPS does not offer a path for immigrants to become citizens or permanent residents, but allowed them to work and live in the U.S. while conditions in their home country remain unsafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the program was designed to be provisional, "oftentimes the circumstances people are fleeing aren't really temporary," said Courtney McCausland, co-director of the immigration program at the East Bay Community Law Center. "And so they find themselves in a situation where the U.S. government extends the TPS designation again and again - because the situation hasn't really improved." The lawsuit by Silva and other immigrants who relied on the TPS program argued that the government was politically driven by "a preordained decision to terminate TPS and search for a rationale to support the end result," according to the plaintiffs' lawsuit. The lawsuit is one of multiple cases opposing the government's efforts to end TPS. In August, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a lower court ruling that temporarily blocked the termination of temporary protected status for Silva and other immigrants from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua. The case is still moving forward in the lower courts, however, with a merits hearing set for Nov. 18. Jhony Silva speaks during a pro-TPS rally held outside the San Francisco federal courthouse on July 29. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) Trump tried to end TPS protections for some immigrants during his first term in office, but failed after a judge ruled the effort was illegal. But experts said they believe Trump may prevail this time, even as conditions remain precarious in many of the targeted countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This administration has learned from its mistakes in the past," said Bill Hing, professor of law and migration studies at the University of San Francisco. To receive TPS, applicants have to pay a fee, prove they've lived in the U.S. continuously since coming under the TPS program, and pass a criminal background check. When TPS is revoked, people immediately lose their right to work and work-related health benefits, and they can be deported unless they are granted political asylum or find other pathways to legal residence. Jhony Silva, left, and his family at the dinner table in Hayward last Saturday. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) Dara Lind, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said the ongoing fight over TPS demonstrates an "uncomfortable truth": Years of law-abiding residency in the U.S. doesn't count toward any kind of permanent status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, many immigrants have lived with the possibility that the government would end their TPS designation, she said, "but that hasn't stopped them from building lives here. "The problem is that building lives here doesn't give any greater claim to permanent legal status." Now, people like Silva and Lama are living in limbo. Lama, who has three children, is the sole breadwinner for her family. Since Nepal's TPS designation was terminated on Aug. 20, she's been put on a 30-day unpaid suspension from her job at Amazon, she said. Jhony Silva and his family hold hands while praying before dinner at home in Hayward. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) "We are not criminals," she said. "We just want dignity, and the ability to plan the future for our kids without the fear of losing everything overnight. We're only asking for the chance to live with stability and dignity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, she's just wondering how she'll pay rent next month. "I am scared of losing the only home my children know, scared of losing the ability to provide for them, and scared of being torn apart after all these years of building a life here," she said. She hasn't begun to think about anything beyond that, she said, like what she'll do if she has to leave the country. Like Lama, Silva is caught with no clear path forward. Jhony Silva received clearance to work. A day later, the decision was rescinded. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) "What am I supposed to do?" he asked. His parents were able to get green cards through their daughter, Silva's sister. But that route is not available to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This month, when he walked out of the hospital, he wasn't sure if he'd be back. TPS ending means he can't work and will lose his job at Stanford. A Stanford Medical School spokesperson declined to comment, saying they were unable to discuss personnel matters. How will he make money? What will happen to his child, a U.S. citizen, and how will he support them? How will he help out with his parents? If he runs into ICE agents, will he be arrested and sent to a country he hasn't been to since he was a toddler and of which he has no memory? "It's been really scary," he said. "I've been seeing all the ICE raids and all these things that are happening and, you know, I'm grateful that at least I live in the Bay Area, but ICE has been around here too." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He worries that if he were deported, he might get sent to CECOT, the infamous Salvadoran prison. A portrait of Jhony Silva holding a Honduran flag at his home in Hayward. (Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle) "I don't want to be in El Salvador, in CECOT," he said. "I barely want to go back to Honduras. If this administration chooses to be more cruel, even though I sound like an American, they're still going to make an example out of me." Every day brings new confusion. The weekend that was supposed to be his last at work, his union reps told him that Stanford has to give him 60 days notice if they plan to fire him - and that he should keep going to work. Days later, when he returned to the hospital, he was told he could no longer come to work. A Houston-area school district has unleashed another wave of banned books-including a children's book on a girl who eats too many cupcakes and turns pink. Lamar Consolidated ISD has removed nearly 300 works from their libraries and classrooms ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, according to data obtained by the Texas Freedom to Read Project. The district also placed over 450 books on a "do not purchase" list as the district reviews the titles. The books on this list are not necessarily already included in the library catalogue but were being reviewed upon request by the school board, according to an information request made public by the Texas Freedom to Read Project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district said the sizable number of books were removed because they were "not in line with HB 900," a law that places greater restrictions on explicit content in libraries. {"__type": "devHubFreeformEmbed","__id":"DataTable","__data":{"story_settings":[{"Market_Key":"Chron","Subhead":"Books removed from Lamar Consolidated ISD classrooms & libraries","Chatter":"","Fallback_Image":"","Test_URL":"https://preview-prod.w.chron.com/interactives-embed/1758323224266-devhub-test-proj/DataTable?width=450","Freeform_ID":"","Freeform_Link":"","Unique_ID":"1758323224266","Template":"none","WCM_Embeds":"DataTable","Subtype":"Base","Slug":"devhub"}],"table_settings_wcmprops":[{"Table_Width":"textWidth","Note":"","Credits":"Sam Noble / Chron Source: Texas Freedom to Read Project","Alt_Text":"Table showing lists of book titles, authors, and reasons for removal from Lamar Consolidated ISD classrooms & libraries","Max_Rows":"","Search":"TRUE","Search_Placeholder":"Search Title, Author, Removal Reason","Expander_Search":"FALSE","Featured_Color":"","Reverse_Sort":"FALSE","Abbreviate_Nums":"FALSE","S3_URL":""},{"Table_Width":"Optional: How wide you'd like your table to appear on desktop. 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You should perform a mobile inspector check to adjust mobileWidth settings and/or data accordingly.","mobileWidth":"Optional: For developers using mobileDrop, assign a width for the columns that are not \"dropped\" on mobile devices or in the expander."},{"Setting":"Title","Width":"35%","Expander":"FALSE","Sortable":"TRUE","defaultSort":"FALSE","imageSize":"","fontWeight":"normal","Alignment":"","Filterable":"FALSE","mobileDrop":"FALSE","mobileWidth":""},{"Setting":"Author","Width":"30%","Expander":"FALSE","Sortable":"TRUE","defaultSort":"FALSE","imageSize":"","fontWeight":"","Alignment":"","Filterable":"FALSE","mobileDrop":"FALSE","mobileWidth":""},{"Setting":"Reason for Removal","Width":"35%","Expander":"FALSE","Sortable":"TRUE","defaultSort":"FALSE","imageSize":"","fontWeight":"","Alignment":"","Filterable":"FALSE","mobileDrop":"FALSE","mobileWidth":""},{"Setting":"","Width":"Width total: 100.%","Expander":"","Sortable":"","defaultSort":"","imageSize":"","fontWeight":"","Alignment":"","Filterable":"","mobileDrop":"","mobileWidth":"Width total: 0%"}]}} The removed titles range from literary classics such as Toni Morrison's Beloved and Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five to popular children's fiction such as Pinkalicious. Dozens of books were also removed because of "gender fluidity," including works such as Gender Queer, Hate Crime in America: From prejudice to violence and My Life as a Diamond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anne Russey, the co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, called the inclusion of works such as Pinkalicious a "very extreme interpretation" of local and state policies. "On its face, it seems reasonable. Of course, why do elementary schools need to be exposed to any nudity?" Russey said. "Until you realize books that kids find funny or enjoyable nudity is not in and of itself explicit or sexual." For example, Pinkalicious includes a page that depicts a child discovering her body has turned pink after eating too many cupcakes. "Most children would see the page and see a pink child. They're not focused on the nudity; that's not the point of the illustration. But the local policy does prohibit frontal nudity," Russey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the titles are in lockstep with lists circulated by advocacy groups such as Moms for Liberty, who have long called for books that capture content related to gender and sexuality to be removed from schools. But pro-book advocates say works that are not overly explicit have been caught up in the ban. Indeed, the district also removed the Virginia state flag from its database earlier this year since it contains an image of the Roman goddess Virtus, with her breast hanging out of a cloth. According to the Texas Freedom to Read Project, the district said it has not received a formal request to reconsider library materials since January 1, 2024. It is unclear what prompted the mass removal of these works from libraries and classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chron reached out to Lamar Consolidated ISD but did not immediately receive a response. Russey said that the sweeping bans do not reflect what Texas parents want. "They're worrying about the safety of our children when we send them to school every day. They're worrying if they can afford the bill to cover school lunch," Russey said. "Real parents do not care, they're not worried about Pinkalicious ending up in the hands of a kindergartener. It's a political strategy, a political battle that's being fought." More News Search | Police are looking for painter of 'Be Someone' bridge Mystery | How one Texas woman vanished and another was killed Oops | Texans spot a big mistake on JCPenney's Big Bend merch Discovery | Historic slave cemetery found in path of $6.7M project For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) Complaints filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission this week claim three Republican state officials and political action committees tied to them appear to have repeatedly and willfully violated state campaign finance law. The co-founders of an online legislation tracking and analysis firm said in a press release Friday that theyd filed the complaints with the ethics panel. By law, the ethics commission cannot confirm it received the complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 29-page package provided by ArkLeg Bill Tracker co-founder Janie Ginocchio alleges that Attorney General Tim Griffin, state Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle, and state Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett, and PACs associated with them violated campaign contribution limits and prohibitions on illegal coordination of contributions, the use of public property for campaign purposes and public servants receiving outside payment for carrying out official duties. The enclosed materials detail a pattern of conduct centered on Attorney General Tim Griffin and his PAC, Jobs and Growth (JAG PAC), which allegedly utilized a network of controlled PACs including those operated by his campaign manager, Rep. David Ray; Sen. Ben Gilmore; and associates of the Gilmore Strategy Group to launder contributions, evade contribution limits, and obscure the true source of campaign funds, a letter accompanying the complaints states. Arkansas State Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle, answers questions during a meeting of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee at the state Capitol on Sept. 13, 2023. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) Ginocchios complaints also allege that Rays receipt of campaign funds from Griffin, while a sitting legislator who filed bills affecting the attorney generals office, created a severe conflict of interest and the appearance of quid pro quo. Ray, Gilmore and Griffin all characterized the complaints as frivolous and politically motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The package of complaints include allegations that: Griffin illegally accepted over-the-limit campaign contributions, used state resources for campaign purposes and convert[ed] campaign funds into a personal slush fund to pay for official government operations. Griffins political action committee, Jobs and Growth PAC, violated state ethics law by using a state vehicle owned by the attorney generals office for campaign-related purposes. Ray improperly accepted more than $130,000 in cash from Griffins campaign during legislative sessions, constituting unlawful outside compensation for his official duties as a state legislator and that the payments coincided with Rays sponsorship of several bills that expanded the power of the attorney generals office. A network of PACs controlled by Griffin, Gilmore, Ray and Gilmore Strategy Group, owned by the senators brother Jon Gilmore, worked in concert to conceal the true source of funds to Griffins campaign. Gilmore Strategy Group PAC made contributions over the campaign finance maximum of $3,300 per election to Griffins campaign. Base Point PAC, the senators political action committee, made over-the-limit contributions to Griffins campaign. In a text to the Advocate, Griffin said: These politically-motivated complaints are a total joke and are deeply unserious to anyone who knows anything about Arkansas law. My campaign and political action committee go to great lengths to follow all applicable laws and rules, and I look forward to this frivolous complaint being dismissed. Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett (foreground) and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (background) following a news conference at the state Capitol on March 27, 2023.(Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) It is without a doubt a frivolous attack against me and other conservative Republicans, Ben Gilmore said in an email, and it is without question politically motivated. As always, I will continue to follow the law and should the Ethics Commission contact me, I will work with them to prove that to be the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ray said the complaint might be the dumbest thing Ive ever read. It is completely false, totally frivolous, and not even worth the paper its printed on. These left-wing activists are attacking me because Im an effective Republican legislator and they dont like my politics. I am not intimidated by their baseless attacks in fact, they only motivate me to work even harder to advance conservative policies and principles. Ginocchio also filed ethics complaints against Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge and Secretary of State Cole Jester for filing incomplete and inaccurate campaign finance reports. Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires on Sept. 19 after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Baltic nation's airspace for 12 minutes, the Foreign Ministry said. The incursion occurred over the Gulf of Finland, where the aircraft crossed into Estonian territory without permission before departing. The Estonian Defense Forces confirmed the violation. "Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today's incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen," Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Estonian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had been handed a formal protest note over the violation. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal later announced that Tallinn was requesting consultations under NATO's Article 4, which allows member states to hold discussions with allies if their security is threatened. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied violating Estonia's airspace. NATO Spokesperson Allison Hart wrote on X that the alliance "responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft," calling the incident "yet another example of reckless Russian behavior and NATO's ability to respond." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the violation, saying, "We will respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank. As threats escalate, so too will our pressure. I call on EU leaders to swiftly approve our 19th sanctions package." The European Commission proposed its 19th sanctions package on Sept. 19, which includes a complete import ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). EU High Representative Kaja Kallas called the violation "an extremely dangerous provocation," noting it was the third such breach of EU airspace in recent days. "The EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia. I am in close contact with the Estonian government. We will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources," she said, adding: "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is testing the West's resolve. We must not show weakness." A map of the Baltic Sea Region. (Lisa Kukharska / The Kyiv Independent) Ukrainian officials joined Europe and NATO in condemning the breach and demanding action against Moscow. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the incursion "another Russian escalation and a direct threat to transatlantic security," writing on X that "half-measures are no longer enough." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russia must face crushing political and economic pressure," he said. When asked for a reaction on the airspace violation, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the situation. "I don't love it when that happens. It could be big trouble. I'll let you know later, they'll brief me in about an hour," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the incursion was part of "a systematic Russian campaign" against Europe, NATO, and the West. "Russian destabilization is spreading to new countries and areas," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They are using all means at their disposal, from interfering in political processes, as in Romania and Moldova, to violating airspace, as in Poland, Romania, and now Estonia. ... Strong action is needed both jointly and by each individual country." U.S. President Donald Trump did not join in the round of condemnations, telling reporters on Sept. 19 that he was waiting to be briefed with additional details but that there was potential for "big trouble." "Well, I'm gonna have to look at it. They'll be briefing me in a short while, so I'll let you know about it tonight or tomorrow," he said. "I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. This could be big trouble, but I'll let you know later, they're going to brief me in about an hour." On the same day that the MiG-31s crossed into Estonian airpsace, the Polish Border Guard reported that Russian figher jets violated the security zone of a drilling platform in the Baltic Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Two Russian fighter jets performed a low pass over the Petrobaltic platform in the Baltic Sea. The platform's safety zone was violated," the Border Guard reported. Poland's military and other services were notified of the incident. The Petrobaltic platform is an oil and gas installation located in the Polish exclusive economic zone of the Baltic Sea. The violations come amid heightened tensions in the region. Earlier this month, Poland confirmed that it had shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace during a mass aerial attack on Ukraine the first time a NATO member has directly engaged Russian military assets over its own territory during the war. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the Sept. 10 incident as "an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace" and said it brought Europe "the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Warsaw temporarily closed its main airport, placed its air defenses on high alert, and requested consultations with NATO allies under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty. Polish authorities have since launched a review of bomb shelters nationwide as part of a multibillion-zloty civil defense program to improve readiness in the event of further escalations. Read also: Testing NATO, Russias salami slicing tactics now threaten Poland, Baltic states Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The public memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sunday, Sept. 21 is expected to not only pay homage to the late conservative firebrand's life, but his political activism as well. The organization he founded years ago, Turning Point USA, is hosting the memorial in Glendale, Arizona, and will feature speeches from the nation's top Republican and conservative figures underscoring Kirk's and Turning Point USA's influence on a broad section of American politics. Here are five things to know about Charlie Kirk and the activist's memorial service. Who is speaking at Charlie Kirk's memorial, funeral service Sunday, Sept. 21? Turning Point USA announced a list of speakers set to make an appearance at Kirk's public memorial service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the list of speakers are President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, as well as the late commentator's wife, Erika Kirk, the new head of Turning Point USA. Several members of the president's cabinet will also attend, the organization announced on Sept. 17, as will Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr. among others. See the full list of speakers here. When is Charlie Kirk's funeral, memorial service? "Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk" is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. local time in Glendale, Arizona, according to the fightforcharlie.com website. That would be 2 p.m. ET in Florida and Palm Beach County. Doors are tentatively scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, which is three hours behind Eastern Time, which includes most of Florida. The exception is the western Panhandle, which is in Central Time. Where will Charlie Kirk's funeral service be held? Kirk's memorial service will be held at State Farm Stadium, at Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, in Glendale on Sunday, Sept. 21, according to Turning Point USA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stadium is home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and can seat 63,400 that can be expanded to more than 73,000. How to watch Charlie Kirk's memorial service: Will it be live streamed? Yes. The Palm Beach Post will live stream the service on YouTube. Fightforcharlie.com said the service will be live streamed on Charlie Kirk's Rumble account. What is Turning Point USA? Turning Point USA was founded by Kirk in 2012 when he was 18, and has since become a prominent political force. Along with its presence on hundreds of college and high school campuses, the organization hosts conferences, encourages youth organizing on conservative issues and produces various media such as the The Charlie Kirk Show." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It says on its website its mission is to "identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government" and to build "most organized, active, and powerful conservative grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses across the country." Turning Point USA said in an X post on Sept. 18, that its board unanimously elected Erika Kirk as its new CEO and chair of the board. "In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death," the group said in its announcement. Erika Kirk, 36, vowed in a speech days after Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunshot wound that she would continue her husbands work. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Watch recap: Charlie Kirk memorial with speakers Trump, Erika Kirk The Suncor oil refinery in Commerce City is one of Colorado's largest sources of air pollution. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) A long-running effort to broaden Colorados air pollution rules to include health limits on lesser-known hazards took another step forward on Friday, but advocates were again left frustrated by what they called a missed opportunity to go further. Members of the state Air Quality Control Commission voted 8-0 to adopt an updated set of rules known as Regulation No. 30, establishing benchmarks for a group of priority toxic air contaminants identified by the commission earlier this year. The new health standards still need to be approved by the state Legislature, and they wont be used in permitting or regulatory proceedings for at least another year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their enshrinement in Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment rules is another milestone for environmental and community groups that have fought for them for years but it came with a reminder of the power that the business lobby has wielded in opposing those efforts at the state Capitol and beyond. Commissioners opted for a set of higher limits proposed by industry groups, rather than the lower limits proposed by environmental groups or a middle-ground position endorsed by CDPHE staff. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This was a missed opportunity for the Commission to put community health first, Patricia Garica-Nelson, an activist with nonprofit environmental organization GreenLatinos, said in a statement. Coloradans came forward with powerful stories about the direct harm they face from toxic air pollution, yet decision-makers still chose weaker standards for most contaminants. The new rules five priority contaminants, also known as air toxics, were identified by state regulators with input from a scientific advisory group. They are among a class of hundreds of compounds classified as hazardous air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA, however, only sets federal health standards for a core group of six well-known criteria pollutants, including ozone and carbon monoxide, which are the target of extensive regulations under the Clean Air Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These exposures dont act alone they pile up, creating cumulative harms that send kids, the elderly, outdoor workers, and families living close to oil and gas wells to the ER and even shorten lives. Dr. Maria Chansky, advocate with Healthy Air and Water Colorado In the absence of federal limits, Colorado has lagged behind other states in establishing its own state-level air toxics rules, and CDPHE came under scrutiny for allowing industrial pollution sources like Suncor Energys Commerce City oil refinery to effectively set their own emissions limits. After several years of trying, lawmakers representing Denver-area communities succeeded in passing a 2022 law directing the AQCC to begin regulating certain air toxics. The five priority contaminants identified in the new rules are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benzene , a volatile organic compound often associated with oil and gas production and linked to leukemia and other adverse health effects Hexavalent chromium , often emitted by industrial metal production and linked to lung cancer and respiratory problems Ethylene oxide , often used to sterilize medical equipment and linked to cancers and respiratory problems Formaldehyde , often associated with the production of wood products and resins and linked to cancers and other adverse health effects Hydrogen sulfide, often associated with oil and gas production, wastewater and food processing plants, and linked to a variety of adverse health effects High levels of hydrogen sulfide are believed to have caused the deaths of six people killed in an incident at a dairy farm in Weld County last month. State law requires the AQCC to adopt emission control regulations pertaining to priority air toxics by April 30. CDPHE staff didnt perform an economic impact analysis on the rule adopted Friday, they wrote, because for now it will have no regulatory impact on any person, facility, or activity. Once approved by the General Assembly, the health-based standards may be integrated into regulatory and/or permitting requirements, staff wrote. An analysis of potential economic impacts will be done at that time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AQCC, a volunteer commission appointed by the governor, set the new standards by drawing on a variety of existing recommendations from EPA health assessments and regulations in other states. But members sided with industry groups in adopting a high hazard quotient for non-cancer exposure risks, rather than a lower quotient backed by CDPHE, which agency staff argued would account for cumulative exposures and provide ample margin of safety, particularly for vulnerable groups. These exposures dont act alone they pile up, creating cumulative harms that send kids, the elderly, outdoor workers, and families living close to oil and gas wells to the ER and even shorten lives, Dr. Maria Chansky, a Glenwood Springs physician and advocate with Healthy Air and Water Colorado, said in a statement. In light of ongoing federal environmental rollbacks, it is more important than ever that Colorado safeguard our air through strong health-based standards to curb harmful air toxics. Though he voted for the rules adoption, AQCC commissioner Jon Slutsky voiced uneasiness with siding against the calls of community advocates who testified before the commission about their experiences living close to the problem. When we have people in the community coming before us, time and time again I think we have to do more than just listen to them, Slutsky said. We have to actually give them some love. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Ilhan Abdullahi Omar was born on Oct. 4, 1982, in Mogadishu, Somalia. She is the youngest of seven children in a moderate Sunni Muslim family. Her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, was a teacher trainer and her mother passed away when Ilhan was just two years old. Raised by her father and grandfather, Omars early life was dramatically shaped by political unrest in her home country. When civil war erupted in Somalia in 1991, Omar was just eight years old. Her family fled the violence, spending four harrowing years in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. In 1995, at age 12, Omar and her family were granted asylum in the United States and eventually settled in Arlington, Virginia. They then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she would begin her journey toward public service. Beyond her contributions to her community, there has been some past controversy regarding Congresswoman Ilhan Omars salary, finances and net worth. Heres everything we know. Life In Minneapolis And Early Political Engagement Ilhan Omars family relocated to Minneapolis when she was a teenager. Soon after, it became the city she would call home and the district she would one day represent. Navigating life as an immigrant in a new culture came with challenges, but it also laid the foundation for her passion for social justice and community empowerment. As Brittanica notes, Omar learned English by watching TV and attending school and later embraced community advocacy as a way to support others in similar positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She graduated from Edison High School and went on to attend North Dakota State University, earning a bachelors degree in political science and international studies in 2011. Her interest in politics was sparked early she served as a student organizer and community educator before working in various political and nonprofit roles. Initially, Omars political career included serving as a campaign manager to Minneapolis City Council member Andrew Johnson. Her grassroots experience allowed her to connect with underrepresented communities and gave her a reputation for bridging the gap between government and citizens. Her advocacy focused heavily on immigration reform, education equity and combating Islamophobia. How Ilhan Omar Made History In Congress In 2016, Ilhan Omar made her first major political leap by winning a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, becoming the first Somali-American legislator in the U.S, per Time Magazine. Less than two years later, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Minnesotas 5th Congressional District after Keith Ellison vacated the seat to run for state attorney general. She won the 2018 Democratic primary with a landslide of the vote and defeated Republican Jennifer Zielinski in the general election. Omar was sworn into Congress on Jan. 3, 2019, becoming one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. The other is Rashida Tlaib of Michigans 13th Congressional District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even more historic is the fact that Omar is the first African refugee to serve in Congress. Her election symbolized a turning point in American political representation, reflecting a more diverse and inclusive Congress that better mirrors the population it serves. Legislative Focus And Committee Roles As a member of the House of Representatives, Omar has focused on progressive policies. Specifically, affordable housing, environmental justice, universal healthcare and foreign policy reform are key issues. She has also been an outspoken advocate for various human rights, including those regarding U.S. military interventions abroad and U.S. policy in the Middle East and Africa. Its shameful this Administration is continuing our involvement in the Yemen conflict with military assistance, Omar said in a statement addressing conflict in Yemen in 2022. This is a dereliction of what this Administration campaigned on, and out of step with a foreign policy agenda rooted in human rights and peace. Omars influence has impacted several major committees. First, theres the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where she participated in the Subcommittee on Africa, focusing on diplomatic relations, security and humanitarian issues on the African continent. However, she was removed from that committee by a Republican-controlled House in 2023 for her past comments that referenced antisemitic tropes, according to Congressional reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Budget Committee. On those, she works to advance equitable access to education and labor rights, and set overall spending levels, respectively. In a stark move, GOP Rep. Nancy Mace pushed a resolution to censure Omar and have her removed from the two committees, over Omars commentary in the aftermath of Charlie Kirks assassination. However, the resolution was shelved in a marginal 214-213 House roll call vote, per PBS. Salary, Real Estate And Business Interests As a member of Congress, Ilhan Omar earns an annual salary of $174,000. Thats the standard compensation for all rank-and-file members of the U.S. House. Public records show that Omar and her husband, political consultant Tim Mynett, reside in Minneapolis. There is no public record of Omar owning a home or other real estate. Though not a major investor or entrepreneur, Omar published a memoir titled This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman, which was released in 2020. The book offers an intimate look into her life as a refugee and public servant and likely generated a modest income from publishing rights and speaking engagements. She does not run a personal business or operate a foundation. However, she is frequently involved in nonprofit events and advocacy campaigns that align with her policy goals. Family Life And Personal Relationships As People reports, Omar is married to Tim Mynett, a political consultant. The couple wed in 2020. She has three children from a previous marriage: Isra Hirsi, born in 2003 (known for co-founding the U.S. Youth Climate Strike), and two younger sons whose names and ages remain largely private for security and privacy reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omars marriage and personal life have been the subject of political scrutiny. In 2024, her husband Mynetts business ventures came under scrutiny following lawsuits claiming his company has made money disappear. The allegations stemmed from Mynetts company receiving $3.5 million to kickstart investments in a South Dakota cannabis company. According to the report, Mynettes firm returned about $1.8 million, with a court judgment for the other $1.7 million. However, she has consistently stated that her focus remains on serving her constituents and advocating for systemic change. What Is Ilhan Omars Net Worth? As of 2025, Ilhan Omars net worth is approximately $350,000 to $500,000, based on publicly available financial disclosure forms. This includes her congressional salary, income from her memoir and spousal earnings. Unlike some members of Congress with significant private investments, business ownership or inheritance wealth, Omars finances remain modest. My salary is $174,000 before taxes, I dont have stock or own a home and am still paying off my student debt, Omar publicly disclosed on X, as reported by Yahoo! News. I am a working mom with student loan debt. Unlike some of my colleagues and similar to most Americans I am not a millionaire and am raising a family while maintaining a residence in both Minneapolis and DC, which are among the most expensive housing markets in the country, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has minimal stock market investments and no known ownership in major business ventures. Her net worth reflects a middle-class lifestyle rooted in public service, not private accumulation. This financial profile resonates with many of her constituents, reinforcing her image as an accessible and relatable public servant. Frequently Asked Questions Is Ilhan Omar still serving in Congress in 2025? Yes. As of 2025, Ilhan Omar continues to represent Minnesotas 5th Congressional District. She is actively serving her fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. How did Ilhan Omar come to the United States? Omar fled Somalias civil war with her family in 1991. After living in a Kenyan refugee camp for four years, they were granted asylum in the U.S. Her family eventually settled in Minneapolis. Does Ilhan Omar own any businesses or property? No. Ilhan Omar does not own any major businesses or real estate holdings beyond her primary residence in Minneapolis. The post How Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Built Her Career And Net Worth appeared first on AfroTech. The post How Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Built Her Career And Net Worth appeared first on AfroTech. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is investigating after a vehicle was allegedly shot at in the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 19. CSPD said on Friday, a little after 5 a.m. CSPD received a 911 call from someone saying they had been shot. The caller reported their initial location as the area of Galley Road and North Powers Boulevard. The victim drove themselves to the hospital. As police investigated, they learned shots were fired into the victims vehicle near the intersection of Grinnell Boulevard and South Powers Boulevard, and one person was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSPD said police and detectives are working to identify all the people involved. Southbound Grinnell Boulevard was closed for a time while police collected evidence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Cubas foreign minister lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him a fraud and an international criminal, in a personal attack that suggests the islands government has given up on improving its strained relationship with the Trump administration amid heightened fears of a potential U.S. military action in Venezuela. Asked in a press conference Tuesday about his expectations for the relationship with the United States, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Rubio of executing a violent and politically motivated agenda tied to dark, corrupt interests, particularly in Florida, to provoke egime change in Cuba. The Secretary of State is a fraud, who was neither born in Cuba nor knows anything about Cuba, he said during a press conference that followed a presentation to foreign diplomats in Havana of Cubas latest report about the impact of the U.S. embargo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His nefarious role in relation to the genocide in Gaza, he added, places him as an international criminal. The U.S. Department of State declined to comment. Rodriguez is known to use inflammatory rhetoric against the U.S. regularly. Still, the personal accusations against the secretary of state in a room full of foreign diplomats suggest the islands government has given up on diplomacy and is bracing for further confrontation. Soon after Trump won the presidential election and Rubio was nominated as secretary, Cuban officials quietly reached out to contacts in the U.S. They were seeking advice on how to circumvent Rubio a Cuban American former senator and a hardliner on Cuba policy and how best to deal with President Donald Trump, whom the Cubans perceived as more transactional, Herald sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For months, Cuban diplomats and state media outlets have relentlessly criticized Rubio and the U.S. ambassador in Havana, Mike Hammer. Rubios tough Cuba policy has included sanctions on the islands handpicked president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and military officials and enterprises. He has also pressured foreign governments, including several in the Caribbean region, to stop hiring Cuban doctors through the Cuban official missions, due to allegations of forced labor. But to this day, Cuban officials are careful not to name Trump by name when disparaging his policies towards Cuba, Venezuela and the war in Gaza. Cuba has continued receiving deportation flights from the U.S. in an effort to cooperate on an issue high on Trumps agenda, although Havana continues refusing to accept Cubans with criminal records. In July, Johana Tablada, a top Cuban Foreign Ministry official responsible for the U.S., complained that she and Vice Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio had been snubbed by the State Department and could not arrange any meetings when they traveled to Washington. She accused Rubio and other U.S. officials of wanting to blow up whats left of the relationship, but she said Cuba was not going to take the bait. The adult in the room is the Cuban government, Tablada said. If we did what they wanted, wed be giving a pretext for those people who want to break off relations, create a migration crisis and prompt a military intervention from the United States. Worries about Venezuela grow The latest events in the Caribbean have been another test of the Cuba-U.S. relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguezs virulent tirade against Rubio comes in the middle of increased tensions in the region because of the sizable deployment of U.S. military assets near Venezuela, Cubas closest ally. Cuban top officials, including Diaz-Canel, have said the United States is preparing for some sort of military action against the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, beyond the deployments stated purpose of fighting drug cartels in the Caribbean. Cubas intelligence forces are known to operate in Venezuela and provide security services and advice to Maduro. It is not known what kind of support the Cuban government is prepared to provide in case of a military action against Venezuela. On Thursday, Roberto Morales Ojeda, a top official in the islands Communist Party Central Committee who is seen as a contender to succeed Diaz-Canel, met with Diosdado Cabello, Maduros interior minister. The enemy has always been the same, but now its even more voracious, Cabello said about the United States during the meeting, according to Cuban official media. Whoever messes with Cuba messes with Venezuela, and vice versa. In a publication on X, Morales said that his visit, which coincided with military exercises conducted by Maduros forces, is a demonstration, as always, of the total willingness to collaborate and be on the side of the Venezuelan people in their struggles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Rodriguez shared a statement by the Revolutionary Government of Cuba calling on other nations to mobilize to prevent a military aggression against Venezuela, blaming it again on Rubio and other like-minded senators and Congress members. Cuba has repeatedly warned that the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean in recent weeks is a provocation intended to unleash a military conflict that would compel the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement said. The true purpose of these actions is to seize the oil and natural resources of Venezuela. Blaming the economic crisis on the embargo Rodriguez also accused the United States of inflicting extraordinary humanitarian damage to our people, in remarks presenting an annual report that precedes a United Nations vote on a resolution to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The minister claimed the embargo caused damages estimated at $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025 and that if the sanctions had not been in place, Cubas economy would have grown by 9.2%. Cuban economists have noted that U.S. sanctions are one of several factors in the countrys current crisis, and that the Cuban government is able to pass on the effect of sanctions to the population. But research efforts to quantify the effects have been scarce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figures presented regularly by the government are believed to overestimate the financial cost of the sanctions because they include several estimates based on hypothetical situations, including, for example, estimated revenue for the sale of Cuban products to American consumers and savings on shipping costs based on the premise that Cuba would almost exclusively import goods from the United States, including supplies like syringes that American companies source in other markets such as China. The figure is particularly high this year because the government also included $2.5 billion in damages for the loss of workers to a migration wave Cuban authorities blame on the United States. The report also claims the embargo deprived the government from the money needed to buy medicines and other necessities. But a recent Herald investigation based on a leak of secret accounting documents for the countrys largest military conglomerate, GAESA, shows it had $14,5 billion deposited in bank accounts and $18 billion in assets as of March 2024. NEED TO KNOW New details about the bodies recovered in the search for missing hunters Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko have been revealed Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin shared the details ahead of the autopsies The 25-year-old hunters were in Rio Grande National Forest in southern Colorado to hunt elk when they disappeared New information surrounding the young hunters who were found dead in Colorado has come to light. Friends Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both experienced hunters, were found dead nearly a week after their disappearance on a hunting trip in the Rio Grande National Forest in southern Colorado, a family member announced on Thursday, Sept. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same day, the Conejos County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) confirmed that two unidentified men had been recovered from the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead at approximately 11 a.m. local time after extensive search efforts. Though the cause of death remains under investigation, and the identities of the bodies have not yet been confirmed, new details have since emerged in the case. CONEJOS COUNTY SHERIFF's Office Search and rescue efforts for Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko Search and rescue efforts for Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko According to Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin, the two bodies showed no obvious signs of the cause of death, or signs of trauma, per CBS News. Martin also told ABC affiliate Denver 7 that there were no visible injuries on the bodies, nor were there any initial signs of foul play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there had been signs of trauma, the inquiry into the hunters deaths would have become a federal investigation, because their bodies were discovered on federal land, CBS News reported, citing the coroner. Autopsies are now scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22, at the El Paso County Coroner's Office, according to both outlets. Porter and Stasko, both 25, were in the area to go elk hunting. Their last contact was made when Porter shared his location with his fiancee, Bridget Murphy, on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 11, Murphy told The Colorado Sun. He had been giving her, as well as his family, updates every few hours until that final communication. GoFundMe Andrew Porter Andrew Porter Two days later, on Sept. 13, deputies from the sheriffs office arrived at the Rio De Los Pinos Trailhead following reports that the two men were overdue, according to press releases shared with PEOPLE. Emergency responders located the hunters vehicle, but they werent anywhere to be found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camping gear and backpacks were located in the vehicle, prompting deputies to become concerned due to heavy rain and bad weather, authorities said via the release, adding that a massive search was then launched, involving teams in the air, county and state crew members on the ground, as well as dog teams, drones and local volunteers. As Murphy urged people to help in the search, she continued to hold onto hope that shed see her fiance whom she was set to marry in a few months again, per The Sun. She explained to the outlet that both men were very prepared outdoorsmen. But she was aware that whatever occurred depends on if they were in sound mind, if they were disoriented or panicked, or if they were already hypothermic. Were just not sure. So theres a lot of teams out looking. 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 day after Murphy's interview ran, on Sept. 18, Porters aunt, Lynne Runkle, announced in an update on the GoFundMe page she created to help fund search and rescue efforts that the bodies had been recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is with a broken heart and through tears that I give you this update, wrote Runkle, who did not previously respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. She also asked those reading the update to please keep Andrews and Ians families in your thoughts and prayers. Read the original article on People A violent storm swept across southern Germany some 150 million years ago, lifting two immature pterosaurs high above the ground like leaves. The fragile reptiles, just born or newly weaned, swirled into a lagoon and perished. Their bodies sank quickly, covered with fine sediment agitated up by the storm itself. Against all odds, their bones fossilized virtually complete. Now, those old bonesnicknamed Lucky and Lucky IIgive scientists a look at the lives of young pterosaurs and their demise. They also reveal why the fossil record in this area is full of juvenile specimens but older adults are few. On first glance, the bones of Lucky look complete. However, scientists discovered a tilted break in the left arm. Lucky II also had the same kind of injury on the right arm. Paleontologists believe strong gusts folded their wings until they broke, and the juveniles crashed into the waves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rab Smyth, author of the paper and paleontology researcher at the American Museum of Natural History, said that it is incredible to have such detail. The likelihood of preserving a pterosaur whole is already uncommon, Smyth said. Finding a fossil that tells you what killed the animal is rarer. Neonatal examples of Pterodactylus antiquus displaying perimortem wing fractures. (CREDIT: Current Biology) Islands of Fossils When it was the Jurassic Period, Europe was not a single landmass but an archipelago of islands ringed by shallow, tropical oceans. Southern Germany formed part of the final remnants of land before the Tethys Ocean. Solnhofen lagoons here became famous for their capacity to preserve delicate fossils, like the very first bird, Archaeopteryx. Since over two centuries ago, researchers have discovered hundreds of tiny pterosaur fossils in the Solnhofen Limestone. Several belong to Pterodactylus antiquus, the same group as Lucky and Lucky II. However, larger adult individuals are curiously absent, and only a few skull and limb fragments were found. Larger bodies should fossilize more readily than smaller ones under normal circumstances. The new research indicates storms might have skewed the record. Juveniles caught by violent gusts were blown onto lagoons, quickly buried, and fossilized in superb detail. Adults floated at the surface and decayed before their skeletons could settle on the seafloor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smyth and others used ultraviolet light photography to examine the fossils, and this enhanced hidden soft tissue and subtle detail in the bone walls. When a fossil glowed under UV light, research co-author David Unwin of the University of Leicester recalled that it literally leapt out of the rock at us and our hearts stopped. Plot illustrating the relationship between skull length and prenarial rostrum length, demonstrating changes in cranial proportions throughout ontogeny along a logarithmic curve, from osteologically highly immature (neonates) to larger juvenile individuals. (CREDIT: Current Biology) Ancient Flyers in Peril The idea that these infant pterosaurs were already capable of flight goes against common arguments. Most modern birds and bats cannot fly so early in the process of hatching. But these fossils suggest baby pterosaurs may have been flying close to birth. Their breaks are comparable to flight wounds that younger birds acquire as they are caught up by storms. That reading is not held by all. David Martill, emeritus professor at Portsmouth University, was pleased with the research but maintained that the injuries could also have been caused by running into rocks. Since cliffs were absent in the lagoons, he remains doubtful. Nonetheless, independent specialists praised the research. Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, called it paleontological detective work of the highest order and noted each fossil is a tragedy but an especially intriguing one. The burials of Lucky and Lucky II shed light on how storms shaped the fossil record. Serene lagoons became deadly when storms mixed toxic, oxygen-poor bottom waters with surface waters, killing marine animals in mass graves. The same events swept hatchlings off surrounding islands into the sea, where they were entombed before scavengers could consume them. Comparison of oblique diaphyseal humeral fractures in Pterodactylus antiquus. (CREDIT: Current Biology) The Powerhouses Within Whereas ancient pterosaurs fate was determined by storms, storms of another variety rage within every living cell of today. Deep beneath the surface lies a tiny factory that serves as a power plantthe mitochondrion. Organelles of this type convert food into adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the chemical energy that drives everything from the contracting of muscles to memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists have long understood mitochondria as the powerhouses of the cell. But now they are revealed to be much more dynamic. Employing high-tech imaging techniques like cryo-electron microscopy, researchers found proteins within mitochondria change location to assemble in bigger or smaller clusters. This adaptability enables the organelles to switch between modes: maximizing energy output when its in great demand, or minimizing damage from toxic byproducts when stress is extreme. Instead of rigid engines, mitochondria are like symphony orchestras. Their protein complexes cluster and disperse, modulating energy production in real-time. When oxygen is low or energy is suddenly needed, mitochondria restructure to keep cells alive. Adapting to Survive This plasticity matters long after textbook biology. Faulty mitochondria are involved in Alzheimers, Parkinsons, diabetes, and heart disease. In these diseases, cells may lose the ability to redesign their protein structures, leading to energy shortages and cell damage. Old age might be a slow destruction of such mitochondrial flexibility. Examples of different taphonomic classes in Pterodactylus antiquus photographed under UV light. (CREDIT: Current Biology) The study further revealed that mitochondria talk to the rest of the cell about their health, similar to a power grid reporting to a city. When all is humming, cells can grow and develop. In stress, the mitochondria warn the cell to conserve its resources. It may one day enable doctors to design treatments that reboot the conversation and stabilize the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such drugs might, in the future, protect tissues during a heart attack or slow degeneration of neurons in dementia. More exciting is the promise of preclinical diagnosis. Determining mitochondrial adaptability could offer clues to disease years before symptoms appear. Windows Into Life Combined, these two lines of inquiryancient fossils and contemporary cell biologycreate a picture of the fragility and resilience of life. A storm cut short the flight of Lucky and Lucky II, but left them intact for scientists to examine millions of years later. In our own cells, small structures encounter storms of stress each day, reorganizing to keep us alive. Science tends to uncover beauty in the most unexpected of areas. The stretchy beauty of mitochondria and the delicate skeleton of young pterosaurs are reminding us that life is not only thin-skinned but also clever. From the Jurassic islands battered by the elements to the machinery of our own cells out of sight, survival relies on adaptability. The bimodal CATT model illustrating catastrophic and attritional taphonomic pathways. (CREDIT: Current Biology) Practical Implications of the Research These studies have broad implications to the future. Fossil discoveries like Lucky and Lucky II help scientists date artefacts in the fossil record and reveal that many pterosaurs were swept up by storms and fossilized at Solnhofen as inexperienced juveniles. This changes how you think about prehistoric ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the biomedical community, discoveries concerning mitochondrial flexibility can guide treatments for diseases where energy failure plays a role. If researchers are successful in regaining or duplicating this flexibility, therapies can be employed to prevent cell damage in Parkinsons, Alzheimers, or heart disease. Diagnostic techniques may also emerge early on, providing doctors with a chance to treat before non-reversible deterioration sets in. Both areas illustrate the ways in which awareness of the past and the microscopic present can enhance human health and knowledge. Research findings are available online in the journal Current Biology01037-1). Related Stories Like these kind of feel good stories? Get The Brighter Side of News newsletter. WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) In light of two high-profile police shootings in Pennsylvania, 28/22 News wanted to take a closer look at police training practices. 28/22s Joe Mason spoke to area police chiefs today and has a look at how police train for a crisis. Two Pennsylvania state troopers were seriously injured after a shooting in Susquehanna County in early August. On Wednesday, three police officers were shot dead, and two were left in critical condition in York County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both took place in rural areas. Both were ambush-style attacks. But, how does police training prepare these first responders to deal with domestic incidents? 10-year-old shot during argument involving two men Police Chief Michael Turner oversees the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department. He says ambushes bring immediate challenges to responding officers. Were on the defense automatically. I mean, if were pulling up on scene of a situation, especially in a rural area or a wooded area, there are so many vantage points that the suspect would have on us, explained Turner. Turner says the shooting in York is on his mind and the minds of his officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a lot of younger officers on staff, so now we have to take into effect. You know, every dispatch call, youre going to have that in the back of your mind. Are they going to be dispatched to this location? Are they being set up? So, I just have my officers be more alert, shared Turner. Im always worried about our officers, especially with the domestic violence situations. I just pray every day that they come home, they come back to the station and go home to their families, continued Turner. Police Chief Douglas Higgins heads the Dallas Township Police Department. He says his officers undergo more than 900 hours of training in various areas, and even with this training, incidents like these are among the most dangerous for officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We train best-case scenario, but obviously, each call is different. It presents different challenges. We teach officers to park away from the scene and walk up to the house. As youre walking up, look for cover just in case. But, obviously, its very hard to train for an ambush, said Higgins. Chief Higgins notes that domestic incidents share many similarities. A lot of anger. A lot of passion. A lot of heat-of-the-moment decisions are being made by the people that are going through a stressful situation. And theyre acting out under anger and frustration and not thinking about what theyre doing, explained Higgins. Chief Higgins says an action report will eventually be released on the shooting in York, detailing what happened on Wednesday afternoon. That report could influence police training in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. Ayman Soliman walked the line of supporters gathered along a gray, brick wall in Cincinnati, Ohios Clifton Mosque, stopping to shake each persons hand. Just moments later, he stepped behind the podium in the center of the room to address his audience. It is just as our Christian friends call it, a rebirth. I am reborn today. I was reborn at 12 p.m. today, the imam and former interfaith chaplain said. In his first time addressing the public directly since his release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention Friday afternoon, Soliman thanked his friends, his fellow clergy and the surrounding community for their efforts to advocate for his freedom. He wouldnt be here without their efforts and his faith he said, and he is indebted to all of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im free today because of this advocacy and Islam, Soliman said. My faith, our Prophet Muhammad said, You cant be thankful to God until you are thankful to people first.' Soliman was released from the Butler County Jail in Ohio early Friday afternoon, after 72 days spent in ICE custody. He was detained on July 9 during a routine check-in with the agency following the termination of his asylum status a month prior. Robert Ratliff, a lawyer for Soliman, told Salon that the legal team received notice around 11 a.m. Eastern time Friday that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services planned to rescind the termination notice and reinstate Solimans asylum. Nearly an hour later, he received notice from counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, which filed a motion to terminate Solimans removal proceedings around the same time. Ratliff said the government did not provide any reason for its decisions. I think it was more a culmination of problems in this case, which goes to our point, which was this was always a stretch from the beginning, and it just reeked of somebody targeting him, Ratliff said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A beloved member of his local community, in part, because of his work as an interfaith chaplain at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, Solimans detention sparked public outcry in the tri-state area, with residents holding vigils and spreading the word, fellow clergy writing open letters, including one they hand-delivered to Republican Gov. Mike DeWines office earlier this month, and advocates raising funds and leading rallies to demand his release. One such protest across the Roebling Bridge ended in chaos after Covington, Ky., police deployed force against demonstrators, resulting in the injury and arrest of more than a dozen people, including two reporters. A video posted by local activist group Young United Souls for Revolutionary Action Friday afternoon shows the imam exiting the Butler County jail, carrying a trash bag with what seemed to be his personal belongings, and being greeted by friends and community members who awaited his release. Ratliff said the imam traveled to the Clifton Mosque shortly thereafter to attend the Friday prayer. Rev. Elizabeth Diop, one of two Cincinnati Childrens Hospital chaplains who lost their jobs for speaking publicly about Soliman, waited outside the mosque to welcome her former colleague back. Their reunion, she told Salon over text, was a much bigger relief than shed expected. Everyone is so overwhelmed with gratitude to God for sure, she said, noting that she couldnt stop crying. I was so scared. I didnt realize how scared until I got word he had been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The imam was praising God and expressing gratitude to those who love him and worked with God toward his release, she added. Soliman received notice in June that USCIS was moving forward with revoking his asylum status, which he was granted in 2018, alleging that he had provided material support for a Tier III terrorist organization during his time in Egypt. Over the course of his two months in detention, DHS counsel leveled several allegations of Solimans participation in terror activities, which his lawyers and friends denied as baseless and said were rooted in mistakes and misinterpretations. Ratliff said that he had requested a status conference over another discrepancy between the termination notice USCIS sent Soliman in June and the one the agency had submitted as an exhibit in court just a few hours before he heard from USCIS on Friday. The latter notice claimed that Soliman was a member of a terrorist group, a claim DHS relied on to argue against granting him bond, he said. What everybody needs to take away from this [case] is this is going to be the new pattern and practice of DHS to try to force people to voluntarily leave, Ratliff added. If you have the right to stay in the United States, and if you have the ability to fight it, youre going to have to be extremely detailed and extremely aggressive about pursuing your relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a DHS official told Salon that an immigrant even with a pending application or lawful status is not shielded from immigration enforcement action, adding that USCIS cant discuss the details of individual cases or adjudication decisions. Now that his asylum status has been reinstated, Solimans other immigration hurdles should also be squared away, Ratliff said. Solimans next step will be to apply for a green card again, which will bring him one step closer to reuniting with the family members the threat of political persecution in Egypt forced him to leave behind. Soliman told supporters and press Friday evening that in the immediate future, hell be reacclimating to normal life, catching up on sleep, eating regular food and taking time to himself to process the mental wounds and scars his detention left him with. He said he couldnt believe that he was free, that hed just gathered with loved ones and eaten lunch at a restaurant with fruits and salad. Then the imam left his audience with an admonishment of the Trump administration and a call to action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been told that they were detaining and deporting the worst of the worst, and I can tell you firsthand that Ive seen the best of the best, unjustly detained and unjustly deported and many of them were legal, he said. This fascist government is so weak when they find brave advocates like you who can raise their voice, Soliman added, the room erupting in applause. The noise you make makes a difference. Dont underestimate your voice. Soliman thanked his supporters once more before retreating from the podium. The call to prayer sounded over the mosques speakers. The post Dont underestimate your voice: Cincinnati imam jailed by ICE released, case dropped appeared first on Salon.com. Rami Hammouri is heading home to Hudson at least for now. Hammouri, a Palestinian born in Israel, has been in federal custody since July 1 after a failed attempt to legally self-deport to Canada, where he and his wife and two young sons hoped to start a new life, free from the worry of being swept up by ICE during President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. U.S. authorities first detained Hammouri this summer in Buffalo, just south of the border after Canada refused Rami entrance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when ICE officials moved him to a federal prison in Rhode Island, they opened up a new legal path to his release while he fights to remain in the United States, Hammouris attorney, Jose Juarez Jr., said Sept. 19. Previous reporting: A Hudson man tried to self-deport to Canada. He ended up in ICE custody anyway Because Hammouri was being held in New England, he suddenly qualified to became a member of a federal class action settlement that was approved in January by a federal district court. The settlement allows a limited group of immigrants in New England to request that their deportation cases be reopened and dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement also prevents the Boston ICE office from detaining or deporting class members through January of 2027. "Days like this are what make me continue to fight for clients, Juarez said. Emily Hammouri listens to attorney Jose Juarez Jr., talk about her husbands case during an interview at the law office of Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Independence, Ohio. Hammouris wife, Emily, called Juarez at 11:31 a.m. Sept. 19 with the news. She told him Rami had just called and said he was being released immediately, long before Emily and their sons could make it to Rhode Island to pick him up, Juarez said. Emily reached out to friends with family in Boston and that family agreed to be there for Rami's release. Emily, meanwhile, picked up the couples two young boys from school and started on the 12-hour drive northeast to bring her husband home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily is crying and Im getting teary-eyed, too, Juarez said. Hudson couple living the American dream until this year Ramis immigration status, like so many foreign-born people residing in the U.S., is complicated. He came to the U.S. in 1996 on a student visa and later borrowed an American friends identity so he would have documentation he needed to land a job, Emily said. Letter to the Editor: Bureaucracy is seen at its worst in case of Hudson man in ICE custody | Letter In 2007, Rami was caught using that ID and pleaded guilty in Michigan to identity theft, a felony. The U.S. government at the time ordered Rami be deported. But Ramis homeland, Palestine, isnt a recognized country. And his birthplace, Israel, declined to take him back. Immigration officials at the time decided Rami could stay in the U.S., provided he routinely checked in with immigration officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time passed. Rami followed the rules, became an IT director and met Emily, a physician assistant. Rami told her shortly after they started dating about his immigration status. Emily wasnt bothered. They married, bought a five-bedroom colonial in Hudson, had two sons, ages 7 and 3, and were living the American dream. Emily Hammouri talks about her husband Rami, who attempted to self-deport to Canada and ended up in ICE custody during an interview at the law office of Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Independence,Ohio. They explored ways to get Rami U.S. citizenship over the years, but it didnt become an emergency until this year when masked ICE agents began taking people into custody off the streets. Rami, without a country to go home to, worried the U.S. would send him to the notoriously brutal El Salvador mega-prison CECOT or some other far-flung country now housing U.S. deportees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moving their family to Canada seemed like the best option, but Canada rejected Rami because officials there didnt believe he had proven he was Palestinian, Emily said in recent months. Federal immigration class action gives Hudson couple hope After Rami ended up in U.S. custody, Emily hired Juarez, who began collecting documentation, hoping to get Ramis case reopened. Before Juarez's request could be heard this month, something unexpected happened: An attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice reached out to a law firm in Boston that handled a federal immigration class action. The ACLU filed a lawsuit in 2018. It challenged the government's practice of separating married couples by detaining noncitizen spouses who were pursuing legal status. The lead plaintiff, Lilian Calderon Jimenez, was detained by ICE during an interview for her spousal visa petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ lawyer said that Rami might qualify to be a member of the class action because Rami was incarcerated in Rhode Island, had a final deportation order and his wife, Emily, is a U.S. citizen, along with other factors, Juarez said. The settlement prohibits ICE in Boston from taking enforcement actions against class members unless ICE officials determine a member poses a threat to public safety, Juarez said, adding that Rami has no criminal record since the identity theft conviction. The settlement also gives class members a pathway to reopen and possibly dismiss their removal proceedings, Juarez said. The irony, Juarez pointed out, is that Rami wouldnt have qualified to be part of the settlement had not ICE detained him and moved him to a federal prison in Rhode Island, where he was considered a resident of New England. What happens next for ICE detainee from Hudson? Rami's path to remaining in the U.S. with his family is still not entirely clear, but Juarez said he's hopeful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once Emily drives Rami back to Ohio, were going to get some beers to celebrate, Juarez said. "Then, well sit down for serious conversations about what were going to do next." That likely will include asking the immigration court in Detroit which initially handled Ramis deportation case after his 2007 conviction to re-open Ramis case, dismiss it and award him a green card, Juarez said. That would allow to Rami to remain here and provide the family with some much-needed stability, Juarez said. We dont want them to go through anything like this again, Juarez said. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson resident Rami Hammouri released from ICE custody After reports from Al-Akhbar about instructions for a plan to deal with any emergency," the Egyptian State Information Service said that it is fully committed to maintaining the peace treaty. An Egyptian military official reportedly told Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar on Saturday that a potential Egyptian military action would include doubling the number of Egyptian soldiers and transferring weapons and aircraft to the Sinai Peninsula, with the source adding that it hopes to act as a "deterrent to Tel Aviv." The military official told the source that instructions for a plan to deal with any emergency include not shooting at any Palestinian approaching the border, and dealing with the matter exclusively according to humanitarian standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military official told the source that instructions for a plan to deal with any emergency include not shooting at any Palestinian approaching the border, and dealing with the matter exclusively according to humanitarian standards. Egypt's State Information Service denied this, and claimed that the increase in soldiers in the area was to secure its border "against all threats, including terrorist operations and smuggling." SIS also added that "Egypt is fully committed to maintaining the peace treaty with Israel, given that it has never violated any treaty or agreement throughout its history." Military personnel stand guard on the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, October 31, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY) The source added that displacement to the border poses a direct threat to Egyptian national security and requires a different military situation from the current one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cairo, through contacts with US officials, has also expressed its displeasure with repeated Israeli reports on allegations that drones are being used to smuggle weapons to Hamas through Egypt," Al-Akhbar quoted them as saying. Egypt says displacement of Palestinians from Gaza City 'red line' The Egyptian statement also mentioned the country's "absolute rejection of expanding military operations in Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians from their lands." "It also reiterates its support for the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state based on the two-state solution, on the lands of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital," read the statement. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told CNN last month that any mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza was a red line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will not accept it, we will not participate in it, and we will not allow it to happen, he added in the interview. He also added that Cairo was working with different channels, with one objective, to alleviate the burden and suffering of Palestinians. Reuters contributed to this report. PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) The grand opening of Return with Honor, the National Naval Aviation Museums newest exhibit, is dedicated to the Vietnam prisoners of war. The exhibit aims to tell the stories of survival, sacrifice, and honor of the soldiers. Fairhope police arrest trio accused of stealing merchandise, selling it on social media Prisoner of war pajamas in the new Return with Honor exhibit at the National Naval Aviation Museum. (WKRG) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This chapter in history, with our prisoners of war, that came home in 1973, is one of the most important stories well ever tell in this museum, President and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation Kyle Cozad said. One former prisoner reuniting with his family at the new Return with Honor exhibit honoring Vietnam prisoners of war at the National Naval Aviation Museum. (WKRG) Cozad said the exhibit has been in the works for four years now. He added that the wait was all worth it when he was able to see Vietnam prisoners of war and their families walk through for the first time. An inside look at the new Return with Honor exhibit honoring Vietnam prisoners of war at the National Naval Aviation Museum. (WKRG) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you that there were tears shed, there were emotions that were shown, Cozad said. The feedback that we got was this is the exhibit- this is the story that nobody else has been able to tell as this does. An inside look at the new Return with Honor exhibit honoring Vietnam prisoners of war at the National Naval Aviation Museum. (WKRG) During Friday mornings ceremony, Vietnam prisoners of war shared their first-hand experiences of the cruelty they endured. Commander Everett Alvarez speaking at the Return with Honor exhibits ceremony. (WKRG) Commander Everett Alvarez was flying over North Vietnam when he was shot down in 1964. He was forced to be a prisoner for the next eight years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was the first American into the prison that we called the Hanoi Hilton, and I told the guys later on that when they complained about the room, I said, You had to come early to get the good one,' Alvarez joked. Despite the lack of medical treatment, long interrogations, and excessive torture he faced, Alvarez says he wouldnt have changed his naval path. Mobile college named to Southern Livings 45 Most Beautiful College Campuses Im just very proud to be an American and have had a chance to serve my country, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Today, in this very moment, cameras, microphones, drones and omnipresent data-scraping software are doing their best to track your every move, creating a narrative of who you are and where you've been. These are just some of the tools being used by law enforcement in a revitalized effort to have as many eyes on us as possible. We spent a year studying surveillance technology to better understand how it might impact our communities, with a focus recently on security of the northern border with Canada and examinations of how that touches western New York. People living in border regions including law-abiding citizens are particularly vulnerable to this type of increased monitoring, we found. Along the Buffalo Sector a swath of border lands spanning from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Wellesley Island, New York Border Patrol agents made about 500 arrests last year. In 2022, they recorded 90 illegal crossings. Still, federal officials have spent billions of dollars over the last four decades to build extensive surveillance networks in the name of border security. And they are pushing for more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out our Eyes on Us: Northern Border series by clicking the links below. We explain the role of the dangerous Niagara River in facilitating unauthorized border crossings, the prospect of a new surveillance tower for Rochester and what it means to live within an overhead roving eye's territory. The Democrat and Chronicle is examining surveillance efforts in western New York as part of an investigative project called "Eyes on Us." We're also following issues at the U.S.-Canada border. Have a question in mind? Email Kayla Canne atkcanne@gannett.com, and we will try to answer them in an upcoming series of stories. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Border surveillance, security in the U.S.-Canada zone has wide impact Does the viral image show "Matthew J. Ruth", the deceased suspect in the shooting that left three law enforcement officers dead in Pennsylvania on the night of September 17, 2025? No, that's not true: The images show a different person, who is still alive. That was confirmed to Lead Stories by the man himself and by police. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on X on September 19, 2025. It opened: This is 24-year-old, Matthew J. Ruth, of Hanover, Pennsylvania who shot and killed three police officers and left two more wounded yesterday with an AR-15. Why is there hardly any coverage about this in the media or on this app? This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing: Image source: Lead Stories screenshot of post at x.com/TheMaineWonk The shared image, however, portrayed a different person who has the same first and last name as the shooter, but is still alive. On September 19, 2025, he replied to a Lead Stories request to comment via Facebook Messenger: Yes that's a picture of me being circulated. On September 19, 2025, trooper James T. Grothey, serving as a public information officer for Pennsylvania State Police, also told Lead Stories via email about the viral image from X: The person pictured in the post was not involved in this incident. We will not be releasing a photo of the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On September 18, 2025, the authorities identified (archived here) the suspect believed to have killed three police officers as "24-year-old Matthew Ruth." Police had tried to serve an arrest warrant on stalking charges. York County District Attorney Tim Barker (archived here) told the press (archived here) that the suspect's middle name begins with J. and that "following the final exchange of fire," the man "became deceased". A Fairview Heights man who was convicted in 1989 of murder and sexual assault in connection with the death of his infant daughter has been charged with dissemination of child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender, the Illinois Attorneys Office announced Friday. Donald L. Green, 56, was charged earlier this month with six felonies including three counts each of dissemination of child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender-subsequent, according to a news release from Attorney General Kwame Rauol. Green was being held in the St. Clair County Jail Friday. He was booked into the jail on Sept. 4, which is the day investigators raided his home in the 200 block of North Bend Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1989, Green was convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault in connection with the death of his six-month-old daughter, the news release states. Illinois Appellate Court records show that Greens daughter was named Lynn Allen and she died in February 1988. Green was charged in March 1988. When Lynn arrived at the hospital, she was comatose and not breathing. Lynn had bruises along her jaw, below her neck, and over the left side of her chest, the appellate court records state. Green gave conflicting reasons about what caused Lynns injuries. A doctor testified that Lynn had a vaginal laceration, according to the court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a jury convicted Green, he was given a 50-year sentence. The news release doesnt say when Green was released from state prison on the murder conviction but the Illinois State Police Offender Registry lists Green as originally registering in February 2013 on the murder and criminal sexual assault case out of Sangamon County. Green, who is required to register for his lifetime, was considered compliant as of Aug. 25. Green will be represented by the St. Clair County Public Defenders Office, according to court records. Green waived his right to a detention hearing on Sept. 8 and his next court date is an arraignment set for Sept. 26. Survivors of child exploitation and their families deserve the justice and peace of mind that their abuser cannot harm others, which can be critical in their healing from these heinous crimes, Raoul said in a statement. My offices Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies like the Fairview Heights Police Department and the Belleville/St. Clair County Regional Special Response Team to locate and stop individuals who exploit minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green was arrested on Sept. 4 after Raouls investigators, along with the Fairview Heights Police and the Belleville/St. Clair County Regional Special Response Team conducted a search of Greens home. He was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material, according to the news release. Few places in the country are as good for watching the fall colors as Vermont. With a drought impacting virtually all of the state, though, this years fall leaf season may look and sound a little different. Two types of drought are hitting the state right now. A long-term drought began last fall, followed by a flash drought that began around June 4. Some streamwater gauges and groundwater wells are at the lowest levels ever seen in Vermont since record keeping began up to 109 years ago. For the first time since the U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000, Vermont is now experiencing an extreme drought as of this week. Much of northern New England, including New Hampshire and Maine, is experiencing similar conditions. With dense forests covering 70% of the state, Vermonts iconic maple trees attract locals and tourists alike to watch the leaves change color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted in our recent feature about the science behind fall leaves, a drought can push back the arrival of fall colors by weeks. With the severity of the drought in Vermont, it would be correct to expect a delay in the peak of fall colors this year. That will make for some very loud and crunchy hiking through the woods this year. Without rain to soften leaf litter from trees, the fall colors will be crispy underfoot. Local hunters may notice the difference, as well. With deer season opening for bow hunters in Vermont at the beginning of October, the crunch of dry leaf litter on the ground will make stalking the woods a much less stealthy endeavor. The states farmers may bear the worst impacts of the drought, though. Jon Lucas, a dairy farmer in the state, recently told the AP that he has been hauling up to 5,000 gallons of water per day from a creek to his farm in Orwell since his three wells started drying up in June. Feed costs have skyrocketed, with dairy farmers like Lucas spending as much as $100,000 on hay and other inputs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, our forecast expects the drought to persist. Meteorologist intern Miriam Guthrie notes, "As Vermont continues to struggle with extreme drought, theres little relief in sight. Isolated showers are expected on Tuesday, but will be insufficient to significantly improve drought conditions. A true wetting rain is not expected anytime in the near future." Leef peepers may want to head southward into southern New England or west into New York for better viewing conditions. A 32-year-old man who died this week from blunt impact injuries after going on a roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resorts newest park used a wheelchair. But his family said it never stopped his unwavering spirit. Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was pronounced dead at a hospital on Wednesday following the incident on the Stardust Racers attraction. Despite his reliance on a wheelchair, his family emphasised his "unwavering spirit," describing him as "one of a kind" in an online tribute released on Friday. "Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit," his family stated. They added: "He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet resilience and humility." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Zavala, who resided in Kissimmee, Florida, had been on the Stardust Racers, a ride that debuted in May with the opening of the Epic Universe park. The resort's website characterises it as "a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph)." After performing an autopsy, Joshua Stephany, the medical examiner for the Orlando area, ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident. The statement from Stephany on Thursday did not mention any details about the injuries, including where on the body they were found. A Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson has said the resort is cooperating with investigators at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Guests ride on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe Theme Park at Universal Resort Orlando, April 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Maria Fernandez, who said she was one of the roller coaster at the same time as Zavala, told Orlando television station WKMG that he appeared to be slumped over when the ride stopped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs. Instead, the largest theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols, but they must report to the state any injury or death. The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, however, said Friday that it had sent an investigator to Epic Universe. Universal has been extremely cooperative and has complied with all required notifications, Aaron Keller, the department's communications director, said in an email. Gov. Josh Shapiros administration formally announced Friday it will close Rockview state prison and Quehanna Boot Camp, a process that will begin immediately and play out over at least the next four months. About 900 employees will have an opportunity to transfer to another state prison, while about 2,000 inmates will gradually transfer to one of the remaining 22 prisons in the state Department of Corrections system. The earliest the two facilities could close is Jan. 19. A DOC spokesperson said the actual closure date will be dictated by operational needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiros administration touted the decision as a way to save the state upward of $100 million in future fiscal years. The DOC also cited a decline in the state prison population as a key factor. The 110-year-old Rockview is the second-oldest in Pennsylvanias prison system and the government has said it would have required $74 million in upgrades over the next five years the highest cost of any state prison. Department of Corrections Secretary Laurel R. Harry said in a statement that Fridays announcement came after a thorough review of stakeholder input and analysis of the impact of closure on staff, department operations, the community, and the incarcerated population. The DOCs release did not include a statement from Shapiro. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks about agriculture during a luncheon at Penn States Ag Progress Days on Aug. 13, 2025. Every Rockview and Quehanna employee is guaranteed a job offer at their existing pay and classification, but the DOC has made no promises about shift assignments. They will not lose seniority. Staff members will be surveyed individually to express their transfer preferences, a DOC spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details of the transfer process will be covered by collective bargaining agreements reached with respective employee bargaining units. The agencys leadership will be visiting the two facilities to discuss the closure with staff directly. Inmates will be relocated to facilities that best meet their programming, security and health care needs, the agency said. Boot Camp and other specialized programming, as well as housing units, will also be relocated and continue to operate. In a memo sent Friday to the men incarcerated at Rockview, the DOC said consideration will be given to the time they have remaining before theyre eligible for parole, anticipated program completion dates and reentry needs. Some may remain at Rockview or Quehanna to complete their program. Others who cant complete their program before the prison closes will likely be merged into a similar group at another facility. Approved visiting lists, telephone lists and cable subscriptions will transfer with inmates. The armada of about forty vessels is now roughly 1,000 miles from the coast of Gaza. The Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla has grown in size after the vessels that made up its initial group from Spain joined around twenty vessels from Sicily on Thursday. The flotillas vessels and activists come from numerous countries. The initial group of about twenty ships departed Barcelona on September 1, briefly paused near the island of Minorca, and arrived off the coast of Tunisia on September 7. They have now merged to form a larger armada and are currently about 60 miles off the coast of Sicily, heading toward the eastern Mediterranean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The armada is made up mostly of sailing boats, though several larger craft are also participating. The group claimed that while in Tunisia, they had been threatened by drones. It is unclear whether there is evidence of this, aside from videos showing flaming objects falling near one of the vessels, named Family. That vessel appeared to be unharmed. The flotilla remained off the coast of the Tunis suburb of Sidi Bou Said for five days before sailing to Bizerte on Tunisias north coast. On Tuesday, they departed Tunisian waters and made the crossing to Italy. In Italy, a group of roughly 20 vessels had left a port north of Syracuse and sailed to Portopalo, on the southern coast, on Tuesday. The two groups combined on Thursday, paused off the southern coast of Sicily, and then headed east. A Palestinian flag is seen as people gather at the port of Ermoupolis before the departure of two sailing boats, Electra and Oxygen, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade, on Syros island, Greece, September 14, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Giorgos Solaris) Between Thursday and Saturday, they traveled about 55 nautical miles, briefly stopping due to concerns over high winds. As of the afternoon of September 20, they appear to be underway again. For some of the crew, this marks a 20-day journey from Spain. This is the latest attempt by activists to break what they call a siege of Gaza. Activists say they fear being attacked by Israel The activists have posted on social media that they fear being attacked by Israel. Kieran Andrieu, who describes himself as a political economist on X and a contributor to Novara Media, wrote that we need your help and attention to keep the flotilla safe. He claimed that Israeli propaganda was targeting the flotilla as terror-linked. He added, The fact Israel is leaning into the latter strategy at the moment is very concerning. But we remain undeterred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The armada of about forty vessels is now roughly 1,000 miles from the coast of Gaza. Based on their slow progress over the past 20 days, it will take them at least eight days and possibly up to 20 days to reach Gaza. So far, the Spanish contingent has traveled about 1,000 miles. Another group of sailboats is coming from Greece. They left Syros on Sunday and are now near Milos, the southwestern-most island in the Cyclades group. A Republican Senator who once introduced the Free Speech Protection Act now thinks the First Amendment isnt actually that important. Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis told Semafor that while she used to think The First Amendment should always be sort of the ultimate right. And that there should be almost no checks and balances on it, she doesnt feel that way anymore in the wake of the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. We just cant let people call each other those kinds of insane things and then be surprised when politicians get shot and the death threats they are receiving and then trying to get extra money for security, she added. Lummis once considered a freedom of speech a In July 2023, Lummis joined Republican Sen. Rand Paul in introducing the Free Speech Protection Act, saying, If we let the Biden administration restrict our freedom of speech, there is no telling what other sacred freedoms they will come for next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was intended to prevent the government from exerting its influence on social media platforms and direct them to remove posts. It has yet to be enacted into law. Lummis is one of many former free speech champions on the right who are suddenly not so enthusiastic about the first amendment in the wake of ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a result of FCC Chairman Brendan Carrs threats. In 2022, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller tweeted, If the idea of free speech enrages youthe cornerstone of democratic self-governmentthan I regret to inform you that you are a fascist. On Tuesday, he tweeted that it was more important to take all necessary and rational steps to save Western Civilization than mimic the ACLU of the 90s. Self-professed free speech absolutist and billionaire Elon Musk popped in to agree. Yes Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 16, 2025 The Trump administration has made bold threats to limit the free speech of critics in the wake of the Kirk assassination. On Thursday, President Donald Trump said the 97 percent of networks that are critical of him should have their license taken away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President JD Vance encouraged Republicans to call the employers of anyone they see celebrating Charlie Kirks death. Attorney General Pam Bondi has tried to say the era of the radical left cheering violence is over. Democrats have strongly condemned the Trump administrations attacks on free speech, and have made surprising allies in their fight. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz warned Republicans against cheering for the FCC pressuring ABC to take Kimmel off the air. Former incendiary Fox News host Tucker Carlson also said he doesnt want to see Republicans attack free speech. The implication that [hate speech] is a crime, said Carlson on Wednesday, referring to Bondis threats. Theres no sentence that Charlie Kirk would have objected to more than that. The Daily Beast reached out to Lummis office to ask if the senator still supports the Free Speech Protection Act. Four hours after publication, at 7:23 p.m. on Friday, Joe Jacksonwho described himself as a spokesperson rather than spokesman for the senatorsaid, The liberal hacks at the Daily Beast had no problem cheering on Bidens censorship regime or looking the other way when Democrats smeared their opponents as Nazis. But the moment Senator Lummis calls out Democrats for their dangerous rhetoric that incites violence, they suddenly pretend to care. That hypocrisy is exactly why no one takes them seriously. It is unclear who them referred to. Republicans outlook on the United States plunged this past month after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, adding to the growing resentment from a majority of Americans about the state of the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and more. Polling conducted on September 10, the day Kirk was killed, found that Republicans' optimism about the country dropped to 49 percent. Thats more than 20 percentage points down from how Republicans felt in June, according to the AP-NORC poll. Kirk, a conservative activist, was a notable figure in the Republican Party, especially for young people. His death, the result of a targeted assassination, has left many feeling despondent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among Republicans 45 or younger, 61 percent said the country is headed in the wrong direction. Republicans negative view of the U.S. coincides with polling that found Americans mostly unhappy with the way President Donald Trump is handling the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and crime. After the killing of Charlie Kirk, just one-quarter of Americans feel optimistic about the future of the country (REUTERS) A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll also found 53 percent of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of the economy. A Fox News poll found 52 percent believe Trump has made the economy worse. Another poll, from the Washington Post and Ipsos, found 59 percent disapprove of the presidents approach to the economy. Thats a slight decrease from April, when 61 percent said they disapproved of Trumps handling of the economy. That Washington Post/Ipsos poll was conducted right after the president announced his sweeping tariff policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to Trumps approach to immigration, a pillar of his presidency, the public is largely opposed to the way the administration has tackled the issue. Fifty-five percent say they disapprove in the Washington Post/Ipsos poll, and 49 percent said they disapprove in the Reuters/Ipsos poll. ICE has been conducting raids in cities across the US as part of Trumps mass deportation plan some have garnered negative attention for aggressive tactics such as waiting at immigration courts (AFP via Getty Images) The issue of immigration is largely partisan, with Republicans more likely to favor Trumps approach to deportation than Democrats. Trump sees a large disapproval rating with foreign policy, according to the Washington Post/Ipsos poll. When it comes to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, 60 percent disapprove, while 58 percent disapprove of Trumps approach to the Israel-Gaza situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite some of the U.S.'s largest allies moving to recognize Palestinian statehood, Trump has refused and doubled down on support for Israel as it continues an offensive in Gaza that the U.N. classifies as a genocide. But where the U.S. experiences any unity is Trumps approach to tackling crime another one of his major campaign promises. Although respondents to the Washington Post/Ipsos poll largely disapprove of Trumps handling of crime, its fairly split with 54 percent disapproving and 44 percent approving. An AP/NORC poll from August found that 53 percent approve of Trumps handling of crime, while 45 percent disapprove. That was after Trump deployed the National Guard and other federal law enforcement to Washington, D.C., to crack down on youth crime, dismantle homeless encampments, and clean up trash. National Guard troops were deployed into Washington, DC, to fight crime but much of their work has related to the beautification of the city (AFP via Getty Images) Its all the violence, not just political, Joclyn Yurchak, a 55-year-old from northeast Pennsylvania, told AP. Theres just so much crime in the country. Its disgusting. Nobody has respect for anybody anymore. Its sad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Americans are split on specific policies, across the board, most are feeling grim about the future of the country. Only one-quarter of Americans believe the country is headed in the right direction, according to the September AP/NORC poll Among Republicans, women have a more negative outlook, with nearly three-quarters saying they feel badly about the direction of the U.S. Approximately 56 percent of Republican men, though, feel the country is going the wrong way. Another one! Grindline Skateparks just teased their latest projectthis time in New Meadows, Idahoand at first glance, it looks to me like it's going to be a banger. Over the last few years, weve seen a wave of incredible skateparks popping up in and around Idaho, and this is certainly keeping the streak alive. There has been no shortage of amazing skateparks opening across the country in the last few years and we love to see it. The crew at Grindline are true masters of their craft, too, which is always just a bonus. For skaters, by skaters, these dudes know a thing or two about making fun parks for all to enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont miss another headline from TransWorld SKATEboarding! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content. Related: Skateboardings Best Builders Join Forces on Epic New Skatepark in San Juan Capistrano Again, this place looks rad. Might be time to book a plane ticket to Idaho here shortly. At any rate, the project adds to Grindline's already stacked resume of legendary parks nationwide. And while details on completion aren't out there quite yet, these photos make it clear that this will be a huge community-builder. Skateboarding thrives when local communities invest in parks like this. No debate. Props to New Meadows for making it happen, and to Grindline for continuing to deliver the kind of concrete paradises that keeps us all stoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our eyes are on the build. Stay tuned. This story was originally reported by Skateboarding on Sep 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Skateboarding as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The terrorist organization said that "the fate of the hostages will be like Ron Arad," referencing the IAF navigator who was taken captive in Lebanon. Hamass Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades published a photo on Saturday of all 48 remaining hostages on Saturday, in which each hostage was labeled with the name Ron Arad and given a number. The terrorist organization said that this is the hostage's farewell photo ahead of the operation in Gaza City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Hamas issued a statement saying that the hostages were spread throughout the perimeter of Gaza City, and that their lives would not be guaranteed as long as Israel continues its military operation in Gaza. Your hostages are scattered within the neighborhoods of Gaza City, and we will not be concerned for their lives as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them," the Thursday statement read. "The initiation of this criminal operation and its expansion means that you will not retrieve any hostage, neither alive nor dead. This was the first statement released under the name the Leadership of the Hamas Military Wing rather than by the organizations spokesman Abu Obeida, reinforcing Israeli assessments that he was killed. IDF's 162nd Division deepens ground maneuvers in Gaza City, September 19, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) IDF starts push into Gaza City The terror group added that the fate of all the hostages will be like the fate of Ron Arad, referencing the IAF navigator who was taken captive in Lebanon in 1986 by the Shia Amal movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, families of the hostages arrived at the Prime Ministers Residence in Jerusalem and protested against the invasion of Gaza City. The families of Matan Angrest, Matan Zangauker, Guy Illouz, and Rom Braslavski demonstrated near Netanyahus residence, calling for the return of their relatives. Idan Zonshine contributed to this report. Its been a few weeks since Utah kids reported back to school with their cellphones silenced and buried deep in their backpacks or a secured pouch at least during class time. Earlier this year, Utah lawmakers passed the so-called No cellphones in K-12 schools bill, prohibiting students in the states public schools from using their phones when they are in class. The new law includes a local caveat individual schools or districts can opt for a different policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Senate Bill 178 is now the states default practice. Previously, K-12 students were allowed to use cellphones whenever or wherever they wanted unless their district had their own policy in place. So hows no phones in class going? Things are going great, SB178s sponsor, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, told the Deseret News. Its been socially and academically beneficial and Ive heard that from teachers, as well as students. Teachers like having the support of a law to back them when they know that cellphones are a distraction. A student uses their phone while walking between classes at Cyprus High School in Magna on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. The schools policy allows for cellphones and other electronic devices to be used between classes, but they must be put away during class. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News And students, added Fillmore, sometimes joke with him about it being difficult not having their devices perpetually within arms length. But then they tell me it really is a good thing not to have the phones because they are paying closer attention and talking to more people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fillmore added that hes read reports that cellphone/class room prohibition is also narrowing student gaps between the haves and have-nots at a time when the latest cellphone can cost over $1,000. Those early benefits, he said, were intended and expected. But its still a wonderful thing to see to have kids report that they are spending more time talking to each other, and growing and maturing socially. While the new law allows for local tweaks, Fillmores not aware of any schools or districts opting, by policy, to allow cellphone use during class time. I know some have taken steps to go farther than what the law requires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post last month, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the states new school cellphone ban a nice step forward before adding but it was a huge mistake not to pass a full-day (bell-to-bell) ban in Utah. Every piece of evidence shows that we must pass a full-day ban or risk damaging our kids more. Getting the classroom ban was a nice step forward, but it was a huge mistake not to pass a full day (bell-to-bell) ban in Utah. Every piece of evidence shows that we must pass a full-day ban or risk damaging our kids more and falling behind states like Texas and Florida. https://t.co/bxEjSiyY4M Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 25, 2025 Fillmore said hes on board with the governors call for a bell-to-bell cellphone prohibition in Utah K-12 schools. We passed what we had a clear majority for, but I would like to see it go farther. Thirty-five states, including Utah, started the new academic year with laws or rules limiting phones and other electronic devices in school. The change, according to The Associated Press, has come remarkably quickly: Florida became the first state to pass such a law in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Democrats and Republicans have taken up the cause, reflecting a growing consensus that phones are bad for kids mental health and take their focus away from learning, even as some researchers say the issue is less clear-cut. Anytime you have a bill thats passed in California and Florida, you know youre probably onto something thats pretty popular, Georgia state Rep. Scott Hilton, a Republican, told a forum on cellphone use earlier this summer in Atlanta. Phones are banned throughout the school day in 18 of the states and the District of Columbia, although Georgia and Florida impose such bell-to-bell bans only from kindergarten through eighth grade. Another seven states, including Utah, ban them during class time, but not between classes or during lunch. Still others, particularly those with traditions of local school control, mandate only a cellphone policy, believing districts will take the hint and sharply restrict phone access, The Associated Press reported. Lone Peak High School student Maxwell Redding talks on the phone during his lunch break while walking from Lone Peak High School to a shopping center on the border of Highland and Cedar Hills on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Thumbs-up from Utah educators Darin Nielsen, the Utah State Board of Educations assistant superintendent of student learning, told the Deseret News that the states new school cellphone policy is a classroom boon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything we can do to improve opportunities for student focus and engagement in a learning environment is a good thing. Children and teens, he added, may not have the life experiences to know that distractions can hinder their ability to concentrate, think deeply and learn. Students at Park City High School, for example, are required to use school-provided Yondr pouches a magnetically lockable pouch that securely stores cellphones during school hours. Jesse Martinez unlocks a Yondr pouch that has his cellphone inside on a magnetic unlocking base as he leaves Granger High School in West Valley City on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. Students lock their phones in the pouches when they arrive at school, creating a phone-free learning environment. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Do the kids like it? Not so much, reported Park City High Principal Caleb Fine. But Fine added that removing cellphones from the minute-to-minute school environment creates so much more positive learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new state-mandated school cellphone policy has likely gone largely unnoticed by Jordan School District students during the first few weeks of a new academic year. The districts no cellphone policy has been in effect for a year, said district spokesperson Sandy Riesgraf. Things are going really quite well, she said. Students say they are engaging more in learning and with each other. Teachers say it has impacted teaching in the classroom in a positive way, as well. Earlier this year when the Utah cellphone bill was being debated, Milan Venegas, a student at Timpview High School, said he witnessed differences in student interactions when the Provo School District enacted a policy managing cellphone usage in classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been so many positive changes, said Venegas. Connecting with peers, he added, is one of the most important aspects of attending school. If we cant connect with each other, how are we going to communicate change? How are we going to do anything in our world? How are we going to go into the workforce? Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images On Monday, Greene shared a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, dangerously blaming people on the left for Kirks death, saying millions of liberal-leaning people were celebrating it. Many Republicans had rushed to publicly blame Democrats for Kirks death, even while the search for a suspect was still underway and despite the fact that both people on the left and the right have been subjected to political violence and threats in recent years. Josh Edelson / Getty Images Related: After Charlie Kirk's Death, Elizabeth Warren's Statement To A CNN Reporter Is Going Viral There is nothing left to talk about with the left. They hate us. They assassinated our nice guy who actually talked to them peacefully, debating ideas, Greene said of Kirk. Then millions on the left celebrated and made clear they want all of us dead. To be honest, I want a peaceful national divorce. Our country is too far gone and too far divided, and its no longer safe for any of us, she continued, before adding: Tighten your circle around your family and protect them at all times. I will pray for the left, but personally I want nothing to do with them. Greene has called for a national divorce before. Back in 2021, the congresswoman suggested that people moving from blue states to red states should have a cooling off period before theyre able to vote. All possible in a National Divorce scenario. After Democrat voters and big donors ruin a state like California, you would think it wise to stop them from doing it to another great state like Florida, she wrote on X at the time. Brainwashed people that move from CA and NY really need a cooling off period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in 2023, she wrote on X that we need a national divorce and that everyone I talk to says this. Related: Stephen Colbert Went Off Script With An "Obvious" Message About Charlie Kirk's Shooting, And You Need To Watch She added, From the sick and disgusting woke culture issues shoved down our throats to the [Democrats] traitorous America Last policies, we are done. When Greene called for a national divorce in 2021, political commentator and journalist Mehdi Hasan called her out at the time in a TV segment on his then-network MSNBC, calling her a serious threat to democracy. Hasan pointed out that Greene, who represents Georgias 14th Congressional District, comes from a state that tried a national divorce in the 1860s. Bloomberg / Getty Images Related: Jasmine Crockett Just Suggested A Bombshell Accusation Against Trump Regarding The Epstein Files Why? Georgia wanted to keep the institution of slavery, he said at the time. Georgia was the fifth out of the 11 Southern states to secede from the Union, following the election of President Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Greenes tweet on Monday called for a peaceful national divorce, one expert in political science emphasized that such a scenario would not be possible. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greenes renewed call for a peaceful national divorce underscores a growing belief that red and blue America can no longer coexist, Ryan Griffiths, a political science professor at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, told HuffPost. History shows such a divorce would not be peaceful, he continued. Pictore / Getty Images History has shown that attempts to divide the country have often resulted in violence. Griffiths, author of The Disunited States: Threats of Secession in Red and Blue America and Why They Wont Work, told HuffPost that the idea that irreconcilable differences justify secession ignores the violent history of such efforts, including the Civil War, and overlooks the reality that Americans are deeply intermixed politically, geographically and ideologically. He said that while polarization is real and worsening, the solution is not to separate. Its to find common ground. Americans share more values than they realize, and it is our political leadership and not the people that is most polarized, he said. We need leaders who reject extremism, denounce violence, and work together to heal the divide before the call for divorce becomes a dangerous reality. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images Related: Donald Trump's Phone Lock Screen Is Going Viral Because It's Exactly What Everyone Expected It To Be Griffiths emphasized that the US lacks the conditions for a clean split. Then he added, Any attempt to divide, based on what weve seen historically, would trigger cycles of violence, displacement, and lawlessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvin B. Tillery Jr., a professor of political science and African American studies at Northwestern University, told HuffPost that he believes Greenes proposal for a national divorce is the Neo-secessionist language invoking the Civil War that has been common in Republican Party circles, particular in hinterland areas of the South like the district that [Greene] represents. Tillery said that this rhetoric has been popular among white nationalist politicians throughout the 20th century. And that, then, when most white opponents of racial integration switched parties from Democrat to Republican in the 1980s, there was a lot of resurgent talk of states rights and starving the beast of federal government, he explained. Paul Harris / Getty Images [Greenes] national divorce language is just an extension of these themes, Tillery added, before emphasizing the dangers such rhetoric has had on people across the country especially those with public platforms. He said that as Black colleges and professors across the country, including himself, are receiving death threats in the wake of Kirks killing, national divorce language is more alarming than normal. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: People Are Horrified After Republican Nancy Mace Proudly Revealed What She Does For Fun Also in In the News: If You're Wondering What Charlie Kirk Believed In, Here Are 14 Real Quotes Also in In the News: People Are Applauding AOC's Viral Comments After Charlie Kirk's Death Read it on BuzzFeed.com PANAMA CITY It's been nearly a month without rain, prompting some crunchy grass and a burn ban in Bay County. "The ban prohibits activities such as open burning; the sale or use of fireworks; lawn, debris or trash burning; improper disposal of matches or cigarettes; and any outdoor activity that could cause sparks or flames," wrote Bay County Emergency Services in a release. "The use of charcoal or gas grills for cooking is permitted under the order." The order will stay in place for unincorporated Bay County until it is rescinded. Violators could see up to a $500 fine or 60 days in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panama City clarified in a statement that while the ban only applied to unincorporated Bay County, the city has a 24/7 no-burn ordinance. The order came a day after a 50-acre fire scorched woodlands outside of Panama City Beach on Sept. 17. As of Sept. 18, it is 100% contained. Smoke lingers in the underbrush during the Clayton Road Fire on April 17, 2025 near Econfina, Florida. Conditions are expected to stay warm and mostly dry through Sept. 23, followed by three days where there are 30% to 40% chances of rain, according to the National Weather Service. "There are continued elevated fire concerns from drying vegetative fuels despite (minimum relative humidity) remaining above critical thresholds," wrote an NWS meteorologist in the area's forecast discussion. "While isolated showers and storms are possible through Saturday, appreciable rainfall will be hard to come by on a widespread basis. These showers may provide localized reprieve to worsening drought issues, but we will need more rain to overcome the developing drought." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NWS Tallahassee forecasting office is advising residents to adhere to local burn bans. "Conditions have been very dry as of late and fire concerns will continue to increase every day we go without appreciable rainfall," the agency wrote to Facebook. "Please listen to your local officials regarding the status of any local burn bans. Even if you aren't under a burn ban at this time, consider delaying any burning until conditions improve." A U.S. Drought Monitor update from Sept. 18 said Bay County is in abnormally dry conditions, with parts of the northernmost panhandle seeing creeping moderate drought conditions. Florida Forest Service data shows the area is under a high fire danger. It measured a Keetch-Byram Drought Index of 601 for Bay County, which essentially means the environment is dried out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panama City Beach fire details: Controlled burn got out of control in Panama City Beach, fire is ongoing Meteorologists with the NWS are saying that the long-term forecast is looking uncertain. There's a potential for a system to move through the area next week that could result in widespread rain, but they're waiting for more guidance. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Dried out Bay County under burn ban after controlled burn goes bad Pages of history features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com. Sept. 21, 2000, The News Journal Delaware schools near goal of computer in each classroom Fourth-grade teacher Bobbie Kilgore has five computers for her 19 pupils at Banneker Elementary School in Milford. Because pupils are spending more time at the keyboard, Kilgore has shifted her focus away from classroom lectures and toward meeting childrens individual needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kilgore is one of many teachers in the state who has made computers a regular part of the school day. And the Milford School District is among the first to reach a state goal to have a computer in every classroom. ... Theres a computer on the desk of every teacher in the Milford district, said Superintendent Robert Smith. That allows them to e-mail each other, have Internet access and do work related to classroom lessons. ... Front page of The News Journal from Sept. 21, 2000. Between October 1998 and October 1999, the state added about 9,400 computers to public schools, more than half of which are in classrooms. Most of the rest are in computer labs or libraries, bringing the total number of computers in Delaware public schools to 24,618. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 62% increase in the number of computers between 1998 and 1999 was largely the result of the Delaware Legislatures appropriation of $13 million over three years. That was accompanied by $7 million in matching local funds. State money has been distributed so that rich and poor districts alike should end up with about the same number of computers per student. Each district basically got the same amount of money to spend, said Wayne Hartschuh, executive director of the Delaware Center for Educational Technology. A 1999 Milken Family Foundation survey of 27 states showed that Delaware had the second-lowest student-to-computer ratio which means second best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student-to-computer ratios in the state range from 1.2-to-1 in the Sussex Vocational Technical School District to 7-to-1 in the Colonial School District, according to the October 1999 study. Delaware also had one of the highest percentages of schools connected to the Internet. Gov. Tom Carper made wiring every school for access to the Internet a goal of his administration. In February 1996, work began toward that goal and was completed in October 1998. More recent school tech news: What you should know about school cellphone bans in Delaware as schools start Sept. 24, 1975, The Morning News 5 teachers arrested; court orders state union not to strike Wilmington police yesterday arrested five city teachers outside a strike rally at Longshoremens Hall while a federal mediators efforts to resume negotiations between the city and the Wilmington Federation of Teachers failed last night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strikers were arrested for violating a curfew imposed the day before after they demonstrated in front of the school administration building. The Municipal Court order restricts the strikers to their homes between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the week unless they are going to work. Front page of The Morning News from Sept. 24, 1975. The five teachers were among 253 school employees arrested Monday at the doorways of the 14th and Washington streets building. Tom Washington, a federal mediator, had scheduled a meeting with the two sides at 8 last night. But, union president I. James Warnick said his negotiating team wouldnt be available until it learns what happens to the five union members who come to trial today. ... Meanwhile, without fanfare and without the defendants present, Chancery Court yesterday issued a temporary restraining order against public employees who plan a sympathy strike today for the Wilmington school teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chancellor William T. Quillen heard Robert D. Graham, state attorney, charge that any sympathy strike or work stoppage by the 6,000 members of Council 81 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees could cause immediate and irreparable injury to governmental operations. Quillen agreed, after first being assured by Graham that representatives of Council 81 had been notified of the request for the restraining order. More news on laws: How are Delaware laws created? What to know behind the legal jargon Sept. 26, 1925, The Evening Journal Grand jury may probe allegations of Wilmington police corruption Affairs of the Wilmington Police Department are to be subjected to another investigation, this time by the New Castle County Grand Jury, if reports heard today are correct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the reports, the Grand Jury, after disposing of a bill of indictment that is said to be of considerable importance, will start a probe on Monday into the rumors of alleged corruption in the police department. ... Front page of The Evening Journal from Sept. 26, 1925. Attorney-General Clarence A. Southerland would not state today the nature of the bill of indictment that will be presented on Monday. ... Should the Grand Jury investigate the rumors concerning the police department, it will be the fourth probe that has been made since the raid on the old Mt. Pleasant Hotel at Montchanin and Barley Mill roads early last July. Almost immediately after the hotel raid, Sgt. William P. Vandegrift and Officer James J. Paulman resigned from the police force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vandegrift was indicted yesterday on a charge of misconduct in office, it being alleged that he accepted money to fix to cases for a defendant in a liquor case. Paulman was indicted earlier on a charge of keeping a gaming table at the old hotel. If the Grand Jury investigates the police affairs, it is probable they will hear a large number of witnesses, including members and former members of the force and citizens. Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: History in News Journal Sept. 21-27: Police corruption, strike arrests The Trump administration is systematically locking up immigrants while they contest the governments attempts to deport them, even if theyve lived in the United States for decades and have no criminal record. This indiscriminate mass detention a dramatic shift in immigration enforcement policy that began on July 8 has been declared illegal by dozens of federal judges, who have described it as a flagrant perversion of long-standing law, policy and common sense. But the administration says its reinterpretation of the law is both legal and a key prong of President Donald Trumps mass deportation strategy. They say no matter how long someone has resided illegally in the country for 25 minutes or 25 years the law doesnt just allow, it requires, their detention while awaiting deportation. And they hope this interpretation encourages many to depart the country voluntarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result has been hundreds of frantic lawsuits by immigrants who have been arrested without warning at work, at routine check-ins with immigration authorities or after immigration court proceedings. Immigration lawyers and advocates contend theyre being sent to overcrowded and unsanitary detention facilities. This mass detention led to the Baltimore-area arrest of a Mexican man, in the United States for 30 years with no criminal record, who has a son on active duty in the Air Force; the arrest of a Brazilian man residing near Burlington, Massachusetts, who had a 1-week-old baby at the time he was detained; and a Salvadoran woman, residing in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, who arrived in the United States as a minor in 2016 and has two U.S. citizen children, including one who was nursing at the time of her arrest. Immigrant advocates say the goal is clear: make the process so excruciating that people give up and accept deportation even if they have meritorious asylum claims or pathways to legal status. Theyre making a legal argument that judges are consistently rejecting on the substance, but theyre also using the procedure to get what they want, said Michael Kagan, director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Immigration Clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigrants are increasingly turning to federal district courts which historically have not handled immigration matters as a last resort, citing violations of their legal and constitutional rights. Their lawsuits have led to dozens of recent rulings from gobsmacked judges who say the administration has violated the law and due process rights and is threatening to do so for millions more. The pileup of decisions is growing daily. One judge called the administrations reinterpretation of the law to prioritize detention radical. Another said it had resulted in arbitrary arrests and turned routine immigration proceedings into an unsustainable game of detention roulette in service of Trumps mass deportation agenda. Another called the administration willfully blind to the plain meaning of long-standing immigration laws. Another said the administrations position defies logic. The Governments discretion in matters of immigration is deep and wide, but surely its chop does not overcome the banks of due process enshrined in the Constitution, said U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin, a Maryland-based Biden appointee. In many cases, judges are ordering detainees immediately released from custody, so long as they vow to continue attending immigration court proceedings and remain in contact with immigration officials. They are still likely to be deported, but the judges say they may not be held indefinitely in detention facilities while they await the outcome of their proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other cases, judges are requiring the administration to at least give immigrants a chance to seek bond from immigration judges a fighting chance to win release from ICE custody that the administration has tried to deny. Department of Homeland Security officials say they are confident the rulings from district courts will eventually be overturned by the Supreme Court and validate their strategy. Judicial activists have been repeatedly overruled by the Supreme Court on these questions, said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. ICE has the law and the facts on its side, and it adheres to all court decisions until it ultimately gets them shot down by the highest court in the land. Trumps new view of the law At the heart of the recent conflict are two related provisions of immigration law that have vexed courts for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One pertains to arriving immigrants who are applicants for admission and are also seeking admission to the United States. This has long been interpreted by immigration officials and courts to apply to people apprehended near the border right after they entered. Under this provision of law, detention is mandatory, with few exceptions, and those detained have virtually no ability to challenge their confinement while deportation proceedings are underway. The second provision permits but does not require immigration authorities to detain deportable immigrants who are already residing in the United States. It has long been applied to the millions of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the nations interior for years, often paroled into the country after encountering immigration officials at the border. Many have established deep roots, with U.S. citizen spouses, children and family members, as well as employment authorization and pending efforts to seek asylum or other pathways to remain in the country legally. Under this provision of the law, long-standing regulations permit those targeted for detention to challenge the move in immigration court a distinct, executive branch-run network of courts meant to handle deportation matters. In these cases, immigration judges, who are employees of the executive branch, can determine whether detention is necessary to protect the public or ensure people attend future immigration proceedings. And judges may also order their release, finding that they are likely to comply with court orders even if they are not detained. This second provision of law was recently amended when Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which requires the mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants in the United States who are charged with serious crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But everything changed July 8, when Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, issued a memo declaring the Trump administration had reinterpreted these provisions of law. From that point on, Lyons concluded, anyone in the United States illegally no matter how long would be deemed applicants for admission who are subject to mandatory detention. By classifying virtually all deportation targets as applicants for admission, the administration has attempted to eliminate their opportunity to seek bond. ICE recently got some backup from judges on the Board of Immigration Appeals, an executive branch court that sets policy for immigration courts across the country. Aliens who surreptitiously cross into the United States remain applicants for admission until and unless they are lawfully inspected and admitted by an immigration officer, the BIA panel ruled. The ruling is binding on all immigration judges who, in some cases, had been rejecting the administrations view of mandatory detention. The Justice Department has begun alerting federal judges, case by case, to the BIAs ruling as it attempts to stave off further defeats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the federal judiciary is not bound by the decisions of the executive branch immigration courts. And so far, judges across the country have decisively rejected the BIAs interpretation of the law. One judge in Iowa recently took the BIA ruling head-on, saying she found the decision neither compelling nor persuasive and would not factor it into her consideration. Case law and history do not support mandatory detention for all noncitizens present in the United States, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger, an Obama appointee in Iowa, wrote earlier this month. And on Sept. 12, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen, an Obama appointee from California, echoed Ebinger, finding that the BIA ruling lacks persuasive power because it improperly characterizes people who have resided in the United States for years as seeking admission. Many judges who have ruled against the administration in recent weeks have pointed to this discrepancy. And theyve also noted that the legal interpretation by ICE and the BIA has another perverse effect: The Laken Riley Acts changes to mandatory detention become superfluous, since there is no need for a mandatory detention scheme for those charged with crimes if anyone facing deportation could be detained anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There would have been no need for the [Laken Riley Act] to create these additional categories because all noncitizens who are present in the United States and have not been admitted would have already been ineligible for bond, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan, a Biden appointee in Minnesota, wrote in a recent ruling. So far, nearly all judges who have weighed challenges to the administrations detention efforts have ruled the same way. And although most of the judges ruling against the administration have been appointed by Democrats, one Trump-appointed judge Eric Tostrud joined their ranks last month. At least one judge has sided with the administration: Nathaniel Gorton, a Massachusetts-based jurist appointed by George. H.W. Bush, agreed with the administration that anyone unlawfully present in the United States can be considered an applicant for admission subject to mandatory detention. But Gortons decision appears to be an outlier among dozens of rulings rejecting the administrations interpretation. There is one pending case that could lead to a nationwide block of the administrations policy. U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes, a Biden appointee, is weighing a California-based lawsuit brought by the ACLU and has called an Oct. 17 hearing to decide whether to approve a class action and vacate the July 8 memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates say one reason its taken awhile to mount a broad-based legal challenge to the policy is partly because of the Supreme Courts recent decision emphasizing that detention cases also known as petitions for a writ of habeas corpus must be filed in the district where a person is detained. In addition, the hundreds of cases brought since the policy rollout are nearly all filed on an emergency basis following an abrupt arrest in an immigration court hallway or in an ICE facility during a routine check-in without the benefit of time to assemble a class action or nationwide case. These cases are all a little bit different, so its not easy to come up with a class action, said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that works to restrict immigration. Administrations trump card The Trump administrations mass detention strategy doesnt end with its new interpretation of the law. Federal judges are also increasingly alarmed by a maneuver the administration has used when it doesnt get its way in court. In a spate of recent cases, some immigrants whom the Department of Homeland Security claims are subject to mandatory detention have convinced immigration judges that the administrations new interpretation of the law is wrong. And in many of those cases, the immigration judges have granted their release, saying they pose no risk of flight or danger to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when DHS has played a trump card: the automatic stay. Its a regulation that allows the department to unilaterally stop an immigration judges release order for at least 90 days while DHS appeals. And there are options to extend it even further. The automatic stay was adopted in 2001 and finalized in 2006, intended to be deployed only in limited circumstances invoked by the secretary of Homeland Security after certifying that factual and legal bases warranted continued detention in some cases. But the administration has deployed it routinely in cases where immigration judges have sided against them, ensuring that even those immigrants who prevail against long odds to win their release remain locked up for months. Increasingly, federal judges have ruled the administrations deployment of the automatic stay is unconstitutional, depriving people of basic due process rights. Theyve ordered immigrants detained as a result of the stay to be immediately released. The automatic stay is a violent distortion of proper, legitimate process whereby the Government, as though by talisman, renders itself at once prosecutor and adjudicator, Rubin wrote in a recent opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon, a Clinton appointee based in Nebraska, wrote in another recent ruling: Despite a neutral decision-maker finding a bond was warranted, the automatic stay provision allowed DHS, the party who lost its bond argument, to unliterally deprive Petitioner of her liberty. Administration and its allies defend mass detention In court, Trump administration lawyers say their reinterpretation of the law is simply a better reading of complicated immigration statutes that courts have labored over in recent years. It does not matter whether an alien was apprehended 25 yards into U.S. territory or 25 miles, nor does it matter if he was here unlawfully and evades detection for 25 minutes or 25 years, Justice Department attorneys argued in the ACLU case. When an alien has never been admitted to the country by immigration officers, his detention is no different from an alien stopped at the border. But the administrations primary argument is a policy one. By expanding detention to those who were released in those earlier eras, the administration is hoping to discourage new arrivals of undocumented immigrants and encourage those who are here to leave voluntarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration officials are sitting on an extraordinary infusion of funding from the recently passed megabill and are working furiously to expand detention space to keep pace with the influx of detainees. The Trump administration views the mass detention of immigrants facing deportation as a corrective to prior administrations catch-and-release policies, when immigration authorities would apprehend border-crossers and quickly parole them into the country. From a policy perspective, its essential to release as few people as possible who are caught not just who are caught crossing the border, but even illegal immigrants inside the country because the goal of an illegal alien is to get into the United States and be able to live and work, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, an administration ally. If youre spending all that money paying a smuggler and airfare and all the rest of it, and taking the risks that are involved in coming here illegally, if you're just going to be locked up and then sent home, why bother? I mean, the cost benefit analysis is pretty clear, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By targeting those inside the United States for detention, the administration is also hoping that many will choose to voluntarily leave, rather than face the prospect of indefinite detention. While advocates say this drive to force self-deportations is pernicious, administration allies say its precisely the point. Do you really want to be locked up? No, Krikorian said. And so if the odds of your being locked up are pretty high, you're going to think hard about whether you want to pack up the kids and go back. The administrations targets The flood of litigation has also shed light on the deeply human impacts of the administrations mass detentions. On Aug. 24, Rubin, the Maryland-based judge, ordered the release of Fidel Leal-Hernandez, a Mexican citizen who was arrested in the Baltimore area July 24 on his way to work after 20 years in the country. Before Rubins ruling, an immigration judge had ordered Leal-Hernandezs release on bond more than two weeks earlier, but the administration invoked the automatic stay to keep him detained, despite acknowledging he had no relevant criminal record. In another case, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware, a Nevada-based Obama appointee, on Sept. 5 ordered the release of three immigrants residing in Utah who were detained under the automatic stay. One of them, Heriberto Herrera Torralba, a 51-year-old citizen of Mexico, has four U.S. citizen children, including a 20-year-old son on active duty in the Air Force. Herrera, who has been in the country since 1995, had applied for a form of legal status linked to his sons military service just days before ICE arrested him. In a third case decided on Sept. 9, U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick, a Biden appointee in Massachusetts, ordered the releaseof Elizaldo Sampiao, a Brazilian man with a 1-week-old child and no criminal record, who crossed the border in 2021 and was released pending further proceedings. He was arrested by ICE on July 11 at a routine check-in. And a Biden-appointed judge in New York, Dale Ho, sided against the administration last month in the case of Carlos Lopez Benitez, who fled Paraguay in 2023 and has no criminal history in any country. He resides in Queens, New York, with his U.S. citizen sisters, who have attended court proceedings with him. He was arrested by ICE agents after a July 16 hearing in his case. In another case, a mother of two U.S. citizen children one of whom was still nursing at the time of her arrest July 17 was ordered released Aug. 15 by U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson, a Minnesota-based Obama appointee. When the woman, Antonia Aguilar Maldonado, pressed the administration about a long-standing policy against detaining pregnant or nursing mothers facing only an administrative violation, the Justice Department indicated that it considered the policy revoked as a result of a Trump executive order cracking down on illegal immigration. But Nelson was skeptical. The Executive Order contains no references to nursing mothers, let alone nursing mothers who lack any criminal history whatsoever, she wrote in her ruling. Theyre trying to get people to give up To Kagan, of the UNLV's Immigration Clinic, and other immigration advocates, the administrations ramp-up of mandatory detention is a way to wrest new advantages out of a system already stacked in the governments favor. By making conditions unbearable, even for people with no criminal history and plausible cases for asylum or pathways to lawful residency, it may cause many to simply accept deportation, they say. Theyre trying to get people to give up before they even get that far, Kagan said. Without a judge ever really ruling. World War II wasnt just fought by men and women on the front lines, it was also defined by the machines they rode, drove, and sailed into history. From towering cannons that shook the earth to massive battleships that seemed unsinkable, these vehicles werent just tools of war, they were icons of an era. They carried with them the hopes of nations, the fears of enemies, and the awe of anyone who ever laid eyes on them. Today, long after their thunder has faded, these machines remain unforgettable, living on in movies, documentaries, and the collective memory of a world that witnessed the most intense conflict in history. Weve gathered a dozen of the most iconic, the ones that left the biggest dents not just in the battlefield, but in the imagination of generations. Schwerer Gustav (The Gustav Cannon) Image Credit: Unknown author - Unknown source, Public Domain/Wiki Commons. During World War II, the Germans unveiled one of the most jaw-dropping superweapons ever constructed: the Schwerer Gustav. This massive railway gun wasnt just a piece of artillery; it was a rolling symbol of intimidation and ambition. Imagine a weapon so large it had to be transported in pieces, assembled on specially laid tracks, and required a small army of men just to operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its sheer presence turned heads wherever it was moved, a physical reminder of how far nations were willing to push the limits of engineering in the pursuit of victory. The Gustav wasnt practical in the traditional sense; it was slow to move, exposed to air attack, and required enormous logistical support, but it did manage to fire upon fortified positions with shells the size of small cars. When it thundered, the earth shook, and even those far from the battlefield could feel its echo. Yamato Image Credit: Hasuya Hirohata - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. According to History.com, the Japanese battleship Yamato has become a near-legend of World War II, a floating fortress that seemed almost too big to be real. Launched as the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Yamato was designed to outgun anything that floated, carrying massive guns that could rain destruction over distances unimaginable for most ships of the time. But its story is just as much about symbolism as it is about firepower. Japan built Yamato as a statement, a declaration that it would never be overshadowed on the high seas. When it sailed, it carried the weight of a nations pride, and its silhouette on the horizon inspired awe and dread in equal measure. Life aboard the ship was like living inside a steel city, and sailors felt both honored and burdened to serve on what was considered the ultimate warship. Yet Yamatos greatness was undercut by the changing tides of war, where air power proved deadlier than naval guns. Bismarck Image Credit: Bundesarchiv - CC-BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons. The German battleship Bismarck was the terror of the Atlantic, a warship that embodied Germanys determination to dominate the seas. When it set out, Allied sailors whispered its name with dread, knowing its guns could sink even the strongest battleships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its most infamous moment came when it destroyed HMS Hood, Britains pride, in a clash that shocked the world. But this triumph only fueled the Allies obsession with bringing Bismarck down, sparking one of the most relentless hunts in naval history. The chase ended with the Bismarck crippled and sunk, a dramatic downfall that proved even legends could be cornered. Tiger I Tank Image Credit: Simon Q - CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons. The Tiger I was more than just a tank; it was a monster of steel that rolled into battle like something out of a nightmare. German crews felt nearly unstoppable inside their armor, and Allied soldiers often spoke of Tigers with a mix of fear and respect. Although not the most numerous tank of the war, it became a symbol of German engineering and battlefield dominance. Its reputation was so fearsome that sometimes troops believed Tigers were present even when they werent. Stories of its invincibility spread faster than the tanks themselves, creating an aura that magnified its true impact. Sherman Tank Image Credit: Jebulon - Own work, CC0/Wiki Commons. The American Sherman tank wasnt the most powerful or flashy, but it became the backbone of Allied ground forces. What made the Sherman iconic wasnt unmatched strength, but its reliability and sheer numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These tanks rolled across Europe in endless waves, a constant presence that wore down German defenses. Soldiers trusted the Sherman to get them where they needed to go, even if it wasnt invincible against heavier armor. Its role in supporting infantry and keeping pressure on enemy positions was vital. The Sherman also carried symbolic weight as a machine that embodied Americas industrial might, producing vehicles faster than the enemy could destroy them. T-34 Tank Image Credit: Cezary Piwowarski - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons. The Soviet T-34 is often hailed as the tank that saved Russia, a machine built for resilience above all else. It was designed to fight in mud, snow, and harsh conditions that would have crippled more delicate machines. Soviet crews praised its toughness and mobility, and German soldiers learned to fear its sudden appearances. Unlike the Tigers, the T-34 wasnt about prestige, it was about practicality and overwhelming numbers. It became the spearhead of massive offensives, pushing the Red Army deeper into enemy lines. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable, embodying the Soviet determination to endure and strike back. USS Enterprise (CV-6) Image Credit: U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. Nicknamed The Big E, the USS Enterprise was the heart of the U.S. Navys carrier force during World War II. It fought in nearly every major battle in the Pacific, becoming a constant thorn in Japans side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sailors considered it a lucky ship, as it survived countless close calls and kept coming back stronger. Its aircraft struck decisive blows at battles like Midway, proving the aircraft carrier had replaced the battleship as the true ruler of the seas. Enterprise carried not just planes, but the morale of the Navy itself, a floating symbol of American resilience. Lancaster Bomber Image Credit: Cpl Phil Major - ABIPP/MOD, OGL v1.0/Wiki Commons. The British Lancaster bomber was the heavy hitter of the Royal Air Force, a night predator that struck deep into enemy territory. With its long wings and bomb bays, it could carry massive payloads and was trusted for the most dangerous missions. Crews often flew under moonlight and cloud cover, facing flak and fighters while keeping steady toward their targets. Perhaps its most famous mission was the daring Dambusters raid, which became a legend of ingenuity and courage. For many, the Lancaster represented Britains determination to hit back despite heavy losses. Jeep (Willys MB) Image Credit: William's photo / Shutterstock. The humble Jeep may not look as glamorous as a battleship or bomber, but it became one of the most beloved vehicles of the war. It was everywhere, carrying troops, hauling supplies, even serving as makeshift ambulances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soldiers adored it for its toughness and simplicity, able to keep running through mud, sand, and rough terrain. The Jeep wasnt about firepower, but about mobility, giving armies the ability to move fast and adapt. Its squat, boxy shape became instantly recognizable wherever Allied forces went. Panzer IV Image Credit: Losse Fotografische Objecten - CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons. While not as intimidating as the Tiger, the Panzer IV was the true workhorse of Germanys armored divisions. It fought in every theater of the war, proving versatile and adaptable to countless roles. German commanders relied on it heavily, knowing they could field it in large numbers. Its reputation wasnt built on invincibility, but on consistency; it was always there, pushing the front lines forward. For Allied troops, facing a Panzer IV meant dealing with a determined and capable opponent. Stuka Dive Bomber Image Credit: Shutterstock. Few aircraft of World War II were as infamous as the Stuka dive bomber, its screaming sirens designed to terrify those below. German propaganda made the Stuka into a symbol of Blitzkrieg, a machine that delivered both destruction and dread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its steep dive attacks were precise and shocking, leaving soldiers scrambling for cover. Early in the war, it seemed unstoppable, carving paths for advancing German forces. But as the skies grew more dangerous with Allied fighters, the Stuka became vulnerable. Katyusha Rocket Launcher Image Credit: RIA Novosti - CC-BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons. The Soviet Katyusha rocket launcher was nicknamed Stalins Organ for the howling sound it made when firing. Mounted on trucks, it unleashed barrages of rockets that blanketed enemy positions in chaos. Soldiers described the experience as terrifying, both for those launching and those receiving the fire. Unlike traditional artillery, Katyushas could quickly move, strike, and vanish before counterattacks. Their power wasnt in precision but in overwhelming force that rattled entire sectors. Legends Forged in Steel, Remembered in Story Image Credit: U.S. Army - Public Domain/Wiki Commons. The war ended generations ago, but the silhouettes of these machines are still etched in our minds. Whether it was the terrifying scream of a Stuka diving, the steady rumble of a Sherman column, or the towering presence of a battleship at sea, each one told a story larger than life. These vehicles were characters in the grand part of history, and their stories remind us how innovation, ambition, and courage collided in a time of global upheaval. Today, we look back not to glorify war, but to understand how these machines became lasting legends. They are reminders of humanitys power to build, to endure, and to remember. The steel has rusted, but the legends live on. (The Center Square) The state of Illinois will be defending its gun and magazine ban Monday in front of the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The 2023 law was found unconstitutional last year by the Southern District of Illinois federal court. Plaintiffs sued, saying the government is prohibited from banning commonly owned firearms. The state and gun control advocates argue the ban addresses dangerous and unusual firearms and societal concerns over mass shootings. Attending the 2025 Zombie Shoot at Aurora Sportsman's Club in Waterman, Paul Hunsicker of Lindinhurst said he hopes the law gets struck down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, I hope it gets squashed like a bug, Hunsicker told The Center Square. I'm tired of having my Second amendment rights restricted. And, you know, I want to be able to exercise my constitutional freedoms like everywhere else in the country. Hunsicker said from what hes seen, not many people are complying with the law. You talk to people about, you know, who registered items, whether it's magazines or rifles or high capacity, you know, pistol mags or anything like that, you probably come away with about, zero, he said. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted the ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anibal Amezquita from Maywood also attended the recent Zombie Shoot at Aurora Sportsmans Club. He said the law doesnt impact criminals. Criminals are always going to be criminals, Amezquita told The Center Square. Laws or not, they're going to do whatever they want and, those who want to do the right thing the right way, end up being held back from doing what we would like to do, to doing what our Constitution should allow us to do. The U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump administration plans to present five minutes of oral arguments on the side of the plaintiffs and against the states law. The case will be heard by the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Monday in Chicago. From butterflies to grasshoppers, many delicate little things that run our world are in dire trouble. Not just in regions where human activity directly affects the landscape, but even in remote, human-free zones, a new study finds. The loss of insects in key areas around the globe has been attributed in the past to the deliberate reduction of biodiverse habitats and changes in local climate. Now it's clear these forces stretch far beyond our immediate spheres of influence. Related: There's Growing Evidence That Insects Feel Pain, Just Like Us In areas relatively undisturbed by direct human activity, University of North Carolina biologist Keith Sockman recorded a dramatic drop of over 70 percent of flying insects in just 20 years. YouTube Thumbnail Sockman calculated insect density in summers between 2004 and 2024 in a remote Colorado meadow. He found the hotter summers, as recorded by the weather station at the sampling site, were associated with fewer insects the following year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's quite remote, quite pristine, and yet still showing this substantial decline in insects," Sockman told Alana Wise at NPR. "That doesn't leave a lot of other options other than changing climate to explain this." Sockman's findings are far from the only recent study to suggest climate change is impacting insects. Populations of butterflies, beetles, and other tropical insects have been ravaged by the changed El Nino cycle in the tropics. Even flies are vulnerable to Earth's now rapidly changing conditions. While there has been some contention around the extent of insect declines, this is often due to a lack of data, and misunderstandings around complexity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With over 5 million species of insects, some species will inevitably benefit from the same changing conditions that harm others. But these 'winners' are unlikely to neatly take on ecological roles left open by the 'losers', leading to further disruptions in the delicate webs of interactions that keep our life-supporting ecosystems stable. Historic evidence of shrinking insect populations, which addresses some of that previously missing data, is also mounting a recent example traces the decline of ants in Fiji since humans first arrived, 3,000 years ago. "It can be difficult to estimate historical changes to insect populations, because with few exceptions, we haven't been directly monitoring populations over time," explains evolutionary biologist Evan Economo at the University of Maryland. "We took a new approach to this problem by analyzing the genomes of many species in parallel from museum specimens collected recently. The genomes hold evidence of whether populations are growing or shrinking, allowing us to reconstruct community-wide changes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We found 79 percent of ant species native to Fiji have experienced a decline in population, while introduced species are exploding in numbers." The soldier butterfly has declined by over 90 percent in the continental US over the last two decades. ( Jeff Glassberg The domino effect of this shifting bulk of Earth's biomass is now also evident in data describing bird numbers lizards and frogs, too. There are now hundreds of peer-reviewed studies suggesting sustained declines in many insect populations globally, entomologists point out. "There is consensus among experts that there is an insect biodiversity crisis," University of New England ecologist Manu Saunders and colleagues recently wrote in an article addressing denial around this issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Sockman's study suggests this crisis is occurring in remote regions too. "Without insects, everything dies: all mammals, all reptiles, all birds, and even humans," zoologist Jessica Ware from the American Museum of Natural History, told Madeline Bodin at Smithsonian Magazine. "If you want to conserve any of those other things, including us, you should want to conserve insects." The remote insect study was published in Ecology. Related News By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Suspected insurgents attacked a border town in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state and seized weapons from a military barracks as the soldiers there fled, residents and security sources said on Friday. The incident occurred in the town of Banki in Bama district. Insurgents in the area have upped their attacks this year against civilians and security forces. An internal security memo from the Civilian Joint Task Force, a paramilitary unit that helps the military tackle Islamist fighters, showed the attack started at about 2130 GMT on Thursday and ended in the early hours of Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The insurgents overran the town and entered the military barracks, seizing ammunition and weapons. The commanding officer and soldiers reportedly abandoned their positions, fleeing towards Cameroon and leaving civilians behind," read the memo seen by Reuters. One soldier from 152 Battalion, stationed in the town, said the insurgents came in large numbers, forcing security forces to retreat after heavy gunfire. The Nigerian Army did not respond to a request for comment. Boko Haram fighters occupied Banki a decade ago and the town is one of a number in northeast Nigeria that has repeatedly been attacked by the group as well as by Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, leading to a humanitarian crisis there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nigeria's military says it has stepped up counterinsurgency operations in recent months in Borno state to try to dismantle such networks in the region. Aliyu Haruna, a Banki resident, said on Friday he had seen at least seven dead bodies in the town, including those of three soldiers. Reuters could not independently confirm the number of fatalities. "Both military and paramilitary personnel fled to Cameroon, and it was only this morning that they returned," Haruna told Reuters by phone. (Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi, Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by Hugh Lawson) The unarmed individuals may have been migrant workers. Four foreign nationals were arrested by the IDF on Friday evening after they were caught attempting to illegally cross into Israel via the border from Jordan in the Yarmouk area. The four were taken in for questioning. Army Radio reported that the unarmed detained parties had been migrant workers. The attempted infiltration came only a day after two soldiers were killed by a terrorist entering the West Bank from Jordan. The terrorist, who was driving humanitarian aid to Gaza, opened fire on the soldiers after entering through the Allenby Bridge crossing. An Israeli military vehicle waits at a barrier, at the Allenby Bridge Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, September 8, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) Entering Israel through Jordan The Jordan border has been a frequently used route for both undocumented migrant workers to enter Israel and as a route for human trafficking, as the war has frequently restricted access to Israel through air travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While increasingly popular, the journey carries significant risks. In February, 47-year-old Indian national Thomas Gabriel Perera was killed by Jordanian security forces while attempting to cross into Israel for work. The family of Perera claimed that he was the victim of a job scam, and was lured to Jordan for a well-paying job - one that failed to materialize. After failing to find work, Pereras family said he tried to enter Israel in search of employment. The terrorists were engaged in efforts to restore Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in the area, the IDF added in their statement. Israeli forces killed two terrorists in two separate strikes on Friday in southern Lebanon, the military said. The IAF, led by the military's Northern Command, struck and killed Ammar Hayel Qutaybani, Hezbollah's Sinai Outpost commander. Friday night also saw the IDF's 91st Division and the Navy strike a vessel that was used by Hezbollah to gather intelligence on IDF soldiers on the coasts of Naqoura. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, in a previous strike, the air force killed a terrorist from the organization's Radwan Force in the Tibnin area. Both terrorists were engaged in efforts to restore Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in the area, the IDF added in their statement. Explosion following IDF strike on largest Hezbollah precision missile facility in Lebanon. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X) Hezbollah media's perspective on Tibnin strike Hours before the IDF statement, Hezbollah-affiliated news sites Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar reported, also in Tibnin, that one person was killed, and three others were wounded in the strike, which targeted a car in front of the Tibnin Governmental Hospital. The IDF targeted underground terrorist infrastructure, weapons depots, and terrorist cells. An Israeli soldier who served in the IDF's 401st Brigade was moderately wounded by sniper fire from a terrorist on the outskirts of Gaza City, in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, Army Radio reported Saturday. He has been taken to a hospital, and his family was notified. The Israel Air Force struck over 100 terror targets in the Gaza Strip in 24 hours, the IDF said, and over the past few days, it has attacked over 120 targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past few days, Israeli forces have worked to surround Gaza City. Soldiers have killed over 30 terrorists and have attempted to create a humanitarian envelope to evacuate to population south for its protection. The security establishment estimates that over half a million Gazans have evacuated the Strip, according to Army Radio. IDF operating in the Gaza Strip on September 19, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) IDF targets included underground terrorist infrastructure, weapons depots, observation posts, and terrorist cells. In northern Gaza, in Jabalya, the 162nd Division destroyed Hamas infrastructure and killed terrorists operating in the area. On Friday, the division also directed an IAF aircraft to strike several terrorists in Gaza City. Israeli forces operating in the Gaza Strip on September 19, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Also in Gaza City, the IDF's 98th Division destroyed tunnel shafts used by Hamas, structures rigged with explosives, and sniper posts that posed a threat to soldiers, the IDF said. The division also located weapons and killed a number of Hamas terrorists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in northern Gaza, the IDF's 99th Infantry Division destroyed Hamas infrastructure above and below ground. The division's 11th and northern brigades also killed several Hamas terrorists in the area. Recent IDF activity in southern Gaza In the southern part of the Strip, the IDF's 143rd Division, also known as the Gaza Division, continued to operate in the Khan Yunis and Rafah areas. Several terrorists in the area were killed, and they destroyed terrorist infrastructure above and below ground as well. At least 31 Palestinians were killed in Gaza City on Saturday, medical sources said, as Israel pressed ahead with its military offensive on the territory's main metropolis despite international criticism. Across the Gaza Strip, medics said a total of 56 people were killed on Saturday. Additionally, around 80 people were reported to have been seriously injured. The Israeli army stated that it had destroyed tunnels, explosive devices, buildings used by Hamas militants, and sniper positions in Gaza City and other parts of the coastal area. An unspecified number of opponents were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, more than 100 "terror targets" were attacked, according to the army. The claims made by both sides cannot currently be independently verified. The Israeli news portal ynet reported heavy bombing and a "ring of fire" in several parts of Gaza City, citing Palestinian sources. According to information released by the Israeli military on Friday, around 480,000 Palestinians have already left the city, previously home to some 1 million people. They are trying to make their way to al-Mawasi in the south-west of the territory, which Israel has designated as a "humanitarian zone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health authorities in the Gaza Strip put the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the war at more than 65,000. Although no distinction is made between civilians and combatants, most of the victims are believed to be civilians. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The Islamist group led the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war after around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 abducted. A mother and her 13-year-old daughter were found dead in Rowan County on Friday morning, and Kentucky State Police are investigating the case as a murder. Kayla Blake, 37, and her daughter, Kennedi McWhorter, were found dead after a coworker went to check on Blake because Blake hadnt shown up to work Friday morning, according to the Rowan County coroners office. Kentucky State Police said the Rowan County Sheriffs Office was called for a welfare check just after 10:15 a.m. and found the bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police said they identified Joshua W. Cottrell, 44, of Morehead, as the suspect. State police said they and other law enforcement agencies found Cottrell at a hospital in the Paducah area at 2 p.m. After he was treated and released from the hospital, Cottrell was taken to the McCracken County Jail on two counts of murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence, according to KSP. Coroner John Northcutt said the victims were found at a residence on Spring Street in Morehead. He declined to say how they were killed. Northcutt said autopsies will be conducted Saturday at the state medical examiners office in Frankfort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky State Police are investigating. Rowan County Middle School said in a Facebook post that the school lost one of its students on Friday. The school said staff and counselors will be at the school from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, as well as next week to help support our school community with this loss. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Two-thirds will be in focus Tuesday in Pierre at a special session of the South Dakota state legislature. Lawmakers will consider legislation that approves a new mens prison in Sioux Falls for $650 million, but for the bill to arrive on Gov. Larry Rhodens desk, it needs the support of two-thirds of legislators in both the House and Senate. Some lawmakers cite the status of the current penitentiary when explaining their motivation to vote a certain way. My biggest concern is that we are overcrowded, Republican Sen. Tamara Grove of Lower Brule said Friday. We are massively overcrowded in our prison thats now 144 years old, and that is dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boredom Busters to launch on KELOLAND+ We need to deal with this issue, Republican Sen. Helene Duhamel of Rapid City said Friday. Were a lawsuit waiting to happen. Its not humane. Its not offering the rehabilitation anyone wants. Its time. Its a good plan. Maybe its not the best plan. Its just an inhumane environment, and weve been needing to do this for a very long time, Democratic Sen. Liz Larson of Sioux Falls said Friday. Thats the number one reason why Im voting for it. Grove, Duhamel and Larson are all supporters of the proposal as of Friday. But Republican Sen. John Carley of the Piedmont area sees it differently. He says the recidivism rate has to drop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why, again, we think policy and rehabilitation should be addressed first, Carley said Friday. Work programs, faith-based programs. Rhoden announced Wednesday a plan for a Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force, something Carley welcomes. But as of Friday, Carley is not backing the legislation to build a new prison. At this point, be a no, but I would love to be a yes if we can get that task force to address our Department of Corrections problems first, and then I think a lot more people would be willing to join on, Carley said. For her part, Republican Rep. Bobbi Andera of Sioux Falls has concerns with the number of beds that can house maximum-security inmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, I am not convinced that that is what Sioux Falls needs at the present time, Andera said Friday. I am willing to look at other options, but right now Im not convinced. Two-thirds in the 35-member Senate means the legislation will need 24 supporters in that chamber. In the 70-member House, 47 supporters are required. I think that theres a lot of people that were a fairly firm no, that are now thinking, you know what, maybe this is the right decision, Grove said. Two-thirds is a high threshold, and it should be, Carley said. It should be a high threshold, especially for an expenditure of this size and for as significant a decision this is. So, will it hit it, Im not sure. I think it may be close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of us are kind of at the, sitting at the edge of our seat waiting to see what happens. Its definitely going to be tight, Larson said. Its definitely going to be close. I dont know if its going to pass with the two-thirds or not. I think its going to be close, Andera said. I think its going to be close. Republican Rep. Greg Jamison of Sioux Falls, who as majority whip in the House assesses how much support a bill has, told KELOLANDs Dan Santella Friday night that he believes the proposal will clear the two-thirds threshold in each chamber. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A backpacker is warning others of the unexpected health risks that come with eating street food and petting stray cats after a terrifying brush with typhoid left her seriously ill. Alysha Pyrgotis, from Bradford, was island-hopping in Indonesia and en route to Thailand, when she suddenly developed symptoms that were later diagnosed as typhoid fever. The serious bacterial infection left the 27-year-old unconscious and dangerously dehydrated on the remote island of Gili Trawangan in June, with no hospital access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I couldn't even keep a sip of water down. I thought I was gonna die, Ms Pyrgotis told the Independent, recalling the ordeal. The traveller first assumed she was simply hungover, but she was soon unable to even get out of her hostel bed. Alysha Pyrgotis was island-hopping in Indonesia and en route to Thailand when she became ill (Alysha Pyrgotis) I thought I was hungover, but by midday I started to get really sick. I was aching in my bones and muscles, and that was followed by extreme vomiting, she said. I started to panic because it was getting really bad, and I couldn't leave my bed. I was very dizzy and felt sick, and then the next few days were just horrific. Stuck on a remote island, she had no access to a hospital, but a local doctor was able to diagnose her with typhoid fever following a blood test. She was given antibiotics via an intravenous drip in a building Ms Pyrgotis likened to a shack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt even tell my family, I was too scared that it was gonna be so bad to tell them, so I waited until I was a little bit better, she said. Typhoid is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi, which spreads to people through contaminated food and water. Fever, headache, tummy ache, chills and pains are all symptoms of typhoid, according to the NHS. Alysha Pyrgotis pictured on an IV drip on the Island after being diagnosed with typhoid (Alysha Pyrgotis) If it's left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems such as internal bleeding or an infection in the lining of the stomach and in some cases it can be life-threatening. Ms Pyrgotis believes her infection was caused by eating street food and brushing her teeth with the tap water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was eating really cheap street food, with places that had meat left out all day, she said. I was also brushing my teeth with the tap water the whole time I travelled, which is a big no, apparently, she added. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist from the University of East Anglia, stressed that items contaminated with faeces can spread typhoid, meaning food and water probably made Ms Pyrgotis sick. Green leaf salads are lethal in many parts of the world because they're often grown in areas that are subject to human faecal pollution. Even when they are adequately washed, they're often washed in dirty water that can spread infection, he told the Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the cat lover who was touching and feeding several stray cats a common sight across Thailand and Indonesia has since discovered this may have put her at risk of other diseases. When I was on the island and I was sick, some of the locals were asking if I had been touching stray cats, Ms Pyrgotis said. I was stroking so many cats and I didnt realise the risks, she added. Professor Hunter explained that stroking stray cats would not have given Ms Pyrgotis typhoid, but she could have been at risk of catching rabies had she been bitten. It's best to avoid contact with animals, whether they be wild or domesticated, because you can catch particularly scary diseases, including rabies, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also explained that she could have been at risk of catching typhus, a potentially deadly bacterial illness, because fleas are a potential transmitter of the disease. A vaccine is available for typhoid free on the NHS and is recommended for people travelling to high-risk areas. Pharmacist and health expert Thorun Govind said: Travel vaccines can provide vital protection and reduce the risk of becoming seriously unwell. Its always best to check the latest travel health advice and speak to a healthcare professional well before your trip, so you know which vaccines or precautions are recommended for your destination. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Louisiana State Police is investigating a shooting in New Roads on Friday evening. According to officials, New Roads Police officers were called to the 1200 block of Hospital Road behind a local business about a subject causing a disturbance. When NRPD officers arrived, they encountered John Sexton, 45. During the encounter, one of the officers fired his gun, striking Sexton multiple times. Sexton was taken to a local hospital, where he is in critical, yet stable condition, LSP confirmed. No officers were injured during the gunfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an ongoing investigation. No further details were immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to contact LSP at 1-800-434-8007 or through the agencys File a Report section on their website. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Recognizing and Repairing the Harm to Iraq's Minority Communities Displaced Iraqis from the Yezidi community at a camp for internally displaced persons in Khanke, in Dohuk province, January 20, 2023. ( Safin Hamed/AFP/via Getty Images) As the Costs of War project has documented, the US invasion of Iraq and its aftermath (including interventions, the rise of militant groups and terror attacks) resulted in more than three hundred thousand deaths due to direct violence. Twenty years later, the knock-on effects of war on Iraq's environmental and public health, not to mention national and regional stability, are still mounting. The 20-year anniversary of the US invasion also provides an occasion to reflect on the fate of Iraq's minority populations, particularly over the last decade, and the culpability of international actors in the processes of ethnic cleansing and minority flight. While Assyrians, Yezidis and Shabaks were spared the worst of the aerial bombardments in 2003 and later from 2014--2019, these communities endured other forms of devastation that led to the disproportionate displacement and emigration of, especially, Iraq's Christian populations. Nearly three-quarters of Christians (including Chaldean Christians, Syrian Orthodox Christians, Armenian Catholic and Apostolic Christians and Greek Orthodox Christians, as well as Assyrian Church of the East Christians and Assyrian/Syrian Catholics) fled the country in two separate waves, first in 2003--2010 and then in 2014--2019.[1] The political balance created under the US-led occupation of Iraq often worked against the interests of Iraqs smallest minorities, such as the Assyrians, Mandaeans, Shabaks, Turkmen and Yezidis. State institutions in Iraq proper and its Kurdistan region were corrupted from their proclaimed functions and were used to bolster support for majority parties. In 2005, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees released a report on Iraq's non-Muslim religious minorities, detailing the discrimination against Iraq's Christian populations--particularly in central and southern Iraq--as well as targeted persecution against Iraq's Christian, Mandean and Yezidi communities, as early as 2004.[2] The targeted killings of Iraq's non-Muslim minorities following the rise of ISIS has garnered more sustained attention, but persecution occurred in waves, intensifying during the height of the occupation and insurgency. Some of these targeted attacks on minority communities amounted to ethnic cleansing in their scale of devastation. In 2007, for example, the bombing of two Yezidi villages left almost 800 people dead and thousands injured. During this period, the governorate of Nineveh was heavily affected by internal displacement. In 2006--2008, thousands of Assyrians and Chaldeans, seeking refuge from a wave of death threats, killings and attacks on churches left Mosul--the capital of Nineveh--for surrounding towns and villages, from which many of them would be displaced again by ISIS. According to a report published in 2008 by the International Organization for Migration, 40 percent of displaced persons in Nineveh were Christian Assyrians, 12 percent were Christian Chaldeans and another 12 percent were Sunni Turkmen. The latter, according to the report, found themselves "caught between two unwelcoming environments," as local authorities in Mosul tried to force their return to Telafar.[3] The same report estimated that nine in ten displaced persons reported being targeted for their religion or sect. The summer of 2014-- only a few years after both regional and global powers had intervened in the Syrian civil war--witnessed the rapid expansion of ISIS into northern Iraq. Armed with US-made tanks from Mosul and advanced weaponry looted from government bases in Syria or imported from Turkey and the Gulf states, ISIS swept through Fallujah, Mosul, the Sinjar and Nineveh Plains regions and parts of the Baghdad and Erbil governorates. The Yezidis suffered several large massacres, especially at Kocho. About 300,000 Yezidis, 200,000 Christians and hundreds of thousands of other persons took refuge in displaced person camps, acquaintances' homes or unfinished buildings or fled abroad seeking asylum or visas. Some cities and towns, such as those in the Nineveh Plains, were reduced to ruins in ISIS-led plunder and cultural destruction operations or, as with parts of Mosul, in NATO-backed coalition strikes against people living in areas where ISIS had bases. Several years later, Sinjar town and some surrounding areas, as well as parts of the Nineveh Plains and parts of the city of Mosul, still lacked clean water, reliable electricity, functioning hospitals and schools and other services. In 2021, the Iraq parliament passed the "Yezidi Survivor's Law," which drew on a reparations framework, earmarking funds from its Emergency Food Security and Development law for Yezidis and other minorities who file criminal complaints and provide documentation of ISIS destruction. But two years on, the scheme has benefited a tiny fraction of victims. Moreover, due to economic sanctions in place against Syria and Turkeys ongoing military operations in Kurdistan and in northern Iraq and Syria more broadly, the prospect of reconstruction in the northern governorates seems remote without major international funding. The scope of the need is vast: Not only do villages and neighborhoods need to be restored but so do public goods such as trust, a feeling of security, thriving trade along transnational roads and rivers, a robust educational system, access to sacred sites and hope for the future. A US effort to devote $380 million to these needs has proceeded slowly amid continuing insecurity and militia activity and possibly also corruption, political infighting and the Covid-19 pandemic's impacts. More needs to be done. The International Criminal Court (ICC) exists, on paper, to promote human security by criminally prosecuting the persons most responsible for the worst international crimes. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is an arm of the United Nations that oversees compliance with international treaties and legal principles in both state-to-state (contentious) and advisory cases. When it comes to Iraq, however, both the ICC and ICJ have failed to offer meaningful justice. The United States has rejected the jurisdiction of the ICJ in unlawful use of force cases, and the ICC initially found that not enough willful killings could be blamed on Britain to examine Iraqs case (the United States not having submitted to the ICC). While there could be a specific legal case to make around the complicity of foreign states in the targeting of Iraq's minority communities, one has failed to materialize. The ICJ could provide a forum for Iraq to seek reparations for damage caused by other states' failures to stop their citizens' support for al-Qaeda and ISIS. Iraq has not pursued this route, perhaps disheartened by difficulties encountered by Nicaragua in its proceedings against the United States, by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its proceedings against Serbia and Montenegro and by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its proceedings against Uganda.[4] Meanwhile, the ICC has a Trust Fund for Victims that could support medical and psychological care for atrocity victims, but the ICC has declined to prosecute those persons (nationals of countries ratifying the court's statute) who joined terrorist organizations in Iraq, Libya, Syria or Yemen and then targeted local people. In 2015, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor announced that while several thousand "foreign fighters" had joined ISIS from member states of the ICC, the court had no practical ability to prosecute them. In February of 2022, Iraq paid the last of the reparations it owed for the first Gulf War. The payment of $52.4 billion was brokered through the United Nations Compensation Commission to individuals, corporations and governments that could prove damages due to Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. In the decades following the US invasion, no entity has been held sufficiently accountable for the harm caused to Iraqis or to Iraq's minorities. At the very least, there should be a "preliminary examination" of the international wrong upon their people and lands facilitated by foreign states, including member states of the ICC from which ISIS members emerged. Endnotes [1] Country Report Iraq, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (January 16, 2023), p. 19. [2] UNHCR: Background Information on the Situation of Non-Muslim Religious Minorities in Iraq, (October 2005), pp. 2-7. [3] International Organization for Migration: "Iraq: Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah Al-Din Governorate profiles post-2006 IDP needs assessments," (Jun 2008), pp. 3-5. [4] Hannibal Travis, Genocide in the Middle East: The Ottoman Empire, Iraq, and Sudan (Carolina Academic Press, 2010), p. 568. Hannibal Travis is a professor of law at Florida International University NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) A piece of pirate lore is now permanently etched into the heart of New Iberia. A new Legends & Lore marker has been unveiled at Place Eugenie in downtown New Iberia to honor the long-told tale of the Teche Tunnel. The legend claims that notorious pirate Jean Lafitte once used a hidden trap door and tunnel beneath the old Mount Carmel School to escape pursuers and possibly stashed buried treasure along Bayou Teche. John Pudd Sharp with Center for Louisiana Studies shared how the marker is part of the William G. Pomeroy Foundations Legends & Lore program, which commemorates local folklore and stories that shape communities, even if they arent verified history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tunnel legend is that there was a trap door or an escape route tunnel in the old Mount Carmel School that supposedly Jean Lafitte used to get to the river, to get away from people who were chasing him, Sharp said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Sharp said pirate legends endure because people want to believe in them and sharing them helps connect generations. He hopes the marker will give visitors something memorable to latch onto. Theres intergenerational stories that are told over time that are really great, and I think a visitor to New Iberia will have something to attach to because everyone knows about pirates, said Sharp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erin Bass with the local nonprofit T.E.C.H.E. Project said they partnered with the Center for Louisiana Studies to sponsor the marker as part of their effort to celebrate the history and culture of Bayou Teche. This type of marker has been on our wish list for a while. It fulfills our culture and history initiative, which is part of our mission. So, to be able to get this grant and put up a marker about such a fun legend is just really exciting for us, Bass said. Bass said the community response has already been overwhelming, with residents sharing family stories about the tunnel and even some claiming to be descendants of Lafitte himself. People are really relating to this story and the prospect of buried treasure is always something thats fun to consider. You never know, laughed Bass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharp said he hopes to see more Legends & Lore markers pop up across Louisiana, celebrating local folklore before it fades away. The Teche Tunnel marker was officially unveiled Thursday at 4 p.m. at Place Eugenie in New Iberia, ensuring this piece of Acadiana folklore will be remembered for generations to come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Democrats on Capitol Hill are raising alarm over large banners with President Donald Trumps face that can be seen on three federal buildings, claiming they carry authoritarian undertones in the wake of a report from California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff. When I saw the banners hanging from federal office buildings last week, it reminded me of [the] Communist Party in China and banners hanging from federal officesjust totally inappropriate and a step towards authoritarianism, Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson from Georgia told CNN. Its another indication of the march that were on towards authoritarianism in this country. The report, released by Schiff earlier this week that alleges the administration is using federal funds for propaganda, found the Trump administration has spent at least $50,000 in taxpayer funds to create the banners, with the Department of Agriculture spending $16,400, Health and Human Services $33,726, and the Department of Labor around $6,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schiffs office, reached by CNN, said it did not have additional comment beyond the report. The California Democrat is known to have a particularly frosty relationship with the Trump White House. But Republican lawmakers argued that similar promotional efforts took place under the previous Democratic administration pointing to taxpayer-funded signage crediting then-President Joe Biden for federal projects, such as those related to his infrastructure law and questioned why their colleagues didnt raise concern then. Did they raise concerns when they were putting banners and stuff up when they were in the White House? I dont recall that, said Georgia Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk. Why the double standard? The controversy underscores deepening tensions in Washington over the extent of Trumps use of executive power. The banners in question have large portraits of the sitting president with the caption American Workers First. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House strongly pushed back on Schiffs report, calling the senator a serial liar. You should ask Pencil Neck why hes trying to draw comparisons between President Trump and fascist leaders when this is the exact same rhetoric that radicalizes the lefts supporters to commit acts of violence against conservatives, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to CNN. The Department of Labor confirmed it spent roughly $6,000 on the banners and noted that they were created in conjunction with Labor Day and the departments America250 celebrations. The departments of agriculture and health and human services did not immediately respond to CNNs requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The banners were originally displayed for Labor Day. After tremendous positive response, were reinforcing the material at no charge to taxpayers, so our big, beautiful banners can securely stay up in celebration of Americas 250th birthday, Labor Department spokesperson Courtney Parella said in a statement. Still, some Democratic lawmakers argued that no president, despite their party, should use taxpayer money for such displays moving forward. There shouldnt be any money used for the president, really, any president, to go put their big picture up on the side of a building for any kind of political aggrandizement, Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas said. Some of that stuff, it looks like were living in North Korea, the way theyre using money to put his big picture up. So yes, there should be more oversight, and it shouldnt just apply to him. It should apply to future presidents. Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, the government affairs manager at Project On Government Oversight, a nonpartisan ethics group, echoed the sentiment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would hope that Congress would be a bit more kind of proactive and robust in terms of keeping tabs on what the executive branch and what theyre doing with money and what theyre spending money on, Hedtler-Gaudette told CNN. Last year, Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, raised similar concerns about the use of taxpayer money for political messaging under the Biden administration. In a June 2024 letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget, she criticized the administration for encouraging federal agencies to post signage crediting President Joe Biden for publicly funded projects. For years Ive been attempting to show Americans how Washington spends their hard-earned tax dollars by requiring a price tag displaying the cost be placed on public documents related to every government-funded project. This allows Americans to see the return on their tax dollars and judge the value of every expenditure for themselves, Ernst wrote in the letter at the time. Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota pointed to pictures of the president and vice president often being displayed in federal buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presumably, during the Biden administration, a picture of Joe Biden hung literally in every single federal building in America. Was that political? Did Mr. Schiff opine on that? Johnson asked. No, yeah, I havent seen the banner. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Eight decades after he died, the Department of Defense confirmed it had positively identified the remains of Capt. Willibald Bianchi, a Medal of Honor recipient who went beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy while fighting in the Philippines during World War II. Bianchi was captured during the fall of the Philippines to Japanese forces and survived the Bataan Death March. He would eventually die near the end of the war on Jan. 9, 1945, when U.S. planes hit the Japanese transport ship the Enoura Maru that he was on near Taiwan. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the Pentagon agency tasked with working to identify those lost in combat, successfully identified Bianchi on Aug. 11, but waited to publicly announce the news on Friday, which was National POW/MIA Recognition. According to the DPAA, more information on how he was identified will be released once Bianchis family is fully briefed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on Friday at Arlington National Cemetery, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that 431 unknown remains are associated with the sinking of the Enoura Maru. Hegseth said that Bianchis remains will be transported to Minnesota for a proper burial. Born in New Ulm, Minnesota in 1915, Bianchi initially left school to help his family farm. He eventually attended South Dakota State University and earned a commission through ROTC. He requested foreign service and in April 1941 was assigned to the U.S. Armys 45th Infantry Division, Philippine Scouts. When Japan declared war on the United States, imperial forces moved into the Philippines. Bianchi and the other soldiers were among the first American group troops to fight them. They were in a losing battle, undersupplied and unprepared for an all-out assault. Months later, in February 1942, the Philippine Scouts were still fighting. On Feb. 3, 1st Lt. Bianchi joined another rifle platoon to take out a pair of Japanese machine gun nests in the Tuol River pocket on West Bataan. When wounded early in the action by 2 bullets through the left hand, he did not stop for first aid but discarded his rifle and began firing a pistol. He located a machinegun nest and personally silenced it with grenades, his Medal of Honor citation reads. When wounded the second time by 2 machinegun bullets through the chest muscles, 1st Lt. Bianchi climbed to the top of an American tank, manned its antiaircraft machinegun, and fired into strongly held enemy position until knocked completely off the tank by a third severe wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Bianchi would not die there. He survived his wounds and kept fighting during the battle for Bataan, being promoted to captain. Two months after taking out the machine gun nests, Bianchi was one of the more than 70,000 Filipino and American soldiers captured by Japanese forces. He and others were subjected to what would become known as the Bataan Death March. Top Stories This Week News Army rolls out uniform changes and allows phone belts with PT gear By Patty Nieberg News At least 8 troops punished for social media comments about Charlie Kirks death By Jeff Schogol, By Matt White News Army grooming standards and hairstyles get more strict under new orders By Patty Nieberg According to the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial, Bianchi endured the brutal march, moving up and down the line to help other soldiers. He pushed them to keep going, in order to save them from being killed by Japanese forces. From there it was three years in captivity. The Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorials biography notes that Brig. Gen. Ted Spaulding saw Bianchi barter for food, doing what he could to feed his starving soldiers. Eventually he and other prisoners of war were transported out of the Philippines. In December 1944, he was loaded onto the Japanese ship the Orokyo Maru, which was soon hit by American forces and sank. He survived and then was moved to Taiwan on the Enoura Maru. Those killed in the sinking of the ship were initially buried in a mass grave. Eventually they were brought back to the United States and interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, also known as the Punchbowl. There, they are listed as unknowns until the DPAA is able to identify them. ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers celebrates 75 years of treating patients across the area on Sept. 19. Leaders from the community, Mercy employees, and patients came out to honor the history of the hospital and recognize the work of both the Sisters of St. Dominic and the Sisters of Mercy. According to a press release, the Sisters of St. Dominic originally led the hospital, then known as Rogers Memorial Hospital, and the Sisters of Mercy later took over the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercy Fort Smith breaks ground on $41M oncology center The president of the hospital says its a legacy the employees are proud to continue. They are the ministry. They represent who we are today. Theyre the ones who bring the life fulfilling mission of Jesus, said Mercy NWA president Ryan Gehrig. Without them, this wouldnt be possible, and we want to honor them today as well. The hospital says a lot is planned for the next year at Mercy, saying it plans to evolve the facility to give the highest level of care possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Robocalls are a national nuisance for most Americans, but a recent report revealed that Mississippians are among the most impacted. According to the Federal Communications Commission, Americans receive approximately four billion robocalls each month. The most common kinds of phone scams Americans report receiving are tech support scams, IRS scams, lottery scams, vacation scams and extortion scams. According to a Truecaller analysis, Mississippians receive the most robocalls per capita nationally. According to the website, the states residents receive more than 56 million spam calls and 4.3 million texts monthly. Roughly 98% of all spam calls came from the United States. Of those domestically sourced spam calls, one in five came from inside Mississippi. Just 2.5% of spam calls to Mississippians came from residents of other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a national level, similar trends were observed across all states. However, some states had a significantly higher portion of spam calls stemming from international scammers. More than two-thirds of spam calls from outside the U.S. come from India. 4 ways to keep your financial data safe State leaders acknowledged that spam calls in Mississippi are a significant issue. Back in August, Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) announced that Mississippi joined a multistate effort to crack down on robocalls. Her office sent warning letters to 37 voice providers demanding that they stop illegal robocalls being routed through their networks. Below are some tips you can implement to protect yourself: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not answer calls or texts from unrecognized numbers Government agencies will never demand immediate payment for taxes or a bill If an offer is too good to be true, it is probably not real Listen closely to voicemails before returning a missed call Most scams rely on you quickly making a bad decision Never give out personal information over the phone Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. A 45-year-old mountain climber died after falling roughly 2,000 feet off Mt. Shasta, the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Office reported. Matias Augusto Travizano of San Francisco and Argentina was descending the Wintun Glacier, part of the Clear Creek climbing route, before 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 when eyewitnesses reported he fell and disappeared into the wilderness landscape, according to an announcement issued Thursday evening by Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue. Travizano was an engineer and entrepreneur, and the former CEO of GranData with ties to Argentina's President Javier Milei's 2024 visit to the Silicon Valley, according to Argentine newspaper La Nacion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travizano and two other unnamed climbers had successfully summited Mt. Shasta that morning. While hiking back down the mountain, two of the climbers wandered off the trail and onto an ice sheet at the northern tip of the glacier at what was roughly the 13,500-foot mark, according to sheriffs office spokesperson Sage Milestone. Realizing that they were on the wrong route, the men attempted to glissade make a controlled slide while seated down to a lower section of the mountain and re-enter the trail, Milestone said in the announcement. The Clear Creek Trail route, in orange, traces its way up Mt. Shasta's summit in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. Travizano, who was glissading about 300 feet ahead of his climbing companion, lost control and hit a large boulder. He was knocked out for several minutes, then regained consciousness, all before the other climber could reach him, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Travizano regained consciousness, he started moving. That motion dislodged him from the rock and he slid down the remainder of the glacier and out of sight, according to Milestone, just before the third climber caught up with the second. The Sheriffs Search and Rescue Team joined the U.S. Forest Service Climbing Rangers and the California Highway Patrols Northern Air Operations deputies to look for Travizano, she said. Two hours into the search, the CHP found his body near the glaciers base, which is the 10,200 foot mark. Nick Meyers at the U.S. Forest Service took this photo of the Clear Creek Trail route, with Mt. Shasta's summit visible in the background. While the Clear Creek Route is considered one of the mountains safer trails to the summit, climbers can become disoriented in low-visibility conditions, particularly when descending from the summit plateau. Once off trail, these climbers often wander into more hazardous areas in the Ash Creek or Mud Creek drainages, where accidents are more likely to occur, Milestone said in the announcement. Travizano was living at his San Francisco residence when he died, Milestone said in an email to the Record Searchlight. Second death on Mount Shasta since August Travizanos is the second serious glissade incident reported on Mt. Shasta, and the second death, both since early August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An unnamed man survived after he was badly injured while climbing solo on Aug. 10. He lost control while glissading down the steepest part of the icy Avalanche Gulch route and tumbled several hundred feet, according to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. An injured mountain climber had to be airlifted off Mt. Shasta on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. The unnamed man lost control of his ice axe while sliding down an icy slope at 13,000 feet, the U.S. Forest Service reported. Then another climber fell on the Clear Creek Route on Aug. 16. The man was rescued off the mountain on Aug. 17 and taken to a Redding hospital where he died from his injuries, Milestone said in the email. When the slope is too steep or the snow too firm, even experienced climbers can find themselves in trouble, the U.S. Forest Service cautioned in the announcement about the Aug. 10 incident. (This story was updated to add new information.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Mt. Shasta climber injured after losing axe while sliding down Avalanche Gulch ice slope Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Reddings Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Argentine tech CEO dies after falling 2,000 feet off Mt. Shasta Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks at an Aug. 4, 2025, news conference in her Anchorage office. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Alaskas three members of Congress differed on a series of votes Friday intended to keep the federal government funded past the end of the month, and avert a government shutdown. Alaskas sole U.S. House Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, voted in favor of a seven-week budget extension, but that measure died in the U.S. Senate when lawmakers were unable to garner the 60 votes needed to pass the U.S. House measure or an alternative proposed by Democratic members of the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, was absent from both votes. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against both proposals. I voted against both measures as I felt that they were not serious (enough) to meet the situation that we are currently in today, she said in a recording provided by her office. The Republican-controlled House passed its stopgap funding bill 217-212, with one Democrat voting for it and two Republicans voting against it. The House did its job, Begich said in a written statement afterward. We passed a responsible, short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open and give Congress time to complete the appropriations process. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats chose obstruction over solutions, blocking this clean measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murkowski and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, voted against the House-passed plan, while Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, voted for it. Eight senators did not vote, and the measure died 44-48. The Democratic counterproposal failed 47-45. Murkowski said that counterproposal included a Christmas list of Democratic ideas, including items that would have reversed big parts of the Republican Big Beautiful Bill Act from earlier this year, which contained core tax cuts and spending policies of Trumps second presidential term. Murkowski and Sullivan voted for that bill, which was later signed into law. On the other side of the coin, Murkowski said the Republican plan failed to include an extension of subsidies for health care plans passed through the federal insurance marketplace, something that is critical for Alaskans. It also didnt include additional funding for public broadcasting or opposition to President Donald Trumps unilateral budget clawbacks, known as recissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im going to be busy in the next 10 days, trying to build a level of consensus that keeps the government open, because there is no side no Republican, no Democrat, the White House nobody wins when there is a government shutdown, she said. Its possible that my proposal will equally annoy both sides, but maybe, just maybe, it will get the conversation going in a way that advances serious discussion and positive outcomes, Murkowski said. NATO countries plan to meet early next week to discuss the airspace violation by Russian fighter jets reported by Estonia, a spokesman for the alliance told dpa on Saturday. Consultations will be held under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, he said, without providing an exact date for the talks. NATO's Article 4 provides for talks among allies if a members feels that its "territorial integrity, political independence or security" is threatened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estonia requested the consultations after it detected three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets in its airspace without authorization early on Friday. Russia denied Estonia's account, stating that it had not violated any borders. Poland also reported on Friday that two Russian fighter jets had approached a Polish drilling platform in the Baltic Sea at low altitude, violating a security zone. By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepals interim prime minister pledged on Friday to fight corruption, create jobs and raise living standards in her first public comments since coming to office after youth-led protests toppled the government. Sushila Karki said the protests - that left at least 72 people dead and forced her predecessor K.P. Sharma Oli to quit - had been triggered by frustration over growing corruption and other failings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have said more than 2,100 people were injured in the unrest that raged for two days last week. Arson and vandalism caused extensive damage to private and public property, including the complex housing the prime ministers office, the Supreme Court and the parliament. We must accept the fact that the protests took place because of the failure to fulfil the spirit and objectives of providing good governance and prosperity enshrined in the constitution, Karki said. She spoke on Nepal's national day, marking the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of the constitution. The former Supreme Court chief justice was appointed to the post last week following talks between representatives of the protesters, the president and the army chief Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karki - the first woman to lead Nepal - was tasked with holding parliamentary elections on March 5. She said the government was committed to creating employment, raising the quality of life and increasing transparency in its work. Losses from the damage could reach $1 billion to $1.5 billion, Kulman Ghising, minister for energy, physical infrastructure, transport and urban development, said. Ghising visited some public buildings set ablaze in the capital Kathmandu and appealed to Nepalis at home and abroad to contribute to the reconstruction. A Supreme Court official said some hearings were taking place in tents as most court structures, documents and IT systems were destroyed during the unrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police spokesperson Binod Ghimire said officers had received more than 30,000 emails after asking the public to send in videos, photographs and other documents to help them investigate the violence. The unrest has heightened risks to Nepal's economic and fiscal outlook and may pressure its credit metrics, rating firm Fitch said on Friday. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by YP Rajesh, Sharon Singleton and Andrew Heavens) Happy Saturday! Heres another edition of my weekend column for WPRI.com as always, send your takes, tips and trial balloons to tnesi@wpri.com and follow me on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nesi's Notes 1. Could David Morales be Providences Zohran Mamdani? The 27-year-old progressive state rep is taking a page out of the New Yorkers playbook as he mounts a primary challenge against incumbent Democrat Brett Smiley, with a pitch heavy on youthful energy and outrage over rising rents. We are watching as costs are rising for everyone, especially our working families, as property taxes continue to rise, yet our schools remain understaffed and our city services have not improved, Morales said on this weeks Newsmakers. Now, the parallels only go so far Smiley is hardly an opponent like Eric Adams, pardoned for bribery, or Andrew Cuomo, ousted for harassment. So Morales will be testing whether a progressive pitch works in Providence without NYC-level scandals. He also faces the task of finding progressive policy solutions to Providences most thorny problems, like the $1.3 billion shortfall in the city pension plan. Moraless idea: voluntary benefit cuts. I think we need to be very conscientious about renegotiating current retirees, especially those that live out of state, he said. We are asking the Providence taxpayer to essentially provide pension benefits to someone thats living down in Florida. That would certainly change the math if retirees agreed. But anyone who remembers then-Mayor Angel Taverass 2012 meeting with retirees at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet will wonder how much appetite there is among pensioners to accept smaller checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. The debate over whether Providence should adopt some form of rent control is shifting into higher gear. David Morales campaign kickoff had rent control as a key platform plank, followed quickly by the release of a high-profile City Council report on the housing crisis that is partly intended to lay the groundwork for the policy, as my colleague Alexandra Leslie reported. On Newsmakers, Morales shrugged off longstanding expert concerns about how rent control can warp incentives for construction of new housing. We are the most expensive city in America for renters, he said, citing a $2,200 average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment. You have a working family spending almost half of their income on housing. That in and of itself is not sustainable. Mayor Smiley remains firmly in the camp that is skeptical of rent control and all-in on expanding supply. Affordability in our city is a real issue, which is why Ive been relentlessly focused on meeting the challenge of the housing shortage, Smiley told Kim Kalunian on Wednesdays 12 News at 4. And thats what it is it is a housing shortage. And so were advancing policies to make sure that were producing more housing, that were preserving housing that already exists to make sure that it doesnt fall into disrepair, and that were protecting our people through things like eviction protection and otherwise, to make sure that the current rental market doesnt make fertile grounds to abuse tenants. 3. Another chapter is being written in the long history of presidential administrations putting pressure on licensed broadcasters. In the 1930s, President Roosevelts White House successfully lobbied CBS and sponsor General Foods to toss the anti-New Deal commentator Boake Carter off the airwaves. In the 1970s, President Nixons White House threatened The Washington Posts lucrative TV licenses over coverage of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate; Katharine Graham stood up to him, despite the risks it posed to her companys pending IPO. Now we have President Trumps FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, appearing to jawbone broadcast affiliates to get Jimmy Kimmels late-night show preempted. (Disclosure: the first of the companies to do so, Nexstar, is the owner of WPRI 12.) Plenty of voices with no love for Kimmel from the Wall Street Journal editorial page to The Free Press to Ted Cruz have expressed alarm about a powerful regulator putting that kind of pressure on companies with business before the FCC. Unsurprisingly, the Democrats who represent this region in Congress took the same view. Senator Whitehouse, who is poised to become the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee in 2027, wrote on social media: We are getting deep into thug government when Trump regulators threaten to pull ABCs broadcast license over a Kimmel joke, and a major news outlet chooses to bend the knee. Whether or not you liked the joke, it was First Amendment protected speech. (One fact check: Disneys ABC, as a network, does not hold a broadcast license; its affiliates, some Disney-owned, do.) Robert Corn-Revere, chief counsel at the free-speech group FIRE, has an informative rundown of the law here. And Times legal analyst Adam Liptak flags a Rhode Island angle here. 4. Speaking of the federal governments powers regarding speech, that issue was also in the spotlight Friday at U.S. District Court in Providence, where Judge Smith decided against the Trump administration in a case over whether the National Endowment for the Arts can engage in viewpoint discrimination. Tim White has the details here. 5. Eye on Congress Congressman Amo split with the rest of the regions House delegation by voting against a resolution honoring the late Charlie Kirk, joining other members of the Congressional Black Caucus in calling it a whitewash; Congressmen Magaziner, Auchincloss and Keating all voted yes on the resolution the four congressmen also split on the DC CRIMES Act, with Auchincloss and Keating voting yes but Magaziner and Amo voting no Auchincloss formally ruled out a primary challenge against Senator Markey Senator Reed is holding out hope for a bipartisan deal on the NDAA Senator Whitehouse quickly clashed with the Heartland Institute after he announced a new probe related to climate change Whitehouse and Idaho Republican Jim Risch introduced the REPO Implementation Act of 2025 to automatically send seized Russian funds to Ukraine every 90 days, building on the original REPO Act Reed expressed serious concern about Russias incursion into Estonian airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6. As blue state leaders become more estranged from the federal government, it will be interesting to see what efforts they make to collaborate regionally. One example came this week, with the formation of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative a clear effort by the seven states involved to counter the CDCs changing policies under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So far, the group says its main activities include pooling resources for vaccine purchases, coordinating lab testing capacity, and jointly issuing science-based guidance for health providers. Rhode Island and Massachusetts are part of the group, along with Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New York State and Pennsylvania, as well as New York City. 7. URI has once again published a survey of Rhode Islanders, and once again reported unusual results. The new poll pegs Governor McKees job approval rating at 29%, a huge drop from his 55% job approval in URIs poll a year ago. But those numbers are misleading, because the university also changed its methodology unlike last year, the school offered not sure as an option this time, and a whopping 34% of residents surveyed went with that when asked about the governor. (Most other pollsters find the not sure range for McKee to be more in the range of 10% to 15%.) Senator Reeds job approval number also came in unusually low, at 46% but not sure came in unusually high for him, too, at 29%. The survey got a lot of attention for its early test of the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary, with a tight race between the top three candidates and 41% of residents undecided. But those results should carry a big asterisk. For one thing, more than 10% of the poll respondents werent even registered to vote. For another, the primary question was asked of all self-identified Democrats and independents, rather than the much smaller subset of people who are likely to cast a ballot in next years primary. 8. R.I. Republican Party Chairman Joe Powers says he is taking a different approach from some of his predecessors as he plots the state GOPs strategy for the 2026 election cycle one he says is focused on quality, not quantity rather than the scatter-shot recruitment of past cycles. Its not going to be you have a heartbeat and youre Republican, we want you to run, Powers said on this weeks Newsmakers. Were targeting people that we want to be part of the team. Powers says hes spent three years developing a targeted list of winnable seats, with candidate training sessions beginning next month. And despite Allan Fungs near-miss in 2022, a challenge to Seth Magaziner in the 2nd Congressional District remains a key priority. It is definitely one of those seats that is a winnable seat, Powers said, noting hes taking two of three potential candidates extremely seriously. (He wouldnt name names.) As for the governors race, Powers was blunt about what it takes to compete: If you dont have $5 million that you can get out of your pocket, dont bother, he said. R.I. Young Republicans Chairman Ken Naylor Jr., who joined Powers on the show, said he also sees signs of growing enthusiasm among younger Republicans, reporting hundreds of responses to recent outreach. 9. The long aftermath of the ILO contracting scandal that shadowed Governor McKees early tenure is still coming to a close. On Friday, Secretary of State Gregg Amore announced that his office has determined there was no lobbying violation by Michael Magee, a longtime McKee adviser, in his efforts to help steer a lucrative consulting contract to his then-subordinates. But Common Causes John Marion argues the decision which was shaped in part by Allan Fung, whom Amore hired as outside counsel was flatly incorrect. Full details here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10. Hospital executives spent this years legislative session pleading for more taxpayer money, and the health insurance commissioner just announced eye-watering rate hikes for 2026. So its notable that the board of Rhode Islands largest hospital group still allocated nearly $4 million to severance for its ex-CEO from 2022 to 2024. And its unsurprising that state leaders panned the decision. 11. People in the news Fed Chairman Jay Powell will be the keynote speaker at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 2025 Economic Outlook Luncheon on Tuesday R.I. Airport Corporation CEO Iftikhar Ahmad got a new contract that could boost his pay to $900,000 a year Andy Roos, a former chief of staff to Gina Raimondo and Seth Magaziner and political consultant to James Diossa, is Diossas pick to be the new executive director of the state pension system Sally Duffy, an English teacher at Narragansett High, has been named Rhode Islands 2026 State Teacher of the Year the family foundation of Pierre Lassonde, co-founder and chairman emeritus of energy company Franco-Nevada Corp., has donated $16.75 million to renovate Browns Prince Lab Christian McBride is stepping down as artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival after nine years. 12. Weekend reads Kathy Gregg on Secretary Amore vs. the DOJ Steph Machado on the R.I. Department of Education vs. the DOJ Chris Shea on House GOP complaints over Rhode Island Housing Simon Jenkins on what the state visit says about the U.K. Frederick Douglass on free speech. 13. Fire up 12+ on your smart TV or set your DVRs: This week on Newsmakers state Rep. David Morales; state GOP leaders Joe Powers and Ken Naylor Jr. Watch Sunday at 5:30 a.m. on WPRI 12 and 10 a.m. on Fox Providence, or listen on the radio Sunday at 6 p.m. on WPRO. You can also subscribe to Newsmakers as a podcast via Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you back here next Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the free WPRI 12+ TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. With Indonesia's coastlines disappearing as seas rise and land sinks, some are concerned the government's plan to help coastal communities with a massive $80 billion seawall isn't the right solution and that it won't arrive in time. What's happening? The coast of Indonesia's Java Island has become increasingly vulnerable to floods, as rising global temperatures raise sea levels and groundwater extraction causes land mass to sink. To protect communities from encroaching waters, the government plans to build a 435-mile seawall along Java's coast. Officials consider it a "vital" program to help residents of the island, which is home to over half of the nation's population of 280 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bedono village chief Muhammad Syarif told AFP the seawall is "very much needed" and that it is "the right solution because the coastline needs wave management." However, funding for the seawall remains uncertain, and the project is expected to take decades to complete. Meanwhile, some wonder if the seawall is the best approach to flood prevention and if construction will be done in time to save their communities. Why is seawall construction controversial? Many communities have successfully used seawalls to protect residents and ecosystems from damaging tides. Seawalls can be effective in deflecting wave energy and preserving coastal infrastructure as water levels rise and storm surges rock coastlines. However, seawalls can also bring their own set of problems, including increased erosion in nearby areas, destruction of beaches, and disruption of fishing communities. They're time-consuming and costly to build, sometimes offering only a temporary fix as climate threats expand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A study published in 2024 in Nature Communications pointed to the risks of "coastal hardening," saying we may be underestimating the hazards of "hardening" shores with rigid, impermeable infrastructure, like seawalls, in low-income countries in particular. Meanwhile, rising sea levels and coastal erosion are increasingly problematic issues globally, prompting an urgent need for action to protect people living along coastlines. Once-thriving villages are being abandoned as people are forced to evacuate these areas. And, unfortunately, these concerns are only growing as extreme weather events intensify around our rapidly warming world. What's being done? In Indonesia and elsewhere, experts are now often suggesting alternatives to massive seawalls that can bring longer-term benefits with fewer environmental impacts. These options can include partial seawalls, coastal dikes, infrastructure elevation, and resident relocation plans. Some areas are also leveraging nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and mangroves to serve as natural barriers for vulnerable shores. 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. Land subsidence or sinking expert Heri Andreas told AFP that a mix of relocation and smaller infrastructure projects would be the most effective on Java, adding, "We need more listening," with hopes of persuading the government to alter its strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever the solutions which seem likely to require multiple approaches rather than a single, monolithic fix the experiences and perspectives of the community members most impacted will need to be considered in order for any efforts to meet real needs. Bedono resident Karminah, who says village children can't go to school or play during floods, told AFP that locals need action now: "The solution is to build something, I don't know, just build a road, a dike or a coastal belt so it doesn't keep happening. ... Please help me find a solution so the water doesn't rise." 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. (Scott Bauer/Agriculture Research Service, USDA) The number of turkeys killed at South Dakota farms in response to recent detections of avian influenza has risen to 419,650, continuing the states status as the national epicenter of this seasons outbreak. The numbers come from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which reports bird flu detections in eight commercial South Dakota flocks and one backyard flock in the state during the last 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, South Dakota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said blue-winged teal, a species of duck, have been identified as carriers of this seasons virus. John Cooper, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent and former state Game, Fish and Parks secretary, said it makes sense that the state would find itself combating bird flu early this year if teal are carrying it. Teal are traditionally our first migrators, Cooper said. Scientists attach a tracking device to a blue-winged teal at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana. (Courtesy of USGS) Detections this early in the fall season are troubling, according to Thompson. The peak avian influenza seasons typically happen later during the fall and spring migration of wild birds, which can carry the virus without becoming sick. In a statement to South Dakota Searchlight, the state Department of Health said bird flu has the potential to be transmitted to humans from wild birds but emphasized the risk to people remains low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department pointed to federal guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which offers steps for hunters to reduce risks: Gut and de-feather game birds in the field rather than at home and practice good hygiene to prevent disease spread. Use dedicated tools for cleaning game, do not use the same tools around poultry, and wash and disinfect all tools and work surfaces afterward. Wear gloves, a mask and eye protection when handling game birds. Throw away the gloves and facemask afterward and wash hands with soap and water. Cook meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Commercial turkey products remain safe to eat thanks to existing food safety protocols in the industry, according to Thompson. The bird flu depopulation process is federally mandated and involves killing all birds at affected sites to prevent the virus from spreading to nearby farms. Thompson said foaming is the most common method in turkey barns, where foam is sprayed atop turkeys inside the barn to suffocate them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the process is carried out with assistance from federal and state officials who oversee the work, with the federal government offering compensation for losses through indemnity payments. Those payments have totaled more than $1 billion nationally since 2020, according to an analysis by CBS News, including about $130 million in South Dakota. Recent avian influenza detections in South Dakota The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture lists the following detections of avian influenza during the past 30 days in commercial or backyard flocks in South Dakota. The list includes the number of birds killed in response to contain the spread of the disease. Seventy-two days ago, supporters of Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman gathered with fear and in tears to announce he'd been arrested by U.S. immigration officials. On Sept. 19, they gathered again to celebrate Soliman's release from the Butler County jail, offering fearless criticism of the immigration system and tears of relief over the end of his detention. Soliman himself, just four hours after winning his freedom, was dry-eyed as he thanked his supporters and assailed his jailers. Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman greets supporters during a press conference at the Clifton Mosque following his release from ICE detention on Sept. 19, 2025. Immigration officials, he said, think "they are above the law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until the hour of his release, he said, he believed trying to fight to regain asylum protection was useless and he'd soon be on a plane back to Egypt. His fate changed just as he readied for a morning nap. 'Pack your stuff and come out' Speaking at a 90-minute press conference punctuated by prayer, Soliman said he was about to rest when a jail official arrived with news. "Pack your stuff and come out," he was told. "There is no way. There must be a mistake," he thought. Officials then turned over a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, telling him the government was "correcting a mistake after some review of my case." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was released by 1 p.m., then joined Friday prayer at the Clifton Mosque, site of the press conference. Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman prays after Immigration and Customs Enforcement released him from the Butler County Jail on Sept. 19. Soliman said he encountered both "very, very good people" in jail and "some awful humans" who should be in a mental hospital. When arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9, he said, he was held in a frigid room for 11 hours, wearing only underwear and a T-shirt, and denied a bathroom for five hours. Later, he was made to strip in front of other detainees. "Some people treated me like an animal," he said. But letters from supporters 760 in all over his weeks in the jail buoyed him, he said. So did the support of fellow detainees, who appreciated that "one of the oppressed" among them had won advocates, he said. What's next for Soliman? In a brief interview with The Enquirer after the press conference, Soliman, 51, said he talked to U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman of Cincinnati just hours before his release about working on some yet-to-be-defined community effort. He also said he'd talked to his family in Egypt, which includes a wife and 15-year-old son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soliman said he lost 20 pounds in jail, along with the laces for his shoes. He said he has not yet decided whether he'll seek a return to Cincinnati Children's, where he served as a hospital chaplain before his arrest. Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman greets supporters during a press conference at the Clifton Mosque following his release from ICE detention on Sept. 19, 2025. Case against Soliman 'flimsy,' lawyer says With his asylum protection restored, Soliman will seek to rebuild his life in the United States, according to his attorney, Robert Ratliff. He will eventually seek citizenship and attempt to bring his family here, Ratliff said. "We would hope that any roadblocks there were preventing that from happening previously have been dealt with," he said. Ratliff called the government's case against Soliman incredibly flimsy, saying "Finally, we got to the right place and we have the right result." The government attempted to align Soliman with terrorism because he supported a charity with a tenuous relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Egyptian government considers a terrorist organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressure on immigrants is growing, Ratliff warned. "The tactics that were employed against Mr. Soliman in this case are going to be tactics that millions of people are going to face in the future," he said. Just two weeks ago, he noted, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled that persons entering the country illegally are now subject to mandatory detention. "The U.S. can make that determination on their own," he said. Milestones from Egypt to Cincinnati Soliman became a known figure in Cincinnati and across the country with his July arrest. But his journey from Egypt to the United States began years before. Here are key dates, assembled from Enquirer reporting and research: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan. 7, 1974: Born in Egypt, living in a small desert village in the northern part of the country when he left in 2014. Unknown dates: Earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Islamic studies and other disciplines and spent 14 years as an imam in Egypt. Married and welcomed a son, now age 15. 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2013: Detained at least four times by the Egyptian government, at least in part for working as a freelance journalist covering government events. March 6, 2014: Entered the United States, via either Detroit or Tucson, Arizona, on a visitor visa. Feb. 2, 2015: Filed for asylum in U.S. immigrations system. June 7, 2018: Granted asylum status. 2018-2021: Lived in Chicago and Oregon, losing an offer to work as a prison chaplain job in Oregon after a background check turned up an FBI flag in his record. 2021: Began working as a chaplain for Cincinnati Children's hospital. January 2022: Filed a federal lawsuit to determine the cause of the FBI flag, a circumstance that attracted increased scrutiny. Dec. 4, 2024: Learned U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services intended to revoke his asylum status. June 3: Lost asylum. July 3: Arrested at ICE offices in Blue Ash following a three-hour meeting that included FBI agents, then detained at Butler County Jail. July 13: Hailed by about 300 supporters outside Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. July 15: Won temporary restraining order from a federal court, barring immigration officials from removing him from Ohio. July 17: Hailed by about 250 supporters at a downtown event, with several dozen attempting to cross the John A. Roebling Bridge into Covington against police order and 15 people facing subsequent charges. July and August: Multiple court proceedings in Cleveland Immigration Court and U.S. District Court. Sept. 19: Released from jail, with government reinstating his asylum protection less than a week before he was to seek that outcome in a trial scheduled to begin Sept. 25. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati imam freed from ICE detention, works to rebuild A man accused of murdering a 17-year-old social media influencer at her home in Pakistan after she repeatedly rejected his advances has been formally indicted. Sana Yousafs murder in June this year drew nationwide condemnation and reignited debate over womens safety, after some online comments alongside condolences blamed her for her own death. The 22-year-old accused, Umar Hayat, also a TikTok influencer, pleaded not guilty in a court in the capital Islamabad on Saturday as the trial formally began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the allegations made against me are baseless and false, Hayat, who is from Faisalabad city in Punjab province, told Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka. The court adjourned the hearing until September 25, when it will hear from witnesses and formally frame the charges, reported Pakistans The Express Tribune newspaper. Yousaf had more than a million followers on social media accounts, including TikTok, where she shared videos of her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional outfits. TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels. Women have found both an audience and income on the app, which is rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of women participate in the formal economy. Sana Yousaf [Screengrab/Social Media] According to police, Yousaf was shot at close range inside her home. Hayat reportedly entered her house, opened fire, and then fled the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police described the killing as a gruesome and cold-blooded murder, alleging Hayat killed Yousaf after she repeatedly rejected his proposals. Charges against the accused include murder and taking away the victims mobile phone in an attempt to wipe out the evidence of being repeatedly rejected by her, Pakistans English-language newspaper Dawn reported Islamabad Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi as saying. Some comments in social media posts sharing the news of Yousafs murder suggested it was justified in a society where honour codes dictate how women should behave. You reap what you sow, said one user. Violence against women is pervasive in Pakistan, according to the countrys Human Rights Commission, and cases of women being attacked after rejecting marriage proposals are not uncommon. In 2021, 27-year-old Noor Mukadam was beheaded by her Pakistani-American boyfriend, Zahir Jaffer, after she rejected his marriage proposal in a case that sparked widespread anger. PEORIA After spending the past year planning and identifying supporters, the Salvation Army broke ground Friday on a new mens shelter at the corner of Bryan Street and Jefferson Avenue. "Today, we take a bold step in breaking ground on a project that promises generational change for Peorias most vulnerable, said Maj. Heath Sells, the Salvation Army's central Illinois area commander. This expansion is rooted in our belief that every person deserves to live life as God intended. Sells said the new shelter will be a two-story, 19,000 square-foot building that will improve security and nearly double the capacity of the campus, which is located just outside of Downtown Peoria. The site was once home to the Peoria Labor Temple, which has been demolished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility will include separate spaces for sleeping, eating and daytime programs. In honor of donors Royal Coulter and his wife, Kathy, the former Peoria Disposal Company owners, the Salvation Army will name the building the Royal and Kathy Coulter Center for Hope Mens Safety Net Shelter. The Coulters pledged $5 million to the project, the Salvation Army had previously announced. The shelter offers more than just a place to sleep, Sells said. It will provide space for job training, employment services, life skill workshops, and substance abuse, mental health, behavior, and spiritual support. The current Peoria mens shelter will remain open throughout the project, he added. Construction on the new shelter will begin when the Salvation Armys former Veterans Outreach Center, 416 NE Jefferson Ave., has been demolished and should be complete by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027. The current mens shelter, 414 NE Jefferson Ave., will be demolished once the new building is ready for occupants. As part of the building project, the Salvation Army plans to renovate its existing administrative building, 417 NE Adams St., to become the campus new family services and veterans center. Sells said the revamped building will be named the Sylvia Fites Family Service Center to honor the late wife of Don Fites. She was raised in a Salvation Army orphanage near Cape Town, South Africa. Don Fites, the former Caterpillar CEO, pledged $4 million to the project in partnership with his current wife, Joyce Hagan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is very exciting, said Joe Dulin, community development director for the city of Peoria. For anyone whos paid attention in our community the last year or so, homelessness is an issue that is often talked about. We really believe that housing is a fundamental right that everyone should have. Salvation Army Central Illinois area commander Maj. Heath Sells (left), and associate area commander Maj. Anita Sells turn over a shovelful of dirt to sybolically launch a major Peoria campus construction project Friday. On Friday, Salvation Army and community stakeholders lined up to launch the estimated $30 million project by turning over the first symbolic shovelful of dirt. The project is expected to begin in earnest this month. Lt. Col. Jonathan Rich, Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division commander, said the new shelter will offer more than just safety and stability. It will offer a pathway forward, he said. Each bed that will be in that facility represents an opportunity for a man to begin again, step into healing, and find his footing in life. The new Royal and Kathy Coulter Center for Hope Men's Safety Net Shelter will be a two-story, 19,000 square-foot building located on the Salvation Army's Peoria campus at the corners of Bryan Street and SW Jefferson Avenue. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Salvation Army breaks ground on men's shelter project in Peoria LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A person is dead after police said they were struck by a train near downtown Las Vegas. Las Vegas Metro police received a call on Friday at 3:42 p.m. in reference to a body found near Charleston Boulevard and Commerce Street. The police investigation determined that the person had been hit by the train and died from injuries. The United Pacific Railroad is investigating the incident and told 8 News Now on Friday that a person was on the tracks between Charleston Boulevard and Bonneville Avenue when they were struck by the train. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident did not occur at a railroad crossing, according to a Union Pacific Railroad spokesperson. The crew was not hurt, but the trespasser died at the scene. We are working with local authorities on the investigation, The United Pacific Railroad spokesman told 8 News Now Friday night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said 246 people were arrested and charged in connection with a seven-day human trafficking investigation. The operation, which Judd called Fool Around and Find Out Again, was conducted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14. Our focus was to rescue the victims of human trafficking and to also intercept child sex predators, pedophiles, deviants, before they could get to children, the sheriff said at a press conference on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said 99 people are accused of soliciting a prostitute and traveling to have sex for money, 20 are accused of aiding and abetting, transporting or deriving profits from prostitutes, and 111 are accused of traveling to commit prostitution. Out of those 111, ten were identified as possible victims of human trafficking. Judd said those people were connected with social services and other victim resources. Many of the suspects were from Polk County, but people from across Florida were arrested in the operation, as well as from 11 other states, and 46 who were in the country illegally. The sheriff also said, in addition to trafficking or prostitution charges, 32 faced additional narcotics charges. During the human trafficking investigation, the sheriffs office was also conducting a multi-agency undercover investigation targeting child sexual predators. Judd said 14 men showed up to an undercover location in Polk County, believing they would be meeting children. Of those, 3 were charged with human trafficking for offering to pay an adult to have sex with their child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mens ages ranged from 23 to 62, and the sheriff noted some worked in positions of power or authority. One was the CEO of an assisted living company, one worked for the Florida Department of Corrections, and another was a psychotherapist who mainly worked with young adults. It is extremely disturbing when we encounter nasty child predators like these who are very eager to have sex with children, Judd said. This is why we conduct these types of undercover operations. Keeping children safe is our number one priority, and we appreciate our partnering agencies, without whom we would not be as successful in apprehending these dangerous offenders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Portugal has joined Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom in announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state. In a statement on Friday, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the recognition will take place on Sunday, a day before a high-level conference on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that Portugal will recognise the State of Palestine, the ministry wrote in a statement on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Official Declaration of Recognition will take place on Sunday, September 21st, before next weeks High-Level Conference, the statement added. According to Portugals Correio da Manha newspaper, the countrys centre-right Prime Minister Luis Montenegro consulted with the president and parliament before finalising the decision. It marked the end of nearly 15 years of debate in the Western European countrys parliament, Correio da Manha reported, after the proposal was first put forward by the countrys Left Bloc political party in 2011. People carry a banner with the words Free Palestine during a demonstration demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and in support of Palestinians, in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 7, 2024 [Armando Franca/AP Photo] Global outcry Portugals announcement comes days after a landmark UN inquiry found that Israels war on Gaza amounts to a genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 65,141 people have been killed and 165,925 wounded since Israels onslaught began in October 2023. Many thousands more are believed to be buried under the rubble. The Portuguese government first announced its intentions on recognising Palestine as a state in July, citing extremely worrying evolution of the conflict, as well as the humanitarian crisis and Israels repeated threats to annex Palestinian land. Earlier on Friday, an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron said that Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino plan to recognise the State of Palestine alongside France at the high-level meeting it is co-organising with Saudi Arabia in New York on Monday. Canada and the United Kingdom have also said they intend to do the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will join some 147 countries, representing 75 percent of UN members, that had already recognised Palestinian statehood as of April this year. Portugal was also among 145 countries which voted on Friday to create an option for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the UNGA in New York next week by video, after the United States denied him a visa. Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, as well as Israel and the US, were the five countries that voted no, while six countries abstained. Israel and the US have strongly criticised countries moving to recognise Palestine, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing Frances announcement as a reckless decision that only serves Hamas propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned last year that a new illegal Israeli settlement would be established in the occupied West Bank for every country that recognises Palestine. Luxembourg considers sanctions Earlier this week, Luxembourgs Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel told a parliamentary commission that their country intends to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UNGA. Bettel also said that he would propose a bill to parliament so that Luxembourg could take further measures, such as sanctions, according to the countrys broadcaster RTL Letzebuerg. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, has implored countries to take more measures to end Israels war on Gaza, including by imposing sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under its 1947 plan to partition Palestine, the UNGA said it would grant 45 percent of the land to an Arab state. At the time, the UNGA had just 57 member states, with dozens of countries under colonial rule unable to vote. Standing Rock Tribal Chairwoman Janet Alkire, front, speaks to the South Dakota State-Tribal Relations Committee on Sept. 19, 2025, in Mobridge. Behind Alkire, from left, are Standing Rock Tribal Council Members Jessica R. Porras, Nola Taken Alive and Cyril Archambault. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) MOBRIDGE Days before the end of her term, the first woman elected chair of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said South Dakota leaders could learn something from their neighbors to the north. Janet Alkire, a U.S. Air Force veteran, twice served as the tribes executive director before being elected as chairwoman in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday at the Grand River Resort near Mobridge, she told the South Dakota State-Tribal Relations Committee shell continue to work from afar for her people. The tribe of 16,000 members 11,000 of whom live on the reservation that spans the border of North and South Dakota will elect a chair, vice chair, and eight tribal council members Wednesday. Cabinet office with tribal leaders helps in North Dakota Standing Rock members are tri-citizens, Alkire said, of the tribe, the states and the federal government. Because Standing Rock straddles two states, that means Alkire and other tribal leaders have six members of Congress to lobby. Im pretty sure theyre tired of us, because we visit them a lot, Alkire said. On Friday, she told State-Tribal Relations Committee members that trust and relationships between the state and tribes hinge on frequent and respectful communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee member Scott Odenbach, the Republican House majority leader from Spearfish, wanted to know if he and his counterparts in state government could learn anything from North Dakotas approach to working with tribes. Communication is the prime place for improvement with South Dakota, Alkire said. The states annual legislative sessions offer more opportunities to engage with lawmakers and pursue legislation than in North Dakota, where lawmakers meet every other year. But North Dakota has an Indian Affairs Commission that facilitates year-round connections. We actually meet with them quite often, because theyre coming out of the governors office and theyre right there at the Legislature, monitoring whats going on, Alkire said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That commission includes North Dakotas governor, the leaders of North Dakotas tribes and three at-large members, two of whom must be Native American. The office also has an executive director and three other full-time staff members. Standing Rock Council Member Cyril Archambault is the tribes North Dakota legislative liaison. Hes in frequent contact with commission members on legislation. The commission meets quarterly, holds at least two training sessions for tribes each year and holds spot events as needed. South Dakota has similar entities, including the committee that met Friday and the Department of Tribal Relations, but Archambault said the comparison ends there. I dont see much commitment from South Dakota. Ill just be honest, he said. Nola Taken Alive, another Standing Rock council member in attendance Friday, noted that her tribe has a healthy relationship with North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has met with Standing Rock leaders, which Taken Alive said signaled potential improvement in relations. His predecessor, current U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, had a strained relationship with tribes. Taken Alive attributed what she described as friction between Noem and tribes to blatant disrespect, at times from Noem. She pointed to comments Noem made last year about drug cartels allegedly operating on reservations. All nine tribal governments voted to ban Noem from their lands last year, for those comments and for saying Native American children dont have any hope. With Governor Armstrong, hes always reaching out, Taken Alive said of North Dakotas leader. Thats a healthy relationship. Federal outreach to continue Alkire noted that Standing Rock and South Dakotas other tribal nations face similar challenges with law enforcement and health care funding. Standing Rock needs 30 officers, for example, but only has funding enough for 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes to Medicare and Medicaid embedded in the One Big Beautiful Bill passed this summer by Congress, she said, will ripple across state and tribal borders. The tribes in South Dakota, all nine of them, realize that the relationships that we have with the state are very important, Alkire said. During a break in the committee meeting, Alkire told South Dakota Searchlight that the ascension of former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to Interior secretary offers another avenue to maximize the impact of tribal issues in Washington, D.C. Standing Rock had a working relationship with Burgum, who intends to maintain the secretarys Tribal Advisory Committee. Alkire represented the Great Plains for former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on her version of the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also intends to maintain such a committee. That has Alkire hopeful, as well. That is the best line of communication, she said. I mean, they can communicate within their agencies, but you need to hear the perspective of the tribes. As for her plan after she leaves office, Alkire said it can be summed up in one word. Rest, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Both public health advocates and vaccine skeptics have one thing in common after a much-anticipated meeting of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s vaccine advisers ended on Friday: Surprise. The panels recommendations, to stop encouraging Covid vaccination while retaining access, and to stop offering one of two options for chickenpox shots, were neither as dire as the advocates feared, or as far-reaching as the skeptics expected. The advisers tabled for now a proposal to delay vaccination for hepatitis B. The guidance left doctors and public health experts confused its not clear whether it means younger, healthy people will need prescriptions for Covid shots and seeking clarity. It left Kennedys anti-vaccine allies pledging to ramp up their lobbying to convince the government to go further. On Capitol Hill, it left the tense standoff between Democrats irate about Kennedys policies and Republicans divided over them in a holding pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must ensure that any vaccine recommendation protects patient choice and never takes away families access to safe, effective vaccines, Senate Health Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kennedys biggest GOP critic on Capitol Hill, said in a statement. Cassidy had called on Kennedy to cancel the meeting of the outside panel because he feared some of Kennedys appointees were unqualified and biased against vaccines. But he expressed relief that the panel hadnt changed current guidance that newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine on the first day of life. Speaking to reporters after the panel's last vote, President Donald Trump touted his Operation Warp Speed that helped develop the Covid vaccines in 2020 and said he was a proponent of Covid vaccination. "I had the vaccine. I was very happy with it," he said, adding that he nonetheless trusted Kennedy: "I put him in there because I want to have opposite views." The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who must sign off on its recommendations before they take effect. Public health advocates warned that Kennedys firing of the panels advisers and appointment of new ones, many skeptical of vaccine safety and inexperienced in the workings of the committee, were likely increasing Americans reticence about the shots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the panelists raised concerns about vaccine safety and disputed information presented by CDC staff about the safety and efficacy of the shots. The reckless actions of this committee are causing damage in real time, said Dr. Sean OLeary, a professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus and Childrens Hospital Colorado whos followed ACIP meetings for a decade. OLeary, also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said a primary care colleague of his had seen a parent refuse the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine because of what she heard about this committee showing fear about an issue that was settled literally over 15 years ago, OLeary told reporters Friday. The committee took no action on that shot, but did recommend that patients no longer be offered a measles shot that also provides protection against chickenpox. If the recommendation is adopted, children would have to get the chickenpox shot separately, as 85 percent of kids already do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a surprise move, the panel voted against recommending that states require patients get a prescription for Covid shots, after an initial deadlock. They also voted to remove a blanket recommendation for adults 65 and older to vaccinate against Covid. About 23 percent of adults and 13 percent of children received last years Covid shot, according to CDC data. Still, some Democrats on Capitol Hill warned that the panels recommendations would cost lives. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee that oversees Kennedys department, said in a statement that we are witnessing the fallout of this catastrophic decision, referring to Kennedys remaking of the vaccine panel . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee who has tried to block funding for ACIPs changes, said on X that children will die because the panel voted against the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine. Fewer than 30 people die annually of varicella, or chickenpox, down from as many as 150 a year before the vaccine became available in the 1990s. The Department of Health and Human Services responded by accusing DeLauro of spreading a lie meant to send Americans into a panic, adding that there was reason to halt use of the combined measles-chickenpox shot because of a small, but documented , increase in febrile seizures. The American Academy of Family Physicians nonetheless warned that the elimination of the combined shot has implications for out-of-pocket costs, parental choice and equity. About 15 percent of parents have opted for the convenience of the combined shot despite the increased seizure risk after consulting with their childrens doctors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the CDC, about 90 percent of young people, counting toddlers to 19-year-olds, have received at least one chickenpox vaccine dose in recent years. Childrens Health Defense, the anti-vaccine group that Kennedy founded and chaired before dropping his 2024 presidential campaign and allying with Trump, had hoped the panel would recommend more far-reaching changes to the vaccine schedule. It posted to X a thread Friday urging removal of the hepatitis B shot and arguing that its inclusion on the childhood schedule was part of a plot to enrich its manufacturer. But when the panel adjourned without doing so, the groups president, Mary Holland, issued a statement saying the meeting marked significant progress in that the panel had begun to reconsider vaccine safety. On X, Childrens Health Defense urged supporters to speak up. Royal Caribbean has extended its pause on sailings to one of its private destinations through next year. The popular cruise line initially paused visits to Labadee, Haiti, in April 2025, citing political instability, and has now extended the suspension by another year. The destination, located on the country's northern coast, is a private beach resort owned and operated exclusively by Royal Caribbean. Labadee has historically been a popular stop on Royal Caribbean's Western Caribbean itineraries, serving as a way for travelers to experience Haitis coastal beaches and partake in adventurous activities like zip lining. Since it operates separately from the rest of the country's tourism infrastructure, it is isolated from much of the unrest elsewhere in Haiti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement provided to Travel + Leisure, Royal Caribbean said: Out of an abundance of caution, we have paused our upcoming visits through April 2026. We are communicating with our guests directly. According the U.S. Department of States travel advisory, Haiti remains at a Level 4: Do Not Travel, the highest level of risk on its scale. The current advisory, last updated on July 15, outlines significant safety concerns related to crime and civil unrest. Haiti has been under a State of Emergency since March 2024. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti," the advisory states. "They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Do not travel to Haiti for any reason. Kidnapping is widespread. U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. The advisory also notes that local law enforcement has limited ability to respond to serious crimes and that the U.S. Coast Guard has issues warning about port security in Haiti. There is widespread violent crime and organized crime in the country, and local law enforcement has limited ability to respond to serious crimes, the U.S. travel advisory states. The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution. Royal Caribbean has not announced when sailings to Labadee will resume, noting that future itinerary decisions will depend on developments in the region. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Russia and Vietnam have developed a mechanism for hiding arms deal payments in order to circumvent U.S. and European sanctions, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Sept. 19, citing Vietnamese government documents obtained by the publication. The two nations used profts from joint oil and gas enterprises to fund defense contracts, bypassing the global banking system, the documents show. Russia's major banks were cut off from the SWIFT international transaction system overseen by the U.S. and other Western nations due to global sanctions imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian defense companies are also subject to widespread Western sanctions. Despite these penalties, Vietnam has purchased fighter jets, tanks, ships, and other military equipment from Russia, carrying out the deals quietly via a backdoor arrangement designed to conceal the transactions from the global finance market and possible U.S. sanctions. Hanoi purchases the weapons on credit from Moscow, then repays the credit from its share of profits from Rusvietpetro a joint Vietnam-Russia oil venture operating in Siberia. According to the AP, Vietnam's additional profits beyond the military loan repayments are transferred to Zarubezhneft, a Russian-owned oil and gas company based in Moscow. Zarubezhneft then transfers an equal sum from its joint venture located in Vietnam directly to Vietnam's Oil and Gas Group (PVN). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This system allows the countries to avoid international financial transfers while executing significant weapons contracts. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian MiG-31 jets violate Estonian airspace, Tallinn says Plans for the arrangement were originally leaked in 2023, the AP reports. Despite the leak, the plan went forward, as internal Vietnamese documents from 2024 reveal. The official who leaked the newer document to the AP said he was opposed to Hanoi seeking closer ties with Moscow and endangering its relationship with Washington. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the specific document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Those engaging in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions risk or be subject to an enforcement action," the State Department said in an email to the AP. News of the concealed arms deals comes as the European Union prepares to target Russia's banking and energy sectors in its 19th round of sanctions, unveiled on Sept. 19. The package includes a proposed total import ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). Vietnam and Russia have long had close relations, dating back to the Soviet Union's support for North Vietnam and its proxy forces during the Vietnam War. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Hanoi in June 2024, during which the two nations agreed to deepen their strategic partnership and signed over 10 documents. Vietnam has adopted a neutral stance regarding Russia's war against Ukraine. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal said on Friday evening that the government has requested NATO Article 4 consultations with the alliance's allies following an airspace violation by Russian jets. "This morning, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace. NATO fighters responded, and the Russian planes were forced to flee," Michal wrote in a post on X. "Such violation is totally unacceptable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the jets entered Estonian airspace and lingered over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes. The Russian charge daffaires was summoned and given a protest note, he added. The jets lacked two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control and had no flight plans, domestic media reported. "Russia's ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure," Tsahkna said. "Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable in itself," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told domestic outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But today's incursion, involving three fighter jets entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen." Italian F-35 fighter jets responded The Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace in the area of Vaindloo Island, a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said in a separate statement. According to this statement, the aircraft did not have flight plans and the transponders were turned off. Currently deployed as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, the Italian Air Force F-35 fighter jets were the first responders to the incident. The North Atlantic Council, NATOs principal political decision-making body, is due to convene early next week to discuss the incident in more detail, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said Friday, calling the incident "reckless Russian behaviour." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Article 4, the shortest of the NATO treatys 14 articles, states that: The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened. Trump: It could be big trouble US President Donald Trump told reporters that his aides on the reported incursion will soon brief him. I dont love it, he said, adding, I dont like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but Ill let you know later. Russian officials did not immediately comment on the incident, which was met with swift condemnation from the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "Today's violation of Estonia's airspace by Russian military aircraft is an extremely dangerous provocation," Kallas wrote in a post on X. "Europe stands with Estonia in the face of Russias latest violation of our airspace," von der Leyen said, calling on EU member states to approve a 19th sanctions package against Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estonia is the third NATO member country to report such an incursion over the past few weeks, following similar incidents in Poland and Romania. Major Taavi Karotamm, spokesperson for the Estonian Defence Forces, said that the Russian planes flew parallel to the Estonian border from east to west and did not head toward the capital, Tallinn. Karotamm said the reason for the border violation is unknown, but added that it may have been to shift the focus of NATO and its members onto defending itself, rather than bolstering Ukrainian defence. The incident comes just over a week after Poland said at least 20 Russian drones entered its airspace before being shot down by the military in an "unprecedented violation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In responding to the incursion, Poland became the first NATO country to directly engage with Russian assets since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The event was met with widespread condemnation from Poland's European allies, who said it was evidence that Russia was testing the limits of the NATO alliance. Poland's Foreign Minister, Radosaw Sikorski, said that the incursion was intentional. NATO allies vowed to beef up security along the alliance's eastern flank following the incident, which the alliance chief Mark Rutte called "crucial to counter aggression and defend every member of the Alliance." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addresses the media at NATO headquarters in Brussels, 12 September, 2025 - AP Photo Meanwhile, the head of the UK's spy agency MI6 Richard Moore said there was "no evidence" Russian President Vladimir Putin was interested in peace in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Putin has sought to convince the world that Russian victory is inevitable. But he lies. He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself," Moore told journalists at a news conference on Friday. Ukraine has repeatedly called for the joint protection of European skies and for increased investment into its domestic weapons production to ward off Russian attacks. Related Video: NATO Taking Russian Drones In Poland As WARNING, Worries Of Wider War Deepen (Posted Sept. 11, 2025) Three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace Friday in what the countrys top diplomat called an unprecedented and brazen intrusion. Estonia Prime Minister Kristen Michal later on Friday requested NATO Article 4 consultations. Article 4 allows NATO members to bring any issue threatening that countrys territorial integrity or political independence or security to other NATO members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This morning, 3 Russian Mig-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace. NATO fighters responded and the Russian planes were forced to flee. Such violation is totally unacceptable. The Government of Estonia has decided to request NATO Article 4 consultations, Michael wrote in a post on X. The three Russian MiG-31s flew into Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, Margus Tsahkna, Estonias minister of foreign affairs, wrote in a separate post on X. Tsahkna said the Russian charge daffaires was summoned over another violation of Estonias airspace. This is an unprecedented and brazen intrusion clear proof of Russias growing aggression, Tsahkna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such actions cannot be tolerated and must be met with swift political and economic pressure. Russias incursion into Estonia follows a high-profile violation of Polands airspace last week, which also triggered NATO air defenses. Poland also invoked the alliances Article 4 pillar, convening NATO members for consultation over threats to a member. At least 19 Russian drones crossed over into Polish airspace Sept. 9, amid a major Russian aerial assault against Ukraine. Polish officials said the incursion was intentional and pushed back on President Trump saying the Kremlin might have made a mistake. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte last week said Russias incursion into Poland was the largest concentration of violations of NATO airspace but was not an isolated incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias recklessness in the air along our eastern flank is increasing in frequency, he said. A Russian drone later violated Romanias airspace. The Russian incursions into NATO airspace builds on a years-long hybrid warfare against countries in the alliance, defined by acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, destruction of infrastructure and attacks on individuals. NATO has responded to the violations by launching what it called operation Eastern Sentry. The operation brings together increased military assets from NATO members, deployed along NATOs eastern flank. NATO said Denmark is contributing two F-16s and an anti-air warfare frigate, France is contributing three Rafales, and Germany is contributing four Eurofighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The violation of Polands airspace earlier this week is not an isolated incident and impacts more than just Poland, U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the supreme allied commander Europe, said last week. Eastern Sentry and this new approach will deliver even more focused and flexible deterrence and defence where and when needed to protect our people and deter against further reckless and dangerous acts like what occurred earlier this week. The Russian airspace violation against Estonia also came as the European Union unveiled a 19th package of sanctions against Moscow on Friday over its war in Ukraine. The sanctions set a deadline of 2027 to end imports of Russian gas. They also end exemptions from sanctions for Russian gas companies and expand sanctions on Russias oil exports that are transmitted by a shadow fleet of ghost ships. The order identifies 118 new vessels as being part of this shadow fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other sanctions include targeting people responsible for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, and creating efforts to block Russias access to technologies, including AI and geospatial data. The sanctions also seek to block Russias access to critical resources for weapons production purchased from suppliers such as China and India. Posted at 11:05 a.m. and updated at 2:10 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Three Russian fighter jets have violated Estonian airspace in a brazen provocation on Natos eastern front. Estonias government said the MiG-31 aircraft, capable of carrying hypersonic missiles, entered via the Gulf of Finland without permission and circled for 12 minutes. Nato scrambled Italian F-35s stationed in Estonia to intercept them. But on Friday, Russias defence ministry denied that the jets had entered Estonian airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman said the aircraft were on a scheduled flight... in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring. The incident is Moscows third attempt this month to apparently test Natos eastern border. Kaja Kallas, the EUs top diplomat, called it an extremely dangerous provocation. Donald Trump on Friday said the violation of Estonias airspace could cause big trouble. Speaking in the Oval Office, the US president said: Well, I dont love it. I dont love it when that happens. Could be big trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was going to have a look at the reports and added: Theyre going to be briefing me in a short while, so Ill let you know about it tonight or tomorrow. The alliance has remained on high alert following the large-scale Russian drone incursion into Poland last week that prompted Nato to rapidly deploy warplanes to shoot them down. At least 19 drones entered Warsaws airspace on Sept 10, four of which were downed in the first direct engagement between Nato and Moscow. Polands allies condemned the incident as a deliberate Russian provocation and accused Vladimir Putin of attempting to test Europes resolve and probe its defences. The MiG-31 aircraft entered via the Gulf of Finland without permission and circled for 12 minutes - Forsvarsmakten/AFP Kristen Michal, Estonias prime minister, said Moscows aircraft were forced to flee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decrying Russias actions as totally unacceptable, he said the government had triggered Natos Article 4 to call an emergency meeting of allies. The rarely-used provision, designed for emergencies, was triggered by Poland last week over the Russian drone swarm. The MiG-31s entered Estonian airspace near the area of Vaindloo Island, a small island off its north coast in the Gulf of Finland, its military said. The aircraft did not have flight plans, their transponders were not switched on and they were not in contact with air traffic control. The Russian charge daffaires was summoned and given a protest note, the foreign ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement b' ' Margus Tsahkna, the Estonian foreign minister, said: Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but todays violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen. Russias ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure. The violation came as Estonia, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, carried out unplanned military drills to strengthen its response capabilities against airspace intrusions following the incident in Poland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Nato spokesman said: Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. Nato responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Natos ability to respond. Estonia also recently announced that the Friendship Bridge, which connects it to Russia, would remain closed until the war in Ukraine was over. Romania has also faced repeated violations, including a drone that entered its airspace last week for 50 minutes, prompting Bucharest to scramble fighter jets. Nato allies in the past few days have pledged to beef up defences on its eastern flank, while calls grow in Europe to build a so-called drone wall to defend against Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Announcing a new round of EU sanctions on Russia on Friday, Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU Commission, said: Russian drones have violated our unions airspace, both in Poland and in Romania. Again and again, Putin has escalated and in response, Europe is increasing its pressure. We know that our sanctions are an effective tool of economic pressure, and we will keep using them until Russia comes to the negotiating table. EU leaders will discuss their collective response to Russian violations of European airspace at their forthcoming meeting in Copenhagen on Oct 1. Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, said on Friday: Todays violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian military aircraft is another unacceptable provocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It underscores yet again the urgent need to reinforce our Eastern flank, deepen European defence cooperation, and intensify pressure on Russia. Putin has bitten off more than he can chew On Friday, Sir Richard Moore, the head of MI6, said there was absolutely no evidence that Putin wanted to negotiate peace in Ukraine. He said: He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal. But he cannot succeed. Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he and many others underestimated the Ukrainians. Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, said: The UK stands with our Estonian allies, following yet another reckless incursion into Nato airspace by Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must continue to increase pressure on Putin, including driving forward the important new economic sanctions announced by the UK and the EU in recent days. Russia has been scaling up its attacks on Ukraine in the past few months as ceasefire negotiations continue to stall. 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. My mom was born in 1934. She grew up in a housing area on Laredo Street called "La China." It was located near the railroad tracks. She remembers going to meet the train when soldiers would return and they were missing limbs or were deceased. They would ride the train to Laredo, Texas, to cross to Laredo, Mexico, to visit relatives. My mother is now 91 years old and has dementia, but she remembers her childhood well. Could you please check to see if there is any history of this housing area? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Nancy Gil This would have been a nickname - let's hope it was affectionate - referring to the Chinese workers and business owners from the nearby market who lived in the neighborhood, including some who lived in apartments above their stores. In this 1920s photo, the Sam Yick Co. grocery store at 1101 W. Commerce St., advertised a "Gran Barata" or "big sale" to its Spanish-speaking customers. There was an apartment in the back of the building and lodge meeting rooms on the second floor. Around the corner was the Wing Lee Cafe, operated by Louie Tong. Between them was R. Dieckmann Hardware. (UTSA Special Collections) "San Antonio never had a true Chinatown," writes Mel Brown in "Chinese Heart of Texas: The San Antonio Community 1875-1975," "but for many of its early years, the colony was concentrated on downtown's near West Side area around El Mercado, the Farmers Market off Produce Row, which was along West Commerce and Dolorosa streets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement S.A. HISTORY: S.A. produce markets moved or morphed Here, people of Chinese birth or heritage opened grocery stores, laundries and cafes, "near the Missouri Pacific (or MoPac) railway depot and commercial terminals which merchants depended on for much of their stores' inventory." The Chinese market area of your mother's memory was just south of where the Farmers Market (612 W. Commerce St.) and police headquarters (315 S. Santa Rosa Ave.) now are, said Urban-15 co-founder George Cisneros, who grew up on the West Side. He verified that the area from Santa Rosa to Pecos Street, was known as "La China." Cisneros heard about it from his mother, the late community leader Elvira Cisneros. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, her father, printer/activist Romulo Munguia, would provide his services - handbooks, receipt books, signs "and even the numbers' (extralegal lotteries) cards, in exchange for a line of credit for food and clothes." Chinese characters appear near the top of the Theo Ahr Building at the southwest corner of Laredo and Commerce streets. This photo was taken in 1969 for the federal Urban Renewal Agency before the early 1970s wave of "slum clearance." (UTSA Special Collections) Young Elvira and her brothers "would take the printing orders by wagon to the many Chinese-owned businesses for delivery leave a supply list and pick up the orders left the previous week." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement S.A. HISTORY: Depression knocked out' Spanish-language theaters Chinese immigrants and their descendants had a fairly long history in the area by that time. "Many individual Chinese came to San Antonio in the 1880s after working on the Southern Pacific Railroad, but the largest group arrived in 1917," writes Mary Ann Noonan Guerra in "The History of San Antonio's Market Square." A report from the city Office of Historic Preservation's ScoutSA cultural research team finds that "the area near Laredo, Dolorosa and West Commerce streets has been associated with Chinese businesses - shops, restaurants and laundries - since the 1870s." West Commerce was home to several "chop houses," restaurants serving Americanized Chinese food or "chop suey" (a vegetable-and-protein stir fry served over rice or noodles) from the turn of the last century. The Chinese Freemason Lodge at 309 S. Santa Rosa Ave. was one of the organizations that kept the Chinese business and social community strong. (UTSA Special Collections) Another group arrived en masse, under the protection of the U.S. Army to sidestep the Chinese Exclusion Act that limited immigration from 1882 to 1943. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Known as the "Pershing Chinese" (discussed here March 28, 2020), more than 500 men from China who had settled in Mexico were brought to San Antonio under the authority of Gen. John J. Pershing, leader of the Punitive Expedition of 1916 that pursued Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa across the border after a series of raids. PERSHING TIES: World War I commander and San Antonio's Chinese community While U.S. troops were in Mexico, they bought supplies and had their laundry done by Chinese workers, which made them a target for Villa's forces. Upon his return in early 1917, Pershing ensured the safety of the "Pershing Chinese" by sheltering them first at Fort Bliss near El Paso and then in San Antonio, where most were put to work first on building Camp Travis, a World War I-era extension of Fort Sam Houston, and later on other Army projects. To keep the Chinese refugees from being deported, Pershing successfully advocated in 1921 for Congress to allow them to register as permanent residents of the United States. According to the text on a historical marker on Wilson Street at Fort Sam, "about half stayed in San Antonio with many opening businesses." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A look at San Antonio city directories from 1929 to 1940 shows names such as Quong Sam, Wing Fat, Lee June, Chong Fat, Lee Song, Gee Len On and Quong Wah Yuen with premises along Produce Row and Laredo Street. They were grocers, bulk-sales purveyors, restaurateurs and real estate professionals, co-existing with Hispanic-named produce and tortilla sellers, bakers, pharmacists, physicians and grain brokers, as well as a variety of German- and Anglo-named businesspeople. S.A. HISTORY: San Antonio charity's affluent volunteers aided needy fellow Mexico natives in 1920s and '30s The earliest Chinese immigrants to arrive in San Antonio, says Guerra, "found work and a welcome" at the market, when it was the commercial heart of the city. The Pershing Chinese also may have gravitated to the West Side because they spoke Spanish from their time in Mexico and found it easier to assimilate along with Mexican immigrants who came to San Antonio during Mexico's years of revolutionary struggle, 1910-20. The "paper sons" - Chinese men who posed as blood relatives of Chinese residents of the U.S. to beat the Exclusion Act - joined the families who helped them get here or otherwise sought community in an area where it wasn't unusual to see Chinese characters on buildings or hear Cantonese spoken on loading docks. The Chinese School, founded in 1928 at 215 S. San Saba St., taught Chinese language and culture to the children of immigrants. (UTSA Special Collections) While the Chinese community was integrated into market life, these immigrants took care of their own, organizing a Chinese-language school, church, mutual aid societies and social welfare organizations during the 1920s. "It was (their) combined effort (that) accomplished the much-celebrated feat of keeping the Chinese off the relief rolls during the depression," says Edward J.M. Rhoads in "The Chinese in Texas," published in the July 1977 Southwest Historical Quarterly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After immigration restrictions eased, new immigrants and American-born Chinese chose to live and work in other areas. S.A. HISTORY: San Antonio West Side developers were subdivision pioneers The federal Urban Renewal Agency inventoried the west-of-downtown area and marked more than 90% of the buildings for destruction, to be replaced with institutional buildings and some retail development. One of the few businesses your mother might remember was the Golden Star Cafe, founded in 1932 and still serving Chinese, American and Mexican dishes, formerly in the 1100 block of West Commerce, now at 821 W. Commerce. The Golden Star Cafe, advertising "chop suey" in this photo, was founded by the Lim family in 1932. It was located in the 1100 block of West Commerce Street through the 1960s, when this photograph was taken. It's now at 821 W. Commerce St., still serving its famous fish and gravy. (UTSA Special Collections) The nearest railroad line to the market neighborhood was the Missouri-Kansas-Texas or "Katy" tracks that still exist, said Hugh Hemphill, author of "The Railroads of San Antonio and South Central Texas." They run about a block south of Laredo Street, going by the nearby stockyards (now Union Stockyards San Antonio)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to Debbie Countess of the San Antonio Public Library's Texana/Genealogy Department, Lauren Sage of the Office of Historic Preservation, Tom Shelton of the University of Texas at San Antonio library's Special Collections and to Beth Standifird of the San Antonio Conservation Foundation library for providing resources. historycolumn@yahoo.com | X (formerly Twitter): @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn The grant will be from the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen. Saudi Arabia will provide around $368 million in economic support to the internationally recognized Yemeni government based in Aden, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The new grant will be given through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen with the aim of supporting the government's budget, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration in Aden has grappled with a weak currency and high prices since the Iran-aligned Houthis ousted former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh from the capital Sanaa in late 2014, triggering a decade-long civil war. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to reinstate its exiled government, and Yemen has since then been split between the internationally recognized government in Aden and a Houthi administration in Sanaa. Riyadh has provided billions of dollars in aid and deposits to support the government in Aden, helping to shore up its finances and pay public sector salaries. This is a developing story. In the early morning hours on July 12, Oscar Romero Santos drove his red Ram truck toward the Bradenton home he shared with his wife. When he turned onto his block, a Manatee County Sheriffs deputy followed. As Romero Santos pulled into the driveway, the deputy flashed his emergency lights. Romero Santos parked, got out of the truck and walked quickly towards the house, the 45-year-old later recounted in Spanish to Suncoast Searchlight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when [the deputy] came running from the other side of the car and put handcuffs on me, he said. Inside, his wife Sheysa Romero Santos slept, unaware of what was transpiring on her doorstep or that it would be the last time shed be that close to her husband for the foreseeable future. Only when Romero Santos called from the jail did his wife learn what had happened. She hustled to the courthouse and paid $650 to cover his bonds on misdemeanor charges of driving without a license and obstruction of justice without violence, believing it would bring him home. Instead, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him and deported him to Honduras within weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero Santos is one of thousands of immigrants whom ICE has taken into custody from local jails in Florida this year as it pursues President Donald Trumps mass deportation goals. Many of these individuals, like Romero Santos, have not yet received a trial and are legally presumed innocent. The stakes are high. Oscar Romero Santos sought asylum in the U.S. and founded a construction company in Florida. He was deported to Honduras in July. A simple traffic stop or low-level arrest can become a fast-track to deportation, separating families, disrupting jobs and businesses and leaving local court cases unresolved. Suncoast Searchlight spent over a month analyzing local and national data to understand the scope of this practice. Reporters examined nationwide ICE records and local jail logs, and interviewed lawyers, advocates and an affected family. The findings show how routine arrests can trigger cascading consequences far beyond the original charge. Among the findings: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, the jail-to-deportation pipeline is one of the main engines of Trumps mass-deportation push. Routine arrests, even for minor charges, are a direct gateway into ICE custody the most frequent method of immigration arrests in the state. The system overwhelmingly targets people without serious criminal records. Less than half of people apprehended by ICE in Florida and later deported had any criminal convictions, and of those who did, most were for nonviolent offenses. Some of the people deported never get their day in court. For those who are taken by ICE after paying their bond, local criminal cases remain unresolved. Those cases sometimes turn into bench warrants as defendants legally presumed innocent are unable to appear in court. The process creates a bureaucratic snarl for courts and lawyers. Once people are transferred between ICE facilities or deported, local courts and public defenders may lose track of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system functions through a routine mechanism. After an arrest, sheriffs departments share inmate information, including fingerprints, with federal agencies. ICE uses that data to identify people who may be undocumented, and issues a detainer or hold to the sheriffs office. If an ICE hold is in place when that person is scheduled for release for example after completing time served or posting a bond the sheriffs office must hold them for an additional 48 hours. During that time, ICE agents can come to the jail to take individuals into custody on civil immigration charges. This tactic allows the federal agency to use jails like a dragnet to find people who are undocumented, said Wanda Bertram, a communications strategist at the Prison Policy Initiative, a research and advocacy nonprofit focused on criminal justice reform. Its kind of like shooting fish in a barrel for ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The practice is not new. Last year, under the Biden administration, ICE issued thousands of requests to Florida jails to hold inmates beyond their scheduled release. But under Trumps administration and with an assist from state and local law enforcement the use of jail holds has surged here, turning a longstanding bureaucratic tool into a key driver of mass-deportation strategy. The number of ICE detainers issued in Florida from Trumps inauguration through the end of July jumped 142% above the same period last year, according to Suncoast Searchlights analysis of federal data published by the Deportation Data Project. Nationwide, ICE detainers increased by 65%. It hit me like a bucket of cold water, said Sheysa Romero Santos, in Spanish, of her husbands arrest and deportation. Everything we built, I thought, had fallen apart. A life built in Florida, undone in hours For Romero Santos, immigrating to the United States was an option of last resort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2014 as an asylum-seeker. Gang members had extorted his family and killed his father and uncle, he later recounted in immigration court. Fear drove him from his home in San Pedro Sula, a city in the northwest corner of Honduras whose name has become synonymous with unchecked violence. As his asylum case inched through the courts, Romero Santos rebuilt his life in the United States. He founded a construction company that specialized in siding and exteriors, and met his wife, Sheysa, who had moved to Florida from Puerto Rico a decade earlier. The couple settled in Bradenton and had two children, now 4 and 6 years old. He fought, said Sheysa, who described her role as an ama de casa, a stay-at-home mother and housewife. Just him, bit by bit, to buy his trucks, to buy his materials. He did that alone. When Romero Santos case came before a judge, the court found no reason to doubt his account. The court found that he had provided evidence of his familys situation in Honduras, including death certificates for his father and uncle, records from a 2019 hearing show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it ultimately denied his asylum claim, ruling that his fears of crime and gang activity did not warrant such protections. An order was issued for his removal, and when Romero Santos appealed, the court denied that too, closing the case in 2022. Instead of leaving the country, Romero Santos chose to remain. He had built a business, a home and a family here, and he feared returning to Honduras. Then came the arrest this summer. In the probable cause affidavit, the arresting deputy wrote that he followed Romero Santos truck after noticing it drift into the opposing lane, initiated a stop as Romero Santos turned into his driveway and saw him try to open the door to his home despite repeated commands to stop. Absent from the affidavit were Romero Santos shouts to his wife, for help she would not have been able to give. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero Santos was booked into Manatee County Jail and expected Sheysas bond payment to bring his release. Shed paid the bond they charged her that bond to get me out, Romero Santos said. But later, when the other defendants were being released, they told me I couldnt go that I was being deported. He spoke with Suncoast Searchlight on Sept. 4 over FaceTime from his mothers home in San Pedro Sula, about a month after his deportation. Its really difficult to be here. Really, really difficult, he said. More than a decade after he fled north, he said he still feels the threat of violence as so severe you cant even go out and about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While workplace raids have grabbed headlines amid Trumps mass-deportation campaign, what happened to Romero Santos is much more common, Suncoast Searchlights data analysis shows. County jails are ICEs primary feeder system nationally and in Florida. Since Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20, the share of immigration arrests made this way in the Sunshine State alone has climbed to at least 42%. And the total number has more than tripled here compared with the same period last year. Its an increase Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman has noticed. With the change of administrations in Washington, theres been a higher percentage of those folks picked up, Hoffman said. All but maybe a few have been picked up by ICE during their 48-hour hold. Sarasota County has had the biggest surge in ICE detainers among Suncoast counties since Trumps inauguration. From Jan. 20 through late July, ICE issued 173 detainers to Sarasota County Jail, quadrupling the number issued in the same period last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Affordable Bail Bonds in Sarasota, owner Brent Klein said he turns down potential clients when theres an immigration hold involved. Its a losing business move. My responsibility is for them to show up to court, Klein said. If I bond somebody out and then they get shipped to, like, Miami, to Krome, or they get shipped to [another] detention facility, theyre missing court. And the county wants the money, the bottom line. They can force me to pay the money they wont let me get off the bond. In the past, Klein said, defendants with immigration holds were not always picked up by ICE after paying a bond. Now, it seems like nobodys getting out. Deportations leave local court cases unresolved Even when immigrants are deported, their local criminal cases often stemming from minor charges such as driving without a license or failing to register their vehicle do not simply disappear. Instead, they linger in the courts, consuming public resources and leaving families to wrestle with warrants and fines that can haunt defendants if they ever attempt to return to the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ed Brodsky, state attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit, said that if his office learns definitively that a defendant has been deported, it may consider dismissing the local charges. But while immigrants are held in detention, its not always clear whether they ultimately will be deported or even where they are, a concern immigration attorneys and families have increasingly raised since Trump took office. While they are shuffled through the immigration detention system, undocumented immigrants criminal cases may go into warrant status, Brodsky said. That way, if they do come back, he said, then they do have to face that charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of those warrants stem from very minor charges, Brodsky said. People facing more serious charges are less likely to bond out and instead remain in jail to be prosecuted. In those instances, if found guilty, the defendant will serve a sentence before ICE can pursue them. Brodsky said his office, which covers Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, has seen only occasional cases where a person is deported after a bond is paid for their release. Suncoast Searchlights analysis found that more than a third of people who were deported since Jan. 20 after being apprehended by ICE in Florida had pending criminal cases. In Manatee County alone, Suncoast Searchlight found several people who were taken into ICE custody from the jail and now have bench warrants. In Romero Santos case, Manatee County Court set an arraignment for him for Aug. 20, more than two weeks after he had been deported to Honduras. Its unjust, said Sheysa, who scrambled to submit documentation of her husbands deportation before his initial court date. In a July letter to the judge overseeing Romero Santos case, Sheysa explained that ICE had taken her husband into custody and deported him from the country. I dont want him to have a warrant in the future is there any possible way you can dismiss the charge for him, she wrote. The couple submitted documentation of the five facilities ICE held him in before his deportation, and Romero Santos followed up with a letter of his own, imploring the court to assign him a public defender. I just want to do the things right and not have a warrant in the future, he wrote. Thank you so much for you[r] time. His charges have not been dismissed. Instead, the court assigned Romero Santos case to the public defenders office, which automatically entered not guilty pleas to both charges on Sept. 11. The courts and immigration system have made it near impossible for us to communicate with our client, said Larry Eger, the public defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit, in an interview with Suncoast Searchlight. Eger pointed to the ICE records Romero Santos submitted to the court documenting the series of facilities where he was held across the South. The timeframe is unbelievable, Eger said, referring to how ICE had shuttled Romero Santos from facility to facility. Where is he? Is he in Louisiana? Is he in Georgia? Is he in Pinellas? Who knows? I have faith in God On a Thursday afternoon in early September, Sheysa sat in the kitchen of her familys tidy three-bedroom house, a stack of papers and a cell phone on the table in front of her, ringing repeatedly. When they took him, I felt like I was going crazy, Sheysa said. I asked myself, How am I going to pay for everything here, with my kids, me being alone? What am I going to do? And I said, Well, Im going to move forward. So, she took over her husbands construction business. She manages orders for materials and transports them to the work sites in her truck. She fields calls from the companys workers. And when they have questions she cant answer, she calls Romero Santos for advice. Here we are, managing the business that I set up over there, Romero Santos said via FaceTime. Weve been able to keep working, together, my wife and I. Reuniting the family is another, more painful question. One with less straightforward answers. The couple has hired an immigration attorney to help Romero Santos move back to the United States, but that process could take years. In the meantime, Sheysa and her kids are looking forward to Christmas in Honduras. She already bought plane tickets. Romero Santos said he will not give up hope of returning to the country that he made his home. I have faith in God Ill [return], he said. I have faith in God. This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org. Even the doziest and most inward-looking politician in this country and across Europe must now realise that Putin wants war, most especially as he seems to think that now is his best chance to drag nations such as Estonia back behind the Iron Curtain. It is not difficult to see why, as President Trump dithers and sends out mixed messages, and Nato has failed to make any appropriate response to the drone attacks on Poland last week. The latest signal of Putins intent is the probe by MiG-31 fighter jets deep into Nato airspace over Estonia. The Italian F-35 jets scrambled to see these invaders off could very easily have shot the Russians down the F-35 is the most advanced fighter in production today and is a generation ahead of the antique Cold War MiG-31. This would have been a demonstration of Nato military superiority, and it is such firepower which needs to be on show to see Putin off its the only language he understands. This is not foolish confidence and bravado. The Russian military is almost totally bogged down in the Ukrainian trenches. The latest Zapad exercises in Belarus were quite frankly a joke. The 2022 Zapad demonstrations just prior to the invasion of Ukraine showed a much more capable army than the small forces that could be spared from the front this year. The Russians appear to have learnt few of the bitter lessons of Ukraine, and the latest Zapad forces appeared more fit for a Moscow parade than warfare in the 21st century. Russias mercenaries and jail-sweepings are no match for Nato professionals. Britain, at least, is testing and adjusting its Army against the lessons we are learning from the Ukrainians in order to fight and win on todays battlefields. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone including President Trump should be in no doubt that Putin has no interest in peace in Ukraine. His ambition is to take the Baltic States next, and if we keep prevaricating, the unbelievable may just happen. Military strategy is about early moves to get inside the enemys thought process. The ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, knew well that the supreme level of victory is to subdue the enemy without fighting and this is what Putin is doing to Nato now as he violates territory and suffers no response. I am an armour soldier by my original trade, but the fundamentals of war are the same on land, at sea and in the sky officers of all our armed services read Sun Tzu. In combined arms land warfare we expect to make probing patrols to test the enemy and get on the front foot: those three MiGs are the Russians doing exactly that. If Russian jets are invading our airspace we must not be passive, the more so as the Russians are unlikely to see, let alone touch, our fifth-generation stealth jets. We should be leaning in just as hard at sea, which I suggest might be easier if most of our Navy was not currently on the far side of the world. Those European leaders closest to Russia are warning of war and we must listen to them. Their countries were once part of the Soviet Union and they know what it is like to live under the iron hand of Russias secret police. We must not repeat the mistakes of 1939: we must understand that attack, or at least the credible threat of it, is historically and quite literally the best form of defence. We seem to be hoping we are just in a bad dream, and if we dont upset Putin too much he may just decide enough is enough. That is foolishness. Like Stalin before him, the only thing Putin respects is military strength. We must show some before it is too late. 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. Starbucks is facing legal heat again, this time not over unions or strikes but over what its employees are allowed to wear on the job. Workers across multiple states say the coffee giants new dress code forced them to shell out their own money for clothes, and they want that money back. Previously, the Daily Dot reported that many Starbucks baristas were walking out of their jobs due to the changes when the policy first rolled out in May. Lawsuits filed in three states On Wednesday, baristas in Illinois and Colorado filed class-action lawsuits claiming Starbucks violated state laws by failing to reimburse them for the new clothes required under the updated dress code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In California, workers went a step further and submitted complaints to the states Labor and Workforce Development Agency, accusing the company of the same thing. Those workers also flagged separate issues with Starbucks allegedly not reimbursing phone and vehicle expenses tied to work. If Californias labor agency declines to pursue the case, the employees say they plan to move ahead with a civil suit themselves. What the new dress code requires Back in April, Starbucks announced that beginning May 12, workers in all North American stores would be required to follow a stricter set of attire rules. Instead of the looser guidelines baristas had previously, the new policy requires solid black crewnecks, collared shirts, or button-ups paired with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. Shoes have to be in muted tones like black, gray, brown, navy, tan, or white. Sorbis/Shutterstock The company also banned theatrical makeup and nail polish and limited facial piercings to one small stud or hoop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starbucks said the shift was meant to simplify its expectations, make the coffeehouse feel more consistent, and give workers clearer guidance. To offset the change, the company provided each employee with two free shirts. But according to employees, that wasnt enough. Workers say they had to pay out-of-pocket Starbucks hasnt reimbursed me for these expenses, and its unfair that a billion-dollar company puts this burden on workers already struggling with unpredictable hours and understaffed stores, said Shay Mannik, a barista from Colorado for Quartz. Thats why Im standing up for myself and my coworkers so we can all be reimbursed and treated fairly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starbucks has defended its policies, pointing to low turnover and strong employee satisfaction. In a statement, the company said worker turnover is at record lows and about half the industry average. More partners are getting the shifts they want. And more partners than ever recommend Starbucks as a great place to work. The internet is chaoticbut well break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dots newsletter here. State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers who were detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) NORTH PLATTE, Neb. After three months in ICE detention, legal fees mounting and no release in sight, Nuri Garibo Chona did what she called unimaginable. She left behind four daughters to return to the birthplace where she hadnt lived for decades. The Omaha mom was here illegally. Her kids are all U.S. citizens, and younger ones now are in the care of her oldest daughter, who is 27. Another woman ensnared in the Glenn Valley Foods immigration raid in Omaha also was removed to Mexico last week without her two children, who remained in Omaha with their dad. On her way out, Leydy Solis Factor said she still was confused about why the work permit she got through proper channels was no longer good. State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Meanwhile, one of the men still held from the raid in the Lincoln County Jail has hired a local lawyer to replace an out-of-state firm and prays he hasnt lost a shot at being released on bond. He has a wife and children in Omaha and fears for their safety if he is forced back to Guatemala. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of Glenn Valley workers detained in this North Platte jail, which is paid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants, has dwindled since the high-profile worksite raid executed June 10 by more than 80 federal and local agents. Shortly after the Nebraska Examiner visited the facility last week, Garibo Chona and Solis Factor were removed from the country, and three other women were released on bond, leaving six from the Glenn Valley raid among those in custody there. ICE officials did not provide specifics when asked this week for an update, but of the original group of roughly 80 arrested, a spokesperson previously said about a dozen were released early and 63 were sent to North Platte. Several of the detainees agreed to voluntarily deport themselves, and many have been released on bond as their lawyers build cases to prevent forced removal. To State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, their journeys and circumstances have become even more relevant as the state prepares to repurpose a state prison into a 300-bed ICE detention center in McCook, a town of about 7,200 residents about an hour from North Platte. The states Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Neb., is set to become a federal detention center for migrants facing deportation proceedings. State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha went to the McCook facility after visiting ICE detainees in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Last week she became the first state lawmaker to sit down with Glenn Valley detainees. The discussion ranged from medical, legal and interpreter services to how their children were faring. After meeting with men and women garbed in black and white stripes, Juarez stepped into a nearby hall and cried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said shes on a mission to ensure that federal ICE detainees in Nebraska have access to the same services offered to state inmates in state prisons. It was really difficult to see the reality, the human faces, said Juarez, whose South Omaha district includes the Glenn Valley plant and other meatpackers that traditionally have attracted immigrant workers. These are people locked up away from family, she said. We have jailed innocent working people. * * * The federal government has a different viewpoint. Representatives of ICE and its Homeland Security Investigations arm have repeatedly referred to the Glenn Valley case as a targeted, federal criminal investigation aimed at stopping the widespread use of stolen identifications by foreign-born workers to gain jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans, HSIs Mark Zito has said. If pretending to be someone you arent in order to steal their lives isnt blatant criminal dishonesty, I dont know what is. Court documents track the Omaha raid the largest immigration enforcement action in Nebraska since 2018 back to a March subpoena that sought company employment records tying 107 of 177 employees to fraudulent IDs or documents that didnt authorize them to work in the country. A worker gets apprehended at Glenn Valley Foods during the largest Nebraska immigration raid since President Donald Trump took office. (Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) At least one defrauded U.S. citizen already had lodged identity theft complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration. During the raid, agents questioned a worker whose job application matched the name of that complainant leading to the arrest of Guadalupe Cabrera Mejia. To date, available federal court records show Cabrera Mejia as the only Glenn Valley employee criminally charged for the alleged use of a stolen ID. Asked how that reconciled with widespread criminal activity alleged earlier, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Nebraska said ICE determines whether to pursue felony criminal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With regard to the Glenn Valley probe, she said, ICE elected overwhelmingly to pursue administrative charges in immigration court, a venue and process independent of federal prosecutors. ICE has said an administrative charge is often a more expedient option, a faster path to deportation. The raid came as federal agencies are under pressure from the Trump administrations goal of making 3,000 related arrests per day and pursuing mass deportations. These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. Mark Zito, Homeland Security Investigations In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen, backed by many legislative Republicans, has pledged resources to help President Donald Trumps immigration agenda. Among state offerings: turning the McCook-based Work Ethic Camp into a Midwestern ICE detention center that federal officials dubbed the Cornhusker Clink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That conversion plan requires the relocation of 186 state inmates elsewhere in a Nebraska correctional system already ranked as the most crowded in the country, when measured by operational capacity. The decision to offer ICE state assistance sparked protests at the Governors Mansion and a four-hour public hearing that drew dozens of opponent speakers and no proponents. Scant details shared about the project is partly what Juarez said spurred her to make the trek west to the jail in North Platte and prison in McCook. This isnt going away, she said. Theyre amping up enforcement, and I really wanted to see and hear from these families for myself. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a day last week, Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer accompanied Juarez into separate cell blocs for men and women. The Examiner was allowed as well. Women set aside Bibles and art materials and huddled around the silver table where the lawmaker sat. An interpreter from a local advocacy group called Hope Esperanza helped bridge any language gaps. Sheriff Jerome Kramer, right, and State Sen. Margo Juarez listen to ICE detainees in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Kramer praised the nonprofits founder, North Platte native TinaMaria Fernandez, for having eased stress that came with the sudden swell of inmates whose first language was different from that of his staff. The arrival of the Glenn Valley group increased the jail population by about 50% at a time the facility was short-staffed, Kramer said. He said the federal government pays the county $74 a day for each ICE detainee and covers transportation and medical expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I remember it right, they called to see if we could take them and said theyd be here in three hours, Kramer said. Juarez viewed as a positive sign the rapport between Hope Esperanza, Kramer and his team and detainees. She wondered out loud if McCook has a similar community organization able to assist in that towns future ICE detention operation. Fernandez said that while McCook is about an hours drive away, she didnt see her team being able to provide similar humanitarian outreach at that facility, since the oversight would be federal versus local county officials. Most of the women, in response to Juarezs queries, said they hadnt visited with family members face-to-face but had been able to communicate via video conferencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jail staff have been respectful and responsive, several said. Another added: Its ugly. Were locked up. Isabel Ponce, a 34-year-old mother of three kids who are with their father in Omaha, said anxiety was pushing my limits. For some, legal relief has been grinding or nonexistent. In Garibo Chonas case, for example, an immigration judge ordered her removal from the country. She was torn about appealing and leaving her daughters but said the judge told her he would not change his mind if her case came before him six months later. She was removed from the country last week. Solis Factor said she had a government-issued permit to work while awaiting a court hearing, so she at first was not concerned shed be detained. But many immigration programs and rules have changed since Trump took office for the second time in January. And a judge ordered her removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want my children to stay and continue their education and learning English, she said of her kids, ages 5 and 10. State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers who were detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) In the mens detention quarters, Juarez asked a small group if they had a criminal background. We are workers, said Juan Ramirez Jacinto of Guatemala. He said he had three children and a wife in Omaha and was especially worried about a daughter who hadnt been able to sleep well. Ramirez Jacintos first lawyer was part of a group based in another state. His new attorney, Jamie Arango of Lincoln, said she is trying to make up for time lost to ineffective counsel and will seek his release on bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with attentive representation, Arango and other experts say an already complex immigration system on top of fast-changing federal policies understandably leaves clients puzzled. * * * Indeed, the swiftly-evolving immigration landscape has been playing out in an Omaha courtroom. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon at least nine times has rejected attempts by the federal government to deny the release of Glenn Valley workers on bonds already granted by an immigration court judge. Maria Reynosa Jacinto, left, with Andrea Rafael Reynosa when her daughter graduated high school. Reynosa, a single mother, was one of the ACLU Nebraska clients released on bond following a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Batallion. (Courtesy of American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska) The three most recent cases were decided Sept. 11 and involved women who had met with Juarez. Among them was Yurenia Genchi Palma, a single mother of three U.S. citizen children who had been in the country more than 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though an immigration judge in mid-July granted Genchi Palmas release on a $7,000 bond, federal attorneys blocked it by filing an automatic stay. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which represents her, called that a new practice driven by the interim guidance leaked in a July 8 internal memo from the Trump administration. The new approach seeks to make nearly all detained immigrants facing removal proceedings ineligible for release on bond, with an aim of making more of them more likely to self deport, experts say. ICE has said the changed direction closes a loophole to our nations security that the Biden administration and others had based on inaccurate interpretation of federal law. Such measures are needed, says Trump and other supporters of stepped-up immigration enforcement, to reverse past patterns. Bataillon ruled the automatic stay provision and prolonged detention unconstitutional despite a Sept. 6 decision days before by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which had affirmed the interim guidance. As a federal court judge, Bataillon is not required to follow the decision of the BIA, an administrative body in the executive branch. He questioned the legal rationale behind the analysis but said that wasnt his concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said his ruling was based only on the lawfulness of the automatic stay. Grant Friedman of ACLU Nebraska foresees continued legal challenges and noted that the ICE no-bond practice already is being challenged in a separate national class action lawsuit. He said ACLU and other advocates are on heightened alert. The immigration landscape is rapidly changing, Friedman said. We are doing everything we can to make sure people are being treated fairly, that they have their rights respected. Anne Wurth, associate legal director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, which has assisted many Glenn Valley workers, called the current landscape absolute chaos. We have a system that is punishing individuals we rely on in our workforce and who are just humans who deserve to live their life with freedom, she said. * * * Juarez said dealing with immigration-related matters was not something she expected as a state officeholder. Shes the first Latina in the Nebraska Legislature and is serving her first year as a state lawmaker. State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha speaks with one of the male ICE detainees at the Lincoln County Jail. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) A Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, she recently clashed over immigration policy in an email exchange with former Nebraska governor and now U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, and plans to urge the states all-GOP congressional delegation to push for immigration reform. She toured the McCook jail after leaving North Platte, and vows to monitor the conversion and amplify related budget discussions. Theres no doubt Im going to stand up, said Juarez. My community expects that. ICE told the Examiner politicians should focus on encouraging their constituents to comply with federal law. It said all migrant detainees are treated humanely and given access to essential services and that any concerns regarding detainee care are taken seriously. For Ramirez Jacinto, each day in detention brings worry. Is his daughter able to sleep yet? Are the house bills paid? Will his family in Omaha go with him if hes deported? How will they escape the violence? Id like my family to stay, but who would work? said Ramirez Jacinto. Im the worker. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX International travel just got more convenient for South Carolina residents. For the first time, travelers in the Palmetto State can complete their Global Entry enrollment close to home, thanks to the opening of the states first permanent Global Entry Enrollment Center at the Charleston International Airport (CHS). The new center held its soft-opening this week, and appointments are now available though theyre filling up fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday, Sept. 19, the earliest available slots were open for the week of Oct. 14. Airport officials noted in their announcement on Facebook that more time slots will continue to open in the coming weeks. What is Global Entry? Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It offers expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon re-entering the United States from abroad. Members use dedicated kiosks at select airports, allowing them to skip long customs lines. Man using a new Global Entry kiosk at Newark Liberty International Airport. The program costs $120 for a five-year membership. It requires a background check and an in-person interview. Applicants need to bring documents such as a valid passport, proof of residency and their Trusted Traveler number to the appointment. Minors under 18 can also join for free when applying with a parent or guardian. Until now, South Carolinians seeking Global Entry membership had to travel out of state often several hours away for their mandatory in-person interviews. The nearest enrollment centers were located in Charlotte, Atlanta, or airports in Florida such as Orlando, Tampa and Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, with the permanent center housed at 5551 Porsche Boulevard in North Charleston, applicants can complete the process much closer to home. Travel through the Charleston International Airport Recently, CHS has seen record-breaking passenger numbers. In 2024, CHS served 6.29 million passengers, and by June 2025, the airport had already hosted over 3.1 million travelers. While international offerings are still growing, the airport currently offers nonstop international flights to Toronto from Air Canada and to Bermuda with BermudAir. TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: Whats the difference? TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are both part of the Trusted Traveler Program and have similar benefits; the two programs serve different purposes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening for flights departing from U.S. airports. Global Entry focuses on customs clearance when entering the U.S. from international destinations. It allows you to skip long lines by using automated kiosks at select airports. TSA recommends Global Entry for those travelling internationally four or more times a year. For those flying less frequently or those taking domestic flights more often, TSA PreCheck is recommended. While the addition of Global Entry is a notable one for South Carolina travelers, CHS does not currently offer CLEAR, another airport security service that allows travelers to skip ID verification lines using biometric scans. To learn more, visit globalentry.gov or visit this link to schedule an appointment. President Donald Trump's Justice Department has intervened and taken the side of Canadian oil and gas transport giant Enbridge in Enbridge's federal lawsuit attempting to stop Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from revoking the company's 72-year-old easement to operate the Line 5 underwater oil and gas pipelines on the Straits of Mackinac lake bottom. The U.S. Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division and Civil Division announced its filing of a "statement of interest" in a lawsuit filed by Enbridge against Whitmer and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Scott Bowen in U.S. District Court in Lansing. The Justice Department is agreeing with Enbridge's assertion in the suit that the Michigan action improperly attempts to override federal authority on interstate pipeline regulation, and federal foreign affairs authority as the pipeline from Alberta, Canada, is subject to U.S.-Canadian treaties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The federal government already comprehensively regulates pipeline safety, but Michigan is trying to usurp the Department of Transportation's statutory authority," Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson said in a statement. "President Trump has made clear that the United States will not tolerate state overreach that interferes with American energy dominance." Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's Office did not immediately respond to a Free Press request for comment. Enbridge spokesman Michael Barnes, in an emailed statement to the Free Press, noted the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty between the United States and Canada "expressly prevents public authorities such as the State of Michigan and courts from unilaterally shutting down the pipeline." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will continue to protect and defend Line 5's continued operations consistent with federal law, interstate commerce, and international treaty agreements, all of which recognize the critical role Line 5 plays in providing for the region's energy needs and its economic strength," he said. Built in 1953, Enbridge's Line 5 moves 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids per day east through the Upper Peninsula, splitting into twin underwater pipelines on the Straits of Mackinac bottom, before returning to a single transmission pipeline through the Lower Peninsula that runs south to Sarnia, Ontario. Many have expressed concern about the aging pipes over several years, as anchor strikes, missing pipeline supports and loss of protective pipeline coating have been discovered. A 30-inch oil transmission line also owned by Enbridge ruptured in July 2010 in Marshall, spilling more than 1.1 million gallons of oil, fouling 38 miles of the Kalamazoo River and prompting a cleanup that took four years and more than $1 billion. Many fear a similar pipeline mishap on the Straits bottom, where Great Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, would be greatly more devastating. Whitmer in November 2020 announced her intention to revoke Enbridge's 1953 easement with the state to use state-controlled Great Lakes bottomlands for the Straits pipeline. Whitmer's office at the time cited Enbridge's "persistent and incurable violations of the easements terms and conditions" related to safety and maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Enbridge has routinely refused to take action to protect our Great Lakes and the millions of Americans who depend on them for clean drinking water and good jobs," Whitmer said at the time. "They have repeatedly violated the terms of the 1953 easement by ignoring structural problems that put our Great Lakes and our families at risk." Enbridge officials have countered that the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits has always remained safe and cite recurring inspections by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, affirming its contention. Study: Proposed Line 5 tunnel in Straits of Mackinac would cause 'detrimental effects' In its filing, the Justice Department notes that the federal government took "decisive action" in three environmental events described in Whitmer's notice to revoke the Enbridge easement, including an April 2018 anchor strike that dented the outer Straits pipelines and the discovery of significant damage to a pipeline support in June 2020. Following the 2018 anchor strike, Congress amended federal pipeline safety laws, and PHMSA issued an interim final rule to protect the Great Lakes and connecting waters, the Justice Department's filing states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "By revisiting these same incidents to impose different standards and different results, Michigan is not only thwarting Congressional intent to promote a nationally uniform safety program but also is creating an unworkable patchwork of state standards for interim pipelines," the Justice Department states in its court filing. The Justice Department filing also declares the Michigan action infringes upon "significant interests of the United States in its conduct of foreign affairs," adding the United States has a significant interest in an "affordable and reliable domestic supply of energy" that the state easement revocation attempt threatens. Enbridge proposes to build a 21-foot diameter, 3.6-mile tunnel underneath the bed of the Straits of Mackinac to house a new, 30-inch diameter pipeline to move the oil and natural gas liquids. The tunnel pipeline would replace the twin pipes currently on the Straits bottom. Study: Nonstick 'forever chemicals' PFAS show up in beer, some brewed in Michigan Michigan Supreme Court allows tribes to appeal MPSC approval of Line 5 tunnel In other litigation related to Line 5, on Friday, Sept. 19, the Michigan Supreme Court granted an appeal by multiple Michigan Native American tribes and nonprofit environmental groups to challenge the Michigan Public Service Commission's approval of the Line 5 tunnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court is allowing a review of whether the state Court of Appeals erred in providing weight to earlier lower court rulings rather than considering on its own whether the proposed tunnel "will pollute, impair, or destroy the air, water or state's other natural resources or the public trust in these resources." The high court will also consider whether the MPSC should have excluded "evidence of the history and risk of oil spills along the entire length of Line 5" as it approved the tunnel. The tunnel project and the dual pipelines are just two versions of one terrible idea that threatens to destroy our clean water, our fishing, and our way of life for the sake of Canadian profits, said Bay Mills Indian Community President Whitney Gravelle. Our choice is not between the dual pipelines and the tunnel. Our choice is between an oil spill in the Great Lakes and a clean water future for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. We simply want government officials to consider the safest, cheapest, and most commonsense alternative: Decommission Line 5. Barnes said a tunnel allowing for a new oil and gas pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac "makes what has always been a safe pipeline even safer." Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump administration sides with Enbridge in Michigan Line 5 lawsuit Donald Trump signed an executive order that imposes a $100,000 (74,000) annual fee on applicants to the H-1B visa scheme designed for skilled workers. The president announced the new fee on Friday, prompting some major US tech firms to advise visa holders to either remain in the country or return there quickly. The new fee, which comes into force from Sunday, marks Washingtons latest attempt to overhaul the countrys temporary employment visa system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change could signal a major overhaul of the technology sector, which contributed millions of dollars to Mr Trumps presidential campaign and relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. India accounts for almost three-quarters of approved beneficiaries of H-1B visas, while China makes up a much smaller proportion, almost 12%, according to government data. The executive order comes as the Trump administration enacts a large-scale crackdown on immigration, targeting undocumented migrants and cutting off legal pathways such as the Temporary Protected Status programme and humanitarian parole protections. While the visa changes are likely to be hailed as a victory by immigration hawks on Capitol Hill, there are worries they could become a thorn in the side of tech executives used to recruiting top talent from abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Trump assured reporters: The main thing is, were going to have great people coming in, and theyre going to be paying. I think theyre going to be very happy. Everyones going to be happy, he said of tech companies. Credit: Unrestricted pool But some analysts have suggested that levying the fee could suffocate smaller tech firms and start-ups and force companies to move some high-value work overseas. Indias leading trade body Nasscom said the $100,000 charge could disrupt the global operations of Indian technology services companies that deploy skilled professionals to the US. The industry body said the one-day deadline for the new policy created considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also said the new policy could have ripple effects on the U.S. innovation ecosystem and on global job markets, pointing out that for companies, additional cost will require adjustments. It added that policy changes of this scale were best introduced with adequate transition periods, allowing organisations and individuals to plan effectively and minimise disruption. Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the US, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters. The order is set to come into force on Sept 21 but is likely to face legal challenges. The order expires in a year but can be extended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of the H-1B visa have consistently maintained that it allows tech firms to suppress wages and undercut Americans in favour of foreign workers. Speaking at a Friday press briefing, Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, said that all the big companies had been briefed on the new fee. If youre going to train somebody, youre going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs, Mr Lutnick said. The H-1B visa programme was signed into law by former President George H. W. Bush in 1990 and gave skilled workers from abroad the right to temporarily take up work in the US. Among its biggest beneficiaries in recent years have been Amazon, Microsoft and Meta. George H W Bush signed the H-1B visa programme into law in 1990 - Bettmann Up to this point, H-1B visas have carried administrative fees amounting to around $1,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a parallel order, Trump also established a variation of his long-awaited Gold Card to fast-track visas for immigrants of exceptional value to the US in exchange for fees beginning at $1m, Lutnick said. Corporations sponsoring an employee for a gold card would pay double the fee at $2m, with an additional $15,000 vetting fee. We anticipate the Trump Gold Card will generate well over $100bn very quickly, Trump wrote on Truth Social. This money will be used for reducing taxes, pro-growth projects, and paying down our debt. A government website presented an image of the embossed and gilded Trump Gold Card finished with a portrait of the US president alongside a bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty, captioned Unlock life in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gold card programme grants eligibility for an expedited process to procure an immigrant visa, as the administration also mulls a $5 million Platinum Card to allow people to spend up to 270 days in the country without being subject to US taxes on non-US income. The H-1B visa changes followed efforts in Trumps first term to dramatically curtail the number of new skilled-worker visas issued each year, measures which were thrown out by a federal judge in December 2020. In December 2024, Trump stepped in to defend the H-1B visas after former ally and tech mogul Elon Musk said that he would go to war to protect them in response to remarks by US businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, then tapped by Trump to slash government spending, that the system was badly broken & should be replaced. At the time, Trump told The New York Post that he always liked and had always been in favour of the scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon told employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States, according to Reuters, citing internal emails. Indias IT industry body Nasscom criticised the abrupt visa changes on Saturday, saying they would create considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Donald Trump demanded the Venezuelan government accept the return of all of the prisoners he claims the country has forced into the U.S., or face an incalculable price. Trump made the threat Saturday in a post on Truth Social, where he did not elaborate on which prisoners he was referring to other than some were people from mental institutions, an unsubstantiated claim he has repeatedly made before. We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions, which includes the Worst in the World Insane Asylums, that Venezuelan Leadership has forced into the United States of America, the president wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of people have been badly hurt, and even killed, by these Monsters. GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW, OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE! Trump added. For years, Trump has claimed without evidence that Venezuela and other countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been emptying their insane asylums and sending them to the U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded the Venezuelan government accept the return of all of the prisoners he claimed the country had forced into the U.S. (PA Wire) Critics of the president also mocked his outburst on Truth Social and suggested Trump misunderstood the definition of asylum. He STILL thinks asylum seekers are people from insane asylums, former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said in a post on X, sharing a screenshot of Trumps latest Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also conflates the primary definition of asylum with the secondary definition, remarked the author and journalist Michael Weiss. Referring to Trump repeatedly mixing up the countries Armenia and Albania, Weiss added: The man who brought peace the peoples of Azerbaijan and Albania may not be the intellectual powerhouse he thinks himself to be The president has claimed that countries are intentionally releasing the mentally ill into America more than 500 times over the years, according to the nonprofit fact-checking outlet The Marshall Project. Roberto Briceno-Leon, founder and director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, told CNN last year that the organization had found no evidence that the Venezuelan government is emptying its prisons or mental health institutions to send them to the U.S. or other countries. Trump made the threat Saturday in a post on Truth Social, where he did not elaborate on which prisoners he was referring to other than some were people from mental institutions an unsubstantiated claim he has made before (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social) Tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. are high after Trump ordered three military strikes in one month on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump announced the most recent strike via Truth Social Friday evening, writing that three men were killed and that the vessel was in international waters. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, he added. Its unclear exactly where the boat was located. The U.S. Southern Command area includes the Caribbean Sea and South America. It followed an attack on September 2 where 11 people died after Trump ordered a strike on a drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. Venezuela said the 11 killed in the attack were not connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. Nicolas Maduro, right, offered to engage in direct talks with Trump officials this month (AFP/Getty) Following the attack, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered to engage in direct talks with Trump officials in a letter dated September 6, according to Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President, I hope that together we can defeat the falsehoods that have sullied our relationship, which must be historic and peaceful, Maduro reportedly wrote in the letter. These and other issues will always be open for a direct and frank conversation with your special envoy (Richard Grenell) to overcome media noise and fake news. But despite the apparent attempt to lower the temperature, Venezuela revealed Thursday it had launched three days of large-scale military exercises in the Caribbean in response to the U.S. attacks. President Donald Trump on Friday said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet for the first time in his second term when he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Seoul next month. Trump also announced his intention to visit China next year and to host Xi in the United States at an appropriate time. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he and the Chinese leaders morning phone call had been very productive and included discussions of Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also agreed with President Xi that we would meet at the APEC Summit in South Korea, that I would go to China in the early part of next year, and that President Xi would, likewise, come to the United States at an appropriate time, said Trump. Xi last visited the United States in 2023 when the U.S. hosted the APEC summit in San Francisco. He also met with then-president Joe Biden for a bilateral summit at which the two leaders reached a deal for Beijing to crack down on exports of fentanyl precursor chemicals. Trump last met with China's President Xi Jinping at G20 in Osaka (REUTERS) Continuing, Trump added that he and Xi would be speaking again by phone and expressed his appreciation for Xis approval of a framework for an agreement to transfer TikToks American operations to a U.S. ownership group and avoid a ban mandated under a 2024 law that Trump has thus far declined to enforce. The fate of the popular video-sharing app has been in limbo since January, when a law banning it that had been passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by then-President Joe Biden went into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation was prompted by the longstanding national security concerns posed by Chinese ownership of a platform used regularly by more than 170 million Americans. But Trump has declined to enforce it and first signed an order purporting to waive enforcement of the law shortly after taking office. Earlier this week, he issued another order directing the Department of Justice to continue putting off enforcement of the ban until December, just after American and Chinese negotiators agreed on a framework for a deal to place TikToks American operations under the control of a U.S. consortium that would reportedly own 80 percent of a new company to operate the app. According to the Wall Street Journal, Americans using TikTok would move to a new app built with a updated version of the Chinese-made recommendation algorithm that was the source of concerns which led to the law banning the app in the United States. Wang Jingtao, deputy director of Chinas top cyberspace regulator, told reporters in Madrid that the two sides had reached a basic consensus on resolving the TikTok issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Beijing had agreed to licensing the use of TikToks algorithm and other intellectual property rights and said negotiators had reached an accord on entrusting the operations of U.S. user data and content security business. The agreement would also see TikToks American operations be purchased from Chinese owner ByteDance by a group of U.S. investors including Oracle, which is controlled by Larry Ellison, the GOP donor and father of right-wing media entrepreneur David Ellison. The younger Ellison recently took control of CBS News and is intent on turning the television networks journalism operation onto a more pro-Trump course. He is also reportedly considering a bid for the parent company of CNN, which if successful would allow him to neuter two widely-respected news outlets that have long been a thorn in Trumps side. The presidents permissive attitude towards TikTok marks a staunch reversal from his position during his first term when it gained popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, he signed an executive order which threatened to shut down TikTok if the apps Chinese owners, ByteDance, did not divest its American operations. At the time, Trump and others in his first-term administration described the application as a national security threat, citing its opaque algorithm and the potential for China to use the application to spy on Americans through their mobile phones. But Trumps attitude towards TikTok shifted after his 2024 presidential campaign used it to reach younger voters during last years election. Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at a joint press conference on Thursday, Trump said he would speak with Xi about the proposed deal to save TikTok because there is tremendous value in the controversial application. He added: I like TikTok. It helped get me elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuing, the president credited the slain Republican activist Charlie Kirk with recommending that his 2024 campaign join the app and use it to reach young voters during last years election. We did unbelievably well with youth, like at a level that no Republican has ever even dreamt of. And in what, you know, look, I think we won it for a lot of reasons, but that was a reason we won the election by such a big number, he said. JONATHAN KARL: Are you disappointed that the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia has not prosecuted Letitia James, do you intend to fire him? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, were going to see what happens. I am not following it very closely. It looks to me like shes very guilty of something, but I really dont know. I know that the U.S. Attorney from the Eastern District or from that district in Virginia, that he was approved by two Democrat senators who, in my opinion, are among the worst. And when I learned that two senators, Democrats, because, as you know, its very hard with the Blue Slip, it is very hard for a Republican to get somebody approved if you have one senator thats a Democrat because of an old custom. Its not a law, it s a custom. Its a ridiculous custom, but if you had a Democrat senator, you have to get that senator approval. In this case, we had two. When I saw that he got two senators. Two gentlemen that are bad news, as far as Im concerned. When I saw that he got approved by those two men, I said, pull it, because he cant be any good. JONATHAN KARL: So you want Siebert fired, you want him out. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yeah, I want him out. Yeah. When I learned that he was blue-slipped through by two Democrat senators in Virginia, people that would never vote for it, people that havent voted for us for probably years, okay, probably years. In my opinion, two bad guys, you know, they are Warner and Kane, two big guys, bad senators, too. They do a terrible job for the people of Virginia. But when I saw that he got approved by these two terrible people that havent voted, they just dont vote. No matter what it is, we could give them the greatest deal ever and they still wouldnt vote. And they voted for this guy, and I have other people, judges, and U.S. Attorneys from other states who have the same situation, and they cant get approved. So when I learned that they voted him, I said, I dont really want him. Donald Trump has encouraged Sir Tony Blair to rally regional support for the former prime ministers postwar plans for Gaza. Sources briefed on Sir Tonys proposal said the guiding principle is Gaza is for Gazans, with no displacement of the population, something that Israels ultra right-wing cabinet members have called for. According to Israeli media it would focus on building a transitional governing body which would ultimately return power to the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, as part of a pathway towards a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latest suggestions are that the former British PM would head up any interim government for up to five years while stability is introduced. Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City as Israel intensifies its attacks on the enclave (AFP via Getty Images) But details of the proposal have yet to be seen by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas or neighbouring countries impacted, such as Jordan. And the central premise, as explained by sources briefed on the document, apparently directly clashes with both Israeli and Hamas visions for the destroyed strip. The Independent understands a report leaked to the Times of Israel is an earlier draft of what is currently on the table. It proposes creating a new body named the Gaza International Transitional Authority (Gita) which will govern Gaza during a transitional period, eventually handing over control to the PA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gita would be established via a UN Security Council resolution and would be governed by a board of 710 members, including at least one qualified Palestinian, a senior UN official, international figures with financial experience, as well as strong representation of Muslim members. Sir Tony is understood to have offered to lead this consortium. Previous reporting had linked his initiative to the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, leaving the enclave open for international property development. Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from Israel on Friday (Reuters) But sources told The Independent that the institute would not support or endorse any proposal that involves the transfer of Palestinians. In the leaks published by The Times, the proposal envisions the establishment of a Property Rights Preservation Unit, aimed at ensuring that any voluntary departure of Gazans does not compromise their right to return to the enclave or retain property ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal reportedly also includes the creation of an multinational stabilisation force under international mandate that would aim to ensure border integrity, deter the resurgence of armed groups, protect humanitarian operations, and support but not replace local law enforcement in Gaza. The Independent understands Hamas would not be part of either the transitional or future government of Gaza, which, again, is a key demand of the militant group. Sir Tony and his team at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change will face an uphill battle getting the extreme-right members of Israels cabinet on board. Israelis prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said there will be no Palestinian state. Earlier this month he declared this place belongs to us as he signed a controversial plan for the massive expansion of Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the occupied West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich told a conference in Tel Aviv that he was already in talks with the US about dividing up Gaza. The Strip is home to over 2 million people and largely laid to waste by Israels unprecedented two-year bombardment. Details of Tony Blairs reported plan for Gaza have been leaked to the media (PA Wire) Mr Smotrich promised a real estate bonanza in the 25-mile-long enclave, adding that since Israel paid a lot for the war and needs to make a percentage on the land marketing. Weve done the demolition now we need to build, he said. The Blair plan is said to be anchored on the dismantling of Hamas, and lays out a transitional administration for Gaza, in which the Palestinian Authority would have a role, albeit a diminished one at the start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was roundly rejected by Hamas officials, who told The Independent they had not seen the proposal. No party has the right to dismantle any Palestinian faction. The one that needs to be dismantled is the occupation, the official said anonymously, adding that Palestinians would not accept a deal they had not voted on or been consulted about. We will not allow the Palestinians to have anything dictated to them against their will, he said. Dr Omar Awadallah, the deputy foreign minister for the rival PA which is anchored in the West Bank , said they had yet to see a draft of the Blair proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are ready to engage in good faith, he said. But Gaza is an integral part of the State of Palestine. We will not accept any plan that talks about Gaza as a real estate or financial investment for foreign companies where Palestinians are not present. The only hope is our people and international law. Any plan that isnt based on that is null and void. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen every day (AFP via Getty Images) Frustrated by the lack of progress with ceasefire talks, President Trump was briefed back in August on ideas for a post-war Gaza by Sir Tony and Mr Trumps son-in-law and former Middle East envoy Jared Kushner who has penned previous proposals for the region. So far, the US president has suggested a myriad of sometimes contradictory visions for the besieged enclave, where more than 90 per cent of the population has been displaced, famine stalks the population and a UN commission of inquiry has said Israel has committed genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump at one point even suggested an American takeover of the strip using US troops as a way to bring an end to the war. In February, he posted an AI-generated video depicting a post-war Gaza as a lavish tourist destination complete with a Trump tower. In the same month, he also suggested Palestinians could be relocated to one large or multiple smaller sites. He later walked this back and is said to support Sir Tonys vision and is even, according to the Times of Israel, tasking him with getting regional stakeholders on board. Donald Trump, pictured with Keir Starmer during his state visit to the UK, reportedly approves of the plan (AFP via Getty Images) Dr Awadallah said Palestinian authorities had discussed a similar initiative of a stabilisation mission earlier this year in a meeting in in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said it could only be adopted if it came into being via an official request from the Palestinian government and a UN Security Council resolution. The stabilisation mission would aim to support us in governance and stability, not to substitute us, he said, adding: We are ready to engage in good faith. The Blair proposal would also need to secure the support of nations bordering Israel. Egypt is reportedly already on high alert, as Mr Netanyahu has pushed ahead with his controversial, widened offensive on Gaza City, with Arabic media reporting that Egyptian armed forces fear the possibility of Palestinians crossing into Sinai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Jordanian government source said that they had not seen a copy of the plan yet but a key red line was the displacement of Palestinians. They also said they would reject any boots on the ground in Gaza unless formally requested by a Palestinian government body and that it would be unlikely to involve Jordanian troops. United States President Donald Trump says American forces have carried out a third strike targeting a ship that he claimed was trafficking illicit narcotics, killing at least three men on board. The announcement, late on Friday, came as Venezuela accused the US of waging an undeclared war in the Caribbean and called for a United Nations probe into the strikes. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the latest lethal kinetic strike took place on his orders in the US Southern Commands area of responsibility, a region that encompasses 31 countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage en route to poison Americans, Trump said. The strike killed 3 male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel, which was in international waters. No US Forces were harmed in this strike. Trump posted minute-long aerial footage showing side-by-side videos of a vessel one in colour and one in black and white that is struck by a projectile as it moves through the water. The video ends with the vessel seen ablaze in the water. Trump did not offer evidence to back his claim nor say where the vessel departed from and where specifically the strike took place. Undeclared war The attack came as the US deployed warships to international waters off Venezuelas coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico, in what it calls an anti-drug operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has previously carried out two strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels that it claims originated in Venezuela. On September 2, Trump announced that the US military conducted a strike on a small boat he accused of trafficking drugs for Tren de Aragua, a gang originating from the South American country, killing 11 people. Trump described the deceased as narcoterrorists who were transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. On Monday, Trump announced a strike on a second alleged Venezuelan drug cartel vessel in international waters. He said three men were killed in the attack, and they had been positively identified as working for extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate incident this month, the Venezuelan government also accused the US military of direct provocation after it intercepted a harmless Venezuelan fishing boat in its exclusive economic zone. The attacks have pushed already strained relations between the US and Venezuela to breaking point, as the Trump administration enacts a sustained pressure campaign on President Nicolas Maduro, whom it has described as a direct threat to Washingtons national security. The Trump administration has also issued a $50m reward on Maduro on drug trafficking charges. On Wednesday, Venezuela launched three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila in response to the perceived threat from the US flotilla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is an undeclared war, and you can already see how people, whether or not they are drug traffickers, have been executed in the Caribbean Sea, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Friday as he attended a military exercise. The victims have been executed without the right to a defence, he added. For his part, Maduro has accused the Trump administration of trying to enact violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America and called on Washington to respect sovereignty, the right to peace, [and] independence. He has also urged Venezuelan citizens to join militia training to defend the homeland and announced that troops would provide residents of low-income neighbourhoods with weapons training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuelan opposition figure Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate and staunch Maduro critic, said on Friday that he would not support any US invasion. I continue to believe that the solution is not military, but political, he said, adding that Trumps actions were counterproductive and entrenching those in power. US lawmakers and rights groups have meanwhile raised concerns over whether the strikes violate international law and the rights of the targeted individuals, who have been extrajudicially executed without due process. Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, said US officials cannot summarily kill people they accuse of smuggling drugs. The problem of narcotics entering the United States is not an armed conflict, and US officials cannot circumvent their human rights obligations by pretending otherwise, Yager said. United States President Donald Trump has threatened Venezuela with incalculable consequences if the country does not immediately take back immigrants he described as prisoners and people from mental institutions. GET THEM THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW, OR THE PRICE YOU PAY WILL BE INCALCULABLE! he said on his Truth Social platform on Saturday. He insisted that Venezuela had forced such people into the US and claimed without evidence that thousands of people have been badly hurt, and even killed, by these Monsters.' Trumps latest outburst came amid soaring tensions, one day after he announced another strike against alleged drug vessels from Venezuela in the Caribbean that killed three men he described as male narcoterrorists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuela, for its part, has accused the US of waging an undeclared war in the Caribbean and called for a United Nations investigation into at least three strikes on boats that have killed a total of 17 people since the beginning of September. Washington has deployed seven warships, a nuclear-powered submarine and F-35 stealth fighters to international waters off Venezuelas coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico, in the biggest US naval deployment in the Caribbean. Trump says the military is engaged in an anti-drug operation, but has not provided specific evidence to back up claims that the boats targeted so far had actually been trafficking drugs. Legal analysts have warned that the attacks amount to extrajudicial killings. Reward offered for Maduros arrest The deployment has stoked fears of an attack on Venezuelan territory, with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro repeatedly alleging the US is hoping to drive him from power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump this week denied he was interested in regime change, but Washington last month doubled its reward for information leading to Maduros arrest to $50m, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups. Maduro denies links between high-ranking authorities and drug gangs and pledged to mobilise more than four million militia fighters in response to US threats after Washington raised the reward for his arrest. A drill led by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces to train citizens in weapon handling after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deployed the military across communities nationwide as part of a national initiative to train enlisted citizens and residents, amid rising tensions with the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 20, 2025 [Gaby Oraa/Reuters] Maduro sent letter to Trump Days after the first US strike on a boat from the South American country at the beginning of the month, Maduro offered to engage in direct talks with Washington, according to the Reuters news agency, which viewed a personal letter sent to Trump. President, I hope that together we can defeat the falsehoods that have sullied our relationship, which must be historic and peaceful, Maduro wrote in the letter, calling for direct and frank talks to overcome media noise and fake news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate development on Saturday, Maduros YouTube channel disappeared from the video-sharing platform on Saturday, according to the AFP news agency. Without any justification, the YouTube channel was closed at a time when the US was fully implementing hybrid warfare operations against Venezuela, AFP cited Telesur as saying on its website. A Texas magistrate with no practical experience could not have released DeCarlos Brown, as occurred in North Carolina before the killing of Iryna Zarutska, under a new state law. In January, North Carolina Magistrate Teresa Stokes allowed Brown to walk free after he was arrested for allegedly misusing the 911 system, telling police that he was being controlled by man-made material that dictated his every urge, according to an affidavit obtained by ABC News. Stokes actions were within state law, as North Carolina permits non-lawyer magistrates to handle arraignments and set conditions of release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Brown was charged with the brutal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was seated directly in front of him on a train. Surveillance footage of the attack has sparked outrage, as it shows a clearly shocked Zarutska doubled over and bleeding while other passengers appear unfazed, and the suspect walks around the train car. The case has fueled debate in North Carolina over whether magistrates without law degrees should retain the authority to decide bail. North Carolina City Councilman Malcolm Graham reportedly said, You can be a magistrate and dont have a law degree. Thats insane, per CBS Austin. While CBS Austin reported that Stokes attended Cooley Law School, a search of the membership directory of the North Carolina State Bar did not return any results for Teresa Stokes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zarutskas death fueled a response from national law enforcement officials who sought to prosecute the case at the federal level, beyond the hands of state magistrates. Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a press release. I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence he will never again see the light of day as a free man. Like Texas, North Carolinas magistrates are appointed. However, in North Carolina, they do not need to hold a law degree or pass the bar exam to serve in the position. The law even permits those with only a two-year degree and less than five years of experience in a related field to serve as a magistrate. Texas law is stricter about who can be a magistrate. Under the states Code of Criminal Procedure, all magistrates must be licensed attorneys. A 2021 bail reform measure, Senate Bill 6, also requires magistrates to undergo training before setting bail, the Texas Municipal Court Education Center website explains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning on the first of this month, state law further mandates that magistrates have five years of legal experience before appointment, although some exceptions permit them to have as few as two years of experience. The change was made through S.B. 664, a bill from Republican state Senator Joan Huffman, that passed both chambers of the state legislature in May. The new law seeks to standardize the previous patchwork of processes for appointing a magistrate across the state and enhance the qualifications of appointees, a Texas Policy Research bill analysis states. The legislation further mandates specific training on bail practices for any judicial officer with authority over bail-related decisions, the analysis adds. While a Texas magistrate could theoretically make the same decision as Stokes in North Carolina, the person doing so would presumably be more qualified under the new state law. The reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran drew closer on Friday after the Security Council in New York rejected a draft resolution that would have prolonged their suspension. Economic sanctions first imposed between 2006 and 2010 are now expected to take effect again on September 28, unless a last-minute agreement is reached with Tehran. Germany, France and the United Kingdom triggered the so-called "snapback" sanctions mechanism in late August, accusing Iran of serious breaches of the landmark 2015 nuclear accord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They cite, among other violations, uranium enrichment far beyond levels needed for civilian purposes. As expected, the draft resolution to keep sanctions relief in place failed to win the required nine votes in the 15-member council. Russia and China were among the countries backing keeping sanctions relief. The three European states still have until the end of next week to negotiate concessions with Iran that could prevent the sanctions from taking effect. However, diplomats currently consider such an outcome unlikely. France's ambassador to the UN, Jerome Bonnafont, said that the three European countries were continuing to seek a solution with Tehran, but that they had not as yet had a "satisfactory answer" to their demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK meanwhile rejected Russia's claim that the Europeans did not have the right to reinstitute the sanctions. Iran makes last-minute attempt at deal In the run-up to the vote, Iran presented a new proposal. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X late on Thursday that he had submitted a "reasonable and actionable plan" to the three European countries the previous day, which is intended "to avert an unnecessary and avoidable crisis in the coming days." Araghchi spoke of "a creative, fair, and balanced proposal which addresses genuine concerns and is mutually beneficial," without providing any details about its content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking in Geneva, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh threatened that Tehran would play "strategic cards" if UN sanctions were reinstated. While Khatibzadeh did not commit to any specific plans at the press conference, he made it clear that Iran considers withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to be one of its options. The treaty prohibits non-nuclear countries from acquiring nuclear weapons and obliges nuclear powers to disarm. Khatibzadeh accused the European states of fuelling tensions in the Middle East with the snapback mechanism. "What Europeans are doing is politically biased and motivated, legally unlawful, internationally illegitimate and strategically very wrong," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2015 Iran nuclear deal was seen at the time as a diplomatic milestone and an important instrument for restraining Iran from building a nuclear weapon. During his first term as US president, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018, with Tehran responding by breaching the agreement's provisions, on enrichment in particular. Observers believe Tehran could retaliate by restricting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or even announcing that it will go ahead with building a nuclear weapon. Before the June war with Israel and the US bombing of its facilities, the IAEA reported that Iran had more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, far beyond civilian needs and little short of the 90% required for a nuclear weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renewed sanctions could severely impact hit the Iranian economy, already reeling from US and other sanctions. Companies around the world could reconsider dealings with Tehran for fear of retaliation from the Western powers. The country's energy sector is already hit by sanctions, and Iran is largely excluded from the international payments system. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bay County Fire Rescue officials have had their hands full today with a string of fire incidents across the county. One of the most recent incidents took place in Panama City Beach. It started when a Volkswagen van pulled into the Mobile gas station next to Christos on Navy Boulevard around 6 p.m. Friday. Officials say thats when other customers noticed the vehicle was on fire and forced the owner to move it away from the gas pumps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner ended up parking the first vehicle next to three unoccupied vehicles, which then quickly went up in flames. Bay County Fire Rescue and the Bay County Sheriffs Department were on the scene and were able to put out the fire. This incident is still under investigation, but no one was harmed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued water contact advisories this week after tests found high bacteria levels at two beaches. The bacteria are common across the Mississippi Coast and returned this week to Biloxi East Central Beach, which extends from St. Peter Street to Dukate Street. The state also issued a water contact advisory for Gulfport West Beach, between Marie and Camp avenues. The beaches are still open. But the Department of Environmental Quality issues advisories as a precaution to warn beachgoers that swimming could increase the risk of illness. The advisories are often triggered by faulty septic tanks or sewers that leak through the stormwater system and into the Mississippi Sound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Environmental Quality tests every beach weekly for the bacteria, which are called Enterococcus and can indicate the possibility that sewage is contaminating the water. Scientists briefly stopped testing beaches after the discovery of mold last month at the Bolton Building, where the programs laboratory is based, forced employees to find temporary offices. But the program started testing beaches again earlier this month. The agencys tests do not track a separate and rare bacterium called Vibrio, which has spiked this year across the region. Vibrio naturally lives in coastal waters and can cause serious infections. Enterococcus is not usually harmful to humans, but scientists use it to indicate possible pollution. Scientists at the Department of Environmental Quality test beaches under advisory every day until Enterococcus bacteria levels return to normal. The agency also has a standing advisory against swimming after heavy rain because runoff from drains south of the railroad tracks inevitably washes pollutants into the waves. Tests this week showed bacteria levels are normal at all other beaches across the Mississippi Coast. A sign on East Beach in Ocean Springs on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, warns of a water contact advisory. Here is the full list of advisories in 2025: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sept. 19: The state issued an advisory for Biloxi East Central Beach. Sept. 18: The state issued an advisory for Gulfport West Beach. Aug. 9: The state issued an advisory for Biloxi East Central Beach. The advisory lifted Aug. 13. Aug. 7: The state issued an advisory for Gulfport Harbor Beach. The advisory lifted Aug. 14. July 31: The state issued an advisory for Long Beach. The advisory lifted Aug. 13. July 10: The state issued an advisory for Pass Christian Central Beach. The advisory lifted July 15. June 27: The state issued advisories for Biloxi West Central Beach and Biloxi East Central Beach. The advisories lifted July 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement June 14: The state issued advisories for Bay St. Louis Beach and Gulfport Harbor Beach. The advisory in Gulfport lifted June 19. The advisory in Bay St. Louis lifted June 20. June 6: The MDEQ issued an advisory for Biloxi West Central Beach. The advisory lifted June 14. May 15: The state issued advisories for Pass Christian Central Beach and Long Beach Beach. The advisories lifted May 21. May 6: The state issued advisories for Pass Christian West Beach and Edgewater Beach. The advisories lifted May 14. April 18: The state issued an advisory for Gulfport East Beach. That advisory lifted April 23. April 17: The state issued an advisory for Pass Christian West Beach, Gulfport Harbor Beach and Gulfport Central Beach. The advisory for Gulfport Central Beach lifted April 23. The Pass Christian West Beach advisory lifted April 24. The advisory for Gulfport Harbor Beach lifted May 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 20: The state issued advisories for Pass Christian East Beach and Gulfport West Beach. The state lifted the advisory for Pass Christian East Beach on May 7. The advisory at Gulfport West Beach lifted May 14. March 13: The state issued an advisory for Bay St. Louis Beach and Pass Christian Central Beach. A day later, it issued an advisory for Biloxi East Central Beach. Mississippi lifted the advisories at Bay St. Louis Beach and Biloxi East Central Beach on March 19. The advisory for Pass Christian Central Beach lifted April 23. Feb. 13: Mississippi issued an advisory in Long Beach, Pass Christian Central Beach and Bay St. Louis Beach. The advisories in Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis lifted Feb. 26. The advisory in Long Beach lifted May 7. Feb. 6: The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a water contact advisory at Gulfport West Beach. The advisory lifted Feb. 12. The agency also issued an advisory at Waveland Beach, which lifted Feb. 26. Jan. 17: The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued an advisory at Front Beach in Ocean Springs. The advisory ended Jan. 29. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) Three human cases of West Nile virus have been identified in Fayette County. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department said the cases were all identified between late August and early September. West Nile virus found in Kentucky: UK expert shares what to know All three cases have reportedly required hospitalization. The health department said all cases are adults between the ages of 30 and 77. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three individuals are said to either reside in or spend long periods of time outdoors in the 40502, 40505, and 40509 ZIP codes. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: As a result, the health department said it will spray for mosquitoes in parts of those areas next week that havent already been sprayed previously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RIPLEY A Pennsylvania woman set to go to trial for capital murder next week entered a plea to a lesser charge Friday in Tippah County Circuit Court. Karen Spence, 65, and her husband Jeffrey Dean Spence, 67, were scheduled to go on trial Sept. 23 in connection to the late 2022 death of businessman Kirby Carpenter, 36. Friday morning, she appeared before Circuit Judge Kelly Luther and entered an Alford plea to accessory after the fact of grand larceny. Under an Alford plea, she maintains she did not commit the crime but acknowledges that the state has enough evidence to convict her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison, gave her credit for time served, and suspended the remainder of the sentence. Spence, who has remained free on bond for more than a year, will have to serve five years unsupervised probation and pay all court costs and fees. Most people who live here get supervised probation, Luther said. Since you live in Pennsylvania, no one will be looking over your shoulder, watching to make sure you dont get into trouble. You will have to be your own probation officer. Carpenter was found dead from a gunshot wound outside the County Road 600 house he shared with the Spences daughter, Caitlin Spence, 38. Authorities believe Carpenter was killed on Nov. 30, 2022, and that a substantial number of items were stolen from the Carpenter estate around the time of the murder. Carpenter owned multiple rental properties and was the owner of Mississippi Gold, Silver and Coin Exchange. All three Spences were indicted in the spring of 2024, each charged with capital murder, as well as two counts of grand larceny and conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caitlin Spence pleaded guilty in April to accessory after the fact to capital murder as part of the plea agreement that requires her to testify truthfully at her fathers trial. District Attorney Ben Creekmore said Friday that Karen Spence, by law, cannot be forced to testify against her husband, whose trial is still slated to begin Tuesday morning at the Pontotoc County Courthouse. The court granted a change of venue in June, moving the trial to Pontotoc County in search of a jury pool who has not heard about the case. That trial is expected to take at least a week. Judge Luther told prosecutors and Jeffrey Spences defense attorney to be prepared to work through the weekend. One week before the parliamentary elections in Moldova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed sanctions against pro-Russian politicians in the neighbouring country. The punitive measures were directed "against people who destabilize Moldova in the interests of Moscow," Zelensky said in a video message issued on Saturday. "Ukraine supports Moldova, and we are interested in the stability of our neighbour - [and] in Moldova's success," he asserted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list of 11 names also includes Evghenia Gutul, governor of the autonomous region of Gagauzia in Moldova. She has been set up by Moscow to oppose pro-European Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The sanctions are more symbolic than practical; they mean that these individuals are not allowed to engage in economic activity in Ukraine. Pro-European and pro-Russian forces have long been arguing over the course to take in the small republic of Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania. Moldova is a candidate for EU accession, which is why Brussels and countries such as Germany have lobbied for a continuation of the rapprochement. Polls suggest that Sandu's party PAS (Party for Action and Solidarity) could once again become the strongest force in the elections on September 28, but will no longer be able to govern alone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed off on three new sanctions packages targeting propagandists, individuals doing business in the occupied territories, and individuals working to destabilise Moldova in the interests of Moscow. Source: Zelenskyys evening address Quote: "Today, I also signed decrees imposing new Ukrainian sanctions. Three packages were signed. In particular, against propagandists helping Russia; against individuals doing business in occupied territories and feeding Russias budget, sustaining this system of evil; and against those destabilising Moldova in Moscows interest. Ukraine is helping Moldova, and we are invested in the stability of our neighbour and in Moldovas success." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Update: The decrees imposing the sanctions were later published on the president's website. One of them introduces sanctions against a number of Russian citizens, among them historian and commentator Aleksandr Dyukov, first deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrei Kikot, and blogger Katerina Mizulina. There are some Ukrainian citizens on the sanctions list as well, including Mykola Lahun, a Ukrainian entrepreneur who was the chairman of the supervisory board and former owner of Delta Bank, and pro-Russian bloggers Alexander Rogers and Vsevolod Filimonenko. The second decree imposes sanctions against 66 individuals and 13 legal entities. The third decree imposes sanctions against 11 Moldovan citizens. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. Delhi LG asks universities to submit an action plan for students' visits to border areas He wants to send students to visit the border areas as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Saxena decided to send students from the national capital on an exposure visit to our nations borders Infosys' plan to hire 10,000 Americans is "less of a cause" for celebration than it appears as the need of the hour is a comprehensive H-1B reform than the pledge by the Indian technology giant to create jobs in the US, a leading American daily has said. Another student has been found dead at IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal, sending shockwaves through the campus, marking the second such incident reported on the campus this year, raising concerns among students and authorities, sending shockwaves through the campus. Odisha ministers told the Assembly that 19 sexual harassment complaints were filed in colleges and universities and 32 cases in schools over the past year, with Ravenshaw and Utkal University recording the highest numbers. Scroll down to read more. After winning just five matches in the Indian Premier League 2024, the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans will look to bounce back in the upcoming season. The Gujarat based franchise added some big names like Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada in their squad during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Here's the predicted playing XI of Gujarat Titans for IPL 2025: Bridgett Brown, a resident of California, developed breast cancer from using brand-name and generic versions of the antipsychotics Risperdal (risperidone) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) says a new lawsuit from the Wisner Baum law firm. Neither Brown or her two prescribing physicians knew or had reason to know that the drugs could cause breast cancer since the drug manufacturers obfuscated and disclaimed such risks while promoting these dangerous, expensive drugs over safer, more affordable alternatives. Brown suffered disfigurement, physical injury, pain, and emotional distress and demands a jury trial, says the suit. Drug giants Johnson & Johnson or J&J (who marketed Risperdal) and Eli Lilly (who marketed Zyprexa) are among the suits major defendants along with J&J subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals (who marketed Risperdal) and Lilly German partner Cheplapharm Arzneimittel Gmbh. Off-label prescriptions versus off-label marketing Many have heard of off-label drug use in which a doctor prescribes a drug to a patient for a non-FDA approved indication. The use of Retin A products for wrinkles when they are approved for acne is a case in point. Risperdal and Zyprexa have benefited from such off-label prescribing according to the suit because the drug is given for attention-deficit in children, dementia in the elderly and as mood stabilizers in psychiatric patients; related sales calls to child psychiatrists, adolescent mental health facilities and nursing homes have also been noted in the marketing. Of course, such marketing creep is simply a numbers game. Only one percent of the U.S. actually suffers from schizophrenia. That is hardly the recipe for a Wall Street blockbuster, so other uses are identified. (Who has noticed the new uses floated for GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, courtesy of their manufacturers clinical trials and funded researchers?) While off-label prescribing is legal, off-label promotion of drugs is not legal and both Risperdal and Zyprexa manufacturers have been cited for such illegal marketing: J&J paid more than $22 billion for illegal Risperdal promotion and kickbacks in 2013 and Lilly agreed in 2009 to pay $1.415 billion for illegal Zyprexa marketing. Pharma watchers say such settlement amounts are built into the price of the drugs because they are expected. New indications and changing illness definitions Why are new indications so often added to drugs after they are already in use? For example, AbbVies Humira (adalimumab) which launched the era of aggressively advertised, expensive large-molecule biologics was originally approved for rheumatoid arthritis in adults and subsequently has been given at least ten new indications. And Risperdal was approved for schizophrenia in 2002 with indications for bipolar 1 and autism-related conditions added later. Zyprexa was similarly approved for schizophrenia with bipolar I, mania or agitation, and depression-related uses added later. According to an editorial in the Lancet there is a reason for such indication creep as some in the field call it. The crux of the problem is money. It typically takes over a decade and in excess of a billion dollars to bring a drug to market. This imposes severe financial pressure on the R&D departments of pharmaceutical companies and non-commercial entities embarking on drug development. ADVERTISEMENT Other marketing machinations Eli Lilly used another marketing machination to sell drugs, redefining an illness. In the 1980s, the anxiety that propelled the original benzodiazepines boom was redefined by drug makers as depression to sell SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and it worked. Non-lucrative as needed or PRN drug use graduated to daily drug use as millions were convinced they were depressed and drug makers were enriched like never before. Similarly, when generic Prozac (fluoxetine) debuted and caused a 66 percent sales drop for Lilly, the company then illegally marketed Zyprexa for many of Prozacs indications, according to the Wisner Baum lawsuit. Depression? Bipolar disorder? A sale is a sale. Another profit venture drug makers use is grooming a patent successor as exclusive sales run out. J&J groomed Invega (paliperidone), the primary metabolite of risperidone, for sale shortly before Risperdal faced a patent cliff. Brand drugs with their monopoly-producing patents are the backbone of Big Pharma revenues and Risperdal faced patent expiration in 2008. Worldwide sales of Invega went on to exceed $4.1 billion a year so foresight was useful. Stockholders were thankful. A new generation of antipsychotics When new branded antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel (quetiapine), Geodon (ziprasidone), Abilify (aripiprazole) and Saphris (asenapine) came online, many lauded the apparent end to older antipsychotic drugs like Thorazine (chlorpromazine), Haldol (haloperidol) and Stelazine (trifluoperazine) with their tremor and tardive dyskinesia (TD) side effects. (The new prices were welcome too.) In fact, the new drugs were hailed as second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) and atypical psychotics. That was premature in some cases because the drugs still caused the stigmatizing side effects of TD. Most antipsychotic drugs block dopamine D2 receptors in the brain which normally inhibit prolactin release and the result is elevated prolactin levels. Prolactin is a pituitary hormone that makes milk production after childbirth possible but, at higher levels, is also linked to breast cancer. In men, prolactin elevation can cause gynecomastia and hyperprolactinemia and in 2019, J&J was ordered to pay $8 billion, yes, billion with a B, to a man who developed breasts on Risperdal. J&J called the amount grossly disproportionate to the harm done. The current Bridgett Brown suit focuses on the same prolactin side effects. Prolactin levels can be elevated by up to 76.4 percent in Zyprexa use and 94.8 percent in Risperdal use according to the Wisner Baum suit and their link to breast tumor development is undisputed. As early as 1978, a study in the journal Cancer Research read, It is unequivocal that prolactin is an influential hormone in murine mammary tumorigenesis. In 2006, when Janssen sought a Risperdal indication for irritability associated with autism, the FDA psychiatry division noted such side effects and delayed approvals. Still, cancer risks and elevated prolactin levels are and have been spun in manufacturers clinical trials through the use of small sample sizes, short follow-up times and other procedural deceptions, says the suit. Moreover, the risks in prescribing information that both physicians and patients trust are watered down says the firm. Beyond a settlement for Bridgett Browns pain, disfigurement and emotional distress Wisner Baum hopes to alert doctors and patients to the buried Risperdal and Zyprexa links to breast cancer. The defendant drug manufacturers have hid the risks for too long says the firm. Martha Rosenberg is a health reporter and the author of Big Food, Big Pharma, Big Lies and Born With a Junk Food Deficiency. Boosting well-rounded development of women as China's national campaign: white paper Xinhua) 17:00, September 19, 2025 BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A white paper released Friday by the State Council Information Office emphasized boosting the well-rounded development of women as a national campaign for China. China has continued to strengthen institutional support and safeguards to advance women's cause, which is an integral part of state governance, fostering the necessary conditions and environment for the comprehensive development of women, according to the white paper, titled "China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era." The white paper highlighted China's establishment of a mechanism for the work related to women, under which the Communist Party of China committees exercise leadership, governments assume primary responsibility, working committees on children and women play a coordinating role, women's federations work in collaboration, relevant departments provide support, and the whole of society participates. "These concerted efforts have ensured that gender equality is upheld in all areas of economic and social development and all aspects of social life," noted the document. The people's congresses have strengthened legislation and supervision on women's development. The government has formulated and organized the implementation of outlines for the women's cause, and convened meetings on related work. It has established a gender statistics monitoring system covering over 2,400 indicators. Furthermore, gender has been incorporated as a key metric into national censuses and time-use surveys. The white paper said that China's national development plans have clarified the strategic tasks for women's development, and that the outlines for women's development have laid out phased targets. China has established a legal system anchored in the Constitution and centered on the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, covering over 100 laws and regulations. China has also taken resolute actions to combat criminal and illegal acts that infringe upon women's and girls' personal rights, said the white paper. China has been devoted to carrying out targeted public education on gender equality across multiple dimensions and through multiple channels, strengthening the awareness of gender equality in the media, and creating a clean cyberspace, it added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Book Work Town by Bill Hodson A novel based on true events which draws on the Mass Observation field study in Bolton from 1937 - 38. Worktown explores whether real change can come from observing on the sidelines, or if true difference requires action 1938. With Britain in recession and another war looming, living conditions in the industrial heartlands are grim. A group of idealists travel to Lancashire to document working-class life, hoping to spur government action. Treating the locals like a remote tribe from a distant land, they rely on scouts and interpreters to understand the unfamiliar world they observe. Edward, a Cambridge graduate, falls for Molly, a young cotton weaver. He believes she can give his life meaning; she sees in him a glimpse of escape. But can their love survive as the gulf between their worlds begins to threaten their bond? Worktown is a fictionalised account of the Mass Observation field study in Bolton, 193738, asking whether real change can come from passive observationor whether true impact demands action. About the author Bill Hodson is an award-winning short story writer and the author of several plays. His debut novel, Tracking Back, was published in 2023. His latest work explores the 193738 Mass Observation expedition to Worktown. Born and raised in Bolton, and from a family of mill workers, Hodson gives voice to the local people who were studiedvoices that went unheard at the time. Why you should read this book Bill explains: I lived in Bolton until I went to university, but I was unaware of the Worktown project until my twenties when I came across a collection of Humphrey Spenders photographs taken in 1937/38. Spenders work was immediately fascinating as a window on to a vanished world and its connection to my parents youth. As I came to learn more about the Worktown project and its place in the broader scheme of Mass Observation I began to wonder what the local people had thought about being observed by a group of young intellectuals mostly from London and the South of England. This was the starting point for the book. What was the disconnect between the high-minded intentions of the founders of Mass Observation to capture the detail of everyday life and those being scrutinised as if they were exotic birds or members of a remote tribe? Worktown amassed an unmanageably vast archive of material but the opinions of local people about the project itself and its findings were not sought. I have tried to provide that voice through fictitious characters, imagining their feelings, but grounded in my research and my own familys knowledge of Bolton and its people. I believe that Worktown still has much to tell us today about the gap between the North and the South, rich and poor, those who tolerate inequality and those who act to change it. Worktown by Bill Hodson is released 28/10/2025 ISBN: 9781835743119 Price: 9.99 by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk Modern medicine is failing in three critical areas: mental health, chronic disease, and prevention at the cost of trillions of wasted dollars and untold suffering. The problem runs deep. In my earlier KevinMD post, Medicines mental health crisis: why the system is failing us, I described the mind-body split theory of the 16th and 17th-century Scientific Revolution as guiding medicine and medical education since that time. It cordoned off mental and other psychosocial issues to the church and left medicine responsible for just physical problems. That framework doubled life expectancy over the last century, but it no longer serves us well. The theory fails in the three most common problems in modern health care mental health care, chronic disease care, and prevention. While other sciences were just as reductionist at the outset of the last century, they have all evolved to the holistic systems view during the 1900s looking at all parts of a problem rather than just one part, as medicine continues to do. This raises the unwelcome prospect that, despite its initial successes, medicine has not kept up scientifically, arguably becoming nonscientific. Medicines resistance stems from two entrenched educational practices that keep us stuck. Over 7+ years of professional training, only 2 percent of total teaching time is devoted to mental health and other psychosocial issues. It relies on rote learning over critical thinking, the need for memorization stifling thinking out of the physical disease box. We should not be surprised that physicians seem brainwashed. Importantly, this afflicts not just practicing clinicians but also physician leaders who make decisions about the direction of medicine and medical education. Thus, if one is concerned about mental health, chronic disease, prevention, costs, and the specter of a nonscientific medicine, we would look to change medical education practices. And we have a precedent for this in medicine over one hundred years ago. After the isolated focus on physical diseases became the most scientific approach in American clinical medicine in the late 1800s, the American Medical Association expressed concern that many medical schools had not adopted it, suspecting they still taught prescientific practices such as bloodletting and application of leeches. The AMA, as the dominant figure governing medical education at that time, asked the Carnegie Foundation to investigate all medical schools to determine if their teaching was based on the mind-body split theory and its focus on physical diseases although reductionistic, it was the most scientific approach at the time. Abraham Flexner led the investigation, and his 1910 report confirmed the suspicion that nearly all schools failed to measure up. The AMA, acting via state licensure control, closed many of the proprietary schools and required vastly improved teaching practices in those that remained. Thus, the then-governing authorities ensured that medical schools taught the most scientific approach available at the time. It is time for a second Flexner Report to again ensure that medical education is based on the most scientific thinking of our time. Because of the health care and cost problems above, an independent commission of experts (Presidential, Congressional, private foundation, National Academy of Medicine) would investigate all medical schools. Predictably, they will find two things: Curriculums still based on outdated, non-systems science. Graduates ill-prepared to conduct mental health care, chronic disease care, and prevention driving an extraordinary waste of money in the trillions of dollars. When the new report is released, the public will be understandably enraged at such dereliction and will demand, through its politicians, that medical education and medicine itself adopt the best current scientific thinking. Given medicines resistance to this change since the 1960s, the public will also demand medical care and medical education be governed by an independent federal agency analogous to the Federal Reserve that governs banking. Robert C. Smith is an internal medicine physician and author of Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?: Why Our Mental Health System Is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure It. Cara Delevingne is said to have purchased Jennifer Lawrences former Beverly Hills mansion for $11 million. Cara Delevingne is said to have purchased Jennifer Lawrences former Beverly Hills mansion for $11 million The supermodel, 33, was left devastated a year ago when her Los Angeles property was destroyed in a fire, and North Hill Crest has now reported she has acquired Jennifers five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom house after the actress bought it in 2014. The estate was also once home to Jessica Simpson. According to North Hill Crest, the residence includes a master suite with a walk-in closet and a private balcony overlooking landscaped grounds. Downstairs is a large white kitchen fitted with stainless steel appliances, while outside a pool is shielded by mature trees and bamboo for privacy. Neighbours include Adele, Nicole Kidman and Cameron Diaz. Caras reported move follows the destruction of her $7 million LA mansion in March 2024. The blaze ripped through the home, tearing off the roof, collapsing the second floor and leaving the ground floor filled with debris. Realtor.com reported Cara later sold the property at a $2.4 million loss. She was in London at the time of the blaze, appearing in a West End production of Cabaret. Her pets were confirmed safe. Speaking to The Times last year, Cara said: It sucks but everyone was safe and, like anything, if Id not been sober I would still be reeling over that. It would still affect me really deeply. She added: Of course it affected me, its super sad it never wont be. But I dont use it as a tool to keep myself sad. The Los Angeles Fire Department said in April the cause of the fire was undetermined following an investigation, with no evidence of foul play, according to TMZ. Spokesman Nicholas Prange said a firefighter was hospitalised with an injury and another person suffered minor smoke inhalation. Caras father Charles Delevingne told reporters in London the fire may have been caused by electrical problems, adding something fell on a powerline during very windy conditions. Her mother Pandora Delevingne said: I think shes probably devastated she had everything in her house, her whole life she built it, she made it. She has everything in it. Cara later thanked emergency crews on Instagram Stories, writing: Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the firefighters and people that have showed up to help. She added: Life can change in the blink of an eye so cherish what you have. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Combining artificial intelligence and genetics has allowed researchers to study the part of the eye that gives us sharp central vision in amazing detail for the first time. Researchers from the University of Leicester, University Hospitals of Leicester Trust through the Ulverscroft Eye Unit, together with international collaborators, carried out the first ever genome-wide study of human foveal developmentthe tiny pit at the back of the eye that gives us sharp central vision for reading, recognizing faces, and driving. Results of the study, which was funded by the Wellcome Trust, Ulverscroft Foundation and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) among others, have just been published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Using advanced artificial intelligence to analyze eye scans from over 60,000 UK Biobank participants, the team identified more than 120 genetic signals that shape how the fovea develops. Remarkably, they discovered 64 genes never before linked to the fovea, including pathways involved in vitamin A metabolism, retinal cell fate, vascular development, and pigmentation. The study shows that both common and rare genetic variants influence whether the fovea forms normally, helping explain why conditions such as albinism, aniridia, and other genetic syndromes cause foveal underdevelopment and lifelong vision problems. Importantly, the team also demonstrated that foveal abnormalities are present in systemic diseases such as Stickler syndrome, Refsum disease, Leber congenital amaurosis with early-onset deafness, and microcephalychorioretinopathy syndromes, extending the clinical impact far beyond the eye. This landmark work provides the first genetic map of foveal formation and suggests a continuum model of eye development, where both subtle genetic variation and rare mutations can affect visual outcomes. Dr. Mervyn Thomas, Clinical Associate Professor, Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Lead at the Ulverscroft Eye Unit at the University of Leicester, led the study. He said, "The findings provide the first comprehensive genetic dissection of human foveal pit architecture, revealing entirely new biological mechanisms that shape foveal development and extending our understanding of childhood visual disorders. "We now know that foveal development is affected in Refsum disease, Stickler syndrome and Leber congenital amaurosis. Our data also highlights the role of retinoic acid (vitamin A derivative) signaling in human foveal developmentsomething previously unknown. "These discoveries fundamentally change our understanding of how the back of the eye develops and open up new avenues for diagnosing and treating childhood vision loss." Professor Mariya Moosajee, Head of Genetics at Moorfields Eye Hospital and co-author, said, "Moorfields Eye Hospital has one of the largest rare disease patient cohorts in the world, each family has carefully been genetically tested and clinically characterized. We are thrilled to support the University of Leicester in their research, by sharing resources and collaborating, we can generate great insights into eye development and disease pathways which will ultimately help us provide the best care to our patients." The research was made possible through the generosity of more than half a million UK Biobank volunteers, who contributed their health data to enable discoveries of this scale. The study was a true international collaboration, with major contributions from early-career researchers. Among them, Callum Hunt, a Wellcome Trust Ph.D. student at the University of Leicester, who led much of the analysis that made these discoveries possible. Dr. Thomas added, "This was truly a team effort across Leicester, Moorfields, UCL, King's College London, Baylor, Cornell, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and other centers. It shows the power of collaboration and the importance of supporting young scientists. Above all, we are grateful to the UK Biobank participants, without whom this work would not have been possible." More information Callum Hunt et al, Genome-Wide Insights Into the Genes and Pathways Shaping Human Foveal Development: Redefining the Genetic Landscape of Foveal Hypoplasia, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2025). DOI: 10.1167/iovs.66.12.22 Journal information: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key medical concepts Leber congenital amaurosis Carrie Underwood has paid tribute to her Jesus Take The Wheel co-writer Brett James. Carrie Underwood's Brett James tribute Brett, 57, died alongside his wife Melody Wilson, 59, and stepdaughter Meryl Maxwell Wilson, 28 in a plane crash on Thursday (18.09.25) and Carrie who worked with Brett on the Grammy-winning 2005 song took to Instagram to share a touching tribute. She wrote: Some things are just unfathomable. The loss of Brett James to his family, friends and our music community is too great to put into words. Brett was the epitome of cool. I see him in my mind riding up to my cabins to write on his motorcyclehis hair somehow perfectly coiffed despite being under a helmet for however long. I always loved hearing him sing Cowboy Casanova because a sassy girl anthem shouldve sounded ridiculous coming from a macho dude like him, but somehow, he even made that cool. She also shared how generous Brett was as a collaborator, writing: He was a good guy. I remember writing with him on a song that he basically wrote 75 per cent of and had ready when he walked in the room. We filled in the blanks and added a little melody and I told him after that I didnt feel right splitting the credit evenly when he did most of the work. He wouldnt have it. He insisted that everything be equal. He was just that kind of guy Brett loved the Lord. Which is the only comfort we can hold on to now. We even had the pleasure of singing together at church. My favorite songs to sing of ours are the ones that he or we wrote about Jesus because the thoughts and feelings behind them are so genuine and pure. I wont ever sing one note of them again without thinking of him. Bretts passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear wont ever go away. It will forever be a reminder that this life is but a momentwe have to make the most of each day were given here on earth. Each day is a gift. Im asking all of you to pray for his family, friends and all of us that were blessed enough to know Brett. Love you, man. Ill see you again someday (sic). Brett also co-wrote Jason Aldeans The Truth, Rascal Flatts Summer Nights and Kenny Chesneys When The Sun Goes Down amongst countless other country classics. Brett and his family are believed to have been the only people on board the plane when it crashed in North Carolina. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement: A Cirrus SR22T crashed in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 18. Three people were on board. Kneecap have threatened legal action against Canadian MP Vince Gasparro who accused them of dangerous endorsements of violence and hate. Kneecap threaten Canadian MP with legal action The Irish group who were due to perform in Toronto and Vancouver in October - have been banned from entering Canada after Gasparro accused them of amplifying political violence and publicly [displaying ] support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. He said in a statement on X: Recently, the rap group Kneecap has engaged in actions and have made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government. The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. These are not expressions of art or legitimate political critique, they are dangerous endorsements of violence and hate. Notably, one member of the band is currently facing terrorism-related charges in the United Kingdom. Criticism of foreign governments is protected under Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms, however advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organisations and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government. That is why, as parliamentary secretary for combating crime, I am announcing that, effective immediately, the members of Kneecap have been deemed ineligible to enter Canada. However, the band - comprised of Naoise O Caireallain, Liam Og O hAnnaidh and JJ O Dochartaigh hit back and vowed to take legal action over the wholly untrue and deeply malicious claims. They said in a statement posted on Instagram: Your comments about us are wholly untrue and deeply malicious. We will not accept it. No member of Kneecap has been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER. Whilst you outrageously try to claim we are antisemitic the Times newspaper in England today wrote of our headline show in London last night as emphatically anti-sectarian. We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you. We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel. When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent to assist some of the thousands of child amputees in Gaza. Prince Harry and Prince William will reconcile in the near future. Prince Harry and Prince William to reconcile 'in the not-too-distant future' The brothers have been estranged ever since the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, quit as senior royals and gave a tell-all interview about their issues with Royal Family in 2020 but a close pal of Harry, 41, believes they will soon patch up their relationship. Alex Rayner, who has remained close with Harry ever since they took part in a North Pole charity trek together in 2012, told the Daily Mails Eden Confidential column: As soon as the opportunity presents itself, well see a wonderful embrace between the two brothers. Absolutely. I would hope [it will take place in the next few months]. Certainly, if not by the end of the year, then next. Theyll hug in the not-too-distant future. Harry recently enjoyed an hour-long meeting with his father King Charles, 76, during a solo visit to the UK, without Meghan or their children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. And, while Charles and Harrys relationship has also been strained, particularly since the release of Harrys tell-all book Spare in 2023, Alex insisted their bond is indestructible. He said: A rift between father and son is never that big. A fathers love for his son is pretty indestructible. Following the meeting with his father, Harry who now lives in California with his family - declared that he hopes to spend more time in Britain following a successful trip. He told The Guardian newspaper: "Yes, I have enjoyed the week. "I have always loved the UK and I always will love the UK. It's been good to reconnect with the causes I am passionate about. I have been able to spend some time with people that I have known for so long. It is hard to do it from far away." Dubai is rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination for Indian higher education institutions seeking global expansion. The recent inauguration of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad's (IIM-A) first international campus in Dubai International Academic City marks a significant milestone in this trend. The development underscores Dubai's aim to extend its global footprint, offering a blend of academic excellence, cultural proximity, and strategic location to Indian universities. According to data published by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) 2024-2025 report, 42 per cent of international higher education enrolments in Dubai are Indian students. With a 20 per cent surge in total higher education enrolments in Dubai in the past year, 42,026 students are now enrolled in Dubai's higher education sector, marking a record high. As per a media release, under the Education 33 (E33) strategy announced by Dubai, the country aims for international students to make up 50 per cent of the total student body by 2033. According to Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, "The inauguration of our Dubai campus marks a pivotal moment in IIMA's journey. This expansion allows us to bring the Institute's academic excellence and thought leadership to a truly global platform." The establishment of IIM-A's Dubai campus is part of a broader movement, with other Indian institutions such as Symbiosis Dubai, the first Indian university in the UAE to launch with full program accreditation by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), marking its first anniversary with a grand celebration at Taj Dubai, Business Bay. The milestone also saw the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Minister of Education, Government of India, who joined the Symbiosis family to commemorate one year of academic excellence and growth in the UAE. Along with the celebration, the university also held its Orientation Day for the 2025-2026 academic year, welcoming the newest batch of students and growing the Symbiosis Dubai family. Reflecting its growing reputation as a premier hub of higher education in the region, Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro Chancellor, Symbiosis International University, said, "In just one year, we have grown into a place where students from across the world find not only academic excellence but also a true sense of belonging - a home away from home." "Inaugurated in November 2024 by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan and H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, Symbiosis Dubai has emerged as a pioneering academic institution under the India-UAE E33 Bilateral Education Agreement," the release said. (ANI) PNN New Delhi [India], September 20: Actor Suraj, who has worked in both Gujarati and Hindi films, is all set to make his Bollywood directorial debut with Padharo Maro Desh. The film will be produced by Chanda Patel under the banner of Blue Diamond Production House, with filming scheduled to start next year. The announcement was made on the occasion of Suraj's birthday, with producer Chanda Patel describing the project as a "special gift" to the actor-turned-filmmaker. "Suraj has always been a dedicated performer. His passion for storytelling has inspired me to back him as a director. Padharo Maro Desh is not just a film, it's a journey that will showcase his vision and creativity. For me, producing this project is like giving wings to his dream," Patel said. Suraj, known for his roles in Gujarati films such as Hu Tara Ishq Maa & Tari Muskurahat along with in Hindi cinema Tera Mera Nata which is going to release this year, shared his enthusiasm for the new phase of his career. "Direction has always been a dream for me. Padharo Maro Desh is very close to my heart, and I feel blessed that this milestone comes as my birthday gift. I'm looking forward to presenting my story to the audience from behind the camera." Although details about the cast and storyline remain under wraps, Padharo Maro Desh is expected to explore themes of culture and emotion, rooted in Indian traditions. With this film, Suraj will join the growing list of actors who have successfully transitioned into filmmaking, making his mark in Bollywood not just as an actor but now as a storyteller. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Faridabad (Haryana) [India], September 20: RPS Group, a leading real estate developer in India, is pleased to announce that it hosted a high-level Thai business delegation at its flagship project RPS 12th Avenue on Friday, September 19, 2025. The visit was facilitated by the Thai Trade Center under the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi. The delegation comprised 25 leading Thai exporters of construction materials who are visiting India to explore business opportunities in the country's growing real estate and infrastructure sector. The visit aimed to foster bilateral trade relationships and identify potential collaboration areas between Thai construction material suppliers and Indian real estate developers. Key members of the delegation included Theeraphon Kowphatthanakit, Assistant Director General, Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, and Parisa Puachpaisan, Deputy Director, Thai Trade Center, New Delhi. During the scheduled visit from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the delegates toured the RPS 12th Avenue project with a special focus on the innovative construction technologies being implemented. They observed how RPS Group is using modern gate systems, MS structures, and most notably, SEG walls in its developments. Senior leadership from SEG also accompanied the Thai delegates to demonstrate the advanced wall technologies being used. The technology used in the 5BHK apartment at RPS Auria also drew strong attention. The walls in this apartment are constructed using the SCG precast compound wall system, a prefabricated wall technology still relatively limited in Indian construction. This system offers multiple advantages - fewer joints, lightweight structure, durability, and ease of installation. The Thai business delegates visited this 5BHK show apartment at RPS Auria to witness firsthand the quality of construction and the practical utility of this advanced prefabricated wall system. They expressed that they were highly impressed with the standards maintained by RPS Group and the innovative use of construction materials. Mr. Aman Gupta, Director, RPS Group, said:"The Thai delegation's keen interest in our use of SEG wall systems, advanced gate technologies, MS structures, and SCG precast compound wall panels underscores RPS Group's commitment to innovation. Their appreciation of our construction practices is a strong validation of the standards we uphold. This motivates us to consistently set new benchmarks in quality, efficiency, and sustainability within the Indian real estate sector." Mr. Shashank Gupta, Director, RPS Group, expressed enthusiasm about the visit:"We are honored to host the Thai business delegation and showcase our development standards at RPS Auria. Their keen interest in our adoption of modern gates, MS structures, SEG wall technologies, and SCG precast compound wall systems reinforces our commitment to incorporating international quality materials and innovative construction techniques in our projects." This visit represents a significant opportunity to strengthen economic ties between Thailand and India in the construction sector. Thai companies offer world-class construction materials and technologies that can enhance quality and efficiency in Indian real estate projects. About RPS Group: RPS Group is a renowned real estate developer with a portfolio of premium residential and commercial projects across North India. Known for their commitment to quality and innovation, the group has delivered numerous landmark developments over the past decade. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], September 20: Prismoline is an industry-leading name in thermoplastic road marking material and the road safety products market. Recently, the brand has onboarded a new Head of Sales and Marketing into their team with the appointment of Mr Nasim Khan, an industry veteran with over three decades of experience in hot-applied thermoplastic road markings. As the flagship brand of Sharda Infrasolutions Pvt Ltd, the appointment of new leadership comes at a strategic time as the brand eyes expansion to scale its presence across India. Mr Nasim Khan brings with him a robust background of academic and professional experience. His educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mumbai University and a Diploma in Computer Management from Datapro Information Technology, followed by another Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from Davars College, Mumbai. He also holds several crucial industry certifications that make him one of the most qualified personnel in the industry. His certifications include a Management Development Program at IIM Ahmedabad, NACE Training in Paint & Coating Inspection, and a Certified Trainer credential from Dale Carnegie Training in collaboration with Asian Paints. Professionally, Mr Nasim Khan started his career at CMS Traffic Systems in 1994, which is one of the pioneers of thermoplastic road marking in India. During his tenure at CMS Traffic Systems, Mr Khan gained hands-on industry experience working on turnkey projects, government tenders, and road marking machinery. His career continued onward with Asian Paints Ltd and Asian Paints PPG Pvt Ltd for 18 years, where he played a crucial role in several departments, ranging from product formulation, raw material selection, vendor management, and sales and marketing solutions. Later, he continued onward as the Senior General Manager of a reputed company in the thermoplastic road marking industry. Mr Khan's deep industry knowledge and strong network are assets for Prismoline, as they will help the company enhance its road safety solutions and expand its product portfolio to improve the brand's competitiveness in government tenders and infrastructure projects. Mr Khan's appointment takes Prismoline a step closer to fulfilling its goal of becoming the top industry brand for road safety innovation. When asked about the appointment of Mr Nasim Khan, the Managing Director of the Company, Mr Rishabh Singhania stated, "We are delighted to have Mr Nasim Khan join the Prismoline family. His unmatched expertise in road safety solutions, combined with his leadership in sales, marketing, and product innovation, will help us strengthen our market presence and diversify our offerings. His appointment underscores our commitment to building a future-ready organisation as we move towards our ambitious growth and IPO milestones." For more information, visit: www.prismoline.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, accompanied by his wife, offered prayers at a Jain temple in Ahmedabad a day after SEBI gave a clean chit to the Adani Group in the Hindenburg allegations probe. A close aide told ANI that in the aftermath of the Hindenburg storm and months of speculation, Adani chose gratitude over celebration. At the temple, the couple lit a single diya and offered a silent prayer of thanks. "For the Adani family, this was more than regulatory relief -- it symbolised the triumph of good over evil, a quiet victory of grit, faith, and resilience," the aide added. Adani Group Chairman on Thursday demanded a "national apology" from those who spread the "false narratives" of Hindenburg Research. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) gave a clean chit to the Adani Group regarding their "baseless" allegations of violating disclosure norms or constituting fraudulent practices. In a post on X, Gautam Adani emphasised the group's commitment to transparency and integrity, expressing empathy for investors who lost money due to the report. "After an exhaustive investigation, SEBI has reaffirmed what we have always maintained, that the Hindenburg claims were baseless. Transparency and integrity have always defined the Adani Group. We deeply feel the pain of the investors who lost money because of this fraudulent and motivated report. Those who spread false narratives owe the nation an apology. Our commitment to India's institutions, to India's people and to nation building remains unwavering. Satyamev Jayate! JAI HIND!" Gautam Adani said in a post on X. The US-based short-seller had alleged fund routing to conceal related-party transactions, sparking significant market volatility and impacting Adani Group's market value. The clean chit brings significant relief to the Adani Group, ending months of scrutiny. The market regulator on Thursday refuted the allegations made by US Short seller Hindenburg against the Adani Group. SEBI concluded that there is no violation of the listing agreement or SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR), and the impugned transactions do not qualify as "related party transactions". According to SEBI, "Reading of Listing Agreement and SEBI (LODR) Regulations reveals that transactions between a listed company with unrelated party is not covered within the definition of "related party transactions" as it existed during the time when impugned transactions took place, though included specifically after the 2021 amendment. SEBI said that the Supreme Court had rejected the plea of the petitioner and held that procedure followed in arriving at the current shape of regulations is not tainted with any illegality. The Supreme Court also held that no valid grounds have been raised to direct SEBI to revoke its amendments to the SEBI(LODR) Regulations. SEBI said that there is no violation of Section 12A of the SEBI Act and SEBI-Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market) (PFUTP) Regulations as alleged. It concluded that no fraud, misrepresentation, or siphoning of funds was proven and all funds were returned with interest. SEBI concluded that no liability or penalties were imposed on Adani Group entities or individuals and the proceedings were disposed of without directions. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday attended the Annual Day programme of the Indian Police Foundation (IPF) in Mumbai. The event, themed "Reimagining the Police for India's Economic Development," was co-organised by Indian Masterminds. Addressing the Indian Police Foundation (IPF) Annual Day 2025 event, Fadnavis began by congratulating the organisers for choosing Mumbai as the venue and also spoke about how "Hindi films" have often portrayed the Mumbai Police unfairly, failing to truly depict the reality. "For many years, films have done an injustice to the Mumbai Police. Many times, they did not show when the police delivered on time," he said. "Our police always reach the crime scene on time, but in Hindi films, the police are always shown arriving hours after the incident. So, I believe cinema has never truly depicted the reality. But I am proud that, whether it is the Maharashtra Police or Mumbai Police, both have always maintained very high standards and earned respect across the country as reliable police forces." The Chief Minister also highlighted how technology has changed policing adding how many officers are making efforts to understand new systems and adapt to them. Talking about innovation in the police force, Fadnavis spoke on the need for organisational structures that support growth, adding that Maharashtra has already taken steps in this direction. "We have created a cybersecurity lab. The police have talented officers who can use and develop new technology. Today, Maharashtra has the most progressive cybersecurity centre in the country. Four countries have approached us, and one of them has even submitted a request asking us to build a similar lab for them," the CM said. Fadnavis went on to speak about the increasing challenge posed by drugs and narcotics, particularly in how they impact the youth. "Drugs and narcotics are severely affecting the younger generation on a large scale. There should be zero tolerance in this regard. We have decided that if anyone in the force is found to be involved, we will directly initiate the process of dismissal. Such a person has no place in the police force." "New marketplaces are constantly emerging, and platforms like Instagram have become new channels for such activities. We need to recognise this shift and adapt accordingly," added. (ANI) Actor-host Salman Khan is back in his fierce style, taking the stage for the Weekend Ka Vaar episode. In a recent promo, Salman Khan could be seen returning to his hosting duties on Bigg Boss 19 after a long gap. The actor wasted no time in calling out the contestants for their performance and behaviour inside the house. In the promo, Salman turned to Gaurav Khanna for being inactive, cautioning him about the tag of "overrated." https://www.instagram.com/p/DO0Yad0ku5N/ "Gaurav, aap front foot pe khelne se ghabra rahe hai. Poore hafte karibab 20 minute nazar aaye hai aap. Palak jhapke aap chale gaye. (Gaurav, you appear afraid to play in the front. Last week, you were visible for only 20 minutes. You disappeared in the blink of an eye)," Salman told the 'Anupamaa' actor. He further went on to ask the other contestants about Gaurav Khanna's contributions to the captaincy task. While Mridul Tiwari commented that he is only present to clap, Baseer Ali added, "He goes to people every time, says a few things and then steps back." "Gaurav, every actor should be scared of this one word...overrated hai yaar," Salman Khan warned. On the other hand, Salman also called out Mridul Tiwari for remaining in the shadow of others. "You are seen in the plus-one category. Do you think you will get votes even if you do nothing? You will not get votes. If you are not visible over here, your fans will also withdraw at the critical time," the actor said. https://www.instagram.com/p/DO0Jxhnkv5V/ Bigg Boss 19 kick-started in August this year, focusing on the theme of 'Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar'. Hosted by Salman Khan, Bigg Boss 19 streams on JioHotstar at 9 pm before its TV telecast on Colors TV at 10:30 pm. (ANI) Indian armed forces are observing "60 Years of Victory" in the 1965 India-Pakistan War this month as the nation commemorates the 60th anniversary of its victory in the 1965 India-Pakistan War. https://x.com/adgpi/status/1968985619717378150 On the occasion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed war veterans at South Block, New Delhi and paid tribute to their courage and sacrifice. Speaking to ANI, Colonel H.C. Sharma (Retd.) of the 13 Punjab Regiment recalled the fierce battle for Dograi, an industrial town near Lahore that was heavily fortified by Pakistani forces during the 1965 war. Sharing his first-hand experience from the battlefield, Sharma said, "Our company had already crossed the starting line, but the enemy was hidden in concrete pillboxes and opened continuous fire, halting our advance," Sharma recounted. "In the darkness we could not effectively target their positions, I requested tank support. Our CO ordered us to hold for some time. Having crossed the line, our only choices were to fight or perish." After two tense hours, Indian tanks arrived, enabling the regiment to push forward. "We pressed the attack and captured Dograi. In that operation, we seized two Pakistani tanks, seven machine guns, and several other weapons," Sharma added. Retired Honorary Captain Jagdhir Singh of the 52-Mountain Regiment, who was deployed in the Tithwal sector, speaking to ANI, recalled the intense battles during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. "The Pakistani PT Ground Post was positioned in Tithwal. Our regiment provided artillery fire support as the 1 Sikh Alpha Company launched a midnight assault to capture it. The enemy counterattacked but was repelled. From our position, we had a clear view of the Kishanganga river suspension bridge, which was vital for enemy supplies. Our regiment destroyed it with rocket launchers, cutting off supplies to Sanjoi, Mirpur, and nearby posts," Singh recounted. Singh further noted the follow-up actions and said, "On September 2-3, the Gorkha Battalion attacked Sanjoi post with heavy shelling, inflicting heavy casualties and seizing large quantities of ammunition. The enemy fled to Mirpur village, but by September 10-11, our Gorkhas had captured it too. For our courage, our regiment received a commendation from the Chief of Army Staff." Recounting the 1965 India-Pakistan War, Major Sudarshan Singh (Retd.) of the 1 Dogra Regiment described how Indian troops destroyed Pakistani battle tanks. "One night, our Commanding Officer received intelligence that 14 Pakistani tanks had gathered in Harwar. They usually did not move at night and would assemble in one location," Sudarshan Singh recalled. Speaking to ANI, Singh described how the regiment used the terrain to their advantage. "A canal flowed nearby, which we breached to flood the area, immobilising the tanks. As they tried to withdraw, our platoon opened fire. The enemy abandoned their tanks and fled, after which we destroyed their armour with artillery fire," he said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday interacted with the brave veterans and the families of the fallen heroes of the 1965 war at an event organised by the Army at South Block, New Delhi, to commemorate the diamond jubilee of India's victory over Pakistan. According to an official release from the Ministry of Defence, in his address, Singh paid glowing tributes to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty 60 years ago and ensured that India emerged victorious."Pakistan thought it could frighten us through infiltration, guerrilla tactics and surprise attacks, but little did it know that every Indian soldier serves the motherland with the feeling that the sovereignty and integrity of the nation will never be compromised at any cost," the Defence Minister said. Singh highlighted the unmatched bravery and patriotism displayed by the Indian soldiers during various battles fought during the 1965 war, including the Battle of Asal Uttar, Battle of Chawinda and Battle of Phillora. He made special mention of the indomitable spirit and valour of Param Vir Chakra awardee Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid, who laid down his life while destroying numerous enemy tanks under a relentless barrage of machine gun and tank fire during the Battle of Asal Uttar.(ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has reiterated his commitment to his home district, Ramanagara, by saying that 'he was born here, he would live here and die here'. Speaking at an event organised in the district on Friday to celebrate the birth anniversary of Devaraj Urs, Shivakumar said, "I am born in this soil, I will live here and die here. I have nothing to take from this district as I belong here. My only priority is to empower my people here." Speaking about the backlash faced for renaming the district, the Deputy CM stated that he had taken the decision with regard to real estate. "Some are criticising that I have renamed the district, keeping in mind real estate. I believe in principled life, and I have done it for the people of this district. We have already decided to make sites in 100 acres of land and distribute them to the needy. We have already instructed officials to clear Bagar hukum and other lands," he said. "God has given me an opportunity to serve, and what is the point of having power if I can't help my people? We have already distributed sites in Kanakapura in about 100 acres. We have given Bagar Hukum land to 8,000 people. DK Suresh has been given the responsibility here," he said. Slamming HD Kumaraswamy, the Deputy CM, stated that the Janata Dal party had lost the opportunity to do politics. "Kumaraswamy became the CM twice from this constituency, but he did not give any sites to people. Why should they be in politics? Janata Dal has lost the opportunity to do politics here. Former minister Ashwathnarayana challenged our manliness, but he could not even issue a single site. BJP did not help anyone when it was in power," he added. "Devraj Urs brought so many schemes which changed the lives of the poor. He gave social justice. Devaraj Urs is from a royal family, but he worked for the poor. He uplifted every single community in a secular way," he noted. (ANI) Punjab Police claimed to have solved the Namish Sarin murder case with the arrest of three accused, including the key suspect, from Batala in Gurdaspur district. According to officials, an FIR in the case was filed on 18 September after a man was shot dead and another injured near midnight in Amritsar. Acting swiftly, police tracked down the accused with the help of Batala Police and recovered sophisticated weapons from their possession. Amritsar Police Commissioner GPS Bhullar told ANI on Friday, "... A very prominent person was murdered in our jurisdiction... An FIR was filed on 18 September, according to which, one person was murdered and one was injured... Working day and night, we solved this case with utmost professionalism. We reached the accused and arrested them from Batala with the help of the Batala Police. When we brought the accused here for weapon recovery, we recovered sophisticated weapons..." The main accused has been identified as Sudhanshu Sharma alias Brahmin, a resident of Majithia Road of Amritsar. The other two accused arrested in the case were identified as Rajat alias Babbar, r/o Majithia Road, Amritsar, and Aditya Kumar, r/o Amritsar Rural. According to police, Sudhanshu Sharma fired most of the rounds during the murder. After his arrest, he attempted to snatch the service revolver of Senior Constable Guriqbal Singh and opened fire on police personnel. In retaliation, the Station House Officer shot him in the leg in self-defence. He has since been admitted to hospital. Police said further investigation is underway. (ANI) Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show has been suspended indefinitely, and he is now facing demands to apologize and make financial amends for remarks he made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sinclair Broadcast Group, the country's largest owner of ABC affiliates, said on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that it would no longer air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on its 30 stations. According to People, the company explained in a press release that it "objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the assassination of Charlie Kirk" and decided to preempt the show effective immediately. "Mr. Kimmel's remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country," said Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith. "We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities." Sinclair outlined three conditions for Kimmel's return: formal talks with ABC about professionalism, a direct apology to Kirk's family, and a "meaningful personal donation" to both the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, the youth-focused conservative group Kirk founded. Until those demands are met, Sinclair said the show will not be reinstated. Instead of Kimmel's program, Sinclair announced that its stations will air a "special in remembrance" of Kirk on Friday, which will also be made available to ABC affiliates across the country. Jimmy Kimmel digs in, refuses to apologize for Charlie Kirk comments after ABC pulls his show indefinitely https://t.co/uBXGV7TA81 pic.twitter.com/nwOFJysuie New York Post (@nypost) September 19, 2025 Broadcasters Drop Jimmy Kimmel Following Charlie Kirk Monologue Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. During his Sept. 15 monologue, Kimmel suggested that some political groups were trying to spin the tragedy for their own gain. Kimmel argued that the weekend highlighted what he viewed as a troubling low point, pointing out that MAGA groups were trying to frame the suspect in Charlie Kirk's killing as someone outside their circle, PageSix reported. ABC confirmed that the suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is indefinite. Nexstar Media Group, another major broadcaster, also announced it would stop airing the program across its 200 ABC-affiliated stations. Nexstar broadcasting president Andrew Alford said Kimmel's comments "do not reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located." Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr praised both Sinclair and Nexstar for acting quickly, calling Kimmel's conduct "some of the sickest" he had seen. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social, writing, "Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED." According to reports, Kimmel, 57, has told colleagues he will not apologize and is considering breaking his contract with ABC. Originally published on Enstarz Telangana Congress leader Sama Ram Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on BRS working president KT Rama Rao over his recent statement on the Almatti Dam, accusing him of selective amnesia and betraying the state's interests. Labelling KTR as "Ghajini," Reddy alleged that it was KTR's father, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who compromised Telangana's water rights. "It is reconfirmed that KTR is not a leader but Ghajini because he forgot the past, that it is none other than his father who deprived the state, who cheated the people of Telangana, especially the farmers of South Telangana. When the slogan was to fight for the rightful share in Krishna and Godavari waters, after you people came to power, it was none other than your father who signed for 299 TMC whereas our rightful share and our fight and our slogan was for more than 500 TMC in Krishna river," he said. He further added, "Wasn't it your father who signed for 299 TMC of June 21, 2016, before the then Jal Shakti Minister Uma Bharti? Who gave such authority? Because you and your family were benefitted by taking such decisions, by ceding Telangana's rights to Andhra Pradesh...After we came to power, we are fighting for our rights before the Supreme Court. You are the one who cheated Telangana.." Earlier on Friday, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao came down heavily on the Congress-led Karnataka government for deciding to raise the Almatti Dam height, calling it a "death warrant" for Telangana farmers. He slammed Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for "luxuriating in Delhi" while a dangerous conspiracy was being hatched against Telangana's farmers. KTR pointed out that the Karnataka cabinet, three days ago, decided to raise Almatti's height from 519 feet to 524 feet. He alleged that this was not merely for an additional 100 TMC of water, but part of a conspiracy to deprive Telangana of its rightful share of Krishna waters and turn erstwhile Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Ranga Reddy districts into deserts. "Congress is in power here and there, too. Do you have neither the courage to speak nor the guts to resist when Telangana farmers' lives are at stake?" he asked, demanding that both Revanth Reddy and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi answer the Telangana people. KTR declared that national parties must have a national policy. "Will you sacrifice Telangana farmers for Karnataka's interests?" he thundered, warning that if the conspiracy was not thwarted immediately, BRS would launch a mass movement with farmers. He expressed anguish that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme--90% completed under KCR's tenure--would be rendered useless if Almatti is raised. "Revanth, who calls himself a son of Palamuru, is silently watching this disaster," he criticised. (ANI) Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday visited the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal to meet five Assam Rifles personnel undergoing treatment after being injured in a terrorist ambush in Bishnupur. According to officials, a vehicle-based column of the 33 Assam Rifles was ambushed by unidentified terrorists around 5.50 pm on Friday at Nambol Sabal Leikai along National Highway 2. The troops were moving through a heavily built-up area when the attack took place. Two personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed, while five others sustained injuries. According to a statement by Defence PRO Guwahati, the injured personnel were evacuated to RIMS and were stable. Search operations have been launched to trace the attackers. So far, no group has claimed responsibility. "On 19 September 2025, at around 5:50 pm, a vehicle-based column of troops of the 33 Assam Rifles unit was moving on National Highway 2 during hours of darkness in heavy built up area. In general area, Nambol Sabal Leikai, the column was ambushed by unidentified terrorists on the Highway, in the denotified area of Manipur. In the ensuing action, two personnel of Assam Rifles were martyred, and five are injured who have since been evacuated to RIMS and currently stable. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility. Search operations are ongoing to eliminate the terrorists involved in the incident," the statement read. According to senior police officials, the ambush came "despite all the peace-making processes and efforts to bring normalcy" in the state. Earlier, Biren Singh expressed grief over the deaths, calling the incident a "cruel blow" to the country. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. "I am deeply shaken to hear about the ambush on our brave 33 Assam Rifles personnel at Nambol Sabal Leikai. The loss of two jawans and injuries to several others is a cruel blow to us all. My deepest condolences to the families of the fallen and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured. Their courage and sacrifice will remain in our hearts forever. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must face the harshest punishment," N Biren Singh wrote on 'X'. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Malkajgiri in Telangana, Eatala Rajender, dismissed the speculations of switching parties and condemned media reports spreading the rumour. Sharing an X post on Friday, Rajender said that he is not a person who switches parties, and it is not "as easy as changing clothes". He wrote, "Appeal to media, newspapers, and YouTube channels. I strongly condemn the news circulating in some media, newspapers, and YouTube channels claiming that I am switching parties. Washing with mud... throwing a burning shirt on oneself is not good." "I am not a person who changes words or switches parties. Switching parties is not as easy as changing clothes. Switching parties should be a major decision in life... there should be a significant reason," the BJP MP added. He added that he joined the BJP as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) expelled him back in 2021. Rajender wrote, "I came only because they sent me out from TRS, too; otherwise, I wouldn't have come to that extent. The party that took me in is the BJP." Further, he asked the media not to harm his reputation with such rumours. "I strongly condemn the news reports and the propaganda claiming that I am switching parties. Repeatedly testing patience is not good. Do not assassinate character. Now I leave it to your wisdom," the X post read. In June 2021, Eatala Rajender joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and G Kishan Reddy at the party headquarters in Delhi. He had resigned from BRS (then TRS), citing differences with the party after he was removed from his post as state Health Minister over the allegations of land grabbing. Meanwhile, on Friday, he took part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday celebrations in his constituency, Malkajgiri, organised by the BJP. He was seen alongside BJP leaders, including Medchal Urban District In-charge Malla Reddy, Bhanuprakash Reddy, and Parliament Convenor RK Srinivas. (ANI) According to an official statement from the Odisha government, CM Majhi discussed preparations for PM Modi attending the level 'seva parv' program at Berhampur on September 27. The statement mentioned that PM Modi will also inaugurate capacity expansion of multiple Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country, inaugurate the doubling of Koraput-Baiguda and Manbazar-Koraput-Gorapur railway lines, and roll out BSNL's 4G network nationwide, and launch the Skill India program across the nation. The PM will also inaugurate the Sambalpur-Sarla flyover, declare MKCG Medical College, and Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences And Research (VIMSAR) as "world-class super-specialty institutions." Around 50,000 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY) will also receive assistance from the Centre on that day. The meeting was attended by Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick, Minister for Industries, Skill Development, and Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain, Chief Minister's Advisor Prakash Mishra, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahoo, DGP Y.B. Khurania, Additional Chief Secretary (Information and Public Relations) Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary to CM Shashwat Mishra, and Principal Secretary (Revenue) Sanjay Kumar Singh. The Union Ministry of Culture is celebrating the Sewa Parv 2025 from September 17 to October 2, a nationwide festival of service, creativity, and cultural pride. According to an official statement from the ministry, one-day painting and art workshops on the theme "Viksit Bharat", under the tagline "Viksit Bharat Ke Rang, Kala Ke Sang", through its organizations and institutions at 75 prominent locations across the country. These workshops are designed to engage professional artists, students, schoolchildren, and citizens in creatively expressing the vision of a developed India. (ANI) A wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 was arrested after an encounter with police in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, officials said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Nahar Nat alias Rahul, has 20 cases registered against him and was wanted in 11 of them. He sustained a gunshot injury during the encounter and was taken to hospital, the police said. Dr Patel, Emergency Medical Officer at Raebareli District Hospital, said, "He has been brought here following an encounter. He has a firearm injury in his left leg. He has been admitted here after first aid." More details are awaited. In a separate incident in Ghaziabad's Indirapuram area, another criminal accused in several cases of chain snatching and robbery was arrested following an encounter. The arrested man was identified as Shahbaz alias Poli, a resident of Nandnagri. Police recovered an illegal pistol, cartridges, and a stolen motorcycle from his possession. ACP Abhishek Srivastav said, "During regular checking, police saw two people approaching on a motorbike. When the police asked them to stop, they tried to flee. Their motorbike slipped, and they fell. While trying to run, one accused opened fire on the police. In retaliation, police fired back, injuring one of them in the leg." The second accused managed to escape. Police said multiple cases of chain snatching and robbery are registered against Shahbaz in Delhi-NCR and Gautam Budh Nagar. Search is on for his associates, they added. (ANI) In a major crackdown, South East Delhi Police arrested 63 accused individuals during an overnight raid conducted across multiple locations in the national capital. The operation, which involved 500 police personnel and 40 specialised teams, led to the recovery of 15 pistols, along with significant quantities of MDMA, cocaine, heroin, and cash. The large-scale raid targeted criminal networks operating in the South East Delhi region, aiming to curb illegal activities, including drug trafficking and arms possession. Authorities stated that the operation was meticulously planned and executed based on credible intelligence inputs. Further investigations are underway to trace the source of the recovered contraband. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has intensified its war against narcotics by focusing on the financial backbone of drug cartels, adopting a zero-tolerance policy against drug-related crimes. Officials said the strength of drug traffickers lies not only in contraband but also in the vast sums of illicit money generated from the trade. These funds are used to expand criminal activities, infiltrate legitimate businesses, destabilise economies, and, in some cases, fund terrorism. "Any meaningful fight against narcotics must go beyond traditional enforcement and focus equally on financial investigations," Delhi Police said in a statement. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act empowers law enforcement agencies to trace, freeze, and forfeit properties derived from the narcotics trade. Under Section 68, illegally acquired properties can be attached and confiscated, thereby choking the financial lifeline of traffickers. By depriving offenders of their illicit wealth, authorities not only punish individuals but also dismantle the infrastructure sustaining the drug network. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, has been at the forefront of integrating financial probes into NDPS cases. Earlier, the focus was largely on arrests and seizures; however, the approach now combines operational investigation with financial profiling. Operational Investigations - arresting traffickers, seizing contraband, dismantling supply chains, and mapping backwards and forward linkages--Financial Investigations - tracing money trails, identifying assets, and initiating forfeiture proceedings. Financial profiling: Each accused in NDPS cases is profiled, with assets disproportionate to income flagged. Associates and family members are also examined for 'benami' holdings. Banking and digital footprint analysis: Accounts, money transfers, wallets, and properties linked to traffickers are tracked to uncover hidden layers of transactions. Property identification and attachment: Assets, including luxury vehicles, farmhouses, and commercial establishments acquired from drug proceeds, have been identified for attachment. Use of technology and data analytics: Platforms such as NIDAAN, FIU-IND, and ICJS are being used to correlate data, analyse suspicious financial patterns, and detect narcotics funding. (ANI) Karnataka Minister Sharan Prakash Patil welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the petition against the invitation to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara festivities, and slammed the BJP for "discriminatory ideas". Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sharan Prakash Patil said that the BJP's opposition to Mushtaq's invitation is not in the spirit of secularism. "If a woman is inaugurating an event, we should all be happy about it. It is very regressive of the BJP to be floating such ideas. This is not in the spirit of secularism... These discriminatory ideas that the BJP was floating in public have been squashed. I am happy about it," he said. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also welcomed the Supreme Court's decision and said that the Mysuru Dasara cannot be "confined to a religious framework". In a post on X, CM Siddaramaiah shared, " I welcome the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss the petition filed against the state government's stance of inviting Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq for the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara. Mysuru Dasara cannot be confined to a religious framework. We have consistently maintained that it is a festival celebrated by all the people of the state, transcending caste and religion. The Chief Minister added that there were attempts to "divide society" but the apex court's verdict upheld government's stand. He wrote, "However, systematic misinformation was spread against this, and attempts were made to divide society. I believe that the Supreme Court's verdict has now validated our government's position." "I hope that Mother Chamundeshwari grants wisdom to those divisive minds that sow the seeds of discrimination based on caste and religion," he added. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the matter, saying the preamble says we are secular, and this is a state programme, and the state can't distinguish. The advocate for the petitioner contended that Puja inside the temple is not a secular act and it is part of the ceremony. He said the Karnataka government's decision to allow a non-Hindu to perform 'Agra Puja' at the Chamundeshwari temple for the inauguration of Dasara in Mysuru would hurt Hindu sentiments. (ANI) Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor raised doubts over the educational qualifications of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, alleging he did not pass the matriculation exam. Addressing a public meeting on Friday, Prashant Kishor called Choudhary an "expert" in changing names and cited an alleged murder case against him. Kishore alleged that Choudhary was initially named Samrat Kumar Maurya, and he was an accused in a Congress leader's murder. "Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is an expert in changing names. People know that his name was Rakesh Kumar, which changed to Rakesh Kumar aka Samrat Choudhary, but this is not the complete truth. His original name was Samrat Kumar Maurya. He was accused of murder. Bombs were thrown at Congress leader Sadanand Singh, in which six people died. He came out of jail after six months, as he was a minor," Jan Suraaj, founder, said. Questioning his educational qualification, he said that the Bihar School Examination Board had submitted in the Supreme Court that 'Samrat Kumar Maurya' had failed his matriculation exam. Kishor said, "When he became a minister, he became a member of Vidhan Parishad and was given a ministerial post. He was suspended from the post due to his young age, and Samrat Choudhary says that the matter has been settled. I will tell you what has not been settled yet. Bihar School Examination Board told the Supreme Court that Samrat Kumar Maurya, who is claiming to have passed matriculation, has received 234 marks and failed." He added that Samrat Choudhary, in an affidavit, wrote that he has passed class 7. "In 2010, in an affidavit, Samrat Choudhary wrote that he is a 7th pass. He hasn't even passed matric, and he claims that he has a doctorate degree from the University of California... I want to ask, when did the Deputy CM pass matriculation?" he asked. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor also accused Bihar minister Ashok Choudhary of Benami property of over Rs 200 crore. He alleged that his PA bought a property for Rs 34 lakhs, which was later transferred to Ashok Choudhary's daughter, Shambhavi Choudhary, for Rs 10 lakhs. "Ashok Choudhary, a close aide of CM Nitish Kumar, has made a corruption record in Bihar. He has a lot of Benami Property. He had a PA, Yogendra Dutt. In 2019, Ashok Choudhary bought 0.7 acres of land under Yogendra Dutt's name for Rs 34 lakhs... Two years later, Yogendra Dutt transferred that land to Shambhavi Choudhary's name for Rs 34 lakhs, but he was paid only Rs 10 lakhs," he said. "Income Tax gave him (Ashok Choudhary) a notice that only Rs 10 lakhs were paid for a property worth 34 lakhs... To save himself from Income Tax, he transferred Rs 25 lakhs to his PA's account... Through this Modus Operandi, in the last two years, he (Ashok Choudhary) has gathered property worth more than Rs 200 crores in the name of his wife, daughter and a trust named Manav Vaibhav Vikas Trust," he further said. These allegations come ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections later this year. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj is set to contest independently of the ruling NDA alliance and the Opposition's Mahagathbandhan led by RJD and Congress. (ANI) Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command on Saturday homage to Lance Dafadar Bharvad Mehulbhai Mepabhai who lost his life in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal while on operational duty. "Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, ArmyCdrNC and all ranks of Northern Command pay homage to the braveheart Lance Dafadar Bharvad Mehulbhai Mepabhai, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Northern Command stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief," the X post by Northern Command read. Earlier, Chinar Corps of the Indian army also honoured the supreme sacrifice of the jawan, while expressing solidarity with the bereaved family. "Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of Braveheart Lance Dafadar Bharvad Mehulbhai Mepabhai, while on operational duty in Ganderbal district. His courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Chinar Warriors salute the valour and sacrifice of the Braveheart. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family and are committed to their well-being," the X post read. Earlier on September 19, Chief of Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi, along with all other ranks of the Indian Army saluted the supreme sacrifice Lance Dafadar. "General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and All Ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of the Braveheart Lance Dafadar Bharvad Mehulbhai Mepabhai, who laid down his life in the line of duty in Ganderbal district. Indian Army offers deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of grief," Indian army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information post on X read. Meanwhile in Manipur, the Assam rifles paid tribute to its two jawans who lost their lives in the Bishnupur terrorist attack. According to security officials, two Assam Rifles personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed and five others have been injured in the attack. "Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General Assam Rifles & All Ranks of Assam Rifles pay solemn tribute to Nb Sub Shyam Gurung & Rfn Ranjit Singh Kashyap who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Manipur today and offer deep condolences to the families of our Brave Soldiers," Assam Rifles wrote on 'X'. An official statement noted that in a brazen act of terrorism in an AFSPA-denotified area of Manipur, unidentified terrorists ambushed a vehicle-based column of the 33 Assam Rifles unit around 5:50 pm on September 19. (ANI) According to the police, the searches were carried out at eight locations in seven districts, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kupwara, Handwara, Pulwama, and Shopian. The Officials informed that the searches were pursued under a Search Warrant obtained from the Competent Court in relation to the FIR registered at Police Station CIK. The case was linked to a terror-related investigation. Earlier, on July 19, in a similar case, the CIK unit conducted raids at 10 locations across four districts in the Kashmir Valley, officials said. According to the police, the CIK unit is carrying out the searches in connection with a terror-crime investigation case of terrorist sleeper cells and a recruitment module being handled by terrorist commander Abdullah Ghazi of Jaish-e-Mohammed from across the border. The raids were carried out at a single location in Pulwama, six locations in Ganderbal, one location in Srinagar, and two locations in Budgam. (ANI) Starbucks is facing new legal trouble as workers in California, Colorado, and Illinois sue the company for not paying them back for clothes required by a new dress code. On September 17, employees supported by the union Starbucks Workers United filed class-action lawsuits in Illinois and Colorado. Workers in California submitted complaints to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, saying they plan to sue if state officials don't act. The lawsuits claim Starbucks broke state labor laws by not reimbursing workers for clothing purchases that only benefit the company. Those laws in all three states require employers to pay back workers for job-related costs. The issue centers around a dress code change Starbucks made in May. Under the new policy, employees must wear solid black shirts under their green aprons. They're also required to wear specific pants, dresses, and waterproof shoes in neutral colors. Clothing must cover the midriff and armpits, and items like tongue piercings or theatrical makeup are not allowed. According to the NY Post, Starbucks said the new rules are meant to give customers a more consistent experience and offer "clearer guidance" for employees. The company noted it gave all workers two shirts for free. Starbucks workers sue over new dress code costs. Who foots the bill? pic.twitter.com/77gRSXEkUV Pulse Media (@PulseInDc) September 20, 2025 Starbucks Faces Legal Heat for Not Reimbursing Workers' Clothing Purchases However, several employees say that wasn't enoughand they were forced to spend their own money to keep their jobs. "If I didn't buy the new clothes, I'd risk being sent home, written up, or even fired," said Shay Mannik, a shift supervisor who has worked at Starbucks since 2022. Mannik says they spent over $110 on work clothes, including black T-shirts, shoes, and jeans, and never got reimbursed. "It's unfair that a billion-dollar company puts this burden on workers already struggling with unpredictable hours," Mannik said through their attorney, USA Today reported. Brooke Allen, a full-time student and barista in Davis, California, said her Crocs didn't meet the updated standards. She had to visit three stores to find approved shoes for $60.09. She also spent nearly $87 on black shirts and jeans. Allen said she misses the old dress code, which let workers show more personality. "It looks sad now that everyone is wearing black," she said. The lawsuits also claim that some employees were sent home or given warnings for not following the new rules. Attorneys say Starbucks is legally responsible for covering these costs and failed to get written consent before making workers pay. Originally published on vcpost.com Former Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid has criticised JKLF chief Yasin Malik's claim that he briefed then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after meeting Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, calling it a "matter of shame" for the government of that time. Malik, convicted in terror-related cases and serving a life sentence in a 2017 terror-funding case, claimed in a sworn affidavit that he had travelled to Pakistan, met Hafiz Saeed, and subsequently briefed Manmohan Singh. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Vaid said it was shocking that someone involved in killings could have been used for "diplomatic purposes." "What could be more shameful than this? Yasin Malik's affidavit states that he travelled to Pakistan, met with Hafiz Saeed, and subsequently briefed then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh upon his return. This means you are using a murderer like Yasin Malik, who killed five of your air force men and killed so many Kashmiri Hindu pandits," Vaid said. He added, "A murderer is being used as a diplomat to approach Hafiz Saeed, who is an India-hater and heads the Lashkar-e-Taiba and is responsible for killing thousands of Indians... I leave it to the people of this country to decide what kind of government they want... It is such a disgrace to have such diplomacy and government." A day earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik claimed before the Delhi High Court that far from being a terrorist, he was repeatedly engaged by six successive Indian governments from VP Singh to Manmohan Singh to participate in peace initiatives on Kashmir. He alleged that meetings facilitated by the Indian establishment were later "twisted" to portray him as a conspirator. Malik, who is serving a life sentence in a 2017 terror-funding case, made these assertions in detailed written submissions filed in response to the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) appeal seeking the death penalty against him. According to Malik, his engagement began in the early 2000s when the then Intelligence Bureau (IB) Special Director Ajit Doval visited him in jail to convey the Vajpayee government's interest in a peace process. He said Doval later arranged meetings with IB Director Shyamal Dutta and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, who asked for his support for the Ramzan ceasefire. (ANI) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay will begin the second leg of his statewide campaign on Saturday at the Nagapattinam district ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Actor turned politician Vijay will address the gathering at 11 am in Nagapattinam. Later, the TVK chief will head to Thiruvarur at 3 pm. Earlier on September 13, Vijay began his statewide electoral campaign for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls in the Tiruchirappalli district, where his fans and party supporters poured in large numbers. His statewide tour will cover all districts in Tamil Nadu, and he will be holding a series of meetings with people. While Vijay has attracted a large number of people in his rallies, he faced a backlash over alleged damage to public property during the Trichy leg of his campaign. The party had to issue the guidelines for their supporters after the Madras High Court issued a strong warning to TVK and asked the Tamil Nadu government to establish uniform, legally sound rules for holding large public meetings. During a hearing on TVK's petition challenging what it describes as "tough and unfufillable" conditions imposed by police when granting permission for public meetings, Justice N. Sathish Kumar, on Thursday, observed that some of the restrictions placed on TVK's rallies may be discriminatory and placed an undue burden. The photos submitted to the Court reportedly show damage to public property during a TVK rally. The judge also stated that leaders must take responsibility for crowd control and public safety. Specifically, TVK's Vijay was told he should take steps to ensure that gatherings are peaceful and shouldn't ask (or force) certain categories of people, like pregnant women or differently-abled persons, not to attend unless their safety can be reasonably ensured. The State government has been asked to come up with uniform guidelines for granting permissions for political rallies and public meetings. These rules should apply equally to all parties. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader Boora Narsaiah Goud heavily criticised United States imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H1B visas, claiming that such a move will hurt the American economy more than it would the Indian economy. "Trump and his action imposing USD 1 on H-1B visa, will destroy the American economy more than the Indian economy. His sinful, cruel ideas to target the Indian economy are going to hurt America more than India," the BJP leader told reporters here. Urging all political leaders to "unite under the leadership of PM Modi" and turn these hurdles into opportunities, Goud highlighted the example of India becoming self-reliant after countries refused to give cryogenic fuel to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). "Previously, the majority of the countries refused cryogenic fuel for the ISRO. And we became Atmanirbhar Bharat. Now, ISRO is competing with major powers in the world. It is a lesson for the Indian politicians not to be happy in the four walls. Let us unite under the leadership of PM Modi. Let us turn these hurdles into opportunities to think beyond," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump's signed a presidential proclamation on Friday (local time) imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas. The proclamation, titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" that introduces a major overhaul to the H-1B visa programme and raises fresh questions about whether this is a much-needed correction or a potentially crippling blow to America's tech talent pipeline. Set to take effect on September 21, the proclamation represents one of the Trump administration's most aggressive efforts yet to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. Framed as a crackdown on "systemic abuse", it places strict financial and compliance burdens on companies seeking to hire skilled foreign workers, especially in the technology and IT sectors. According to the order, IT firms now dominate the programme, with the share of H-1B approvals going to tech workers rising from 32 per cent in FY 2003 to over 65 per cent in recent years. Many of these firms, the administration notes, have simultaneously laid off American employees while ramping up their H-1B hiring. "Information technology (IT) firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields. The share of IT workers in the H-1B program grew from 32 percent in Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 to an average of over 65 percent in the last 5 fiscal years," proclamation read. The proclamation also cites real-world cases where American workers were not just laid off but forced to train their foreign replacements and sign non-disclosure agreements as part of severance packages, highlighting, in the administration's view, a systemic abuse of the visa system. (ANI) Professor V Kamakoti, Director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), on Saturday urged students and institutions to focus on building "indigenous solutions" that would drive India towards becoming a technology-independent nation by 2047. He said India had already achieved social independence in 1947, and now the goal should be "self-reliance" in technology. "We have only one goal set in front of us. In 1947, we got social independence, and by 2047, we should have technology independence; that is extremely important, and we should proceed towards it. We have 22 years in front of us, and we should do certain things important for our nation," Professor Kamakoti said. Professor Kamakoti pointed out that India was moving towards becoming a "product and patent nation", where ideas must be converted into start-ups. "Gone are the years waiting to get a patent, which has now been just a few days to get it. Patents must convert into start-ups. Today, institutions have a business incubation and innovation process," he said. He stressed that building solutions "made in India" should come from the hearts of innovators, not just from government regulations. "Start making solutions which is indigenous and customer base. But make things that are made in India. Implementation of it is not from government regulations but from our hearts," he emphasised. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he stressed the importance of indigenous solutions. He cited "Operation Sindhoor" and India's "Covid vaccines" as examples of "homegrown technologies" that had helped the nation. Expressing confidence in the nation's future, he further added, "We need more global companies which have an HQ in India. By 2047, we will surely be Viksit Bharat." He also referred to the "National Education Policy" (NEP) 2020, calling its multiple exit options and provision for dual degrees as crucial reforms for improving the country's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). "Now, 72 per cent of students don't pursue higher education, which is not good for us. We must take a policy to take at least two students from rural India, and with that, we can have GER with 50 per cent in the coming years," he added. Professor Kamakoti underlined India's demographic advantage and the need to transform it into a strength. "We are the youngest population and NEP has a parameter national average of 28 per cent in GER now, and in 2035, we need to have it as 50 per cent," he said. Highlighting the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the IIT Madras director dismissed fears of job loss. "Today, AI will not remove jobs, but AI will make those who don't know what job is and are jobless," he said, stressing the need for sub-skilling in AI to prepare India's workforce for the future. (ANI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, ahead of the Bihar elections, praised the transformation of the state on Saturday. Upon arriving in Patna, Sawant expressed his admiration for the significant changes in Bihar, particularly highlighting the stunning airport, which, as per him, meets international standards. "I'm visiting Bihar for the first time during the elections. As I landed, I saw how much Bihar had changed... I felt as if I had arrived at an international airport" Sawant told reporters. While praising Bihar, Sawant also mentioned that he will be in Bihar for two days and during his visit, Sawant will interact with party workers. " For the Campaign, I am in Bihar for two days, which is today and tomorrow....... I will also interact with party workers in the state." added Sawant. Discussing his plans with reporters, Sawant expressed that he is confident the public will bring back the BJP government to power in the state. "Definitely, the people of Bihar will call for the return of the double-engine government," expressed Sawant. During his visit, the Chief Minister of Goa addressed remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, who had previously stated that democracy is in danger in India and expressed his support for those who stand against this threat. Sawant replied that the most dangerous times for democracy were witnessed during the Congress era. He further emphasised that the current government's focus on infrastructure and human resource development under Modi's leadership is benefiting Bihar and the entire country. "I would say that the biggest danger was during the time of Congress.... Now, Modi ji's sabka saath sabka vikas government is there. That is why infrastructure development and human resource development are going on very well in Bihar, and in the rest of the country," asserted Sawant. In a related development, BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over allegations of vote theft, stating that Gandhi is making excuses ahead of the Bihar elections because he knows he's going to lose. Speaking to ANI, Reddy questioned the logic of tampering with EVMs, asking why the need to "steal votes" if manipulation was possible. "After losing Maharashtra and Haryana, he blamed EVMS, claiming they are wrong. Now he knows he is going to lose Bihar, so he is making such excuses before the elections... If we can really tamper with EVMS, why do we need to steal votes?," said Reddy. Earlier, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that thousands turned out to support the Bihar Adhikar Yatra, as the public is angry with Bihar's current government due to an increase in corruption and extortion in many block offices and police stations. "The entire public of Bihar is furious with the current government. Corruption has increased, extortion has increased in block offices and police stations," Yadav told reporters. Ahead of Yatra's launch, Tejashwi Yadav also claimed that they will form a "corruption-free", "crime-free" government when they come to power. Meanwhile, the Bihar Assembly election is se to be held later this year. The primary contest is between the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD. In the current Bihar Assembly of 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131, with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U)-45, HAM(S)-4, with the support of 2 Independent Candidates. (ANI) Wayanad (Kerala) [India], September 20 (ANI); Congress MP and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reiterated his 'vote chori' (vote theft) claim, alleging that his "hydrogen bomb" of proof will completely reveal the reality of the situation and prove that Prime Minister Narendra Modi stole votes and came to power. "We are going to reveal a Hydrogen bomb that is going to devastate completely the reality of the situation. We have open and shut proof on what we are saying. I am not saying anything without proof, we have 100 per cent of a number of things that have happened that are going to come out," Rahul Gandhi said in Wayanad. Referring to his last two press conference, where he alleged systematic fraudulent addition and deletion of voters, the Congress leader added, "We have shown it in Mahadevpura, we have shown in Aland. We are going to show it in such a way that there will no one in India who will doubt Narendra Modi ji has done vote chori and won the election." Reiterating his allegation that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is "protecting vote chors", the Congress leader claimed that the ongoing investigation over allegations of trying to delete 6,000 voters names from Aland assembly constituency is a "clear indictment" of the poll panel's head. "What we presented yesterday at press conference in black and white proof. There is a CID investigation going in Karnataka. CID has specifically asked for information on phone numbers that have been used to do vote chori. Gyanesh Kumar is CEC that the Karnataka CID is asking for. There can be no bigger indictment of the CEC than this. This is not my statement; this is the fact," the LoP Lok Sabha said. When asked whether his 'hydrogen bomb' will pertain to Prime Minister's Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, he said that it is the media's job to speculate, while his job is to deliver. "That is for you to guess, that is for you to speculate, I will do my job, I will deliver on my job," he said. Earlier today, the LoP Lok Sabha, along with Wayanad MP and his sister Priyanak Gandhi attended the inauguration ceremony of Oommen Chandy Memorial Auditorium at Kottathara Grama Panchayat Venniyodu in Wayanad. Highlighting how former Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy was always humble even while in power, the Congress leader decried how certain leaders at the national level have become arrogant and lack humility. "You might meet other leaders from all levels who get a little bit of power and they become arrogant. There are very senior leaders in India at the national level who have no humility whatsoever. But what made Oommen Chandy humble? It was the connection he had with the people of Kerala," he said. Earlier on September 18, the LoP Lok Sabha held a news conference in New Delhi and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting "people who are destroying Indian democracy". Although he clarified that the so-called 'Hydrogen Bomb' was still expected, he claimed that a "certain group of people" are systematically cutting the votes of minority groups who specifically vote for the Congress. The ECI in response has clarified that "no deletion of votes can be done online by any member of the public." While issuing a point wise press note, they said, "No wrongful deletion of electors in Aland" took place. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership on the occasion of his 75th birthday, praising him for fulfilling a "constitutional promise" to the states by implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a reform that had remained pending during the Congress-led governments. In an interview with News 18, the Union Minister said that PM Modi always puts the nation above everything else. Shah asserted that the Prime Minsiter leadership not only strengthened the "economy" but also transformed "India's global standing", "social welfare", and "national security". Shah said, "When Narendra Modi ji became the Prime Minister, he gave a constitutional guarantee that states' revenue growth rate would be nearly double with tax collections. He made a constitutional promise and fulfilled it. Almost all states will get the payment by November." Criticising the Congress party for failing to implement GST despite years of discussion, Shah said, "The discussion around GST has been happening since the time of the Congress government, even when Shri Chidambaram was the Finance Minister, and when Shri Pranab Mukherjee was the Finance Minister. The Congress is trying to mislead by saying it was their idea. Fine, if it was your idea, why was it never implemented?" He explained that the states had resisted the reform due to concerns about revenue shortfall. "Everyone knew that with GST, states' resources would face a shortfall, so states were then demanding guarantees from the Centre. The Congress never gave those guarantees and never created a consensus, which is why GST was never implemented," he added. "People see that if they pay the tax and increase the government's revenue, the government will pass on the benefits through tax cuts, which in turn strengthens faith in governance. It was invisible since independence, but is now visible for the first time," Shah said. The Union Minister said that PM Modi's decade in office had "lifted India's pride". "If we talk of achievements, most have come in Modi ji's time. He has increased the pride that every citizen feels and made their heads higher," he emphasised. The Union Minister also described the coronavirus pandemic as the toughest challenge faced under Modi's leadership. "Today, the whole world accepts that India's Covid management was the best," he said. He recalled PM Modi's measures such as the Janata Curfew, banging plates, and lighting lamps, saying they created a collective mindset. "Some said banging plates won't stop coronavirus, others said lighting lamps won't help, but these measures helped each and every Indian to create a mindset to unite in fighting the virus," Shah said. On national security, Shah reaffirmed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had a "strict policy" against terrorism. "When it comes to surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, this is the BJP's commitment that our government has a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and, under Modi ji's leadership, this is not an empty slogan but a policy," he said. "Whenever needed, we've been seen strictly following this policy...Operation Sindoor, the way we struck the terror targets, the whole world was left in awe of India's action, and that cannot happen without determination," he added. Comparing PM Modi with former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, Shah said that the prime minister had "transformed India's economy" and "raised living standards" for millions. "To bring 25 crore people out of poverty is a huge thing. To give 60 crore people toilets, electricity, cooking gas cylinders, 5 kg of food grains per person per month for free, providing treatment up to 5 lakh, and delivering clean drinking water to homes. In 11 years, raising the standard of living of 60 crore people, for which they have been waiting for generations, is a major achievement," Shah said. The Union Minister also credited PM Modi with modernising the armed forces, boosting "Make in India", and moving India from 11th place to 4th in the global economy. "To fix a goal for 2047 to make India a great nation, with the highest position in the world, to awaken such resolve in 140 crore people is a great achievement," he said. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the maritime sector and said that the State handles 49 per cent of the total national cargo. Addressing a public meeting in Bhavnagar, CM Patel said that PM Modi's vision is to take advantage of Gujarat's long coastline for maritime trade, as the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore at the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event. The Chief Minister said, "In the changing parameters of the 21st century, PM Modi gave a vision to get opportunities in modern trade with the help of maritime. His vision is clear that Gujarat has a long coastline and its advantage must be taken... Industries are established near the ports... As a result, Gujarat handles 49% of the total national cargo." As PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for the projects, the Prime Minister said, "This programme is taking place in Bhavnagar, but it belongs to the whole of India. Today, Bhavnagar has been chosen as the centre for this important initiative, which reflects our nation's vision of moving towards prosperity through the seas." PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 7,870 crore, including the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock. He also laid the foundation stone of a new container terminal and associated facilities at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata; a new container berth, cargo handling facilities, and associated developments at Paradip Port; the Tuna Tekra Multi-Cargo Terminal; firefighting facilities and modern road connectivity at Kamarajar Port, Ennore; coastal protection works including sea-walls and revetments at Chennai Port; sea-wall construction at Car Nicobar Island; a multi-purpose cargo berth and Green Bio-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port, Kandla; and ship repair facilities at Patna and Varanasi. In line with his commitment to holistic and sustainable development, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth over Rs 26,354 crore, jointly undertaken by the central and state governments, catering to various sectors in Gujarat. He inaugurated the HPLNG Regasification Terminal at Chhara Port, the Acrylics & Oxo Alcohol Project at Gujarat IOCL Refinery, the 600 MW Green Shoe Initiative, PM-KUSUM 475 MW Component C solar feeder for farmers, the 45 MW Badeli Solar PV Project, and the complete solarisation of Dhordo village, among others. The Prime Minister laid the foundation of LNG infrastructure, additional renewable energy projects, coastal protection works, highways, and healthcare and urban transport projects, including expansions at Sir T. General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Guru Govind Sinh Government Hospital at Jamnagar, and the four-laning of 70 km of national highways. (ANI) Delhi Police on Saturday submitted their response to the bail plea of Samir Modi, a businessman arrested in connection with an alleged rape case, in the Saket court. The hearing has been scheduled for Monday at the request of Samir Modi's counsel, as he remains in police custody till Sunday. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vipin Kharb heard the initial submissions by the counsel representing the accused. The judge questioned the senior counsel, asking, "You are seeking bail in police custody?" Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, along with Arshdeep Khurana, Shailendra Singh and Surya Pratap Singh, appeared for Samir Modi. Samir Modi's senior counsel raised questions about the timing of a look-out circular (LOC), stating, "How can a LOC (Look-out circular) be issued in five days of FIR?" It was submitted that an FIR was registered on September 10, and the LOC was issued within five days. The counsel requested that the court inquire with the police about how a LOC can be opened within five days. He submitted that the police be asked to inquire into the Complaint filed by the accused alleging extortion by the complainant. ASJ Vipin Kharb said that he also wants to know how an LOC could be issued in five days. Samir Modi, brother of former IPL chief Lalit Modi, had travelled to London on a return ticket, returned, and was detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on September 18 pursuant to the LOC issued by New Friends Colony Police and later arrested on alleged charges of rape. On September 19, the Saket court had granted a two-day remand of Samir Modi and asked the police to inquire about the complaint filed by him. The hearing was conducted in camera (closed room hearing). Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Deepak Vats had extended Samir Modi's police remand by two days, while the Delhi Police requested three more days for further investigation. Senior Advocate Avi Singh, Counsel for the complainant, had requested the court for an in camera hearing as it is a sensitive matter. He said that it should be in camera as detailed information about the victim is disclosed. Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta had appeared for the accused and said that the complainant's counsel does not have the locus to make submissions. Gupta had also said that a bail plea hearing is never done in camera. The court accordingly asked the media and others to exit the courtroom. (ANI) The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, commented on the functioning of the administrative tribunal in India during the 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal on Saturday. During the conference, Chief Justice BR Gavai discussed the functioning of Indian tribunals, highlighting that administrative tribunals occupy a unique position between the executive and the judiciary. He noted that, in contrast to courts, many members of these tribunals come from an administrative background, while a significant number also have judicial experience. "...The administrative tribunals are unlike courts in that they occupy a unique space between the executive and the judiciary. Many of the members come from the administrative services, while others come from the judiciary..." said CJI BR Gavai. However, Gavai emphasised that even though diversity is a strength of tribunals, he notes that members with an administrative background require training in legal reasoning and are generally averse to passing orders, which is against the government. "Although this diversity presents a strength, since it brings together judicial acumen and administrative reasoning, it is imperative to note that members are consistently trained and held to uniform standards of eligibility and conduct. Judicial members usually benefit from the nuances of public administration, while administrative members need training in legal reasoning. As a judge, I have personally noticed that judges with an administration background do not forget they are from administration and are averse to passing orders which are against the government," added CJI Gavai. While addressing the tussle between the administration and the judiciary, CJI Gavai also mentioned that workshops and training programmes, which judicial academicians conduct, can enhance the functioning of the tribunals. "The regular workshops, conferences, and training programs conducted by the judicial academicians can prove invaluable in this regard and greatly enhance the effectiveness of the tribunal", added CJI Gavai. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal discussed the goal of the 10th edition of the All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal and asserted that discussion on CAT functioning will take place, and on this platform, the challenges plaguing the CAT will be discussed. "This is the 10th conference of CAT. Discussions on the work of CAT take place here... If any challenge like AI and technology change arises, how we address that challenge and turn disaster into opportunity, there will be contemplation, reflection, and deliberation here on this matter," he said. On November 1, 1985, the Central Administrative Tribunal was established under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985. This tribunal addresses disputes and complaints regarding the recruitment and service conditions of individuals appointed to public services and posts associated with the affairs of the Union, States, and other local authorities under the Government of India. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would meet US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week as Russia intensified strikes across his country. Russia carried out one of its largest aerial attacks overnight, firing 40 missiles and some 580 drones at Ukraine in a barrage that killed at least three people and wounded dozens, Zelensky said Saturday. A Ukrainian strike, meanwhile, killed four people in Russia's southwestern Samara region, local governor said, in one of the deadliest Ukrainian retaliatory strikes on Russia since Moscow launched its invasion in 2022. Zelensky said he would hold "a meeting with the President of the United States", adding he would discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia during the talks with Trump. Ukraine has insisted on Western-backed security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has however warned that any Western troops in Ukraine would be unacceptable and legitimate targets. A US-led push for a quick end to the war has stalled and Russia effectively ruled out a meeting between Putin and Zelensky -- something that Kyiv says is the only way towards peace. "We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire," Zelensky said in comments released by the Ukrainian presidency on Saturday. "We are ready for a meeting with Putin. I have spoken about this. Both bilateral and trilateral. He is not ready," Zelensky added. In Russia's latest aerial assault of Ukraine, "a missile with cluster munitions directly struck an apartment building" in the central city of Dnipro, Zelensky said earlier on social media. He posted pictures of cars and a building on fire and rescuers carrying a person to safety amid rubble scattered nearby. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the strikes killed one person and wounded at least 30, with one man in a serious condition, regional governor Sergiy Lysak said. The strikes come a day after three Russian fighter jets violated the airspace of Estonia -- a NATO member on the alliance's eastern flank -- an allegation Moscow denied. But it triggered fears in the West of a dangerous new provocation from Moscow after Poland last week complained that around 20 Russian drones overflew its territory. Zelensky repeated the call for "joint solutions" to shoot down drones over Ukraine "together with other countries". Russia, which has been chipping away at Ukrainian territory for months, announced on Saturday its troops had captured the village of Berezove in the Dnipropetrovsk region. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, "intense actions" were ongoing in the key area of Kupiansk, Zelensky said, referring to a rail hub Ukraine recaptured in its 2022 offensive. In Russia, four people were killed "in an enemy drone attack last night," Samara governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on social media. He earlier said "fuel and energy facilities" were targeted, without specifying the damage. Ukrainian General Staff said "strategic objects of the Russian aggressor were struck", adding its forces "inflicted damage" on the Saratov Oil Refinery and struck the Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery in the Samara region. "Preliminary information indicates that explosions and fires were recorded at the site as a result of the strike," it said on social media. The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday its air defence alert systems "intercepted and destroyed" 149 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 27 over the Saratov region and 15 over the Samara region. Three rounds of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul have failed to yield anything more than large-scale prisoner exchanges. Russia has maintained a series of hardline demands, including that Ukraine fully cedes the eastern Donbas region -- parts of which it still controls. Kyiv has rejected territorial concessions and wants European troops to be deployed to Ukraine as a peacekeeping force, something Moscow sees as unacceptable. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday slammed the Centre as the Trump administration imposed a USD 100,000 annual charge for H-1B visas and called foreign policy "weak". Addressing a press conference, Akhilesh Yadav questioned the central government's preparation to deal with the US' move as it is likely to affect the IT and technology sector. He said, "Investment was raised in Uttar Pradesh; Infosys, Samsung and other companies came (to UP). It is not the first time America has behaved in such a manner. Our foreign policy is weak. What is the preparation if other nations do the same?" Further, he claimed that India is dependent on other nations for goods, including oil, and alleged several mistakes in handling the economy. "After the WTO, other mistakes are being made due to which we are not looking economically strengthened. We are dependent on other countries for everything, including oil. The list is long. We are still doing business with a country that has taken away our land many times," he said. Akhilesh's criticism comes after the US president on Friday (local time) issued a new presidential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" that introduces a major overhaul to the H-1B visa programme, imposing a steep USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, raising fresh questions about whether this is a much-needed correction or a potentially crippling blow to America's tech talent pipeline. The move is likely to affect the Indians looking for jobs in the technology and IT sectors in the US, and has led to strong criticism from the Opposition. Earlier, Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised PM Modi's silence on the issue and claimed that US President Donald Trump insults India every day. The Congress leader also claimed that if the Prime Minister had announced on the floor that Trump is a liar, the whole country would have supported him. "Trump is insulting us every day. But the PM is silent. Rahul Gandhi gave him an opportunity to say on the Floor of the House that Trump is a liar. Had he said that, the country would have stood with him. Today, the entire country is questioning the PM." Khera told ANI. He stated that Rahul Gandhi warned PM Modi in 2017 about a potential H-1B-like order, but PM Modi did nothing. "This is not a new development. On 5th July 2017, Rahul Gandhi had tweeted and alerted PM Modi that this was going to happen and do something. But he was a weak PM back then and even today. You have the result today...Crores of youth of this country are going to face a loss," said Khera. Meanwhile, the revised visa fee is set to take effect on September 21. The proclamation represents one of the Trump administration's most aggressive efforts yet to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. (ANI) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Saturday took a sharp dig at the ruling DMK government, asserting that resolving the issues faced by fishermen remained one of his party's top priorities. The TVK chief highlighted that the Nagapattinam port ranked "second" in Tamil Nadu for fish exports, but lacked modern facilities and processing factories. He also pointed out the poor infrastructure in the district, where many families continued to live in thatched houses. "We are not like the DMK government that writes a long letter about the fishermen's issue and then remains silent. Finding a solution to the fishermen's problem is one of our key agendas," TVK chief said. He stressed that the lives of fishermen were important, but added that "the dreams and lives of the Eelam Tamils are equally important to us." "I had spoken at the Madurai conference about the reasons behind Sri Lankan navy attacks on our fishermen and the possible solutions. It is my duty to stand with fishermen," he added. He further reminded the gathering that 14 years ago, he had held a public meeting in Nagapattinam condemning attacks on fishermen, underlining his continued commitment to their cause. In his address, Vijay also expressed solidarity with Eelam Tamils across the world. "At the same time, our umbilical-cord kin, the Eelam Tamils, whether they are in Sri Lanka or anywhere else in the world, are suffering after losing a leader (LTTE Leader Prabhakaran) who showed them motherly affection. It is our duty to raise our voice for them," he said. On September 13, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam(TVK) Chief Vijay launched his state-wide campaign from Tiruchirappalli. TVK Chief Vijay delivered a fiery speech questioning the ruling DMK over its 'unfulfilled' electoral promises mentioned in thier 2021 election manifesto. He accused the ruling party of ignoring people's real issues, pointing to recent controversies. "A kidney theft took place in a hospital owned by a DMK member. Women are allowed free travel in buses, but are humiliated with the term 'free, free' being mocked at them. The promise of Rs 1,000 for all women has not been fulfilled, and those who received it are showcased for publicity," he charged. Vijay assured that TVK would focus on education, electricity, healthcare, women's safety, and legal reforms without compromise. "We will only promise what is practically possible, not empty words," he asserted, adding that victory for TVK was certain. Vijay intends to present his party, TVK, as a third front in Tamil Nadu politics, an alternative to both the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK. The TVK will be contesting the Tamil Nadu assembly elections for the first time since its founding in 2024. The state elections are scheduled to be held in 2026. (ANI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday criticised the United States' decision to impose an annual fee of USD 100,000 on H-1B visas, calling it a "return gift" from President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent birthday. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Trump extended 75th birthday wishes to PM Modi through a phone call, and expressed gratitude for support on ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "Indians are pained by the return gifts you have received after the birthday call. Birthday Return Gifts from your "Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar" Govt! USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, hits Indian tech workers the hardest, 70 per cent of H-1B visa holders are Indians," Kharge wrote in a post on X. Kharge further alleged that India's foreign policy has shifted from "safeguarding national interest" to "bear hugs, hollow slogans, concerts." "Indian National interests are Supreme. Bear Hugs, Hollow Slogans, Concerts and getting people to chant "Modi, Modi" is not Foreign Policy! Foreign policy is about safeguarding our NATIONAL INTERESTS; keeping INDIA FIRST, and steering friendships with wisdom and balance. It cannot be reduced to superficial bravado that risks undermining our long-term standing," he said. Listing other measures by the US that affect India, Kharge pointed to the recently passed HIRE Act, which targets Indian outsourcing, the 50 per cent tariff having an estimated loss of at least Rs 2.17 lakh crore, and the lifting of the Chabahar port exemption. He also cited Trump's repeated claims that his intervention prevented a war between India and Pakistan. "50 per cent tariff already imposed, a loss of 2.17 Lakh crore to India is already estimated in 10 sectors alone. HIRE Act targeting Indian outsourcing. Chabahar port exemption lifted, a loss to our strategic interests. Even a call for the EU to impose 100% tariff on Indian goods! Mr. Trump again recently claims (for the umpteen time!) that his intervention stopped the India-Pak war," Kharge added. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also criticised the visa fee hike, warning that it would shrink opportunities for Indian professionals and reduce remittances. "There will be fewer job opportunities that will now be available for Indians - especially at the junior level and fresh graduates. 2. In 2024, India received $32 billion in remittances from the US, which is about 27.7% of total remittances received. 3. US Big Tech is the biggest sponsor of H1B. But this fee surge will dissuade US companies to sponsor Indian workers. 4. This is especially a body blow for the tech industry, which hardly has any jobs in India for Techies. Engineers are applying for non-engineering and low grade jobs," Shrinate posted on X. US President Donald Trump's proclamation, titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", majorly overhauls the H-1B visa programme and raises fresh questions about whether this is a much-needed correction or a potentially crippling blow to America's tech talent pipeline. Set to take effect on September 21, the proclamation represents one of the Trump administration's most aggressive efforts yet to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. Framed as a crackdown on "systemic abuse", it places strict financial and compliance burdens on companies seeking to hire skilled foreign workers, especially in the technology and IT sectors. (ANI) Indian Navy's latest indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), INS Nistar, made its maiden port call at Changi, Singapore on 14 Sep 2025, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence. The ship functioning under the Command and Control of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet will be participating in the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR 25) commencing September 15, 2025. INS Nistar, commissioned on 18 Jul 2025, is a shining example of India's self-reliance and progress towards achieving Aatmanirbharta in shipbuilding and has been able to achieve more than 80% indigenisation. The ship with its Side Scan Sonar, Work & observation class ROVs and expansive deep sea diving systems will be carrying out the role of mothership (MoSHIP) for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). With the induction of two DSRVs in 2018-19, one for each seaboard, capable of conducting rescue operations to depths of 650 meters, India joined the elite league of nations that operate dedicated submarine rescue systems. These systems can either be deployed on Vessels of Opportunity (VoO) or airlifted to the nearest mobilisation port for rapid deployment to distant seas. Submarine Rescue Unit (East) will be operating from the mothership for the biennial submarine rescue exercise in the South China Sea, which is aimed at bringing together the submarine rescue platforms & assets operated by various nations for streamlining the procedures, inculcating Best Practices and enhancing interoperability. Exercise Pacific Reach 2025, being hosted by Singapore, will see participation of more than 40 nations as active participants or as observers. The exercise will mainly be conducted in two phases, viz., the harbour and sea phases. The week-long harbour phase will involve in-depth discussions on submarine rescue systems, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), a medical symposium and cross-deck visits between the participating nations. The sea phase of the exercise would witness INS Nistar and SRU(E) engaging in multiple intervention and rescue operations with participating assets in the South China Sea. (ANI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers, based on specific intelligence, seized a total of 12 kg of hydroponic weed after intercepting an Indian passenger arriving from Dubai at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, officials mentioned on Saturday. According to officials, during the search of the passengers' baggage, packets containing a greenish, lumpy substance were recovered. On testing, the substance gave a positive result for Cannabis. A total of 6 kg of hydroponic weed was recovered from this baggage. Upon questioning, the passenger revealed that another checked-in bag, which she had declared as misplaced, arrived in Hyderabad earlier on September 20, and upon its examination, revealed another 6 kg of hydroponic weed. "Interrogation of the passenger revealed that another checked-in bag belonging to her had been declared as misplaced, for which she had already filed a complaint. The said baggage arrived in Hyderabad on 20.09.2025. On its examination, another 6 kg of hydroponic weed was recovered," the DRI's official statement mentioned. Thus, in total, 12 kg of hydroponic weed valued at approximately 12 crore has been seized. The passenger has been arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985. Meanwhile, as part of an ongoing pan-India "Operation Weed Out", the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 39.2 kg of hydroponic weed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, on September 13 to 14, 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance. Three persons have been arrested in a coordinated operation, under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted two Indian nationals arriving from Bangkok. Thorough examination of their checked-in baggage led to the recovery of 39 packets weighing 39.2 kg of hydroponic cannabis. A swift follow-up action resulted in the arrest of the intended recipient. (ANI) Delhi Police on Saturday sought time to argue on the bail plea of Gaganpreet Kaur, accused in the Dhaula Kuan BMW accident case that claimed the life of Navjot Singh, Deputy Secretary in the Finance Ministry. The Patiala House Court adjourned the hearing on the bail petition of Gaganpreet Kaur for September 24. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ankit Garg adjourned the matter at the request of Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastava, who is appointed as Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in this case. APP Dishank Dhawan also appeared for the Delhi Police. SPP requested the court for an adjournment for the same reason as the victim is to be examined, and CCTV is to be shown to the victim. Delhi police submitted that they have seized the CCTV footage related to pillars number 65 and 67. Delhi police submitted that the hearing on the bail plea be adjourned as the mobile phone and driving licence of the accused are to be recovered, as it is not handed over to the police. Defence counsel said that the mobile is with the husband of the accused. They will hand it over to the police by evening. Advocate Pradeep Rana, along with Gagan and Abhishek Rana, appeared for Gaganpreet Kaur. Three applications seeking preservation of the CDR record of Witness Gulfam, Gaganpreet Kaur and other details. The court issued notice to the Delhi Police and listed the same for hearing on the next date. The application seeking the preservation of CCTV footage is disposed of after the recording of a statement from the Delhi police. The court on Friday had said that the prosecuting agency cannot be directed at the behest to make a statement on the veracity and contents of the evidence as collected by them. The court is dealing with a bail application moved by accused Gaganpreet Kaur, who is an accused in the Dhaula Kuan BMW Accident, which claimed the life of Navjot Singh, Deputy Secretary, Finance Ministry. The Counsel for the accused had submitted that the investigation agency has not specifically mentioned whether the CCTV footage which have been preserved covers the incident, not just the place of the incident. Advocate Pradeep Rana had submitted that he only wants a statement from the prosecuting agency that the preserved footage has the footage of the incident. After hearing the submissions, the court had sought clarification from the SHO of Police Station Delhi Cantt, whether the preserved footage contains the footage of cameras installed at Pillar numbers 65 and 67. However, the court had refused to order the police to make a statement on whether the CCTV footage collected by them contains the accident. The court had said, "Orders for preservation of CCTV footage have already been given, and clarification has also been sought from SHO to see whether the seized footage contains footage from cameras at pillar no. 65 and 67." "Therefore, the prayer as sought in the application has already been allowed, and its compliance is awaited. The prosecuting agency, at the behest of accused, cannot be forced to tell the veracity and contents of evidence, as collected by them. Be put up for compliance on 20.09.2025," the court has ordered. (ANI) Tirkey has been unwell for the last three months. Tirkey was elected MLA in 1995, 2000, 2009 and 2014. His son Rohit Joseph Tirkey has been elected to the Odisha legislative Assembly in the 2024 general election as a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate. Odisha Chief Minister paid his last respects and offered floral tributes to the mortal remains of the late George Tirkey in the Assembly premises. In a post on X, he said, "I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of senior leader and former Biramitrapur legislator George Tirkey. I convey my condolences to the grieving family and pray to Lord Shri Jagannath for the peaceful departed soul. Om Shanti." George Tirkey was a stalwart champion for tribal rights in Odisha, India, renowned for his tireless efforts to protect tribal land and lead movements against displacement caused by mining and industrial projects, especially in Sundargarh district. His dedication earned him a distinctive place in Odisha's political landscape. He fiercely fought to safeguard tribal communities' rights to their ancestral lands. Tirkey led protests against displacement triggered by industrial and mining activities. A four-time MLA, he represented Sundargarh and worked with parties like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Samata Kranti Dal. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and former CM Naveen Patnaik praised Tirkey's commitment to marginalised sections, calling him a "popular leader and grassroots politician". His passing is seen as a significant loss to Odisha's tribal politics. In a post on X, Patnaik said, " I am deeply saddened to about the demise of senior politician and former MLA of Sundargarh Biramitrapur, George Tirkey. His lifelong contribution to public service is unparalleled. His work for the welfare of the people will always be remembered. I pray for the eternal peace of his departed soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family members." (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday reiterated Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" allegations on the BJP, stating that 90 per cent of the Mahayuti MLAs in Maharashtra have won because of "vote chori". Raut's reactions came two days after Rahul Gandhi's recent claims, alleging "vote theft" of approximately 6000 votes from Karnataka's Aland assembly constituency. Earlier this year, the Congress MP had alleged the deletion of around 100000 names from the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency by the Election Commission, and helping the BJP in rigging elections. "Such people have been elected in Maharashtra of whom even people are not aware they are MLAs. They became the MLAs because of 'vote chori.' 90% of MLAs of Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, or the BJP have become so by stealing or rigging votes," Sanjay Raut told reporters. Earlier on Thursday Congress MP Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference in the national capital and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting "people who are destroying Indian democracy". He claimed that a "certain group of people" are systematically cutting the votes of minority groups who specifically vote for Congress. "I am going to show the youth, the people, proof that is black and white, absolutely clear that Chief Election Commissioner of India is protecting people who have destroyed Indian democracy. I will also show you the methods by which votes are added, deleted and show you how it is done," Rahul Gandhi said during a press conference at the Congress headquarters. "In election after election, someone, some group of people have been systematically targeting voters for deletions across India. Different communities, mainly who are voting for opposition, Dalits, OBCs, adivasis, minorities are specifically targeted who vote for the Opposition. We had heard this many times, and now we found 100 per cent proof of it. I am not going to say anything on this stage that is not backed up by 100 per cent proof. I am somebody who loves my country, Constitution, the democratic process and I am protecting that process. I am not going to be based on 100 per cent proof that you can determine," he added. Talking about the Aland constituency in Karnataka he alleged that around 6 thousand votes were deleted fraudulently by unknown people who used software and impersonated real voters. "In Aland, Karnataka, 6018 votes, somebody tried to delete these votes. We don't know the total number of votes deleted in 2023 elections, but somebody got caught. It was caught, by most crimes, by a coincidence. What happened was that the Booth Level officer noticed that her uncle's vote has been deleted. When she checked she saw that her neighbour had deleted the vote," he added. (ANI) Amid US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a USD 100,000 fee on the H-1B visa applications, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday stated that if was unfortunate to see the Prime Minister Narendra Modi practicing the foreign policy of strategic silence, further stating that remaining silent was not helping the country. Gogoi further stated that the "draconian measure" was hurting not just the US, but also the biggest and brightest minds that powered the American innovation. "...The recent decision of the US government has hurt and hit the aspirations of many of our best and brightest Indian minds...These are the minds that power American innovation, that transform their companies as CEOs...So, indirectly, the US is only hurting itself by taking this draconian measure...It's sad to see Prime Minister Modi practising this foreign policy of strategic silence. I don't think remaining silent is helping us..." Gogoi told ANI. Citing the example of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress MP stated that PM Modi lacked the strength of the former PM, which had disturbed thousands of Indian minds. "I remember Dr. Manmohan Singh, when one IFS officer was insulted in New York, the bold steps that he took in New Delhi resounded in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. Today, not one diplomat, but thousands and thousands of Indian minds have been disturbed by the recent decision of the American government and unfortunately Prime Minister Modi is lacking the strength of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh," he added. Trump's order mandates companies to pay USD100,000 annually for H-1B visa petitions, aiming to curb perceived abuses and prioritise American workers. US President Donald Trump's residential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" imposed a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. Trump's order may impact Indians as they comprise about 70% of H-1B visa holders, making them significantly affected by this policy shift. The steep fee may deter companies, especially smaller ones, from sponsoring foreign workers and could push Indian talent toward alternatives like Canada or Europe. (ANI) Two school children were killed after being hit by a train while crossing railway tracks in Nangloi, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Outer Delhi, Sachin Sharma. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the DCP of Outer Delhi said that train operations are now running smoothly and the situation has returned to normal after locals gathered, blocking the railway tracks and temporarily disrupting train services. "We got the information that in a train accident, two children were killed. Due to this, locals gathered here, and the situation was tackled after taking the necessary steps, and the crowd was dispersed. Train operations are running smoothly, and the situation is normal," Sharma said. Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Saturday sought time to argue on the bail plea of Gaganpreet Kaur, accused in the Dhaula Kuan BMW accident case that claimed the life of Navjot Singh, Deputy Secretary in the Finance Ministry. The Patiala House Court adjourned the hearing on the bail petition of Gaganpreet Kaur for September 24. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ankit Garg adjourned the matter at the request of Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastava, who is appointed as Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in this case. APP Dishank Dhawan also appeared for the Delhi Police. SPP requested the court for an adjournment for the same reason as the victim is to be examined, and CCTV is to be shown to the victim. Delhi police submitted that they have seized the CCTV footage related to pillars number 65 and 67. Delhi police submitted that the hearing on the bail plea be adjourned as the mobile phone and driving licence of the accused are to be recovered, as it is not handed over to the police. Defence counsel said that the mobile is with the husband of the accused. They will hand it over to the police by evening. Advocate Pradeep Rana, along with Gagan and Abhishek Rana, appeared for Gaganpreet Kaur. Three applications seeking preservation of the CDR record of Witness Gulfam, Gaganpreet Kaur and other details. The court issued notice to the Delhi Police and listed the same for hearing on the next date. The application seeking the preservation of CCTV footage is disposed of after the recording of a statement from the Delhi police. The court on Friday had said that the prosecuting agency cannot be directed at the behest to make a statement on the veracity and contents of the evidence as collected by them. The court is dealing with a bail application moved by accused Gaganpreet Kaur, who is an accused in the Dhaula Kuan BMW Accident, which claimed the life of Navjot Singh, Deputy Secretary, Finance Ministry. (ANI) US President Donald Trump said Friday he will welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House next week and expects a resolution to a long-running rift on fighter jets. It will be the first bilateral visit to the White House by Erdogan since 2019 during Trump's first term, with former president Joe Biden having a tense relationship with the Turkish leader he accused of autocratic behavior. Trump has shown a fondness for Erdogan despite misgivings from close US ally Israel, which is at odds with Turkey over Syria and Gaza. Trump announced that Erdogan will visit the White House on Thursday, after the two leaders participate in the UN General Assembly in New York. During Trump's first term, the United States booted Turkey, a NATO ally, out of its flagship F-35 fighter jet program. The first Trump administration took the action after Turkey defiantly bought Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system, raising fears that NATO's main adversary would seize a window into Western jet operations. "We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President, including the large scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks, which we expect to conclude positively," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I look forward to seeing him on the 25th!" he said. Erdogan said in July that he had reached an "agreement" with Trump on the state-of-the-art jets. "I think the F-35s will be delivered to Turkey step-by-step during his term," Erdogan said. Trump, known for his admiration for forceful foreign leaders, is embracing Erdogan despite a crackdown in Turkey on the opposition. Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of the largest city Istanbul and presidential candidate of the main opposition CHP party, was arrested in March on charges that critics see as politically motivated -- and that drew a muted response from the Trump administration. Turkey has divided Trump's Republican Party, with some hawks including Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state in Trump's first term, denouncing Erdogan in part for his Islamist political orientation and fierce criticism of Israel. Turkey has also allowed Hamas leaders to spend time in the country. Israel last week bombed another close US partner, Qatar, to target the Palestinian armed group, which carried out the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. But Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister or president since 2003, has forged a close relationship with Trump, so much that he has reportedly called him unprompted on his mobile telephone. Erdogan and Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in May persuaded Trump to drop sanctions on Syria after former Islamist guerrilla Ahmed al-Sharaa swept to power. Israel has pounded Syria, destroying key military sites, as it sees a chance to do damage to its neighbor and historic adversary at a weak point following the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad. The United States has pushed for a resolution, and Syria has voiced hope for finalizing security and military arrangements with Israel by the end of the year. Senior US officials met Friday in Washington with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani before Sharaa's appearance at the UN General Assembly next week. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau "underscored this historic opportunity for Syria to build a peaceful, prosperous and sovereign nation" following US sanctions relief, the State Department said. The Rouse Avenue court issued summons to three accused in the Land for job money laundering case linked to former Railway Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and businessman Amit Katyal. Special judge Vishal Gogne issued summons to Mustkim Ansari, Lal Babu Chaudhary and Rajendra Singh after considering the supplementary charge sheet. The matter is listed on October 13 for scrutiny of documents on a day-to-day basis. The court had earlier issued summons to 16 accused, including Lalu Prasad Yadav. The court has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file the amended memos of the accused persons. It is also directed to supply the copies of the supplementary charge sheet alongwith documents and a list of unrelied documents. The court has asked the ED to supply copies of the Prosecution sanction related to Lalu Prasad Yadav to the accused. In September 2024, the court issued a summons to Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav, and elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and other persons. The Court has summoned Akhileshwar Singh as well as his wife Kiran Devi. Tej Pratap Yadav was not charge-sheeted by the ED, but the court found sufficient material against him to issue a summons. Tej Pratap Yadav was summoned for the first time in a land case. The court had summoned Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Akhileshwar Singh, Hazari Prasad Rai, Sanjay Rai, Dharmendra Singh, and Kiran Devi. The ED on August 6, 2024, filed the first supplementary charge sheet against Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav and other accused in the land for job scam. This supplementary charge sheet had named Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Late Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, Late Kishun Dev Rai and Sanjay Rai. Four accused, namely Lallan Chaudhary, Lal Babu Rai, Kishun Dev Rai and Sonmatia Devi, died. Proceedings against them were abated by the court. The ED had submitted that in 2006-07, an AK Info System was formed by Amit Katyal, and its business was IT data analysis. No real business was done. Instead, several land parcels were bought by the company. One land parcel pertains to the main predicate offence, that is land-for- job. This company was transferred in the name of Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav in 2014 for the consideration of one lakh Rupees, ED had submitted. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 9, 2024 filed a Prosecution Complaint (Charge sheet) in Land for job scam money laundering case. ED had submitted that A B Export was supposed to be in the business of export. It was incorporated in 1996. In 2007, Rs. five crore came through five companies and a property in New Friends colony was purchased. In this case, seven land parcels are allegedly involved. Out of these Rabri, Hema Yadav, Misa Bharti allegedly got land parcels. Later on, they sold out their land parcels. Katyal is said to be a close aide of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. According to the ED in March month 2024, based on the specific intelligence inputs, searches were conducted at 24 locations at various places in Delhi NCR, Patna, Mumbai and Ranchi in the Railways Land for Job Scam, which resulted in recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs 1 Crore, foreign currency including USD 1900, 540 gms gold bullion and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery (worth Rs 1.25 Crores approximately), several other incriminating documents including various property documents, sale deeds etc held in the names of family members and benamidaars indicating illegal accretion of huge land bank and electronic devices. Searches resulted in the detection of Proceeds of Crime amounting to Rs 600 Crore approximately at this point in time, which is in the form of immovable properties of Rs 350 Crore and transactions of Rs 250 Crore routed through various benamidars, ED stated. According to the ED PMLA investigation conducted, several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were illegally acquired by the family of the then Rail Mantri, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in lieu of jobs provided in the Railways. ED investigation alleged that 4 parcels of land acquired by the family of Lalu Yadav in just Rs 7.5 Lakhs from poor Group-D applicants were sold to Syed Abu Dojana, Ex-RJD MLA, by Mrs Rabri Devi with huge gains at Rs 3.5 Crore in a collusive deal. ED investigation further revealed that a major portion of the amount thus received was transferred to the account of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Investigations revealed that in a similar fashion, lands were taken from several poor parents and candidates in lieu of Group D jobs in the Railways. It has been revealed during the investigation that in many railway zones, more than 50% of recruited candidates were from Lalu Yadav's constituencies, stated ED. (ANI) BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday sharply criticised Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda over his recent reported remarks. Sam Pitroda reportedly said in a media statement that he had been to Pakistan and "felt at home" Speaking to ANI, Prasad said, "Sam Pitroda should go to Pakistan only...He calls Rahul Gandhi abroad, where he speaks against he nation. He cannot see Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the way innocents were killed in Pahalgam..." On Friday, the BJP launched a sharp attack on the Congress party over Pitroda's reported remarks and demanded an apology from the Gandhi family. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress leadership of remaining silent on the controversial statement and alleged links with Pakistan-based figures. Bhandari said, "We want to ask Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, why did you remain silent when Shahid Afridi called you his idol? Lashkar-e-Taiba wanted to have talks with Congress, why did you remain silent? Sam Pitroda calls Pakistan his home, why are you silent? Your silence is your acceptance... They want to spread anarchy in Indian democracy. Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi said that protecting the Indian democracy is not his job, but he definitely said that he wants to fight against the Indian state... Gandhi-Vadra family should apologise to the nation for Sam Pitroda's statement..." Claiming that such statements amounted to an insult to Indian soldiers and citizens, the BJP leader said, "Can a patriot ever say that terror state Pakistan is like a home to them? But, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, who decides Gandhi family's strategy, who has a 30-year-long relationship with Gandhi family,... says that he feels at home in Pakistan. Congress leadership is making Sam Pitroda say this." "This is an insult to our soldiers and 140 crore Indians. If this statement is not anti-national, then what is it?... ISI Agent Shahid Afridi called Rahul Gandhi his idol a few days ago, and now Rahul's close aide says Pakistan is like a home to him. Some time ago, Rahul Gandhi said that he wants to fight the Indian state... They call Pakistan their home and insult the sovereignty of India..." he added. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the shooter arrested in connection with a firing incident at actor Disha Patani's house in Bareilly to "Maareech." Addressing a gathering in Lucknow, CM Yogi said, "You may have seen yesterday that a criminal involved in crimes against women had come from outside the state. He entered like a Maareech, but when the bullets of the local police pierced his body, he was shouting, 'I have entered the border of Uttar Pradesh by mistake. I will not dare to do this again' and every criminal who breaches women's safety, hinders their dignity and self-reliance, will have to do this. This same challenge of danger will always be faced by them." On September 17, the two accused involved in the firing outside actor Disha Patani's father's residence in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, succumbed to injuries following an encounter in a joint operation by Delhi Police and UP STF in Ghaziabad. Ravinda alias Kullu and Arun, affiliated with notorious gangsters Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara, were injured during the encounter near the Tronica City area of Ghaziabad and later succumbed to injuries. Both the accused (Ravinda alias Kullu and Arun), who were injured following an encounter with the police, have succumbed to injuries, according to Delhi Police. Both accused were residents of Haryana. Ravinda alias Kullu was from Rohtak, while Arun was from Rohtak. CM Yogi had assured Disha Patani's father, Jagdish Patani, of strict action against the accused and security arrangements. Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara are wanted by the National Investigation Agency and several state police units; Brar is suspected to be in the US, and Godara in the UK. (ANI) The Indian Army's White Knight Corps on Saturday paid tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, who lost his life during an ongoing operation in Udhampur, on the intervening night of September 19-20. https://x.com/Whiteknight_IA/status/1969359555118448750 In a post on X, the Corps said, "Supreme Sacrifice. GOC White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, who made the supreme sacrifice during an ongoing operation at Kanji, Udhampur on the night of 19-20 Sep 2025. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief." According to officials, the encounter broke out around 8 p.m. on Friday night when alert troops of the White Knight Corps established contact with a group of terrorists in the region. Police confirmed that terrorists were spotted in the Seoj Dhar area, following which the Special Operations Group joined the Army to flush them out. The Army spokesperson said an exchange of fire took place with the hiding terrorists, leaving Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand soldier injured. Meanwhile, Security tightened in Udhampur district, especially along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, after an encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Seoj Dhar area, officials said on Saturday. Meanwhile, additional reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, while choppers and drones have been deployed to maintain aerial surveillance. Intelligence inputs suggest that two to three Pakistani terrorists may be trapped in the area. The operations are still underway, said officials. Earlier on September 9, Security forces concluded 'Operation Gudder' in Kulgam with the elimination of two hardcore Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. The terrorists have been identified as Rahman, a Pakistani national, and Amir Ahmed Dar, a resident of Daramdora, Shopian. According to officials, security forces also recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, and other warlike stores from the encounter site. "The Operation culminated with the neutralisation of two hardcore LeT terrorists identified as Rahman, a Pakistani national and Amir Ahmed Dar, r/o Daramdora, Shopian, alongwith the recovery of weapons, ammunition and other warlike stores," said the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army in a post on X. (ANI) The Ministry of Culture is celebrating the SewaParv 2025 from September 17 to October 2, 2025, as a nationwide festival of service, creativity, and cultural pride. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, SewaParv aims to bring together communities, institutions, and individuals in a collective movement of Sewa (service), creativity, and cultural pride. As part of the continuing celebrations, a painting competition was organised on 20th September 2025 at the Government Excellent School, Damoh (Madhya Pradesh) by the Cultural Centre for Research and Training (CCRT), Regional Centre, Damoh. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation of 500 school children, who expressed their vision of a Viksit Bharat through colours, creativity, and imagination, Ministry of Culture said. The event was graced by Member of Parliament from Damoh, Rahul Singh, as the Chief Guest. Interacting with the young participants, he appreciated their artwork and encouraged them to nurture creativity as a means of nation-building. S.K. Nema, District Education Officer, attended as the Special Guest and extended his best wishes to the students. R.P. Patel, Principal of Government Excellent School, Damoh, expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, participants, and members of society who supported the initiative. The programme concluded with MP Rahul Singh administering the Swachhta Pledge to all students, reinforcing the message of cleanliness and responsibility towards society. The event also saw the presence of teachers, social workers, and media representatives from the district. In a separate event, CCRT's regional centre in Guwahati also organised a grand painting workshop at Chinsurah Balika Shiksha Mandir Higher Secondary School, Hooghly (West Bengal). A total of 1008 school students and 150 college students showcased their creativity, presenting a beautiful glimpse of a Viksit Bharat through colours. The Chief Guest, renowned painter Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharjee, said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is moving towards creating world records. He interacted warmly with the children and congratulated CCRT for this excellent initiative. The Special Guest, Shubhendu Ghure, Chairman, Hooghly District School Council, appreciated the children's artworks and remarked that CCRT is doing remarkable work in harmonising education and culture through art. The programme concluded with all participants taking a Swachhata Pledge. Swachhotsav - Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025: As part of the Swachhotsav - Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025 programme, a cleanliness drive was undertaken on September 20, 2025, at Indira Chauraha, by the North Central Zone Cultural Centre campus, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, outside its campus. The activity, held under SewaParv 2025, reinforced the spirit of collective responsibility and civic participation. The events organised on September 20 under SewaParv 2025 across Damoh, Prayagraj, and Chinsura (West Bengal) beautifully showcased the convergence of Sewa and Kala in nation-building. In Damoh, young students expressed their vision of a Viksit Bharat through vibrant colours and creativity, while in Prayagraj, the cleanliness drive under "Swachhotsav, Swachhata Hi Sewa 2025" reinforced collective responsibility towards cleanliness and civic duty. In Chinsura, a grand painting workshop conducted by the Cultural Resource and Training Centre, Regional Centre, Guwahati, engaged students in exploring cultural heritage through art. Together, these initiatives exemplified the spirit of Janbhagidari, highlighting how citizen participation, creativity, and social responsibility contribute to building a stronger, developed India. (ANI) A fire broke out in a factory located in Gyan Mohalla, Gandhi Nagar area of Shahdara on Saturday evening. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and no casualties have been reported so far, the official informed. Speaking to ANI, Fire Officer Bhimsen said, "We received a fire call from Gyan Mohalla Gali No.1. When we reached, we saw that the situation was very bad. The QRV reached here with a lot of difficulty because of the narrow lanes here... The fire is under control and there has been no loss of life..." Further details are awaited. (ANI) In line with the directives of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the State Disaster Management Department has intensified efforts to secure a special package from the Government of India to compensate for the damages caused during the 2025 monsoon season, an official release said. From coming Wednesday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will launch the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process to conduct a realistic evaluation of the losses suffered by the state. On Saturday, a crucial meeting was held at the State Emergency Operations Centre, Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, under the chairmanship of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman. The meeting was attended by District Magistrates and heads of various departments, focusing on providing detailed reports of damages covered and not covered under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Participants were briefed on the latest SDRF standards and the prescribed reporting formats. Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman informed that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the PDNA process to be expedited so that a detailed proposal can be submitted to the Government of India at the earliest. The CM is personally monitoring progress on a regular basis. All departments have been instructed to clearly indicate the extent of compensation possible under SDRF and the remaining amount, which will be requested through a special package from the Union Government. He emphasised that the scale of damages this monsoon season is far beyond what can be covered under SDRF alone, hence the urgent need for a special package. The Secretary further stated that the CM has instructed the immediate reopening of blocked roads without any delay, with patchwork repairs to begin promptly after the rains subside. Restoration of damaged power and water supply lines has also been prioritised. On Saturday morning, the Chief Minister directed the Secretary to coordinate with districts and departments to normalise life in disaster-affected areas as quickly as possible. Essential supplies must remain available in affected regions until normalcy is fully restored. He added that Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has instructed all department heads to conduct field visits from next week to assess damages and review reconstruction work. During the first week, HODs themselves will visit and stay for two days in the districts. In the second week, second-level senior officers will visit, followed by third-level senior officers in the third week. Department heads will also meet District Magistrates to strengthen coordination and accelerate departmental work. Any issues arising will be discussed with DMs for immediate resolution, ensuring smooth progress of recovery tasks. The PDNA process to assess post-disaster needs will formally begin on Wednesday with the arrival of the central team in Uttarakhand. Four teams have been constituted, each covering all districts to evaluate actual damages. District Magistrates will lead the teams at the district level, while HODs will serve as nodal officers. Some officials have been nominated by DMs, and others by HODs, to assist in this work. Every scheme will undergo PDNA, and based on this, a detailed proposal will be prepared and submitted to the Union Government. The teams include officials from all departments to ensure a comprehensive assessment. (ANI) As per the Chief Minister's Office release, at the airport, the Prime Minister was given a warm farewell by Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Union Minister and BJP State President C.R. Patil, Protocol Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain, State Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Director General of Police Vikas Sahay, Additional Chief Secretary of GAD Sunayana Tomar, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G.S. Malik, and Chief Protocol Officer Jvalant Trivedi, along with other senior officials, were also present to see him off. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) being established at Lothal in Gujarat, and it is set to become the world's largest maritime museum. NHMC is being developed at a cost of around Rs 4,500 crore to celebrate and preserve the country's ancient maritime traditions and serve as a centre for tourism, research, education and skill development. "Reviewed the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal. Once completed, it will be the world's largest maritime museum. It will showcase India's ancient maritime traditions while serving as a hub for tourism, research, education and skill development," PM Modi said in a post on X. Earlier in the day, PM Modi, during his visit to Gujarat, chaired a meeting to review the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC). PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore at the 'Samudra se Samriddhi' event in Bhavnagar. As part of the maritime sector initiatives, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 7,870 crore, including the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping approved the TikTok deal for the video-sharing platform to continue operating in the US. Speaking with the reporters at the Oval Office, President Trump said, "I had a good call with President Xi. He approved the TikTok deal. We look forward to getting the deal closed. We have to get it signed; it could be a formality. The TikTok deal is on its way, and the investors are getting ready." Trump mentioned that the US will have "tight control" over the app, emphasising that this is a "very good deal" for Washington. "We are going to have very tight control. It is an amazing thing that has been created... I am a little prejudiced because I frankly did so well on it. It got me numbers that nobody has ever even heard before. The young people of this country want it. The parents of the young people want it badly. So we were able to work out a deal with China. It's a very good deal for us. I hope it's a good deal for them... These are American investors... They are very famous people financially. They'll have control of it. I want to thank President Xi because he was a gentleman. We just had a good relationship," Trump said. Trump and Xi Jinping had a telephonic conversation today during which they discussed various issues, including the Chinese app TikTok, which faces a threat of being banned after the former US President Joe Biden's administration passed legislation to force the platform to divest itself of its ownership by the Chinese internet company ByteDance. Shortly after Trump's conversation with Xi Jinping, ByteDance issued a statement that the company will advance with the related work that allows TikTok to continue functioning in the US. "Bytedance statement on TikTok: We thank President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump for their attention to TikTok. ByteDance will advance related work in accordance with the requirements of Chinese law, allowing TikTok U.S. to continue serving American users well," the statement read. The legislation, which was passed in April 2024, aimed to ban the app from January 19, 2025, but the Trump government has not yet enforced it. The US is eager to strike a deal with China that allows US investors to have more control of TikTok. "According to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, which quoted people familiar with the deal, the proposed agreement between Beijing and Washington is set to see a group of American investors control 80 per cent of TikTok, while the remaining 20 per cent will be controlled by Chinese firms, including ByteDance. (ANI) The Indian embassy in Kathmandu on Friday issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals travelling to Nepal, stating that while the situation in the country has improved considerably over the past week, visitors should still exercise due caution and strictly adhere to updates and instructions issued by the mission or local authorities. "The situation in Nepal has improved considerably over the past week. Road transport and flights are now operating regularly," the Indian embassy wrote in the Nepal advisory. "Indian nationals travelling to Nepal are, however, advised to exercise due caution and adhere to advisories/updates that may be issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu or local authorities of Nepal," the advisory added. The advisory also provided dedicated contact details for assistance. Indian citizens in Nepal can reach out to the Embassy through its helpline number +977-9808602881 (including WhatsApp calls), the permanent emergency number +977-9851316807, and via email at [helpdesk.eoiktm@gmail.com]. Meanwhile, Nepal has started clearing charred vehicles from the streets and parking, with the government building getting a fresh paint following the violent protest of last week. Inside Singhadurbar, the administrative capital of the Himalayan Nation, cranes have been deployed to tow off the charred vehicles and are being dumped in the federal parliament premises for the time being. Authorities have been marking the vehicles with their registration numbers to ease the insurance claims, as well as to assess the damage inflicted following the violence of September 9. In the preliminary survey conducted earlier this week, about seven hundred vehicles were torched and permanently damaged. As per the survey by a government staff organisation, more than 250 four-wheelers and more than 450 two-wheelers have been damaged beyond use after being set on fire. At least 47 four-wheelers and 74 two-wheelers have been torched in the premises of the Prime Minister's Office alone. Amongst the ministries inside Singhadurbar, the Prime Minister's Office, the Home Ministry, and the Federal Parliament Secretariat have inflicted more vehicular damage during the protest. The newly appointed Prime Minister of the interim government, Sushila Karki, also had to take charge of office in another building, which was being prepared for the Home Ministry, as the main building housing the Prime Minister's Office was torched by protestors. With election dates announced and life falling back to normalcy, the Prime Minister's Office is getting a new coat of white paint on its exterior. (ANI) Xi says China, U.S. can achieve mutual success, shared prosperity Xinhua) 09:15, September 20, 2025 BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States can achieve mutual success and shared prosperity, benefiting both countries and the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday. In his phone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Xi said that to realize this vision, the two countries should make joint efforts to achieve mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. During their talks, the two heads of state had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, and provided strategic guidance for the stable development of bilateral ties in the next stage. The conversation was pragmatic, positive and constructive. Xi said that China and the United States were allies who fought side by side during World War II. Not long ago, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and invited family members of the Flying Tigers to the Tian'anmen Rostrum to watch the military parade, he added. Chinese people, he said, will never forget the valuable support provided by the United States and other anti-fascist allies to China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Xi called on the two sides to honor the fallen heroes, remember history, cherish peace and open up the future. Xi stressed that China-U.S. relations are of great significance. He said that the recent consultations between the teams of both sides have demonstrated the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, adding that they can continue to properly handle the prominent issues in the bilateral relations and strive for win-win outcomes. He also said that the U.S. side should avoid taking unilateral trade restrictions to prevent undermining the achievements made by both sides through multiple rounds of consultations. Xi said China's position on the TikTok issue is clear, adding that the Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question and is glad to see business negotiations in line with market rules and a solution that conforms to Chinese laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides. He called on the U.S. side to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest in the country. For his part, Trump said the military parade held by China to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was phenomenal and beautiful. The U.S.-China relationship, he said, is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, adding that by working together the two countries can achieve many great things conducive to world peace and stability. He also said that the U.S. side hopes to maintain a long-term, big and great relationship with China. The U.S. side hopes to promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and keep supporting consultations between teams from both sides to properly resolve the TikTok issue, Trump said, adding that the United States stands ready to work with China to maintain world peace. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) The Trump administration has taken legal steps to stop a major offshore wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, raising new concerns about the future of clean energy in the US. On Thursday, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) asked a federal court to withdraw its approval of the SouthCoast Wind project's final construction and operations plan. This plan, approved in January just before President Trump's second term began, is the last major federal permit the project needs to begin building turbines in the ocean. SouthCoast Wind, a large project planned about 23 miles south of Nantucket, aims to build up to 141 turbines, AP News said. If completed, it could power around 840,000 homes across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In the legal filing, the Interior Department said BOEM's earlier approval "may not have fully complied with the law" and "may have failed to account for all the impacts" the project could cause. The department is asking the court to let it reconsider the permit. Ocean Winds, the company developing SouthCoast Wind, said it plans to fight the decision. "We intend to vigorously defend our permits in federal court," the company said in a statement, adding that stable permitting is essential for future investment in US infrastructure. The Trump administration has asked a federal judge to cancel its approval of a 2.4GW offshore wind farm planned off the coast of Massachusetts#offshorewind #windpower #renewableshttps://t.co/XuWjQoCqS8 pic.twitter.com/kLApQoopE5 Windpower Monthly (@windpower_m) September 19, 2025 Trump Targets Offshore Wind in Nationwide Rollback This move is part of a larger push by the Trump administration to roll back offshore wind energy across the country. Since taking office, Trump officials have paused permitting, revoked federal funding, and canceled lease sales for offshore wind projects. According to Independent, at least two major wind farms have had construction stopped, including projects in Maryland and Rhode Island. Critics say these actions are politically driven. "Trump is threatening good jobs while he pursues his senseless vendetta against offshore wind," said Jason Walsh, head of the BlueGreen Alliance, a labor and environmental group. The approach marks a sharp turn from the previous Biden administration, which approved 11 large wind projects to power more than six million homes. Now, many of those projects face delays or cancellation. Energy experts warn that the shift could hurt the US market. "Developers may start investing elsewhere," said Kristoffer Svendsen, an energy law professor. "Europe and Asia are more stable for offshore wind." Originally published on vcpost.com The three MiG-31 jets entered Estonia's airspace without authorisation and remained there for approximately 12 minutes, the ministry said. Italian F-35s stationed in Estonia under NATO's Eastern Sentry operation, alongside Swedish and Finnish aircraft, responded to the incursion, NATO Allied Command Operations headquarters confirmed. Estonian Prime Minister Krisen Michal said the Russian jets were ultimately "forced to flee." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commended the alliance's response, describing it as "quick and decisive." Following the incident, Estonia requested consultations under NATO's Article 4, with Michal calling the violation "totally unacceptable." NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed that the North Atlantic Council will convene early next week to discuss the matter in detail. Article 4 allows any NATO member to raise concerns to the council when its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened, CNN reported. Poland similarly triggered such a consultation last week after Russian drones and fighter jets entered its airspace. The Estonian foreign ministry also summoned Russia's charge d'affaires in response to the breach. Hours later, Poland's border guard reported that two Russian fighter jets conducted a "low-level pass" over a Baltic Sea oil platform owned by Polish company Petrobaltic. "Polish security services are constantly monitoring the situation," the border guard said. These incidents are the latest in a series of airspace violations by Russian jets and drones targeting NATO member states in recent days. "Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable. But today's incursion, involving three fighter aircraft, is unprecedentedly brazen," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said as reported by CNN. Tsahkna added, "Russia's increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure." Romania's Foreign Minister Oana Toiu told CNN that she had spoken with her Estonian counterpart about the incident. "We are clear on the fact that it is unacceptable. Russia is trying to undermine NATO's coherence, but they are achieving the exact opposite," Toiu said. (ANI) The Trump administration has launched a premium immigration programme targeting wealthy individuals worldwide, offering US permanent residency through expensive "Gold Cards" that could generate billions in revenue for the American Treasury. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the initiative on Friday, describing it as a fundamental shift in how America approaches legal immigration by prioritising wealthy applicants who can make substantial financial contributions to the country. Under the Gold Card programme, individual applicants will pay USD 1 million (approximately Rs 8.5 crore) for permanent residency, while corporations sponsoring employees will pay USD 2 million per person. The programme replaces existing employment-based green card categories EB-1 and EB-2, starting with 80,000 available visas. "You can prove exceptional value for the United States of America by contributing a million dollars to the United States of America," Secretary Lutnick explained during a press briefing. "That's pretty good expectation that they're highly valuable." Gold Card holders will be classified as "privileged permanent residents" with full rights to live and work in the United States permanently, including a pathway to citizenship. A key requirement of the programme is that Gold Card holders must pay taxes on their worldwide income, similar to US citizens. This means applicants will be taxed by the US government regardless of where their income is earned globally. "The individual will pay global tax, and they'll be taxed like an American citizen or a permanent resident," Lutnick said, noting this requirement may discourage applicants with complex international financial arrangements. The global tax obligation represents a significant commitment, as the US is one of only a few countries that taxes citizens and permanent residents on worldwide income, potentially subjecting wealthy applicants to double taxation depending on their home country's tax treaties with the US. Applicants will undergo what the administration describes as the most intensive vetting process ever implemented for US visas. The screening will cost an additional USD 15,000 per applicant and will be conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. "We're going to do a much more rigorous vetting than has ever been done before," Lutnick emphasised, citing the substantially higher fees as justification for enhanced security screening. The programme specifically excludes individuals with national security concerns or criminal backgrounds, similar to existing green card programmes. For corporations, the $2 million investment per employee creates a unique retention mechanism. If a sponsored employee leaves the company, the Gold Card becomes invalid unless the new employer has also purchased Gold Cards for their workforce. "If that person doesn't have a gold card that they bought for them, they're going to work with someone else in another country," Lutnick explained. However, the original sponsoring company retains ownership of the card and can transfer it to a new employee after paying additional vetting and transfer fees. The administration also outlined plans for a "Trump Platinum Card" programme requiring congressional approval and costing $5 million. Unlike the Gold Card, this programme would not offer permanent residency or a path to citizenship, and holders would only pay US taxes on American-sourced income. The Platinum programme is expected to allow holders to stay in the US for more than the current 120-day annual limit for certain visa categories, though specific terms await congressional action. The administration projects the Gold Card programme will generate over $100 billion for the US Treasury, while the future Platinum programme could bring in $1 trillion. These figures assume significant uptake among wealthy individuals worldwide seeking US residency. Implementation is expected within one month, with other green card categories likely suspended during the rollout. A dedicated website, trumpcard.gov, will handle applications. The programme represents a dramatic shift from traditional employment-based immigration, which has historically focused on skills and job market needs rather than wealth. Critics may argue it creates a "pay-to-play" system for US residency, while supporters contend it ensures immigrants contribute substantially to the American economy. For wealthy Indians considering US residency, the programme offers a potentially faster route than existing investor visa programmes, though the global tax requirement and substantial upfront costs may limit appeal to those with significant international business interests. The Gold Card programme joins other recent Trump administration immigration initiatives aimed at generating revenue while reducing overall immigration numbers through higher barriers to entry. (ANI) The Trump administration has announced a massive increase in H-1B visa fees, imposing a USD 100,000 annual charge that will fundamentally alter how American companies hire skilled foreign workers, particularly impacting Indian IT professionals who comprise the largest group of beneficiaries. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed the changes during a Friday press call, describing the fee hike as a deliberate strategy to eliminate what the administration considers lower-skilled training positions while preserving opportunities for highly skilled workers. The new $100,000 annual fee represents a dramatic increase from current H-1B processing costs, which typically amount to a few thousand dollars. Companies will pay this fee on top of existing vetting charges, with the administration still deciding whether to collect the full amount upfront or annually. "A company that wants to buy an H-1B visa... it's USD 100,000 per year," Secretary Lutnick explained. The visa maintains its current structure: three years with one possible renewal for a total of six years. The fee applies to all H-1B positions regardless of salary level or skill requirement, making the programme economically viable only for roles that justify the substantial cost. The administration explicitly aims to eliminate what it calls "trainee programmes" - positions where companies hire less experienced foreign workers for training and development on H-1B visas. "No longer will you put trainees on an H-1B visa - it's just not economic anymore," Lutnick said. "If you're going to train people, you're going to train Americans." This change could significantly impact Indian IT services companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, which have historically used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level engineers to the US for client projects and skills development. Indian nationals consistently receive the majority of H-1B approvals, with Indian IT companies among the largest sponsors. The fee increase threatens to reshape this landscape dramatically. "If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in because they have expertise, then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa," Lutnick noted, suggesting the programme will now target only senior-level positions. Secretary Lutnick claimed technology companies support the changes because they provide certainty and speed in processing applications. He said discussions with "hundreds of companies" informed the $100,000 fee structure. "They are very happy about it, because they would like a process that is known, that is clear and that is swift," he said of company responses. However, the substantial cost increase will likely make companies far more selective about which positions warrant H-1B sponsorship, potentially reducing overall applications despite maintained visa caps. The administration emphasised that H-1B visa quotas remain unchanged - the programme will issue the same number of visas but expects fewer applications due to cost barriers. Current annual limits stand at 65,000 regular H-1B visas plus 20,000 for advanced degree holders from US universities. "Remember, these are the same cap, it's the same visa. There'll just be less of them issued because they used to be free, and now they cost USD 100,000," Lutnick explained. The new fees will be implemented alongside enhanced vetting procedures by the Department of Homeland Security. While no specific start date was announced, the administration indicated changes would roll out within weeks of the current announcement. Companies with existing H-1B workers may face immediate impacts when renewal periods arrive, as the new fee structure will apply to all applications processed after implementation. The administration framed the changes as protecting American workers and generating revenue for the US Treasury. Officials argue that free or low-cost H-1B visas encouraged companies to hire foreign workers instead of training Americans. "The idea is to bring in high earners, people with money," Lutnick said, contrasting this with what he described as previous policies that brought in "low earners" who "take jobs from Americans." The H-1B changes represent part of broader Trump administration efforts to reshape US immigration policy around economic contribution rather than humanitarian or family-based considerations. While maintaining that highly skilled workers remain welcome, the administration clearly intends to raise barriers significantly, ensuring that only positions with substantial economic value justify the cost of foreign hiring. For Indian professionals and companies, the changes signal a need to adapt strategies for US market engagement, potentially accelerating trends toward higher-value services and reduced reliance on temporary worker transfers. (ANI) US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick lauded the Trump administration's recent overhaul in its visa programmes, announcing that these new visa programmes will ensure foreign workers provide "significant benefit" to the US by ending practices where they "take jobs from hard-working Americans" and exploit the economy without any meaningful contribution. In a post on X on Friday, moments after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order for a 'Gold Card' visa programme with fees set at USD 1 million for individuals and USD 2 million for businesses, as well as issuing a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, Lutnick outlined the shift from what he called the "open-border Democrats' disastrous agenda" of the past four years, which he accused of flooding the country with illegal immigrants at the expense of US citizens. "For the past four years, open-border Democrats endlessly flooded the country with illegal aliens at the expense of hard-working Americans. The Trump administration is completely reversing course on that disastrous agenda. These programs guarantee that recipients who come to work in America must provide significant benefit to our great country. We are ending workers taking jobs away from hard-working Americans and taking advantage of our economy and providing nothing in return. The Trump Card begins to restore our immigration system to its intended purpose: significantly benefitting America," Lutnick wrote in his post. The post follows Trump's executive order signed on Friday (local time), establishing the 'Gold Card' visa programme, which offers foreigners a fast track to residency and citizenship for fees of USD 1 million for individuals and USD 2 million for businesses. "We think it's going to be very successful... It's going to raise billions of dollars, which will reduce taxes, pay off debt, and do other good things," Trump said as he signed the executive order. Lutnick noted that through the gold card plan, the US will only allow "extraordinary people at the very top" to come to the US who can create business and jobs for Americans. Lutnick called the employment-based green card programme "illogical," noting that under this program, the country was taking in individuals from the "bottom quartile" who earned only USD 66,000 a year. "We are going to stop doing that. We're going to only take extraordinary people at the very top, instead of those trying to take jobs from Americans. They're going to create businesses and create jobs for Americans. And this programme will raise more than USD 100 billion for the Treasury of the United States of America," he said. Complementing this, Trump issued a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications for skilled foreign workers, payable by employers. The action aims to curb the overuse of the programme, allowing companies to bring in only "highly skilled" workers from other countries. The Trump administration believes that this move will create and protect jobs for US workers. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa which allows US-based companies to hire and employ foreign workers for speciality jobs like science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and IT (High skills and at least a bachelor's degree). (ANI) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday said "it is time to turn off the tap" as she announced plans to stop buying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), while unveiling its 19th package of sanctions against Moscow. "Russia's war economy is sustained by the revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues, so we are banning inputs to Russian LNG into European markets. It is time to turn off the tap," Von der Leyen said in a video statement. The sanctions come days after United States President Donald Trump urged NATO nations to halt oil purchases from Moscow and impose penalties on countries continuing energy trade with Russia. The latest package marks the first time that EU restrictive measures will hit cryptocurrency platforms. "We are stepping up our crackdown on circumvention. As evasion tactics grow more sophisticated, our sanctions will adapt to stay ahead. For the first time, our restrictive measures will hit crypto platforms. And prohibit transactions in cryptocurrencies," von der Leyen said. She also mentioned that Europeans would not face shortages despite the ban. "We are prepared for this. We have been saving energy. We have been diversifying supplies. We have been investing in low-carbon sources of energy. Then we have lowered the crude oil price cap to 47.6 dollars." The Commission President added that Russian oil revenues in Europe had already dropped sharply. "We target refineries, oil traders, and petrochemical companies in third countries, including China. In three years, Russia's oil revenues in Europe have gone down by 90%. We are now turning that page for good." Sanctions will also be extended to 118 more vessels from Russia's shadow fleet, bringing the total to 560. These ships, often with opaque ownership, have been used to bypass Western restrictions and sustain Moscow's oil exports. "We are now sanctioning 118 additional vessels from the shadow fleet. More than 560 vessels are now listed under EU sanctions, " she added. The package also includes fresh restrictions on battlefield technologies. "We add new direct export restrictions for items and Technologies used on the battlefield. We alos listed 45 companies in Russia and third countries. These companies have been providing direct and indirect support to the Russian military industrial complex. In a war driven by innovation, cutting off Russia's access to key technologies is crucial," von der Leyen noted, as the EU moved to block exports of drones and sanction more than 45 companies in Russia and abroad accused of supporting the Kremlin's military operations. According to the Commission, the package contains a plan to phase out Russian LNG purchases entirely by the start of 2027. It also aims to put pressure on companies in China and other nations to cease business ties with Moscow. The measures will now go before the leadership of the 27-member bloc for approval, which could come as early as next month. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) issued a new presidential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" that introduces a major overhaul to the H-1B visa programme, imposing a steep USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, raising fresh questions about whether this is a much-needed correction or a potentially crippling blow to America's tech talent pipeline. Set to take effect on September 21, the proclamation represents one of the Trump administration's most aggressive efforts yet to overhaul the H-1B visa programme. Framed as a crackdown on "systemic abuse", it places strict financial and compliance burdens on companies seeking to hire skilled foreign workers, especially in the technology and IT sectors. The administration insists the intent is to restore integrity to a programme originally designed to bring in "top-tier global talent" on a temporary basis. Instead, it argues, the H-1B system has been hijacked by outsourcing firms to displace American workers, depress wages, and even create national security risks. Data cited in the proclamation backs these claims; the number of foreign workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, while total STEM job growth lagged. In the computer and math sector alone, the foreign workforce jumped from 17.7 per cent in 2000 to over 26 per cent by 2019, a rise the administration blames primarily on the H-1B system. According to the order, IT firms now dominate the programme, with the share of H-1B approvals going to tech workers rising from 32 per cent in FY 2003 to over 65 per cent in recent years. Many of these firms, the administration notes, have simultaneously laid off American employees while ramping up their H-1B hiring. "Information technology (IT) firms in particular have prominently manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields. The share of IT workers in the H-1B program grew from 32 percent in Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 to an average of over 65 percent in the last 5 fiscal years. In addition, some of the most prolific H-1B employers are now consistently IT outsourcing companies. Using these H 1B-reliant IT outsourcing companies provides significant savings for employers: one study of tech workers showed a 36 percent discount for H-1B "entry-level" positions as compared to full-time, traditional workers. To take advantage of artificially low labor costs incentivized by the program, companies close their IT divisions, fire their American staff, and outsource IT jobs to lower-paid foreign workers," the proclamation read. The proclamation also cites real-world cases where American workers were not just laid off but forced to train their foreign replacements and sign non-disclosure agreements as part of severance packages, highlighting, in the administration's view, a systemic abuse of the visa system. "The high numbers of relatively low-wage workers in the H-1B program undercut the integrity of the program and are detrimental to American workers' wages and labor opportunities, especially at the entry level, in industries where such low-paid H-1B workers are concentrated. These abuses also prevent American employers in other industries from utilizing the H-1B program in the manner in which it was intended: to fill jobs for which highly skilled and educated American workers are unavailable," the order read. For American college graduates, particularly in computer science and engineering, the implications are grim. Jobless rates in these fields reportedly exceed 6 per cent, higher than many non-STEM disciplines. The administration argues that flooding the job market with cheaper foreign labour has discouraged Americans from pursuing careers in tech while also stifling wage growth and advancement. Beyond the economic considerations, the proclamation also addresses national security concerns. It references investigations into H-1B-heavy outsourcing firms for visa fraud, money laundering, and violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act. The administration warns that this reliance on low-wage foreign labour risks eroding America's long-term technological leadership and national resilience. "The abuse of the H-1B program is also a national security threat. Domestic law enforcement agencies have identified and investigated H-1B-reliant outsourcing companies for engaging in visa fraud, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, and other illicit activities to encourage foreign workers to come to the United States," it read. Under the new rules, employers must show proof of payment of the USD 100,000 fee when filing H-1B petitions. Both the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department are tasked with enforcing compliance and denying entry to any H-1B worker whose sponsor fails to pay. The order also calls for future rulemaking to revise prevailing wage standards, ensuring that only high-skilled and high-paid individuals are prioritised for entry, consistent, the administration says, with the programme's original intent. However, limited exemptions are possible. The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive the restriction for individuals or companies where the employment of H-1B workers is deemed to be in the national interest and poses no threat to US security. Still, such exceptions are expected to be rare and subject to strict scrutiny. Critics of the proclamation warn that while efforts to eliminate fraud are welcome, such sweeping financial barriers may deter legitimate talent and hinder innovation, especially in industries where foreign expertise has been central to the US's technological dominance. Whether the measure delivers on its promises to protect American jobs or ends up driving talent and investment elsewhere remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Trump administration is betting that a more restrictive, high-cost immigration policy will force a reset in how the US balances foreign expertise with domestic job security. (ANI) US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is working to reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a facility he described as strategically important due to its proximity to China's nuclear weapons production centers, Tolo News reported. "We're trying to get it back (Bagram Airbase), that could be a little breaking news. We're trying to get it back. Because they need things from us. We want that base back. But one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So a lot of things are happening," Trump said at a joint press conference with the British Prime Minister. According to Tolo News, several members of the US Congress have backed Trump's position, calling his push to regain Bagram Air Base both strategic and correct. Beijing dismissed Trump's remarks, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stating: "China respects Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The future of Afghanistan should be in the hands of its people. We call on all parties to play a constructive role in regional peace and stability." He added that fueling confrontation in the region lacked public support. The Islamic Emirate has not officially responded. Earlier, however, Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said: "Not even an inch of Afghan soil is acceptable for foreign military presence. This message must reach President Trump and other countries. Engagement will only be political and economic." Zakir Jalaly, head of the second political department of the Foreign Ministry, echoed this view, saying: "Afghans have never accepted military presence throughout history. This was completely rejected in the Doha Agreement, but the door to other forms of engagement remains open." Tolo News reported that Afghan political analyst Sayed Muqaddam Amin warned against the use of force. "If there is room for understanding between countries, negotiations can yield positive results. But if force is involved, the Afghan nation is ready to respond," he said. These statements come amid repeated warnings from Russia in recent months about Western efforts, particularly by the US, to re-establish a military presence in Afghanistan. (ANI) The Punjab government will establish flood relief committees at district and tehsil levels to oversee aid and rehabilitation in areas devastated by recent floods, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced, according to Dawn. "A survey form, a mobile application and a central monitoring dashboard will ensure effective aid distribution and oversight," Maryam said while chairing a meeting on Friday. She directed officials to initiate comprehensive rehabilitation efforts, restore roads and bridges, and devise simple procedures for providing assistance. The chief minister said the floods had impacted 3,775 villages across 64 tehsils in 27 districts, damaging more than 63,000 concrete houses and over 309,000 mud houses. Survey teams comprising officials from the Urban Unit, Revenue Department, Agriculture Department and the Pakistan Army will collect data to ensure accurate assessments. Maryam emphasised that no victim should be left without support. "We will compensate each individual for their losses so that no one is deprived of their rightful relief," she said, while directing the establishment of additional relief camps and distribution points. A devastating breach of the Sutlej River at Noraja Bhutta has intensified the crisis in south Punjab, inundating 150 more villages across Multan, Lodhran and Bahawalpur districts. Thousands have been displaced as floodwaters encroached on a 20-kilometre stretch near the Multan-Sukkur M-5 Motorway, Dawn reported. In Bahawalpur, villages including Nowshera Jadeed, Saadullahpur, Soiwala, Nai Basti and Basti Chakar were submerged. In Lodhran, Adam Wahan, Munshi Wala, Jhangra and Thali Wala were washed away. Jalalpur Pirwala remains under water, with authorities considering breaching the motorway to redirect floodwaters into the Chenab. A technical committee is expected to review the plan. Multan Division Commissioner Amir Karim Khan supervised rescue and relief operations in Jalalpur Pirwala, inspecting the damaged motorway section. National Highway Authority officials briefed him on ongoing repair work with heavy machinery. Motorway police spokesperson Imran Shah said the M-5 was closed due to flooding, with diversions set up through the national highway from Shah Shams and Uch Sharif interchanges. Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said the death toll in Punjab had reached 123. He noted that floodwaters were receding in several areas, with boat operations discontinued. "A breached section of the bridge has been filled in," Kathia said, confirming that all rivers had returned to normal levels except for a slightly higher flow in the Sutlej. A report from the South Punjab Secretariat confirmed large-scale human and material losses, including 45 deaths, with 1.17 million people affected and 1,112 villages inundated. Floods damaged 1.17 million acres of farmland and destroyed crops on 1.25 million acres. Relief efforts include 1,145 camps providing food, medicine and other essentials, with over 1.5 million people and 1.47 million livestock evacuated. Medical treatment has been provided to 451,978 people, and 848,119 animals have been treated, Dawn reported. Earlier, PPP's Acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani visited Jalalpur Pirwala to review the situation. Speaking to the media, he said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had demanded that flood victims be assisted through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said he met Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah two days ago and discussed political matters and flood-affected areas. Gilani said Bhutto-Zardari had stressed BISP's role in relief efforts, while Sanaullah maintained assistance would be conducted through other programmes. Gilani urged the government to reconsider. He said, "The flood victims' families should be supported via the BISP." (ANI) Islamabad [Pakistan] September 20 (ANI) | Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday night gave conflicting statements on whether the country's nuclear capability "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia under the new defence agreement signed between the two nations. Speaking first in an interview to Geo TV, when asked if the "deterrence that Pakistan gets from nuclear weapons" will be made available to Saudi Arabia, Asif said, "Let me make one-point clear about Pakistan's nuclear capability: that capability as established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battle." "What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available to (Saudi Arabia) according to this agreement, " he added. However, in a separate interview to Reuters, Asif denied that nuclear weapons were part of the accord, calling them "not on the radar, " reported Dawn News, citing Reuters. Later during a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan avoided a direct response on the matter, only saying that Pakistan's nuclear doctrine has "evolved and continues to do so." Meanwhile, Asif in his interview to Geo Tv claimed that any attack on either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia will be considered an attack on both countries, and the two nations will respond jointly. "If either Pakistan or Saudi Arabia is attacked from anywhere, it will be considered an attack on both nations, and we will respond together," Asif said. The agreement, formally titled the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, was signed earlier this week in Riyadh. It pledges joint defence in case either country is attacked and is being presented as a consolidation of decades-old security ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that other countries have also shown interest in similar strategic defence arrangements with Islamabad after the Saudi pact. "It is premature to say something, but after this development, other countries have also expressed a desire for similar arrangements," he said while speaking to reporters in London. "But such things follow a due process. Even with Saudi Arabia, it took several months to finalise, " Geo News reported. Meanwhile, India also issued a response on Thursday in the wake of the newly signed "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, stating it will closely study the pact's implications for India's national security and regional and global stability. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that New Delhi acknowledges the formalisation of what it described as a "long-standing arrangement" between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while noting that it would closely examine its potential ramifications. Jaiswal further emphasised that India's national security remains paramount in light of this development. "We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Government was aware that this development, which formalizes a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration. We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The Government remains committed to protecting India's national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains," the statement from the MEA read. MEA's remark comes hours after Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement", pledging that any aggression against either nation would be treated as an attack on both. (ANI) Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem has appealed to Saudi Arabia to restore relations with the Lebanese armed group and build a joint front against Israel, Al Jazeera reported. The appeal came on Friday as Israel intensified its strikes on southern Lebanon. Qassem called on Riyadh to open a "new page" with Hezbollah, built on three principles: dialogue to resolve disputes and address concerns, recognition that Israel - and not "the resistance" - is the enemy, and "freezing of past disagreements". He stressed that Hezbollah's arms were directed only at Israel. "Not Lebanon, not Saudi Arabia, and not any other place or party in the world," he said. Qassem warned that pressure on Hezbollah would only aid Israel. He said that if the resistance was eliminated, "the turn will come for the other states", Al Jazeera reported. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah have endured for years, rooted in the broader rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran, Hezbollah's main backer. In 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), led by Saudi Arabia, designated Hezbollah a "terrorist" group over its support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria and its backing of Yemen's Houthis. Qassem described Israel as a colonial entity "backed first by Britain and now by the United States", and accused it of committing atrocities. He said Israel had reached "the height of barbarity", carrying out crimes with US support "in disregard of international law." He argued that "soft war, sanctions, and the Abraham Accords" had failed to give the US and Israel a decisive win. "And so, for them, genocide became the solution," he said, according to Al Jazeera. Qassem said Israel's September 9 strike on Qatar was a turning point. "What comes after the strike on Qatar is different from what came before," he said, questioning US credibility. "When the US openly declares that it acts in Israel's interest, how can we trust any American or non-American proposal, or accept to make concession after concession?" The US has been pressing Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah under a ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024. Qassem said the group was open to talks "from a position of strength", while reaffirming its "unshakable" commitment to resist Israeli occupation and liberate land. His comments came two days after Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan in response to the Israeli attack on Qatar, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Ministry of Health said two people were killed and 11 others injured in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday. One strike targeted a car near a public hospital in Tebnin, while another hit a vehicle in Ansar. The Israeli military claimed it killed Hezbollah commander Ammar Hayel Qutaybani in the south, without giving details of the location. It also said it killed a member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force in Tebnin and struck "a vessel that was used by Hezbollah to gather intelligence" in Naqura. The raids followed Israeli strikes on several southern towns a day earlier, with warnings for residents to evacuate. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of "intimidation and aggressions" that defied last year's ceasefire and the international monitoring mechanism attached to it. Despite the ceasefire terms, Israel has continued near-daily attacks on southern Lebanon. The agreement called for Hezbollah to disarm and withdraw north of the Litani River, while Israel was expected to fully pull out from Lebanese territory. However, Israel remains in occupation of at least five positions in the south, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) South Korea is pressing the United States to overhaul its visa system after more than 300 South Korean workers were detained during an immigration raid at a Hyundai battery factory site in Georgia last week. The detentions, which included workers being chained and escorted away, have sparked anger in Seoul and raised questions about the future of Korean investment in the US. At a news conference Thursday marking 100 days in office, President Lee Jae Myung said Korean companies will hesitate to expand in the US unless Washington provides a reliable visa system for skilled workers, AP News reported. "When you build a facility or install equipment at a plant, you need technicians, but the United States doesn't have that workforce and yet they won't issue visas to let our people stay and do the work," Lee said. South Korea's Foreign Ministry confirmed that 330 workers were released by US authorities and transported to Atlanta, where they boarded a charter flight set to arrive in Seoul on Friday. Officials stressed the workers would not face physical restraints during the return. In response to the ICE raid at the Hyundai plant in Georgia that resulted in detaining around 300 South Koreans, one lawmaker in Seoul suggests looking into U.S. nationals teaching English on a tourist visa in S. Koreahttps://t.co/A6IUQieyub Hyunsu Yim (@hyunsuinseoul) September 8, 2025 South Korea Slams US Raid Amid $350B Investment Deal According to CNN, the raid, carried out September 4 by US immigration agents at Hyundai's plant in Ellabell, Georgia, came just weeks after Seoul pledged $350 billion in new US investments under a trade agreement with Washington. The timing has fueled public frustration, with one major newspaper comparing the raid to a "rabbit hunt." US officials said some detained workers had expired visas or entered under visa waivers that did not allow employment. For years, South Korean companies have used short-term visas or electronic travel authorization to send technicians for temporary projects, a practice that had been tolerated until now. Lee stressed that these workers were not seeking permanent jobs. "It's not like these are long-term workers," he said. "If a visa system isn't created, companies will question whether it is worth setting up facilities in the United States at all." Following talks in Washington, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to form a working group to explore a new visa category for Korean technicians. The US also agreed to let the detained workers return later to finish their projects. Experts warn the issue could disrupt more than 20 Korean-led industrial projects underway in the US, including semiconductor and shipbuilding facilities. "Without updated visa policies, delays in factory construction and production are inevitable, and the harm will bounce back to the US economy," said Min Jeonghun, a professor at South Korea's National Diplomatic Academy. Originally published on vcpost.com Former NITI Aayog CEO and ex-G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant sees US President Donald Trump's H-1B visa overhaul as a potential boon for India's innovation ecosystem, asserting that the restrictive USD 100,000 fee per visa application will stifle US foreign talent inflows and redirect global brains to India's tech hubs like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Gurgaon. In a post on X, after Trump issued a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, Kant emphasised that India's top doctors, engineers, scientists, and innovators now have a greater opportunity to contribute to the nation's development and progress towards a 'Viksit Bharat', noting that the move will be "America's loss" but "India's gain". "Donald Trump's 100,000 H-1B fee will choke U.S. innovation, and turbocharge India's. By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon. India's finest Doctors, engineers, scientists, innovators have an opportunity to contribute to India's growth & progress towards Viksit Bharat. America's loss will be India's gain," the former NITI Aayog CEO wrote. Kant's optimistic take comes after Trump signed a presidential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" on September 19, imposing the steep annual fee on H-1B petitions for skilled foreign workers outside the US. The measure, effective from September 21, aims to combat what the administration calls widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages. Kunal Bahl, former CEO of Snapdeal and entrepreneur, said that due to the new regulations, a large number of skilled professionals are expected to return to India. "Because of the new H1B rules, a tremendous number of talented individuals are going to be headed back to India. It will no doubt be tough in the beginning to move base, but will work out for them given the tremendous opportunities in India. The talent density in India is going up," Bhal said in a post on X. This increase in HIB Visa Fees could hit the tech arbitrage model where Indian software engineers and other talent works onsite in the United States but could see a rise in Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. The proclamation issued by the Trump administration also argues that the original purpose of H-1B, to bring in highly skilled foreign talent, has been distorted, with the administration claiming that low-wage, entry-level H-1B hires have harmed American graduates and also highlights national security concerns, pointing to investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies that rely heavily on the programme. As per the order, employers must now provide proof of payment when filing H-1B petitions, with enforcement overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security. Limited exemptions are available for cases deemed in the national interest. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22 to September 23, as per an official release on Friday. According to the release by the Ministry of Defence, the visit, at the invitation of Morocco's Minister Delegate of National Defence Abdeltif Loudiyi, marks the first-ever trip by an Indian Defence Minister to the North African nation, highlighting the strengthening strategic ties between India and Morocco. A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc's new manufacturing facility at Berrechid, dedicated to producing the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8. This plant represents the first Indian defence manufacturing facility on the African continent, and it is a significant milestone under India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, showcasing the expanding global reach of India's defence industry, the release stated. "A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc's new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 at Berrechid. This facility is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa, which marks an important milestone that reflects the growing global footprint of India's defence industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative," the release stated. During his stay, the Defence Minister will engage in bilateral discussions with Loudiyi to enhance defence cooperation, strategic partnerships, and industrial collaboration between the two countries. The visit will also include a meeting with Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, aimed at exploring further avenues for industrial ties. Additionally, Rajnath Singh will connect with the Indian diaspora in Rabat, strengthening people-to-people relations. An important development expected during the visit is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation. This agreement will create a formal framework for deepening defence engagement through exchanges, joint training programmes, and increased industrial linkages. "Both sides are also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence. The MoU will provide an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages. Indian Navy ships have been making regular port calls at Casablanca in recent years, and this agreement will further consolidate such ties," the release added. India-Morocco relations have seen considerable progress since King Mohammed VI met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. This upcoming visit is poised to inject new momentum into the bilateral relationship, particularly in defence and strategic sectors, underscoring India's growing footprint in Africa and its commitment to expanding global partnerships. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has reported Chinese military activity around its territory, with five sorties by aircraft of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and five People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels detected up until 6 am on Saturday, a significant decrease from what was reported the day prior. The ministry said three of the five sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the island's northern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). "5 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," the MND stated in a post on X. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1969204869715103831 On Friday, 13 sorties by PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels were detected. The ministry said eight of the 13 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the island's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan has repeatedly accused Beijing of increasing such military activities as part of its pressure tactics. The island's defence ministry maintains that its forces closely monitor the movements and respond appropriately. The frequent incursions and maritime operations reflect rising tensions between Taiwan and China, a relationship long fraught with geopolitical strain. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), governs itself independently with its own distinct political and economic systems. However, China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory under the "One China" principle, insisting there is only one China with its capital in Beijing. The dispute's roots trace back to the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the ROC government fled to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Since then, Beijing has maintained its goal of reunification, using military, diplomatic, and economic means to apply pressure on Taiwan and diminish its international space. Despite these efforts, Taiwan maintains its de facto independence, backed by strong public support, and continues to assert its sovereignty amid ongoing external pressures. The MND regularly monitors and publicly reports such military movements to ensure transparency and national security awareness. (ANI) The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has denounced a recent court ruling that labelled its imprisoned activist, Gulzadi Baloch, as an "absconder," describing the judgment as a blatant distortion of justice and law, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, Gulzadi Baloch, a prominent activist, has been in state custody for over six months along with BYC leaders Dr Mahrang Baloch, Beebarg Baloch, Shahji Baloch and Beebow Baloch. Initially detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for three months, their incarceration has since been repeatedly prolonged without clear legal justification. In its statement, the BYC said that despite Gulzadi being in jail, her name was included in a Mastung FIR and she was absurdly declared "in hiding," with additional arrest warrants issued against her. "To call someone an absconder while they are already in custody is not just contradictory, but a mockery of justice," the organisation asserted. The group stated that such judicial decisions raise serious concerns about whether courts in Pakistan are operating as impartial institutions or being misused as tools of repression, as reported by The Balochistan Post. The BYC maintained that its leaders remain firmly committed to the democratic struggle and insisted that their detentions will not alter the political reality in Balochistan. Instead, the group warned, "unlawful and oppressive actions only intensify the people's movement against state repression." Accusing authorities of weaponising the legal system, the BYC said the state's conduct not only violates human rights but also openly contradicts Pakistan's own constitution. "Such actions are an insult to the very laws the state claims to uphold," the organisation added. The BYC has demanded the immediate release of all its detained leaders, the withdrawal of fabricated cases, and an end to what it described as unconstitutional and unlawful state practices in Balochistan, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI) Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Friday (local time) called on US President Donald Trump to "hit China with sanctions" for buying "cheap Russian oil" and supporting Moscow's war in Ukraine. His remarks came after the European Union announced sanctions on energy companies in China doing business with Russia. Graham supported the EU's latest sanctions package, saying it follows Trump's directive last week for Europe to impose 50 to 100 per cent tariffs on China before the US takes similar measures. "To our European allies: this is a significant step in the right direction. It is now time for the United States to hit China with sanctions and tariffs for buying cheap Russian oil, fueling Putin's war machine, "Graham wrote on X. In another post, Graham also said that US tariffs on India are "going to pay dividends" and now is the time for Trump to impose the same tariffs on China and Russia as well. "President Trump's 25% tariff on India for buying cheap Russian oil and gas is going to pay dividends. It's now time for the US to levy tariffs and sanctions on China and Russia, " he wrote on X. https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1969136665559253133 On Friday, Trump announced that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached an agreement to let TikTok continue operating in the US. Details of the deal remain unclear. Speaking with the reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said, "I had a good call with President Xi. He approved the TikTok deal. We look forward to getting the deal closed. We have to get it signed; it could be a formality. The TikTok deal is on its way, and the investors are getting ready." Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday, "It is time to turn off the tap," while announcing that the EU would stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). She added, "Russia's war economy is sustained by the revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues, so we are banning imports of Russian LNG into European markets. It is time to turn off the tap." The EU sanctions package is the bloc's 19th set of penalties against Moscow. It includes a plan to completely stop Russian LNG purchases by 2027 and aims to pressure companies in China and other countries to cease doing business with Russia. Earlier this week, Trump wrote to NATO countries, urging them to halt oil imports from Russia. He also suggested that NATO impose tariffs of 50 to 100 per cent on China. Trump said, "I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariffs on China, to be fully withdrawn after the war with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ending this deadly, but ridiculous, war." (ANI) More than 100 European rabbis have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warning that since the Hamas-led October 7 attack against Israel, Europe was encountering "visceral antisemitic hate," even as Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli accused the European Union of targeting Israel, Euronews reported. "The European Union is an institution that tolerates two types of Jews: those willing to undermine Israel, and dead Jews," Chikli said, as reported by Euronews. His comments came after von der Leyen, in her annual State of the Union address last week, announced that the EU would suspend "bilateral support" for Israel and partially freeze a trade deal in response to what she described as a "man-made famine" in Gaza and "a clear attempt" by Israel to "undermine the two-state solution." Von der Leyen proposed halting "all payments" to Israel, except those directed to the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre and civil society projects. Responding, Chikli said, "The European Union is an institution that pours hundreds of millions into organisations accusing us of genocide and calling for boycotts of Israel, only to launch boycotts itself and label Israeli products based on those very reports." "Supporting Yad Vashem matters to Ursula von der Leyen. Living Jews mean nothing to her," Chikli added, according to Euronews. Meanwhile, the rabbis' letter urged von der Leyen to act, saying Europe urgently needed "increased security provisions" in light of growing antisemitic threats. The warning followed multiple incidents across Europe, including in Germany, where a shopkeeper in Flensburg sparked outrage by posting a sign reading: "Jews are banned from here! Nothing personal. No antisemitism. Just can't stand you." In Belgium, a gathering in Lige on Thursday night to commemorate Jewish politician Jean Gol turned violent, with 12 policemen reportedly injured after demonstrators, many of them students, threw firecrackers and rotten apples at participants while accusing them of being "complicit of genocide" in Gaza. Euronews reported that Belgium's anti-discrimination authority UNIA recorded 277 antisemitic incidents in 2024, with 79 investigations opened, compared with 59 in 2023. A European Commission spokesperson condemned "those who are importing" the Gaza war into Europe and said Brussels would "step up" protection for Jewish communities. "Jewish people must feel safe across Europe," the spokesperson said. Chikli also issued a sharp rebuke to European governments. "Europe stands at a crossroads: either wage an uncompromising war against radical Islam, or surrender. Belgium has already surrendered; it has no future, no hope, and I urge every Jew to leave that wretched country without delay," he said. He added, "As for Britain and France, there is room for cautious optimism. It seems the British and French peoples have not yet spoken their last word. The bright spots in Europe today are Hungary and the Czech Republic, united by a sane immigration policy." (ANI) Former senior Indian diplomat Mahesh Sachdev on Saturday described US President Donald Trump's proclamation of imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications as a "two-edged sword", warning that it could undermine America's IT innovation while significantly impacting Indian companies reliant on the US market, though it may also spur outsourcing and local hiring strategies in response. Commenting on the proclamation signed on Friday, Sachdev said that the move also appears largely aimed at appeasing Trump's political base, which often alleges that foreign workers are displacing Americans from well-paying jobs. However, he pointed out that this narrative rarely examines whether H-1B holders are hired because of their lower wages or because of their higher levels of efficiency and professionalism. "I think it's a two-edged sword. At one end, it is there to please his MAGA base, where it's often exaggeratedly alleged that foreigners are taking away well-paid jobs in the United States that American citizens should be doing. Examples are cited of companies firing American citizens solely to hire H-1B personnel. It is not often clarified whether this is due to lower wages, higher efficiency, or greater professionalism of H-1B people," the former diplomat said. "America, particularly in the IT and new technology sector, is a highly competitive country, and it is a highly innovative country. It needs talent, and by putting such audience restrictions, Americans are not serving their own IT industry," he added. The proclamation, effective from September 21, restricts H-1B entry for workers outside the US unless employers pay the annual fee of USD 100,000, potentially totalling USD 300,000 over a three-year visa period. The measure aims to combat what the administration calls widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages. Sachdev highlighted the outsized impact on India, which accounted for 71 per cent of H-1B approvals last year, making its IT companies the primary beneficiaries of the programme. "On the other hand, coming to India and its impact, I think our IT companies were major beneficiaries of the H-1B visa scheme. Indian passport holders accounted for 71 per cent of the total beneficiaries of the H-1B scheme last year... This may have an impact on Indian companies that count the United States as their biggest market for IT outsourcing," he noted. To mitigate the fallout, Sachdev suggested multiple strategies for Indian firms, many of which have operations and clients in the US. He noted that there would likely be an increase in work being outsourced directly to India to avoid the high visa costs. Companies may also intensify their local hiring efforts within the US, either by employing Indian-origin professionals already based there or by hiring American citizens and other foreign nationals. At the same time, he said, there is a strong possibility of legal pushback. "To deflect this kind of restriction, multiple strategies would be required. Firstly, outsourcing the work to India would increase. Secondly, local hiring of Indians who are already there or foreigners or American nationals would increase instead of bringing people from India, and I think there is also a likelihood of a judicial review of this decision because this apparently does not conform to the powers of the United States government," he stated. On Friday, the US President issued a new presidential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The measure, effective from September 21, aims to combat what the administration calls widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages. The proclamation argues that the original purpose of H-1B, to bring in highly skilled foreign talent, has been distorted, with the administration claiming that low-wage, entry-level H-1B hires have harmed American graduates and also highlights national security concerns, pointing to investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies that rely heavily on the programme. As per the order, employers must now provide proof of payment when filing H-1B petitions, with enforcement overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security. Limited exemptions are available for cases deemed in the national interest. (ANI) The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has released its weekly brief, highlighting its intensified global advocacy efforts through missions in Turkiye, Geneva, and Italy, alongside active youth participation and international media outreach. WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun began his first advocacy mission to Turkiye, welcomed by Uyghur leaders, academics, and youth at a gathering in Istanbul. Co-hosted by the WUC Foundation and five Uyghur organisations, the event underscored unity in the ongoing struggle for Uyghur freedom. The delegation also joined the Uyghur Academy International Conference on protecting Uyghur identity, culture, and language during the genocide. Meetings were held with Zafer Party Chairman Prof. Dr Umit Ozdag, US diplomats in Ankara, and Yeniden Refah Partisi leader Dr Fatih Erbakan, who reaffirmed solidarity with the Uyghur cause. Former camp survivor Kalbinur Sidik also delivered testimony during her first visit to Turkiye. At the same time, a WUC delegation, in partnership with the Uyghur Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (UZDM), participated in the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The delegation engaged with more than 15 diplomatic missions, UN experts, and civil society groups, urging stronger international responses to arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, forced labour, and reprisals. Among those met were Liechtenstein's Ambassador Frank Buchel and Taiwanese Ambassador Greg Lee. In Italy, WUC Vice President Zumretay Arkin carried out an advocacy mission in Rome, meeting Senator Giulio Terzi and addressing the 1st European Conference of Ventotene for Freedom and Democracy, convened by European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno. She emphasised how China's authoritarian reach threatens Uyghur communities even in Europe. Youth leadership was also highlighted as WUC representatives Iptihar Abdureshit and Rizwana Ilham took part in the 20th Turkic World Youth Days & Congress from September 12 to 17. They called for banning products made with Uyghur forced labour and marking 1 October with awareness campaigns across the Turkic world. Rushan Abbas, WUC Executive Committee Chair, was featured on the George W. Bush Presidential Centre's Strategist podcast. She spoke on her decades of advocacy, the plight of her imprisoned sister, Dr Gulshan Abbas, and her new book, Unbroken: One Uyghur's Fight for Freedom. (ANI) Iraq is set to open its first industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala as the government seeks to address an electricity crisis that has triggered frequent nationwide blackouts, Al Jazeera reported. Authorities confirmed that the facility, the largest of its kind in the country, will be inaugurated on Sunday and is expected to eventually generate up to 300 megawatts of electricity at peak capacity, according to Iraqi media cited by Al Jazeera. The project spans some 4,000 dunams (1,000 acres or 400 hectares) in the al-Hur desert area of Karbala, southwest of Baghdad. Tens of thousands of solar panels have been installed in rows across the site. Nasser Karim al-Sudani, head of the national team for solar energy projects in the Iraqi prime minister's office, said another plant under construction in Babil province will add 225 megawatts, while a 1,000-megawatt project is also set to begin in the southern province of Basra. "These projects are part of a larger vision to account for a portion of Iraq's electricity needs using large-scale solar power plants that could help ease the electricity crisis while also reducing the negative environmental impact of gas emissions," Al Jazeera reported. Deputy Minister of Electricity Adel Karim said Iraq has solar projects with a combined capacity of 12,500 megawatts either being implemented, in the approval stage, or under negotiation. Excluding the semi-autonomous northern Kurdistan region, the projects could supply up to 20 percent of Iraq's overall electricity demand, according to the official. Despite being rich in oil and gas resources, Iraq has struggled with electricity shortages for decades, largely due to war, corruption, and mismanagement. According to Al Jazeera, nationwide power consumption peaked at nearly 55,000 megawatts this summer, with temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the country. By contrast, Karim said Iraq currently produces about 28,000 megawatts, including nearly 8,000 megawatts from natural gas imported from Iran and channelled to Iraqi power plants. However, those imports have faced recurring disruptions, particularly due to unilateral US sanctions imposed on Tehran. In March, Washington ended a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iraq to directly purchase electricity from Iran, though another waiver remains in place permitting the purchase of Iranian natural gas for Iraqi power stations. Iran itself has been grappling with severe energy shortages, further affecting its export capacity to Iraq, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) The route linked New Delhi Railway Station, Rajiv Chowk, and Central Secretariat, a key corridor where the Yellow Line is interchanged with the Blue Line. The corridor is mostly used by office goers, amassing over 1.5 million passengers each day. In a post on X, Sputnik India said, "Sputnik India rolls out BRANDED TRAIN on Delhi Metro- Sputnik India's special train is now running on the Yellow Line, linking New Delhi Railway Station, Rajiv Chowk, and Central Secretariat -- a corridor used by over 1.5 million passengers each day." https://x.com/Sputnik_India/status/1969292665461121535 https://x.com/Sputnik_India/status/1969325842892312584 Yellow Line, one of Delhi Metro's busiest routes, sees over 1.5 million passengers daily. Delhi Metro is India's largest metro network with 255 stations across 9 lines, carrying millions daily. The Pink Line, at 59.24 km, is India's longest metro line, operating in a U-shaped pattern along Delhi's Ring Road. Sputnik is a Russia-based news agency which covers global political and economic news. The branding aimed to promote its news base to a prime audience, as the metro line is frequented by youngsters and adults alike. The brand was launched on November 10, 2014, by the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya. Today, the editorial staff of Sputnik works in more than 30 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, etc. Sputnik's predecessors are the state-run news agency RIA Novosti and the Voice of Russia radio service, which were disbanded in 2013. The Rajiv Chowk Metro station serves as an interchange station between the Blue and Yellow Lines of the Delhi Metro. As of October 2023, it is the second busiest station on the network, with a daily ridership of approximately 2,16,000 passengers. The station covers an area of about 39,503 square feet. The Rajiv Chowk Metro station serves the central business district of Connaught Place, officially named Rajiv Chowk, located in the heart of Delhi. Built beneath Central Park, the station is surrounded by numerous significant establishments, including restaurants, cinemas, and other prominent businesses, making it a key hub for commuters and visitors alike. (ANI) Estonia has accused Russia of carrying out an 'unprecedentedly brazen' violation of its sovereignty after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for nearly 12 minutes on Friday morning. The incursion near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland is the longest in recent memory and prompted Tallinn to invoke Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, a step taken only in moments of serious security concern, according to BBC News. The Violation Over Vaindloo The Estonian government confirmed that the three aircraft entered from the northeast on 19 September without filing flight plans. Their transponders were switched off, and they failed to establish radio contact with Estonian air traffic controllers. Radar operators tracked the jets as they penetrated almost 10 kilometres into Estonian territory before they were forced to withdraw, ERR News reported. Estonia's Defense Forces said the incursion was not routine but a significant breach of international law. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described it as 'unprecedentedly brazen'. Officials pointed out that past violations typically lasted less than a minute, while the two earlier incidents this year extended to about four minutes. The 12-minute flight marked a new level of provocation, ERR News noted. NATO Scrambles F-35s The intrusion triggered a rapid response from NATO. Italian F-35 jets stationed at Amari Air Base in northern Estonia scrambled to intercept the Russian fighters. Finnish jets were reported to initially shadow the intruders over the Gulf of Finland before handing them over to NATO aircraft inside Estonian airspace. The Italian pilots then escorted the Russian planes until they departed toward the Kaliningrad region. A NATO spokesperson said that the incident was 'yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour' and underlined that the alliance's Baltic Air Policing mission responded exactly as designed. Following a violation of Estonian air space, Swedish JAS 39 fighters intercepted and monitored three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets over the Baltic Sea today. Sweden is always ready to ensure the safety, security and integrity of our airspace together with our allies.#WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/gpTbmngiKc Forsvarsmakten (@Forsvarsmakten) September 19, 2025 Article 4 Consultations Following the incursion, Estonia announced it would trigger Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which allows member states to request urgent consultations when their territorial integrity or security is threatened. It is the second time this month the clause has been invoked, after Poland raised concerns about Russian drones crossing its airspace on 10 September, according to BBC reporting. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed the need for unity: 'NATO's response to any provocation must be united and strong. We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps.' The North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal decision-making body, is expected to convene in the coming days, BBC reported. Diplomatic Fallout Tallinn also summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to deliver a formal protest note. Estonia's allies quickly expressed solidarity, with France, Germany, the UK, Finland, Latvia, and others issuing condemnations, ERR reported. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a call with Michal to reaffirm the alliance's support. Across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump responded cautiously, telling reporters: 'I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. Could be big trouble. But I'll let you know later.' For Estonia, the episode underscored the importance of NATO's presence in the region. Tsahkna argued that Russia's behaviour showed the need for stronger political and economic pressure against Moscow, warning that 'its neighbours must take the strengthening of their defence capabilities seriously.' Allied air forces are on watch 24/7 #SecuringTheSkies above us. If they detect suspicious activity, they rapidly launch fighter jets to approach the aircraft and investigate Watch to learn more about air interceptions NATO (@NATO) September 20, 2025 Testing NATO's Resolve Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Estonia has recorded more than 40 airspace violations by Russian military aircraft, almost always near Vaindloo. Analysts told BBC that the incidents serve as deliberate tests of NATO's readiness. The length and scale of Friday's breach, with three supersonic interceptors lingering for 12 minutes, represented a marked escalation. Observers warn that such actions are not only dangerous in terms of aviation safety but also amount to strategic messaging from Moscow, aimed at normalising provocations and probing alliance cohesion. The violation also follows reports of Russian drones entering the airspace of Poland and Romania, heightening tensions across NATO's eastern flank, according to BBC reporting. As the Baltic region braces for further provocations, NATO officials insist their air policing mission is effective. Michal said: 'The situation was under control. NATO fighters responded, and the Russian aircraft were forced to withdraw.' With Estonia now joining Poland in invoking Article 4 within the same month, the alliance faces mounting pressure to reinforce deterrence and prove that its collective defence commitments remain unshakable. Originally published on IBTimes UK A political leader from Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) has strongly criticised Pakistan's national media, accusing major outlets of insulting the region's 2.2 million residents and undermining their voices. In a statement, he insisted that PoGB's fate should be determined solely by its people and religious scholars, not dictated by outside forces or media propaganda. In a video shared by Markhor Times on Facebook, the leader argued that each province must make its own decisions: "Punjab's decision will be taken by Punjabis, Sindh's by Sindhis, Balochistan's by Baloch, KP's by Pashtuns, and PoGB's by the people of PoGB." He further emphasised that his group would follow the advice of local scholars, describing their position as the collective voice of the entire population. He accused national media outlets of serving "those whom they eat from" and condemned them for running campaigns that, according to him, misrepresent PoGB. The leader claimed that the state used expired tear gas and even poisonous gas during recent demonstrations, questioning who was responsible for firing such weapons on protesters. He warned that unless the federal government opened trade routes, ports, and entry-exit points for PoGB, all such channels would remain closed indefinitely. "We will not allow anyone to trade until the merchants of PoGB are given their due rights," he declared. The leader expressed confidence that his movement would succeed. "The propaganda of the national media will not affect us. Our movement will be successful," he said. His statement highlighted the growing frustration in PoGB over political autonomy, economic restrictions, and media portrayal. Analysts suggest that by linking religious authority with regional decision-making and economic threats, the rhetoric signals rising tension between local leadership and federal authorities. Without meaningful dialogue, they warn, the confrontation could escalate into deeper political and economic standoffs. (ANI) Birmingham Police on Saturday said they have made a fourth arrest in connection with a nightclub shooting on Bristol Street in the city centre. In a post on X, the police said, "UPDATE: We've made a fourth arrest this morning. A man aged 32 is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, and the investigation continues." https://x.com/BrumPolice/status/1969341436668654066 The development followed an earlier update where Birmingham Police confirmed that part of Bristol Street had been closed after four people were shot at a nightclub. The force said on X, "Bristol Street southbound, from the Pagoda Island to Bromsgrove Street, is cordoned off and motorists should avoid the area." https://x.com/BrumPolice/status/1969279985186677142 West Midlands Police later said officers were called to the Mango nightclub on Bristol Street at around 3 am and found four people with gunshot injuries. "One man remains in hospital in a critical condition, while the other three - two men and a woman - are being treated for less serious injuries," the statement added. The police confirmed that three women in their 20s and 30s were arrested from a car on the M6 in Warwickshire a short time later and remain in custody on suspicion of violent disorder. A man aged 32 was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at around 9.30 am. Assistant Chief Inspector Michael Clarke said, "This happened in a busy nightclub, on one of the main roads out of Birmingham city centre, so it's vital that we hear from anybody who saw what happened or who may have captured it on dashcam as they went past. Our investigation is moving rapidly, and urgent enquiries have led to the arrests of three people, but we continue to investigate as we identify everyone involved. If you were in the club at the time and saw what happened, or recorded any footage from inside the venue, we need to hear from you urgently." West Midlands Police added that extra high-visibility patrols are being put in place as the investigation continues. (ANI) US President Donald Trump said that American forces have carried out a third strike targeting a ship that he claimed was "trafficking illicit narcotics", killing at least three men on board, Al Jazeera reported. The announcement, late on Friday (local time), came as Venezuela accused the US of waging an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean and called for a United Nations probe into the strikes. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the latest "lethal kinetic strike" took place on his orders in the US Southern Command's "area of responsibility", a region that encompasses 31 countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean, as per Al Jazeera. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage en route to poison Americans," Trump said. "The strike killed 3 male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel, which was in international waters. No US Forces were harmed in this strike." Trump posted minute-long aerial footage showing side-by-side videos of a vessel - one in colour and one in black and white - that is struck by a projectile as it moves through the water. The video ends with the vessel seen ablaze in the water. Trump did not offer evidence to back his claim nor say where the vessel departed from and where specifically the strike took place, Al Jazeera reported. The attack came as the US deployed warships to international waters off Venezuela's coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico, in what it calls an anti-drug operation. It has previously carried out two strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels that it claims originated in Venezuela. On September 2, Trump announced that the US military conducted a strike on a small boat he accused of trafficking drugs for Tren de Aragua, a gang originating from the South American country, killing 11 people, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, held talks with Republican leader Steve Scalise and discussed India-US ties in several sectors. Kwatra said on Friday that Scalise conveyed warm wishes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. In a post on X, he said, "Had the honor of meeting Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise today, who conveyed warm wishes for PM Modi's birthday. We discussed the many positive developments in the India-US ties in economic, defense, and energy sectors, further strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership." https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1969021983464595898 Earlier in the day, Kwatra delivered a keynote address at the Quantum World Congress 2025 on the subject - The Quantum Frontier: A perspective from India. In a post on X, he said, "Delivered a keynote address at the Quantum World Congress 2025 on the subject - The Quantum Frontier: A perspective from India. Shared my views about India's Quantum journey and the immense potential for India US cooperation in this domain." https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1968852804706943362 Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy, hosted Kwatra on September 18 at the Pentagon and said they had a 'valuable' discussion. In a post on X, he said, "I was very pleased to host Amb Vinay Mohan Kwatra at the Pentagon earlier this week for a valuable discussion. We at the Department of War look forward to continuing to elevate our critical defense cooperation with India." https://x.com/USWPColby/status/1968662882729496760 "A productive conversation with the brilliant Elbridge Colby. Reviewed the current agenda and charted actionable path on several initiatives in the pipeline of India-US defence cooperation. Value his deep knowledge, perspective and consistent support for our strategic partnership," Kwatra said. https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1968674322630812149 On September 16, Kwatra attended the anniversary celebrations of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Beltsville, MD. https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1967933744553066971 In a post on X, he had said, "Had the privilege of joining the anniversary celebrations at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Beltsville, MD. Congratulations to the temple for 25 years of outstanding service and selfless contributions!" (ANI) Former Indian diplomat Veena Sikri has expressed concerns over US President Trump's recent Executive Order to raise the fee for H-1B visa sponsorships to $100,000. Sikri, while talking to ANI, stated that the decision was a big blow, especially to tech companies akin to Google, Microsoft, etc, as they mostly hire Indian workers. Sikri added that the decision appears to be an attempt by Trump to appease his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) base. "But I think that, judging from the reaction, both within India and in America, from companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta, all of them that employ the largest number of H1B visa-holding workers, they are worried because they think that there will be a big problem for them because they depend so much on these workers. We know the majority of H1B visa holders are from India, 70% or more of the total visas issued are from India," she said. Sikri urged India to develop its own expertise and employability to mitigate the effects of the decision. "So the maximum impact will be on India, and India has to think about it...We should pick up this challenge and meet it and develop our own expertise and ability to employ these people and give them good salaries," she said. "I think this decision by President Trump has come as a big surprise, although there was discussion about it, and there is a lot of talk that President Trump is trying to please his own constituency, the MAGA constituency, by showing that he is more concerned about employment within America and wants talent within America to be employed," she added. Meanwhile, there is significant relief for existing H-1B visa holders. A senior US Administration official clarified on Friday (local time) that the USD 100,000 annual fee targets new H-1B visa petitions, not existing holders or renewals. According to the official, individuals currently holding H-1B visas, including those visiting India or abroad, don't need to rush back to the US before Sunday or pay the steep $100,000 fee. "Those who are visiting or leaving the country, or visiting India, don't need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee. $100,000 is only for new and not current existing holders," the official told ANI. With 71-72% of H-1B visas going to Indians, the move has sparked concerns about its effects on Indian tech professionals and remittances. The government has advised all its Missions/ Posts to extend all possible help to Indian nationals who are travelling back to the US in the next 24 hours or so. The government said on Saturday that the full implications of the US decision to impose a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications are being studied by all concerned, including the Indian industry, and that the measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. In a statement regarding restrictions to the US H1B visa programme, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said the industry in both India and the US has a stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward. "The Government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program," the statement said. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1969394602282045798 "Industry in both India and the US has a stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward," it added. The statement said that skilled talent mobility has contributed to innovation and wealth creation in the United States and India, and policymakers will assess recent steps. "Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India. Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taken into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries," it said. Indian IT industry body Nasscom has expressed concerns following the US decision of a new USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, calling the move potentially disruptive to global business continuity and the innovation ecosystem in the United States. In a statement issued on Saturday, Nasscom said that while it is reviewing the finer details of the proclamation, such significant adjustments to the skilled worker visa programme could have far-reaching implications. "Adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on America's innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy. It will also impact Indian nationals that are on H-1B visas working for global and Indian companies. India's technology services companies will also be impacted as business continuity will be disrupted for onshore projects which may require adjustments. Companies will work closely with clients to adapt and manage transitions," the industry body said. Nasscom said the effectiveness of proclamation gives only a one-day window for implementation which is unrealistic and disruptive. "The timeline for implementation (anyone entering the U.S. after 12:01 a.m., September 21) is also a concern. A one-day deadline creates considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world. Policy changes of this scale are best introduced with adequate transition periods, allowing organizations and individuals to plan effectively and minimize disruption," Nasscom said. (ANI) Hamas has released a "farewell picture" of 48 Israeli hostages in Gaza, as Israeli forces intensify their assault on the enclave's largest urban centre, Al Jazeera reported. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, shared an online compilation on Saturday, displaying images of both living and deceased captives. Each was captioned "Ron Arad," a reference to the Israeli air force officer who went missing in Lebanon in 1986 after being captured by the Amal Movement and later handed over to Hezbollah. Arad's fate remains unresolved, as reported by Al Jazeera. Alongside the photo, Hamas issued a statement saying: "Because of Netanyahu's refusal, and Zamir's capitulation, a farewell picture as the military operation in Gaza City begins." The remarks targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly rejected negotiations with Hamas, and army chief Eyal Zamir, who has publicly questioned the government's plan to seize Gaza City. Israeli officials estimate that around 20 captives remain alive in Gaza, while US President Donald Trump has suggested the number may be lower. Both leaders have vowed to recover all captives and "destroy" Hamas. Hamas has warned that Israeli bombings and the ongoing ground offensive place captives' lives at risk, alleging that some have already been killed by airstrikes. The group claims captives are dispersed across Gaza City's neighbourhoods. The release of the "farewell" image came as large-scale protests were expected in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, with demonstrators demanding a deal to secure the captives' return and halt the war, Al Jazeera reported. Earlier this month, Hamas published footage of two Israeli captives, following a separate video showing two others in deteriorating condition, one of whom was depicted digging his own grave. The images drew sharp condemnation from captive families, Israeli authorities, and international allies, including the United States. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reports that since October 2023, Israeli strikes have killed at least 65,208 people and wounded 166,271. Following Israel's breach of a ceasefire on March 18, 12,653 Palestinians have been killed and 54,230 injured, as reported by Al Jazeera. (ANI) Prince Harry is reportedly facing what friends are calling a painful choice. It is said that Markle, Meghan, has very clearly indicated to Harry that he should break off all connections with Kate Middleton, the sister-in-law with whom he used to have the most friendly relations. According to Radar Online, the message that Meghan has been sending cannot be misunderstood. "She wants Kate gone from the equation entirely," one source said, claiming Meghan views Harry's lingering bond with the Princess of Wales as a threat to their marriage. Harry, 40, has not had a close relationship with the most part of the royal family since his decision in 2020 to relinquish his senior duties. Although his bond with Prince William is still not good, sources say that Harry has always wanted to clear the air with Kate. "Harry hasn't received a single message from Kate since that visit," said a friend, referring to Harry's trip to the U.K. in May when he revealed King Charles had stopped taking his calls. The silence has reportedly left him "weighed down." Sources claim Meghan's reaction has been cold. "She can't stand watching him long for someone tied to the royal life she fought to escape," said one Hollywood insider. Meghan allegedly fears any renewed bond with Kate could pull Harry back toward palace life. Jealousy, Popularity, and Pressure Some who know the couple say Meghan is not only wary of Harry's nostalgia, but also of Kate's public image. "She is also jealous of the amount of fans Kate has, and even sees her as a love rival," a source claimed. Meghan reportedly believes Harry admired Kate early on in her relationship with William. Their own relationship with Kate has been strained for years. Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that reports claiming she made Kate cry before her wedding were false, saying "the reverse happened." Harry has publicly acknowledged how difficult the estrangement has been, including in his memoir "Spare," where he described a physical confrontation with William, who had called Meghan "difficult." "Losing Kate's support feels like the last straw," said one friend of the prince. Observers believe Meghan's ambitions also factor into the standoff. "She wants to reinvent herself as a global figure," said a media insider, comparing her efforts to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop brand. Beckhams Eye Lifestyle Empire as Meghan's Brand Struggles While Meghan's As Ever brand faces criticism, David and Victoria Beckham are reportedly planning a direct challenge. The couple is preparing to launch a farm shop and home brand featuring David's honey, jams, and possibly wine and gin. "David has been working really hard over the past few years on growing his own fruit and vegetables, as well as his honey," another source told Radar Online, noting the farm sits on their $16.1 million Cotswolds estate. Victoria is reportedly eager to use the project to expand the Beckham brand. "She sees a huge opportunity for Brand Beckham," the source added, suggesting it could outperform Meghan's offerings. Victoria has even teased David's jam-making skills on social media, showing him testing recipes with plums from their farm. The video was seen as a playful jab both at their son Brooklyn and, some say, at Meghan's faltering lifestyle efforts. Meghan's As Ever line launched in March with honey, a raspberry spread, crepe mix, and dried flower sprinkles. While she said products sold out quickly, critics accused her of keeping stock low to create buzz. In June, Meghan paused production to "gather data from the launch." Her rose release later faced backlash over its high price and lower alcohol content. Originally published on Enstarz Tripoli has been announced on Thursday, September 18, as the host city for the 2025 LibyaAfrica International Gas Forum, scheduled for December 6-7. The event is organized by Libyas Ministry of Oil and Gas under the Government of National Unity. The forum aims to gather a significant cohort of energy leaders, including representatives from the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), major African gas producers, global investors, and technology innovators. It is officially supported by the Ministry, the NOC, and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), with S&P Global acting as a strategic partner. The ministrys statement positioned the event as the only official gas-focused forum of its kind in Africa. This initiative is seen as a strategic move to re-establish Libya as a pivotal energy hub and a critical link for supplying natural gas to Europe. Morocco and China have explored new prospects to bolster their cooperation in strategic and high value-added sectors, such as infrastructure, industry, energy, innovation, digital technology, renewable energy, tourism, and higher education. This came during a meeting in Beijing Friday between Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who is on a working visit to China, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. The meeting highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a MoroccoChina Strategic Dialogue, a mechanism aimed at enhancing political consultation and defining new horizons for cooperation and diplomatic interaction. The two officials emphasized that the two countries strategic partnership constitutes the solid foundation underpinning a distinguished cooperation, built on solidarity, mutual trust, and reciprocal respect. The two ministers welcomed the excellence and depth of bilateral relations, and the diversity of cooperation areas, which continue to grow thanks to ambitious initiatives undertaken in political, economic, cultural, and human domains. Aware of the need to support the momentum of economic exchanges and the upward trend of foreign direct investment, the two ministers stressed the importance of strengthening the legal framework in economic matters, in order to bolster investor confidence on both sides, a key factor in ensuring stability and predictability, especially in the implementation of major projects in promising sectors. In this regard, they welcomed the ongoing finalization of the revised Bilateral Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, originally signed in 1995. They also agreed to boost Chinese investments in Morocco, strengthen joint industrial partnerships, and promote co-development at the continental level, particularly through tripartite cooperation in favor of Africa. The two officials particularly welcomed the positive momentum in tourist flows between the two countries, an essential driver of people-to-people connection and a catalyst for economic and human exchanges. They also agreed to further deepen cultural, academic, and scientific cooperation, including university, language, and artistic exchange programs, in order to strengthen mutual understanding and enhance people-to-people ties. Both parties highlighted Moroccos role as an essential regional platform and natural bridge for Sino-African and Sino-Arab cooperation, due to its geostrategic location, political stability, high-quality infrastructure, and diversified partnerships. They also underlined Chinas role as a major player in international cooperation and a key partner at the level of Africa and the Arab world. This meeting also served as an opportunity for an in-depth exchange on matters of vital interest, as well as regional and international issues. In this regard, the two ministers noted a convergence of views on a number of topics, principles, and values, namely those concerning national sovereignty, territorial integrity of States, and the fight against separatism and extremism. This convergence illustrates the strength of the MoroccoChina strategic partnership and the shared desire to actively contribute to a more just, balanced, and inclusive international order. The two ministers also reaffirmed Morocco and Chinas commitment to the primacy of multilateralism, the centrality of the United Nations, and the principles of the UN Charter, including the peaceful settlement of disputes and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Bouritas visit to Beijing is part of the ongoing momentum characterizing relations between Morocco and China, since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership by King Mohammed VI and President Xi Jinping, during the royal visit to Beijing in May 2016. The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Casablanca on November 2122, 2024, during which he was received by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, reaffirmed the shared desire to elevate bilateral relations to even higher levels. In 2023, world leaders pledged to triple global renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. Meeting this goal will require an unprecedented buildout of renewable energy projects, both in speed and in scale. And all of those projects are going to require a whole lot of land, presenting serious challenges for land use strategies. The kind of utility-scale solar and wind farms that will be necessary to meet internationally binding climate goals require huge amounts of undeveloped land. Utility-scale solar and wind farms require at least ten times as much space per unit of power as coal- or natural gasfired power plants, including the land used to produce and transport the fossil fuels, says a 2022 report from global consulting powerhouse McKinsey & Company. Wind turbines are often placed half a mile apart, while large solar farms span thousands of acres. And, while the vast land tracts that these projects are targeting are undeveloped, it doesnt mean that they are unused or unpopulated. These developments often intersect with agricultural zones, conservation areas and Indigenous territories, explains Renewable Energy Magazine in an article released earlier this year. Plus, the rural areas that have the most undeveloped land are often the most resistant to large-scale renewable energy projects, leading to tense political flare-ups and litigious gridlock that can keep projects tied up in court for years. Finding land-use agreements that allow for mixed-use plots will be essential to achieving the renewable energy buildout we need without compromising agricultural production, rural livelihoods, and food security. Some farmers have rented out their land to solar developers, but this practice can be risky, with grave consequences for the topsoil. Solar farms, if they clear the land of all vegetation, can create prime conditions for erosion, making that land unsuitable for agriculture more or less permanently. The reality is that it takes thousands of years to create an inch of fertile topsoil, warns National Geographic, but it can be destroyed in minutes. But marrying solar power and agriculture on the same land at the same time could provide a win-win for both sectors. The practice, called agrivoltaics, is not a new concept, but it hasnt reached a commercial scale since its conception in the 1980s. Figuring out how to provide solar panels and crops with optimal sunlight on the same land is not so simple. A pressing question is how AV technology can maximize crop productivity and energy generation while minimizing plant water loss and irrigation needs, Phys.org wrote in a 2023 report. That's a lot to ask for on a piece of land. But a new pilot project in Denmark seems to have cracked the code. Researchers from Aarhus University have developed a full-scale solar plant that uses vertically mounted solar panels for optimal output for solar energy and crops alike. "Our measurements show that wheat and grass-clover mixtures grow just as well between vertical solar panels as in open fields. At the same time, the panels produce electricity in a daily pattern that better matches energy demand. It's a win-win," Marta Victoria, lead author of the study and Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University, told Tech Xplore. Critically, the solar panels only took up about 10% of the land, allowing for successful metrics from both the agricultural and the photovoltaic sides of the agrivoltaic model. The study, recently published in the scientific journal Energy Nexus, yielded excellent results in full sun as well as with conditions of some shade. "Even with some shade, the yield per square meter is almost the same. The crops don't seem to mind the presence of solar panels and they like the wind protection that they provide," explains Professor Uffe Jrgensen from the Department of Agroecology. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Japan just became the second country in the world to launch a commercial-scale osmotic energy plant, a big win for the little-known form of clean energy generation that first broke ground in Denmark. While osmotic energy is nascent and its testing grounds remain limited, it has big potential The World Economic Forum recently named osmotic power systems as one of the top 10 emerging technologies to watch in 2025. This form of carbon-free energy generation uses osmosis between freshwater and saltwater to create power. In other words, it works by moving water from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated one across a semipermeable membrane. When freshwater and seawater meet, a natural gradient in salinity is created, prompting ions to migrate from the saltier side to the less salty side in pursuit of equilibrium, an Earth.org article explains in laymans terms. The movement of water and ions generates a pressure differential that can be harnessed to produce electricity. The result is a baseload form of totally clean and carbon-free energy production that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is critical for energy security, as the majority of clean energy capacity, namely wind and solar, is variable. This means that osmotic energy could be an excellent alternative clean power from an energy security perspective. Denmark brought the worlds first commercial-scale osmotic power plant online in 2023. This month, Japan followed suit with a brand new plant in Fukuoka. The plant began operations on August 5, and will produce 880,000 kilowatt-hours a year. The plant was developed in tandem with a local desalination plant. The use of extra-salinated water leftover from the desalination process lends itself perfectly to the osmosis model by increasing efficiency while also reducing waste. Those stronger gradients boost efficiency and grounds osmotic generation in existing systems rather than the lab, reports New Atlas. I feel overwhelmed that we have been able to put this into practical use. I hope it spreads not just in Japan, but across the world, Akihiko Tanioka, professor emeritus at the Institute of Science Tokyo, told Kyodo News. Pilot-scale osmotic energy models have already been developed in other nations around the world including Norway, France, and South Korea. Other coastal nations will likely soon follow suit as Denmark and Japan demonstrate the utility of their own plants. Proponents believe that the benefits of the nascent sector will speak for themselves. Osmotic power is clean, completely natural, available 24 hours a day in all coastal areas, can be turned on almost instantly and modulated very easily, Nicolas Heuze, co-founder of osmotic energy firm Sweetch Energy, told the World Economic Forum. If and when osmotic energy takes off, its productive potential would be enormous. Almost 30,000 TWh of osmotic energy is naturally released by deltas and estuaries each and every year it just needs to be harnessed. The Dubai Future Foundation calculates that osmotic systems could eventually produce approximately 5,177 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually thats almost a fifth of global electricity needs. However, scaling the technology can be difficult due to low energy efficiency. While the Japanese plant gets a relatively high energy output thanks to the concentrated brine it sources from its associated desalination plant, models elsewhere cant necessarily expect the same level of performance. But in places where the technology makes sense, the potential is significant. Globally, and particularly in salt-rich areas like Australia and the Middle East, where access to brackish or seawater exceeds access to freshwater, these power systems hold huge potential for baseload energy and clean water production, Dr. Katherine Daniell, Director of the Australian National Universitys School of Cybernetics, was quoted by the World Economic Forum. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Retired Navy Veteran and Community Leader Colby Riley Announces Candidacy for Oregon State Representative, House District 50 By Colby Riley campaign, GRESHAM, OR Colby Riley (R), a retired U.S. Navy veteran and current Board Member of the Rockwood Water Peoples Utility District, officially announces his candidacy for Oregon State Representative in House District 50. Riley is stepping forward to offer strong leadership focused on reducing crime, addressing homelessness, and building a business-friendly Oregon. With decades of service in the Navy and years of hands-on community leadership, Ive seen what real service looks like and I believe its time to bring that same commitment to Salem, said Riley. House District 50 needs a representative who will prioritize public safety, restore accountability in our institutions, and create an Oregon where businesses and working families can thrive. Rileys campaign centers on three key priorities: Reducing Cost-of-Living by Fostering a Business-Friendly Environment: Oregon is expensive because of bad policies. There has to be a change in the climate where our small and medium sized businesses are praised in the community not vilified and taxed. Reducing Crime and Restoring Public Safety: There has to be a point in which criminals go to jail and our streets are safer for our kids. East County used to be a shinning example of great communities, Riley will work to restore that. Addressing Homelessness with Accountability and Compassion: He supports solutions that include mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and pathways to employment while also ensuring public spaces remain safe and clean. Colby Rileys lifelong dedication to service, from defending the nation to serving on the Board of Directors at Rockwood Water PUD, reflects a deep commitment to the people of Oregon. As a pragmatic conservative candidate, he pledges to bring common-sense leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a strong voice for working families to the State Capitol. The community of Gresham deserves a leader who will focus on solutions not identity politics, said Riley. Voters in this district are tired of partisan games and empty promises. Its time for honest leadership that puts Oregonians at the forefront to get us back on track. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Wilsonville Development Review Board member, Clark Hildum, has resigned after making cruel comments on Facebook over the Charlie Kirk murder. The Wilsonville Spokesman reported that the posts said, You have got to be kidding! The only person less Christian like than Charlie Kirk is Donald Trump. This country has no room for racist bigots like Kirk and Trump. When people go to church they should give thanks that Kirk is no longer with us, and They should give the shooter the presidential medal of freedom. Here are other Oregonians cheering Charlie Kirks death: This comment below is from a Springfield school official: Here is Pleasant Hill School official: Here is a Cornelius School educator. Meanwhile a Portland activist called for more political violence. Help us spread the word. Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain While the White House's fight with elite universities such as Columbia and Harvard has recently dominated the headlines, the feud overshadows the broader and more far-reaching assault on K-12 public education by the Trump administration and many states. The Trump administration has gutted the Department of Education, imperiling efforts to protect students' civil rights, and proposed billions in public education cuts for fiscal year 2026. Meanwhile, the administration is diverting billions of taxpayer funds into K-12 private schools. These moves build upon similar efforts by conservative states to rein in public education going back decades. But the consequences of withdrawing from public education could be dire for the U.S. In our 2024 book, "How Government Built America," we explore the history of public education, from Horace Mann's "common school movement" in the early 19th century to the GI Bill in the 20th that helped millions of veterans go to college and become homeowners after World War II. We found that public education has been essential for not only creating an educated workforce but for inculcating the United States' fundamental values of liberty, equality, fairness and the common good. In the public good Opponents of public education often refer to public schools as "government schools," a pejorative that seems intended to associate public education with "big government"seemingly at odds with the small government preference of many Americans. But, as we have previously explored, government has always been a significant partner with the private market system in achieving the country's fundamental political values. Public education has been an important part of that partnership. Education is what economists call a public good, which means it not only benefits students but the country as well. Mann, an education reformer often dubbed the father of the American public school system, argued that universal, publicly funded, nonsectarian public schools would help sustain American political institutions, expand the economy and fend off social disorder. In researching Mann's common schools and other educational history for our book, two lessons stood out to us. 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. One is that the U.S. investment in public education over the past 150 years has created a well-educated workforce that has fueled innovation and unparalleled prosperity. As our book documents, for example, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries the states expanded public education to include high school to meet the increasing demand for a more educated citizenry as a result of the Industrial Revolution. And the GI Bill made it possible for returning veterans to earn college degrees or train for vocations, support young families and buy homes, farms or businesses, and it encouraged them to become more engaged citizens, making "U.S. democracy more vibrant in the middle of the twentieth century." The other, equally significant lesson is that the democratic and republican principles that propelled Mann's vision of the common school have colored many Americans' assumptions about public schooling ever since. Mann's goal was a "virtuous republican citizenry"that is, a citizenry educated in "good citizenship, democratic participation and societal well-being." Mann believed there was nothing more important than "the proper training of the rising generation," calling it the country's "highest earthly duty." Attacking public education Today, Mann's vision and all that's been accomplished by public education is under threat. Trump's second term has supercharged efforts by conservatives over the past 75 years to control what is taught in the public schools and to replace public education with private schools. Most notably, Trump has begun dismantling the Department of Education to devolve more policymaking to the state level. The department is responsible for, among other things, distributing federal funds to public schools, protecting students' civil rights and supporting high-quality educational research. It has also been responsible for managing over a trillion dollars in student loansa function that the administration is moving to the Small Business Administration, which has no experience in loan management. The president's March 2025 executive order has slashed the department's staff in half, with especially deep cuts to the Office for Civil Rights, which, as noted, protects students from illegal discrimination. Trump's efforts to slash education funding has so far hit roadblocks with Congress and the public. The administration is aiming to cut education funding by US$12 billion for fiscal year 2026, which Congress is currently negotiating. And contradicting its stance on ceding more control to states and local communities, the administration has also been mandating what can't and must be taught in public schools. For example, it's threatened funding for school districts that recognize transgender identities or teach about structural racism, white privilege and similar concepts. On the other hand, the White House is pushing the use of "patriotic" education that depicts the founding of the U.S. as "unifying, inspiring and ennobling." Promoting private education As Trump and states have cut funding and resources to public education, they've been shifting more money to K-12 private schools. Most recently, the budget bill passed by Congress in July 2025 gives taxpayers a tax credit for donations to organizations that fund private school scholarships. The credit, which unlike a deduction counts directly against how much tax someone owes, is $1,700 for individuals and double for married couples. The total cost could run into the billions, since it's unclear how many taxpayers will take advantage. Meanwhile, 33 states direct public money toward private schools by providing vouchers, tax credits or another form of financial assistance to parents. All together, states allocated $8.2 billion to support private school education in 2024. Government funding of private schools diverts money away from public education and makes it more difficult for public schools to provide the quality of education that would most benefit students and the public at large. In Arizona, for example, many public schools are closing their doors permanently as a result of the state's support for charter schools, homeschooling and private school vouchers. That's because public schools are funded based on how many students they have. As more students switch to private schools, there's less money to cover teacher salaries and fixed costs such as building maintenance. Ultimately, that means fewer resources to educate the students who remain in the public school system. Living up to aspirations We believe the harm to the country of promoting private schools while rolling back support for public education is about more than dollars and cents. It would mean abandoning the principle of universal, nonsectarian education for America's children. And in so doing, Mann's "virtuous citizenry" will be much harder to build and maintain. America's private market system, in which individuals are free to contract with each other with minimal government interference, has been important to building prosperity and opportunity in the U.S., as our book documents. But, as we also establish, relying on private markets to educate America's youth makes it harder to create equal opportunity for children to learn and be economically successful, leaving the country less prosperous and more divided. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The research ship MV Anuanua Moana is pictured at a port in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, during an expedition to far-flung South Pacific waters in June 2025, spearheading efforts to dredge the tropical waters for industrial deep-sea mining. A multinational treaty to protect vast expanses of the world's oceans is finally set to become law in January 2026, with environmentalists hailing its enactment Friday as crucial to safeguarding the marine ecosystems. The move by Morocco and Sierra Leone to join the UN treaty on the high seas clinched the threshold of at least 60 ratifications needed to enact it as international law. The law aims to protect biodiverse areas in waters worldwide that lie in waters beyond countries' exclusive economic zones. Teeming with plant and animal life, the oceans are responsible for creating half of the globe's oxygen supply and are vital to combating climate change, conservationists say. But those same waters are threatened by pollution and overfishing. They also face growing challenges from deep-sea mining, with an emerging industry plumbing previously untouched seabeds for commodities including nickel, cobalt and copper. "Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The law aims to protect international waters that make up around 60% of the oceans. Until now, only one percent of high seas waters have had such legal safeguards. The agreement will take effect in 120 days. However, Lisa Speer, who oversees the International Oceans Program at the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council, said it won't be before late 2028 or 2029 that the first protected areas are set up. Valuable, fragile marine areas Environmentalists say marine ecosystems in the high seas must be protected because they are sources of oxygen and limit global warming by absorbing a significant portion of carbon dioxide emitted through human activities. Once the treaty becomes law, a decision-making body will have to work with a patchwork of regional and global organizations already overseeing different aspects of the oceans. These include regional fisheries bodies and the International Seabed Authoritythe forum where nations are jousting over proposed rules on the environmentally destructive deep-sea mining industry. No licenses have been issued yet for commercial mining in high seas waters but some countries have launched or are preparing to launch exploration in waters within their own exclusive economic zones. The treaty also establishes principles for sharing the benefits of so-called marine genetic resources collected in international watersa sticking point in the drawn-out negotiations. Developing countries, which often lack money for research expeditions, have fought for benefit-sharing rights. They hope not to be left behind in what many see as a huge future market for genetic resources coveted by pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies. 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. Towards 'global ratification' As of mid-September, 143 countries had joined the treaty and ocean conservationists are pressing for more to ratify. "It's really important that we move towards global or universal ratification for the treaty to be as effective as possible," said Rebecca Hubbard, who heads the High Seas Alliance coalition, urging small island states, developing countries and even landlocked countries to join. Such efforts may encounter push-back from sprawling maritime and industrial powers such as Russia under President Vladimir Putin and the United States under President Donald Trump. Moscow, which has neither signed nor ratified the treaty, deemed some of its elements as unacceptable. Washington signed off on the treaty under then-president Joe Biden but the second Trump administration is unlikely to ratify it. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Fossil remains of an extinct large flightless bird have been discovered at Boodjamulla National Park in Queensland. Credit: Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Fossil remains of a large, now-extinct bird species have been discovered in Australia's Boodjamulla National Park. The ground-dwelling speciesMenura tyawanoidesis an ancient ancestor of Australia's native lyrebird, according to a Sept. 17 news release from Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Lyrebirds have the remarkable ability to imitate almost any sound, even "chainsaws, horns, alarms and ... trains," according to wildlife experts. Scientists believe the mimicry helps them to vocally establish their territory and "defend it from other lyrebirds," according to experts. The fossil wrist bone of Menura tyawanoides is believed to be between 17 million and 18 million years old, according to the release. The structure of the wrist suggests that, unlike the lyrebird, the Menura tyawanoides was a large and "mainly terrestrial bird" with a reduced ability to fly, officials said. The extinct species likely lived in the dense understory of ancient tropical rainforests, according to the release. Officials said the find "provides key evidence that the roots of Australia's unique songbirds run deep." "As one of the four most significant fossil sites in the world, Riversleigh has revealed hundreds of extraordinary extinct species that were challenged by previous cycles of climate change," Mike Archer, professor at the University of New South Wales, said in the release. "This record is providing us with insights into how today's ecosystems are likely to change in the future and what we might be able to do to avoid climate-change-driven extinctions threatening the living animals of Australiamany of which, like lyrebirds, had ancestors at Riversleigh that faced and survived similar challenges," Archer said. Boodjamulla National Park is in the far northwestern corner of Queensland. 2025 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Pham Quang Hien In the 2020s, South Asia emerged as one of the most politically volatile regions in the world. After Bangladesh fell into a political crisis in 2024 with massive protests leading to a change in leadership, Nepal witnessed a wave of political instability just one year later. A prominent common point is the role of the youth force (Gen Z) as a central actor, they not only initiated the crisis but also shaped the subsequent political scenarios. The presence and strength of the young generation has changed the traditional power structure in South Asia, forcing governments, parties as well as international actors to adjust their approaches. This phenomenon cannot be explained by temporary social discontent alone, but reflects deep changes in population, economy, society and technology in the region. The youth population explosion and the development paradox South Asia is currently the region with the youngest population structure in the world. In Bangladesh, more than 47% of the population is under 25 years old, while in Nepal this figure is around 40% (UNFPA, 2024). The young population should be a golden opportunity for socio-economic development, but paradoxically, the region has witnessed widespread unemployment, inequality and corruption. In Bangladesh, unemployment among young university graduates is expected to reach 33% by 2023 (World Bank, 2024). In Nepal, while remittances contribute around 27% of GDP, millions of young people are forced to work abroad in precarious conditions, creating a sense of marginalization in national progress. When expectations of employment, social justice and development opportunities are not met, the youth easily become the strongest resistance force. From social discontent to political motivation South Asian youth are not only victims of unemployment and poverty, but also carry with them aspirations for democracy, transparency and equality. They have access to education, technology and information at a higher level than previous generations, thereby demanding change from the ruling elite. In Bangladesh, student movements have long been at the forefront of political upheavals. In 1971, students played a decisive role in the independence movement; in 1990, they spearheaded the overthrow of the military regime of General Hossain Mohammad Ershad. In 2024, students and youth once again led protests against electoral fraud and corruption, forcing the Sheikh Hasina government from power. In Nepal, recent political history has also seen students play a pivotal role in the democratic movements of 1990 and 2006. By 2025, the frustration of the younger generation with party divisions, governance crises, and corruption continues to make them the core force in protests against the coalition government. In other words, South Asian youth are not just objects of influence, but political actors, capable of exerting pressure and changing the power dynamics. One factor that has put young people at the center of the crisis in South Asia is the prevalence of digital technology. This age group accounts for the majority of users of social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and X (Twitter), making them effective tools for political mobilization and communication. In Dhaka in 2024, videos of the suppression of protests go viral instantly, triggering a chain reaction. In Kathmandu in 2025, student groups need only a few hours to organize street protests of tens of thousands of people, despite government efforts to control them. Social media helps young people bypass traditional censorship, connect across borders, and create international pressure on governments. Therefore, many analysts consider digital technology to be a political weapon for the young generation of South Asia. Tradition of street politics The youth crisis in South Asia is not a completely new phenomenon, but continues a long tradition of street politics. Student movements from the 1960s to the present have repeatedly been the decisive force in changing the regime. This tradition gives todays young generations a sense of historical legitimacy to stand up against the government. In many cases, the student movement is even recognized by society as a national conscience, transcending party affiliation. This explains why when Bangladesh or Nepal fall into crisis, the public is ready to support and join the youth, making them a central force that cannot be ignored. Another aspect that has made youth central to the South Asian political crisis is the internationalization of the movement. Images of repressed students quickly appeared in the global media, creating pressure on the government from the international community. Human rights organizations, Western countries and even regional powers were forced to speak out, while the government was worried about losing its foreign legitimacy. The participation of youth is therefore not only an internal issue, but also has an impact on international relations and the countrys position in the region. The case of Bangladesh 2024 shows that the collapse of a government cannot be separated from pressure from the international community, which is sensitive to the image of repressed youth. In Nepal, the situation in 2025 is also closely monitored in the context of the competition for influence between India and China, further highlighting the cross-border nature of the youth movement. The emergence of youth as the epicenter of the crisis in South Asia has not only shaken incumbent governments, but also brought about structural changes. First, parties have been forced to rethink their approach to youth. Youth support or opposition can determine the legitimacy of a government. Second, civil society and the media have been fueled by youth energy, thereby expanding the democratic space. Third, political elites have realized that poor governance is no longer just a source of simmering discontent, but can lead to rapid collapse when youth emerge. Thus, from Bangladesh to Nepal, youth have become a strategic variable in national politics. Impact The emergence of youth as the center of South Asias political crisis has several regional implications. First, it highlights the vulnerability of regional regimes to social pressures. Governments, whether relying on security control or political alliances, find it difficult to maintain power if they ignore the voices of the younger generation. Second, this phenomenon increases the uncertainty in regional politics, as youth explosions can occur at any time and spread quickly thanks to social media. Third, the role of youth creates a link between domestic politics and foreign relations, forcing neighboring countries and major powers to adjust their policies. In the context of increasingly fierce US-China-India competition, South Asian youth become an unknown factor that can change the regional balance of power. Thus, from Bangladesh in 2024 to Nepal in 2025, youth are not just participants but are at the center of South Asias political crisis. With their large populations, accumulated frustrations, democratic aspirations, technological prowess, and street politics, the young generation has proven that they have the ability to change the political order. They are both a measure of government legitimacy, a force for reform, and a variable in international relations. The events in Bangladesh and Nepal reflect not only internal instability, but also a profound shift in the political dynamics of the entire South Asian region. In the coming decade, any government in this region that does not find a way to integrate the energy and expectations of youth into the national development process risks repeating the cycle of crisis. South Asian youth are therefore no longer just the future, but have been and are the present of regional politics. Source: Modern Diplomacy VIENNA (AP) Iran decided at the last minute Thursday to withdraw a resolution prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities that it had put forward along with China, Russia and other countries for a vote before an annual gathering of the U.N. nuclear watchdog's member nations. Western diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the U.S. has been heavily lobbying behind the scenes to prevent the resolution from being adopted. The U.S. has raised the possibility of reducing funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency if the resolution was adopted and if the body moved to curtail Israels rights within the agency, the diplomats said. In 1981, the provision of assistance to Israel under the IAEAs technical assistance program was suspended as a result of an Israeli strike on a nuclear reactor in Iraq. At the time, the attack was strongly condemned in resolutions by the U.N. Security Council, the IAEA General Conference and the IAEA Board of Governors. The resolution withdrawal comes as U.S. allies have started the clock on reimposing U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Addressing the IAEA's General Conference late Thursday, Irans Ambassador to the U.N. Reza Najafi announced that guided by the spirit of goodwill and constructive engagement, and at the request of several member states," it deferred action on the draft until next year's conference. Tensions after June attack Israel targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites in June, saying it could not allow Tehran to develop atomic weapons and that it feared the Islamic Republic was close. The U.S. inserted itself into the war on June 22, striking three Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. The text of Irans draft resolution contained a paragraph that strongly condemned the deliberate and unlawful attacks carried out in June 2025 against nuclear sites and facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding that it constituted a clear violation of international law. It also reaffirmed that all states must refrain from attacking or threatening to attack peaceful nuclear facilities in other countries. Najafi said the objective by Iran and the other cosponsors of the resolution including Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Belarus and Zimbabwe has never been to create division among member states, adding that on matters of such importance and sensitivity, it is imperative that the general conference conveys a unified and unambiguous message. He added, We firmly believe that the voice of this body should not be distorted under the weight of the intimidation and political pressure exerted by one of the aggressors. Speaking at the IAEA General Conference earlier this week, the head of Irans civilian atomic energy organization, Mohammad Eslami, said he expected IAEA member states to take appropriate measures in response to these unlawful attacks on nuclear facilities. He said the recent threats made by the United States in this regard, as well as the exertion of political pressure on countries and the instrumental use of the Agency in various forms, including through influence on its budget, are matters of serious concern. Howard Solomon, the U.S. charge daffaires and acting permanent representative at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, said the draft resolution painted a deeply inaccurate picture of recent events, distorted international law and selectively quoted from the IAEA statute and other documents adopted by the IAEA General Conference and U.N., taking them out of context and drawing inaccurate conclusions. Had the resolution been put to a vote, it would have been overwhelmingly defeated, he said. Solomon said that the grave and growing threat to Israel and the region created by Irans enrichment program necessitated strong and decisive action directed by President Trump, adding that the U.S. did not take this action lightly. A request for comment has been sent to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna. Looming deadline The IAEA General Conference consists of high-ranking representatives of the 180 members states of the U.N. nuclear watchdog who debate issues of international nuclear policy. It meets annually in Vienna, approves the budget and considers resolutions on nuclear safety and security issues. The meeting came at a sensitive time, with France, Germany and the United Kingdom launching the process to reimpose sanctions on Iran over what they deemed noncompliance with a 2015 agreement aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The process, termed a snapback by the diplomats who negotiated it into Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, was designed to be veto-proof at the U.N. and could take effect in a month. The move set a 30-day clock for the resumption of sanctions unless the West and Iran reach a diplomatic agreement. European nations have said they would be willing to extend the deadline if Iran resumes direct negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program, allows U.N. nuclear inspectors access to its nuclear sites, and accounts for the more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium the U.N. watchdog says it has. When asked in an interview on Israels Channel 12 on Thursday whether the snapback was a done deal, French President Emmanuel Macron said: Yes. I think so because the latest news we had from the Iranians is not serious. Mexico reforming Amparo Law to end abuse and ensure swift justice Mexico City, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced a reform to the Amparo Law. The new reform, she says, is to prevent abuse of the provision and ensure swift justice. On Friday, President Sheinbaum led the presentation of secondary reforms explaining that the initiative amending the Amparo Law seeks to end the excessive use of the legal form. Its clear that the right to protection is essential in this country. Citizens must have legal instruments that allow them to defend themselves against acts of authority. No one doubts that, the problem is the abuse of this provision. Sheinbaum explained that the virtue of the reform to the Judicial Branch is that it recognizes that in some instances, 20 years pass without justice after a company, for example, files various injunctions to avoid paying taxes or fails to comply with contracts agreed upon with the government. The company goes and files for protection. The government has to keep hiring them because the company cant be disqualified and disqualifying them can take years. So with an Amparo reform, let it instead take months to get a thorough resolution. Ernestina Godoy Ramos, legal council to the Federal Executive Branch, explained that the Senate has already received the proposal to harmonize secondary laws in connection with the reform of the Judiciary, which establishes deadlines for issuing rulings on tax and other criminal matters. In tax matters, courts must rule within a maximum of six months. In criminal matters, four months for offenses not exceeding two years in prison, or within one year for longer sentences, she explained. Ernestina Godoy Ramos speaks about the reform Friday during the Presidential press conference. This is the second package of reforms related to the constitutional change that seeks to guarantee swift justice. The reform will make Amparo trials more agile and simple with clear rules. Furthermore, it incorporates digital Amparo trials with full legal validity and practical effectiveness without replacing the procedure, she said Friday. This reform doesnt weaken the protection of human rights, it strengthens it. It maintains it as a shield for citizens, but no longer as a refuge for those seeking to avoid justice. Seeking protection to defend rights is justice. Seeking protection to conceal crimes is impunity, she explained. Godoy Ramos announced that the proposed amendments to laws already before the Senate include the National Code of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Law against Organized Crime and the Federal Law on Contentious Administrative Procedure. Suspect in violent robbery of Cancun home captured in Yucatan Cancun, Q.R. A suspect wanted in what police have called a violent robbery was located and arrested in Yucatan. Raul Alberto N is one of three men accused of breaking into a home, robbing it of its contents and holding the woman inside. The State Investigation Police (PEI) of the SSP in the state of Yucatan say Raul Alberto N was located in the town of Xelpac Friday. He was taken into custody after police were successful in obtaining a search warrant for his property due to an ongoing investigation between Yucatan and Quintana Roo authorities. Yucatan authorities arrested Raul Alberto N during a property search Friday. During a joint operation between state and federal forces carried out Friday in the municipality of Kanasin, a man involved in a violent home robbery and deprivation of liberty in the city of Cancun, Quintana Roo, was arrested, they reported. Army, Navy and National Guard personnel, along with members of the Ministry of Public Security and the State Attorney Generals Office (FGE) in collaboration with Quintana Roo authorities, executed a search warrant on a property in the town of Xelpac. His arrest stems from prior investigations conducted by the State Investigation Police (PEI) of the SSP and the Specialized Unit for Combating Kidnapping (UECS) of the FGE, into the events that occurred in Cancun on the 15th of this month with support of their counterparts in Quintana Roo. On September 15, three men broke into the home of a 33-year-old Venezuelan woman, threatening her with a firearm. They repeatedly beat her and tied her hands and feet, stealing various belongings, $1,500 in cash and bank cards which they forced her give them access. The Yucatan PEI says the suspect has been returned to Quintana Roo to face charges. The attackers also stole two vehicles, a Toyota and an Audi. The latter was located and seized Friday during a search of the aforementioned property in Xelpac, Kanasin. As part of the operation, a suspect, Raul Alberto N was arrested. He is accused of drug dealing in this state, Yucatan authorities reported. One of the womans stolen vehicles was recovered during the property search. Authorities in Yucatan say they have handed Raul Alberto N over to their counterparts in Quintana Roo to face charges. On the afternoon of September 19, 2025, the 2025 Award Ceremony and the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education was held in Beijing. Wife of President Xi Jinping and UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls' and Women's Education Peng Liyuan attended and addressed the event together with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Peng Liyuan said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education. Over the past ten years, award winners from all over the world and visionary people from all walks of life have helped girls and women adapt to social development and changes and achieve personal growth through education. The concept of empowering women through education is increasingly gaining deeper recognition, enabling millions of girls and women to gain the confidence and ability to choose their lives and pursue their dreams. This is precisely the significance of the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education. Human society is now entering the intelligence era. In this process, it is essential to place greater emphasis on science education for women, helping more women acquire scientific knowledge, learn to apply new technologies and enhance their innovation capabilities, and strive to ensure that women can embrace the technological revolution and create wonderful lives. China has always attached great importance to the development of science education for women and looks forward to continuously deepening cooperation with UNESCO and other relevant parties to comprehensively strengthen the capacity building of science education for women and jointly improve the level of science education for women. In her speech, Audrey Azoulay expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for its valuable support to UNESCO over the years, and highly commended Peng Liyuan's outstanding contributions to the development of the global cause of girls' and women's education. She said that UNESCO is willing to continue deepening exchanges and cooperation with China to promote more fruitful results in girls' and women's education around the world. At the award ceremony, Peng Liyuan and Audrey Azoulay jointly presented awards to the representatives of the prize-winning projects from Kenya and Lebanon. Representatives of the prize-winning projects and Chinese female scientists delivered speeches respectively. Before the award ceremony, Peng Liyuan met with Audrey Azoulay, and both sides exchanged views on promoting the development of the global cause of girls' and women's education. After the meeting, Peng Liyuan and Audrey Azoulay took a group photo with representatives of the prize-winning projects in the decade and visited the photo exhibition showcasing the winning projects for the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education. About 300 people, including representatives of UN agencies in Beijing, diplomatic envoys of relevant countries in China, representatives of Chinese and foreign teachers and students, and representatives from the education sector, attended the event. Since China and UNESCO jointly established the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education in 2015, 20 projects from 19 countries have won this award. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, I thought Wendy and I would be best friends for life. We were roommates in college, shared a crappy apartment after graduation, and I was in her bridal party. When she got pregnant, I thought I was going to be an honorary aunt. I organized her baby shower, helped set up the nursery, and established a meal train after the baby was born. And then Wendy straight-up disappeared from my lifethat is, until she needed something. My texts went unreturned, offers to meet up were ignored or canceled at last minute. When the baby was 13 months old, her husband got a transfer to another city and lo and behold, suddenly Wendy was back in my life. I got boxes, helped with the packing, and supervised the movers while Wendy took care of the baby. I used vacation time to help out here. Wendy claimed she would forever be grateful to me. Then it was radio silence again. Her city is halfway to where my grandparents live so we made plans to meet up. Only Wendy refused to confirm with me, so I decided to drop by and say hithats when things got extremely weird. We had coffee and Wendy claimed to be just very tired but hugged me good bye and said stay in touch. A week later, she sent me an awful text where she accused me of stomping on her boundaries, not respecting her space, and claimed that I was basically a stalker. She then blocked my number. Hurt doesnt even cover what I felt. It threw me for a serious loop where I was examining every interaction I had with everyone I knew. So after all this, imagine my shock four years later when, at a mutual friends wedding, Wendy comes up and hugs me! She acted like we just accidentally fell out of touch. I figured she was just pretending to save face, but in the next few days, she followed me on social media and invited me to meet up since they have moved back to my area. I havent responded. Confused in Colorado Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Confused, Wendy is either a mean and unpredictable person or a person who was marinating in postpartum hormones and not behaving like herself for a year and has only blurry memories of that time. To find out which one it is, youll have to spend some time with her. Do you miss her enough to investigate? Was she a best friend because you really liked her and were compatible with her (as opposed to because youve known her forever)? Did you trust and admire her? Doesnt it still feel like theres a hole in your life? If so, its definitely worth accepting her invitation to get together. If things are going well, wait until it feels right, and then say, So I know it was a few years ago and you had so much going on with the baby and the move, but Im still kind of trying to understand what you meant when you texted me and said I wasnt respecting your boundaries and you needed space. I was so confused at the time, and Ive thought about it a lot, but Ive always really wanted to know what happened from your point of view. Maybe shell identify something you did and you can talk it out. Or maybe shell say Oh my god, that whole period is a blur, but I know I had a lot of rage and lashed out at so many people. Im really sorry! Regardless youll, leave the interaction less confused and hopefully with a friendship that feels like its back on track. Advertisement 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 Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit Dear Prudence, My fiance and I recently got engaged and we will be getting married next June. When my sister Leanne found out, she was furious and demanded that we change the date. The reason? Her daughter Violet will be graduating from high school in June. Leanne insists that the timing will force relatives to choose between attending my wedding and Violets graduation and that it would be cruel to deprive my niece of the support she deserves. Advertisement We had no choice in terms of the date for our wedding. The date we ended up with for June was the only one available for the venue we wanted for that month. And the day of our wedding falls nearly two weeks before Violets graduation ceremony! Leanne has since gone whining to our mother who is now giving me shit for supposedly trying to steal the spotlight from my niece. There is no way to change the date, as the venue is a popular one and now is booked for the rest of 2026. I really dont want to deal with this bullshit for the next nine months. My Sister Is an Entitled Bitch Advertisement Dear Entitled, This makes me miss 2020 when we did everything on Zoom. Everyone could have attended both events. And you wouldnt have had to be around your sister. Advertisement Advertisement I will say, if you have the kind of family in which graduations are a really big deal and people typically travel from long distances to attend them (and no one has unlimited money or time off work), it would have been thoughtful to pick a time a little bit further from graduation season to get married. Thats if you knew all of your relatives would be flying out to see Violet graduate as long as they didnt have a conflict. And that a wedding within two weeks would create one. But, if you have the kind of family in which only immediate family and maybe people who live within driving distance attend graduations, you couldnt have been expected to anticipate this backlash. Advertisement Either way, as you said, your wedding date is set and theres not much you can do to change the way Leanne feels about it. But put it in perspective, though: Shes just whining to your mother, not staging a protest where she beats drums and waves signs outside your home. Theres no indication that shes antagonizing you over this. She just doesnt like the situation. Maybe theres something else informing the way she feels, like a concern that Violet has had a tough time in high school and needs all the support she can get from her family. Or maybe shes nervous about Violet leaving for college and was hoping to be surrounded by loved ones who would provide a distraction to make the graduation day feel less fraught. Maybe she feels like youve been stealing her big moments for your whole lives. Who knows! Consider calling her up to talk about it again, with the goal of understanding better and asking about whether theres anything other than changing your wedding date you can do to make things easier. Itll be worth it to extend yourself, if theres any way to avoid a lasting rupture with her and your niece, Advertisement Advertisement Whether or not you decide to clear the air with her, this situationsomeone being displeased with a choice youve madeis part of planning a wedding. Too often, a big part. So the conflict is a good reminder to create a plan to deal with this bullshit, whether it takes the form of battles over the guest list, whether children will be invited, or an allegation that you stole your second cousins first dance song. To start, remind yourself that nobody has ever had a wedding that made every single one of their loved ones happy. Dear Prudence, I am newly married and we are trying for a baby. Its honestly a lot of fun and Im excited for what is to come, whenever it (hopefully) does happen. Heres my issue. I never drank much. Honestly, I tend to only drink a drink, maybe two, around holidays, company happy hours, and on occasion at dinner. But now that I am newly married, Im dealing with an odd issue. Because of my drinking habits, people keep asking me if I am pregnant! Im not, but eventually I hopefully will be. This is obviously not something I plan on announcing until well into the pregnancy though (especially to co-workers!). So what on earth do I do to shut people down without inviting even more questions? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive said things like Im not a big drinker. Ive said I have a headache. Ive said I just am not in the mood, and gotten an eyebrow raise, eyes right at my stomach, and outright questions if I am pregnant. Its bewildering to me! Family, I dont mind, I just laugh and remind them Ill tell them when I have news. Friends are also pretty easy to shut down. But my co-workers? Gah! I have never been a drinker, yet, now that Im married its like everyone is a mini-FBI agent trying to sniff me out. Its making me wonder what the heck people do to cover this up! I mean good god, how do I get people to mind their own business? Ill Tell You When Im Ready Advertisement Dear When Im Ready, Try something like this: Nope, not pregnant. But when I am, Im not going to want to share the news by responding to questions at a bar. Hopefully when the time comes, Ill have a chance to announce it on my terms without people putting me on the spot! If they push, your response could intensify a bit. For example: Advertisement Advertisement Colleague: Im going to be the first one to know. Im guessing youll be pregnant by Spring. You: OK, time to talk about whats going on with someone elses body! How is your digestion these days? Catch up on this weeks Prudie. More Advice From Slate y sister Simone lives abroad and has for almost five years. She has been in a relationship with Jay for almost three years, but we only met him last fall. Jay is a public figure, and for career reasons, he must be perceived as being single. He is under a tremendous amount of scrutiny, and from what I understand, Simone has signed several NDAs. Jays employers only recently allowed her to disclose his identity to us. Simone adores Jay, and Jay seems to love her right back. I get the impression its been very difficult to keep him a secret from our parents, other sisters, and me. At the same time, shes terrified someone from our family will accidentally disclose Jays identity and ruin everything. The Down East faithful will transition from Farmington to the 153rd annual Cumberland Fair on Sunday, Sept. 21 with eight harness races programmed at the iconic Southern Maine oval. Many of Maines rural fairs are known for their tractor pulls and draft horse demonstrations, however the Cumberland fair was first held in 1868 with harness racing as the Maine attraction. It remains one of the biggest annual agricultural events in the southern part of the Pine Tree state. The Standardbred horse racing at the Cumberland Fairgrounds will start at 2 p.m. on opening day, Sunday (Sept. 21) with full cards scheduled for eight racing dates through Sunday, Sept. 28. Post time is slated for 1 p.m. for the Monday through Thursday (Sept. 22-25) programs, and drops backs to 12 p.m. for the remaining weekend dates of Friday through Sunday (Sept. 26-28). The featured races for the opening day card are the first legs of the Zipper pop-up series, which include three $4,500 USD divisions of the conditioned pacing events with the $7,500 USD series final being held on Sunday, Sept. 28. Mondays program of 10 races includes more Pop Ups with two $5,000 USD divisions of the Merry Go Round Pacing Series, as well as a pair of $5,000 USD Tilt-A-Whirl Trotting Series splits. Both series enjoy $8,000 finals on Friday, Sept. 26. Always a highlight of the Always in September Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with three-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 24), and then roll into the three-year-old male pacers on Thursday, Sept. 25, with the three-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday, Sept. 26. Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 USD Maine Sire Stakes two-year-old finals on Saturday, Sept. 27, with two freshmen pacers, Massive Speed and Snowonthepines, putting their unblemished records on the line in their respective showdowns. After the fair, the tracks 18-day Winter Festival begins Nov. 2 and then follows a two-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November. The month of December picks up Fridays for three-day weekends of racing through Dec. 21. The track's annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 20. (with files from Cumberland Fair) 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: Workers walk between solar panels at a newly opened industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Anmar Khalil Iraq is set to open the country's first industrial-scale solar plant Sunday in a vast expanse of desert in Karbala province, southwest of Baghdad. It's part of a new push by the government to expand renewable energy production in a country that is frequently beset by electricity crises despite being rich in oil and gas. "This is the first project of its type in Iraq that has this capacity," said Safaa Hussein, executive director of the new solar plant in Karbala, standing in front of row after row of black panels. From above, the project looks like a black-clad city surrounded by sand. The plant aims to "supply the national network with electricity, and reduce the fuel consumption especially during the daytime peak load, in addition to reducing the negative environmental impact of gas emissions," he said. The newly opened solar plant in Karbala will eventually be able to produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity at its peak, said Nasser Karim al-Sudani, head of the national team for solar energy projects in the Prime Minister's Office. Another project under construction in Babil province will have a capacity of 225 megawatts, and work will also begin soon on a 1,000 megawatt project in the southern province of Basra, he said. Workers install panels at a newly opened industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Anmar Khalil The projects are part of an ambitious plan to implement large-scale solar power projects in an effort to ease the country's chronic electricity shortages. Deputy Minister of Electricity Adel Karim said Iraq has solar projects with a combined capacity of 12,500 megawatts either being implemented, in the approval process, or under negotiation. If fully realized, these projects would supply between 15% and 20% of Iraq's total electricity demand, excluding the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, he said. "All the companies we have contracted with, or are still negotiating with, will sell us electricity at very attractive prices, and we will in turn sell it to consumers," Karim said, although he declined to disclose the purchase rates. Despite its oil and gas wealth, Iraq has suffered from decades of electricity shortages because of war, corruption and mismanagement. Power outages are common, especially in the scorching summer months. Many Iraqis have to rely on diesel generators or suffer through temperatures that exceed 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) without air conditioning. This aerial photo shows panels at a newly opened industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Anmar Khalil This aerial photo shows panels at a newly opened industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Anmar Khalil Workers walk between solar panels at a newly opened industrial-scale solar power plant in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Anmar Khalil Currently, Iraq produces between 27,000 and 28,000 megawatts of electricity, Karim said, while nationwide consumption ranges from 50,000 to 55,000 megawatts. Power plants fueled by Iranian gas contribute about 8,000 megawatts of the current supply. Iraq's heavy reliance on imported Iranian gas, as well as electricity imported directly from Iran to meet its electricity needs, is an arrangement that risks running afoul of U.S. sanctions. Earlier this year, Washington ended a sanctions waiver for direct electricity purchases from Iran but left the waiver for gas imports in place. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The White House said the $100,000 fee would be one-time, not annually as Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick claimed a day earlier. The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry, saying a $100,000 fee will be a "one-time" payment imposed only on new applicants. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in announcing the major fee increase on Friday, said it would be paid annually, and would apply to people seeking a new visa as well as renewals. But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification on Saturday, hours before the new policy was to go into effect. "This is NOT an annual fee. It's a one-time fee that applies... only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders," she said in a social media post. The executive order, which is likely to face legal challenges, comes into force Sunday at 12:01 am US Eastern time (0401 GMT), or 9:01 pm Saturday on the Pacific Coast. Prior to the White House's clarification, US companies were scrambling to figure out the implications for their foreign workers, with several reportedly warning their employees not to leave the country. Some people who were already on planes preparing to leave the country on Friday deboarded over fears they may not be allowed to re-enter the United States, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. "Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter," Leavitt said. "H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would," she added. H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills - such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmersto work in the United States, initially for three years but extendable to six. Such visas are widely used by the tech industry. Indian nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the permits allotted via lottery system each year. The United States approved approximately 400,000 H-1B visas in 2024, two-thirds of which were renewals. India, US business concerns US President Donald Trump announced the change in Washington on Friday, arguing it would support American workers. The H-1B program "has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor," the executive order said. Trump also introduced a $1 million "gold card" residency program he had previewed months earlier. "The main thing is, we're going to have great people coming in, and they're going to be paying," Trump told reporters as he signed the orders in the Oval Office. Lutnick, who joined Trump in the Oval Office, said multiple times that the fee would be applied annually. "The company needs to decide... is the person valuable enough to have $100,000 a year payment to the government? Or they should head home and they should go hire an American," he told reporters. Though he claimed that "all the big companies are on board," many businesses were left confused about the details of the H-1B order. US bank JPMorgan confirmed that a memo had been sent to its employees with H-1B visas advising them to remain in the United States and avoid international travel until further guidance was issued. Tech entrepreneursincluding Trump's former ally Elon Muskhave warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying that the United States does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies. India's foreign ministry said the mobility of skilled talent had contributed to "innovation" and "wealth creation" in both countries and that it would assess the changes. It said in a statement the new measure would likely have "humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families," which it hoped would be addressed by US authorities. 2025 AFP An Iran-nexus cyber espionage group known as UNC1549 has been attributed to a new campaign targeting European telecommunications companies, successfully infiltrating 34 devices across 11 organizations as part of a recruitment-themed activity on LinkedIn. Swiss cybersecurity company PRODAFT is tracking the cluster under the name Subtle Snail. It's assessed to be affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The targeted 11 companies are located in Canada, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. "The group operates by posing as HR representatives from legitimate entities to engage employees, then compromises them through deployment of a MINIBIKE backdoor variant that communicates with command-and-control (C2) infrastructure proxied through Azure cloud services to bypass detection," the company said in a report shared with The Hacker News. UNC1549 (aka TA455), believed to be active since at least June 2022, shares overlaps with two other Iranian hacking groups known as Smoke Sandstorm and Crimson Sandstorm (aka Imperial Kitten, TA456, Tortoiseshell, and Yellow Liderc). The threat actor was first documented by Google-owned Mandiant in February 2024. The use of job-themed lures by UNC1549 was subsequently detailed by Israeli cybersecurity company ClearSky, which highlighted the adversary's targeting of the aerospace industry as far back as September 2023 to deliver malware families such as SnailResin and SlugResin. "The group's primary motivation involves infiltrating telecommunications entities while maintaining interest in aerospace and defense organizations to establish long-term persistence and exfiltrate sensitive data for strategic espionage purposes," PRODAFT said. Attacks chains involve extensive reconnaissance on platforms like LinkedIn to identify key personnel within target organizations, specifically focusing on researchers, developers, and IT administrators with elevated access to critical systems and developer environments. In the next phase, the threat actors have been observed sending spear-phishing emails to validate the email addresses and collect additional information before enacting the crucial part of the operation the fake recruitment drive. To accomplish this, the attackers set up convincing HR account profiles on LinkedIn and reach out to prospective targets with non-existent job opportunities, gradually building trust and credibility to increase the likelihood of success of the scheme. The campaign is characterized by the meticulous efforts of Subtle Snail operators to tailor the attack for each victim. Should the victim express interest in the offer, they are subsequently contacted via email to schedule a time for an interview by clicking on a fraudulent domain that mimics companies like Telespazio or Safran Group. Entering the necessary information automatically triggers the download of a ZIP archive. Present within the ZIP file is an executable that, once launched, uses DLL side-loading to launch a malicious DLL named MINIBIKE (aka SlugResin), which then gathers system information and awaits additional payloads in the form of Microsoft Visual C/C++ DLLs to conduct reconnaissance, log keystrokes and clipboard content, steal Microsoft Outlook credentials, collect web browser data from Google Chrome, Brave, and Microsoft Edge, and take screenshots. The web browser stealer, in particular, incorporates a publicly available tool called Chrome-App-Bound-Encryption-Decryption to bypass app-bound encryption protections rolled out by Google in order to decrypt and steal passwords stored in the browser. "The Subtle Snail team builds and deploys a victim-specific and unique DLL to the machine each time, even for collecting network configuration information from devices," PRODAFT noted. "The malicious DLL files used by the threat actor exhibit similar characteristics in the export section." "Legitimate DLL files are modified to facilitate a seamless execution of a DLL side-loading attack, where function names are substituted with direct string variables. This tactic allows the attacker to bypass typical detection mechanisms by manipulating the DLL's export table, making it appear as a legitimate file while carrying out malicious activities." MINIBIKE is a fully-featured, modular backdoor with support for 12 distinct commands to facilitate C2 communication, allowing it to enumerate files and directories, list running processes and terminate specific ones, upload files in chunks, as well as run exe, DLL, BAT, or CMD payloads. Besides blending its C2 traffic with regular cloud communications by using legitimate Azure cloud services and Virtual Private Servers (VPSes) as proxy infrastructure, the malware makes Windows Registry modifications such that it's automatically loaded after system startup. It also features anti-debugging and anti-sandbox techniques to hinder analysis, and uses methods like Control Flow Flattening and custom hashing algorithms to resolve Windows API functions at runtime in an effort to resist reverse engineering and make it difficult to understand its overall functionality. "Subtle Snail's operations cause serious damage by combining intelligence gathering with long-term access to critical telecommunications networks," PRODAFT said. "They do not just infect devices; they actively search for sensitive data and ways to keep their access alive." "They use predefined paths to guide their searches and focus on stealing emails, VPN configurations, and other information that helps them maintain control. They also hunt for confidential files stored in shared folders, which can expose business secrets and personal data." MuddyWater's Diversified Toolkit Exposed The disclosure comes as Group-IB shed light on the infrastructure and malware toolset of another Iranian state-sponsored hacking group known as MuddyWater, which has "significantly" reduced its reliance on Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools in favor of bespoke backdoors and tools like - BugSleep (First seen in May 2024), a Python-based backdoor designed to execute commands and facilitate file transfers (First seen in May 2024), a Python-based backdoor designed to execute commands and facilitate file transfers LiteInject (First seen in February 2025), a portable executable injector (First seen in February 2025), a portable executable injector StealthCache (First seen in March 2025), a feature-rich backdoor with capabilities to read/write files, terminate or restart itself, scan for security processes, and steal credential and files (First seen in March 2025), a feature-rich backdoor with capabilities to read/write files, terminate or restart itself, scan for security processes, and steal credential and files Fooder (First seen in March 2025), a loader capable of loading, decrypting, and running an encrypted payload in memory (First seen in March 2025), a loader capable of loading, decrypting, and running an encrypted payload in memory Phoenix (First seen in April 2025), a malware that's used to deploy a stripped-down variant of BugSleep (First seen in April 2025), a malware that's used to deploy a stripped-down variant of BugSleep CannonRat , a malicious tool designed for remote control of compromised systems , a malicious tool designed for remote control of compromised systems UDPGangster, a basic backdoor that communicates with its C2 server over the UDP protocol MuddyWater, active since 2017, is assessed to be a subordinate element within Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Also tracked as Boggy Serpens, Mango Sandstorm, and TA450, the threat actor has a history of targeting telecom, government, energy, defense, and critical infrastructure entities in the Middle East, with a newfound spike in attacks targeting Europe and the United States. "Recent activity shows that they still rely on phishing for delivery, leveraging maldocs with malicious macros for infection. Infrastructure analysis has revealed active use of Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting malicious assets, and Cloudflare services have been leveraged to hide infrastructure fingerprints and impede analysis," Group-IB researcher Mansour Alhmoud said. "MuddyWater's persistent campaigns underscore its role in supporting Iranian intelligence requirements while maintaining plausible deniability for state-directed cyber operations against both regional competitors and Western targets." Subtle Snail and Nimbus Manticore Share Tactical Overlaps In a follow-up analysis published on September 22, 2025, Check Point said the threat actor it tracks as Nimbus Manticore which overlaps with Smoke Sandstorm, UNC1549, and the Iranian version of the Dream Job operations has targeted defense manufacturing, telecommunications, and aviation sectors, with a heightened focus on Denmark, Sweden, and Portugal. The attacks, which employ the same infection mechanism as detailed above by PRODAFT, lead to the deployment of an updated version of MINIBIKE called MiniJunk and a stealer codenamed MiniBrowse. MiniJunk supports capabilities to collect system information, perform file operations, load DLLs, and enumerate files in a folder. MiniBrowse is the name assigned to a lightweight information stealer that comes in two flavors, each of which targets Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge to steal credentials. What's notable here is that the MINIBIKE version used by Subtle Snail not only implements a different set of commands but also lacks evasion or obfuscation techniques associated with MiniJunk. "The tools continuously evolve to remain covert, leveraging valid digital signatures, inflate binary sizes, and use multi-stage sideloading and heavy, compilerlevel obfuscation that renders samples 'irreversible' for regular advanced static analysis," Check Point said. The cybersecurity company also said it's tracking Subtle Snail as a "separate cluster of activity" that, while broadly aligning with those detected in Nimbus Manticore operations, is distinguished by its unique malware capabilities, C2 infrastructure, and targeting preferences. When reached for comment, PRODAFT told The Hacker News that conclusive attribution tying these two activities to a single cluster or a unified group, or determining whether they should be treated as a sub-group, is "difficult." But it emphasized the overlaps, suggesting that these campaigns share very similar objectives. "From our perspective, there appears to be a malware development team (or a company) supporting multiple Iran-linked threat clusters by providing the necessary tooling and infrastructure," the company said. (The story was updated after publication on September 22, 2025, with insights from Check Point.) Estonia summons Russian envoy over "airspace violation," Moscow denies breach Xinhua) 10:08, September 20, 2025 MiG-31 fighters fly in formation during the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires on Friday to protest what it said was an "airspace violation" by three Russian fighter jets, an allegation Moscow flatly denied. TALLINN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires on Friday to protest what it said was an "airspace violation" by three Russian fighter jets, an allegation Moscow flatly denied. The Estonian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland, where three Russian Federation MIG-31 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes." Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Tallinn would seek NATO consultations under Article 4 in response to what she called Russia's provocations. Article 4 allows any NATO member to call for discussions when it perceives a threat to its territorial integrity or security. Russia's Defense Ministry rejected the accusation, saying the aircraft were on a planned flight that "was carried out in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring." (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) 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. New York, US (PANA) - The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution allowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address next weeks high-level debate by pre-recorded video after the United States refused to issue visas for Palestines delegation Tucson Symphony Orchestra will introduce a new concertmaster and associate concertmaster when it opens its 2025-26 season on Sept. 26. They are among nine new musicians joining the TSO this season to fill retirements and resignations, including that of horn player/oboist Michael Johnson, who left to join the military; and former Concertmaster Lauren Roth, who is now Atlanta Symphonys associate concertmaster, said TSO President and CEO Paul Meecham. Its exciting always to see new faces, said TSO Music Director Jose Luis Gomez. Its a wonderful kind of synergy that we have in the musical world, internationally, because we are constantly meeting new people, new orchestras, and having the opportunity to get new talent and different talent. Its a really exciting moment for the Tucson Symphony. Fall arts in Tucson Plan your entertainment schedules with our ultimate guide to concerts, theater, dance and more arts events coming to Tucson this fall and in the holiday season. Venezuela-born Jesus Linarez, who is wrapping up a fellowship with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, took Roths seat, while Tucson native Ludek Wojtkowski, who served several years as concertmaster with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in Alaska, won the associate concertmaster seat that has been vacant since Michelle Abraham Kantor left at the end of the 2024 season. Kantor moved to Australia with her husband, violinist and educator Tim Kantor, after he landed a job with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Meecham said a dozen violinists auditioned for the concertmaster position before the orchestra tapped Linarez, a product of Venezuelas El Sistema, the same youth music program that trained Venezuela native Gomez. After the candidates participated in in-person blind auditions in Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, Gomez said the selection committee was unanimous in tapping Linarez. Jesuss performance was impeccable, Gomez said. Not only could you tell that he was very well prepared, but also the musicianship and the command of the instrument and the musicality of the pieces that he played. The auditions, which took place in late April, included the candidates performing concertos, solos and excerpts from orchestra pieces. Linarez, who started playing violin when he was around 7 or 8 years old, came to the U.S. in 2018 for college. He studied violin under Almita Vamos at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he earned his bachelors and masters degrees. Linarez, whose resume includes serving as concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, learned of the Tucson opening from fellow Venezuela native TSO principal horn Nelson Ricardo Yovera Perez. Linarez and Perez, who is on sabbatical this year, played together in the National Youth Symphony. Other orchestra newcomers include: Violinist Christine Binzel, a native of Lexington, Massachusetts, who has spent the past several years with Texas ensembles. Cellist Colin Lambert, who has been a sub with the orchestra since 2022 and plays with the Arizona Opera Orchestra. Kody Thiessen, assistant principal bass, who served two years as principal bass with the Santa Rosa Symphony in California. Jasper Igusa replaced Johnson on oboe and English horn. He appeared with the TSO in eight concerts in 2024-25 while finishing up his final year at New Yorks Mannes School. Clarinetist Melissa Frisch, whose resume includes stops as principal clarinet with the Sarasota (Florida) Opera Orchestra and second seat with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, replaced longtime TSO second clarinet Andrew Braden, who retired after 40 years. Spanish trumpeter Ismael Canizares Ortega, also a product of Roosevelt University, is acting principal trumpet, replacing Hayato Tanaka, who is taking a sabbatical. Tanaka won an audition for second/assistant principal trumpet with the Phoenix Symphony. Seattle native Conrad Smith, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, rounds out the trumpet section. The new musicians will make their debuts when the orchestra opens its regular season on Sept. 26 with piano soloist Olga Kern at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. For tickets and more information, visit tucsonsymphony.org. Landing at TSO is homecoming for violinist Tucson native Ludek Wojtkowski admits he might have been a little homesick when he found out his hometown orchestra was looking for an associate concertmaster. Aside from a few sporadic visits, he hadnt really been home much in the 15 or so years since he graduated from high school and left for Cleveland Institute of Music. I thought to myself, this is not an audition that opens very frequently, and I should just give it a shot, you know, he said earlier this month as he was still unpacking and settling into his new Tucson life. Whats the worst that can happen? They say no, and I just keep doing my life, you know? But they offered me the second chair position and I was very honored. The Tucson that greeted 33-year-old Wojtkowski was nothing like the town he left when he was in his late teens. It has changed quite a bit. It seems like theres a lot more people living here and the citys developing ... in a very exciting way, he said. It just seems like a very happening town ... and it seems theres a booming artistic scene. Wojtkowski comes here with a resume of experience, including performing with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida, with renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, after earning a graduate degree from Yale University. He also spent a couple of years as a cruise ship musician, traveling to Iceland, Greenland, South America, the Caribbean and all kinds of places I would never have seen otherwise until the COVID-19 pandemic grounded cruise ships and sidelined musicians. He ended up in Anchorage, Alaska, where he joined the symphony and enrolled in the University of Alaska to study electrical engineering on the advice of his father, retired University of Arizona math professor Maciej P. Wojtkowski. In 2022, while he was finishing up his degree, Wojtkowski was named concertmaster, a role he seemed to cherish. The Anchorage Symphony has a long and proud history, he said. When I moved to Anchorage, I didnt even know there was a symphony. And I came to the performance hall and I was like, wow, this is a beautiful hall. Being able to play there and experience that amidst this expanse of just wildness and intrigue ... I felt very privileged. And I thought it really kind of changed my playing. Wojtkowski can thank the Anchorage music community for the violin youll see him playing with the TSO. The community chipped in and raised about $10,000 after Wojtkowskis violin burst at the seams during the orchestras Champagne Pops concert in January 2024. The concert, with a rotating theme, was focused on country music, and Wojtkowski had the famous solo in Charlie Daniels monstrously famous fiddle-fest Devil Went Down to Georgia. On the last note of Devil Went Down to Georgia, the ferrule of my bow clipped the top plate of my violin and just smashed it, Wojtkowski recalled. I mean, the violin literally exploded in my hands, which was traumatic and tragic. Nothing like that had ever happened to me before. The community launched a GoFundMe campaign and raised $10,000, which Wojtkowski spent on a Flemish violin he found in Paris. The majority of the original body is from circa 1690 based on traits and materials used, he said. The top plate is likely from around 1750 and is probably German. Stony Point Police Department officers arrested a Fieldstone Middle School student following a months-long sextortion investigation. The probe reportedly began in February this year, and was the result of victims at the aforementioned middle school reporting online coercion to their school administrators and resource officer. Student Arrested for Sextortion While six victims have come forward to talk about their experiences, authorities believe that the sextortion scheme affected potentially "several hundred additional victims." The middle school student in question was arrested and charged with the use of a child in a sexual performance, promoting a sexual performance by a child, and possessing a sexual performance by a child. Despite the arrest, the identities of the arrested student and the six victims who have come forward have not been released to the public. Additionally, authorities did not share the approximate number of victims related to the sextortion scheme, according to Fox5NY. Sextortion is described as when an individual coerces a person(s) into sharing explicit photos or videos and then demands money or sexual acts by threatening the victim that they would release the material to the public. The middle school student who was arrested in relation to the crime was originally arrested in June, but the charges against him were not filed until last week. Det. Andrew Kryger of the Stony Point Police Department said that a lot of these types of cases end up out of the state and country. The latest case involves male students who were led to believe that they were exchanging photos with a female on social media. However, they were actually talking to a male student who demanded money from them by threatening to make their material public, ABC News reported. Hundreds of Potential Victims Police authorities emphasized that sextortion is not only a local issue, but is a worldwide problem that is fueled by social media. The department said in a press release that many parents are usually unaware of the extent of the dangers of this type of crime. Officials said it is important to have community support and open dialogue between parents and children. The student who committed the crime was out of the country at the time he was identified by police. Officials said that the case also highlights the serious dangers that children face online. They praised the bravery of the students who came forward to report the incident they experienced. Authorities added that the crime is "extremely serious" and involves the victimization of students within the community. It comes as there are about 1,300 students who attend Fieldstone, a regional middle school, as per the New York Post. Why is your open source project still hosted on GitHub? Published on . Perhaps the younger generation don't know anything about the past "evils" of Microsoft and naively believe that Microsoft is now the good friend to open source, but the truth is that all Microsoft acquisitions of open source projects is a business tactic that is put in place to improve Microsoft's loosing position to open source. It is a matter of control. And you should not host your open source project on GitHub. I have previously written that important open source projects should not use GitHub, and it is even more important today! GitHub is a proprietary platform. It limits user control compared to self-hosted or open source alternatives and it uses a centralized model, which generally goes against the decentralized mindset of open source collaboration. Features like GitHub Actions, Copilot, and Codespaces also creates vendor lock-in. GitHub tracks user behavior through telemetry data, including all interactions on the platform and GitHub Copilot uses the publicly available source code to train its AI. Development on GitHub has moved away from the decentralized nature of Git and has instead put focus on how to drive engagement, basically turning it into yet another social media platform. Rather than promoting quality software, it has become a matter of "stars" and "likes". GitHub's decision-making processes regarding policy changes and feature implementations has no regard for users and it can change at any time. GitHub is NOT free. Your personal information, your source code, the data of your usage of their products and service, etc., is the price. Ties to US Government departments GitHub has complied with government requests for takedowns and has blocked users in certain countries due to U.S. trade sanctions. On September 14, 2019, Microsoft's flagship store was shut down by protestors as part of a direct action organized by Close the Camps NYC. The action was in response to Microsoft's $19.4 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Microsoft's relationship with the immigration enforcement agency was revealed by executive Tom Keane, through a company blog post that describes ICE's use of the company's high-security cloud storage product Azure Government. He went on to say the company is "proud to support" the work of ICE. Microsoft has stated it "is not working with the U.S. government on any projects related to separating children from their families at the border." In February 2019, some of Microsoft's employees protested the company's war profiteering from a $480 million contract to develop augmented reality headsets for the United States Army. Microsoft provides Israel with the technology used to uphold Israeli apartheid and commit genocide in Gaza As revealed by the Associated Press (AP) and +972 Magazine, Microsoft has a "footprint in all major military infrastructures" in Israel, and Microsoft Azure cloud services specifically power sensitive and highly classified workloads that no other cloud company deals with. Microsoft not only provides email and file management systems, but also technology for combat and intelligence activities. The digital infrastructure and military technologies provided by Microsoft are just as essential to the maintenance of Israel's apartheid state and the execution of its genocide in Gaza as physical walls and munitions. The Israeli military has utilized Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform and AI services during the Gaza war to identify targets. The Israeli Ministry of Defense is Microsoft's second largest military customer. This relationship has led to protests within the company. In response, Microsoft employees founded the "No Azure for Apartheid" campaign to advocate for the company to cut ties with Israel. The group is a part of the larger No Tech for Apartheid movement. In October 2024, Microsoft fired two employees who organized an unauthorized vigil at its Redmond headquarters to honor Palestinians killed in the Gaza war. The employees, part of the group "No Azure for Apartheid," sought to address the company's involvement in the Israeli government's use of its technology. How to proceed Consider open source self-hosting solutions, such as Forgejo or sourcehut. Projects like the non-profit German based Codeberg, is running on Forgejo. There is also sourcehut, which is running on the open source application of the same name. Further reading HA NOI Ha Nois total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue reached VN615.7 trillion (US$23.3 billion) in the first eight months of 2025, up 12.6 per cent year-on-year, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance. Retail sales accounted for the largest share at VN387.9 trillion, up 12.2 per cent. Revenue from accommodation and restaurant services totalled VN85.2 trillion, making up 13.8 per cent and rising 16.1 per cent. Tourism earnings stood at VN22.1 trillion , representing 3.6 per cent and surging 21.4 per cent. Other services generated VN120.5 trillion, accounting for 19.6 per cent and increasing 10.2 per cent. In August alone, total retail sales and consumer service revenue hit VN81.6 trillion, up 4.8 per cent from July and 13.4 per cent year-on-year. The NSO said that a wide range of activities marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2) gave a strong boost to demand for goods, services, and tourism. Shopping malls and supermarkets launched extensive promotions while multi-channel retailing combining online advertising with discounts helped businesses connect with customers and stimulate consumption. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, communications director of Central Retail Vietnam, said the company has actively joined Ha Nois consumption stimulation programmes. Its retail system, including GO!, Tops Market, Big C, go!, and Nguyen Kim, offers discounts of up to 50 per cent for thounsands of items. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, director of Co.op Mart Ha Noi, noted that the year-end season is always a golden period for trade and consumption, adding that enterprises are focusing resources on boosting sales through promotions and product marketing campaigns. Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen The Hiep said the domestic market is expected to remain buoyant in September, which coincides with the back-to-school season, driving demand for clothing, textbooks, and school supplies. Measures to boost consumption To stimulate domestic demand, Ha Noi has rolled out a concentrated promotion programme featuring a wide range of activities for consumers. Nguyen Tuan Anh, deputy director of the Hanoi Centre for Industrial Promotion and Development Consultancy, said peak promotional activities activities began in July and will continue in November 2025, with 1,0002,000 enterprises and retail outlets participating in. Discounts and promotions of up to 50 per cent are being offered to boost sales. Hiep added that the municipal Department of Industry and Trade is helping businesses put their products on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Lazada. These efforts aim to change consumer habits, promote digital consumption, and accelerate e-commerce. Highlight activities include Touch Technology, Live Smart, a digital transformation space where consumers can experience cashless shopping, online flash sales and AI-powered applications. The Hanoi Midnight Sale 2025 is slated for November 28, coinciding with global Black Friday activities, while the Brand Promotion Day will be held in collaboration with businesses at a high-end venue to attract consumers and tourists. The official said domestic consumption is one of the three main growth drivers. Given this, it is necessary to continue fostering the domestic purchasing power through appropriate policies. With diverse activities, Ha Noi is striving for a 14 per cent increase in retail sales and consumer service revenue, helping to realise the GRDP growth target of at least 8 per cent this year. VNA/VNS HAI PHONG The 10th Congress of the Vietnam Seaports Association (VPA) for the 202530 tenure was held in Hai Phong City on September 18, setting priorities for the development of modern and sustainable seaports driven by technology and digital transformation to strengthen competitiveness and contribute to national economic growth. The congress emphasised the building of logistics hubs, smart and green ports, multimodal connectivity, as well as free trade zones and innovation centres. According to the VPA, over the past decade, Viet Nams seaport system has made remarkable progress, establishing itself as a critical link in global supply chains. The country is now home to 34 port zones with 320 terminals, with a designed capacity totalling around 950 million tonnes per year. Modern deep-water ports such as Cai Mep Thi Vai and Lach Huyen are capable of handling container vessels of over 200,000 DWT, and directly connected with trans-Pacific routes and those to European markets. Cargo throughput has steadily increased by an average of 89 per cent annually, becoming a major driver of export import activities. In 2024, Viet Nams seaports handled over 865 million tonnes of cargo, including nearly 29.92 million TEUs of containers. The sector has also become increasingly attractive to investors, with major projects like Cai Mep Thi Vai, Lien Chieu, Lach Huyen, and other regions grabbing strong interest from both domestic and foreign investors, underscoring the seaport system's appeal. Today, Viet Nam ranks among the worlds top 10 countries in container throughput and is highly valued by global shipping lines for its regional transshipment potential. However, the VPA also faces significant challenges. Legal frameworks remain inconsistent, with overlapping provisions in the 2015 Vietnam Maritime Code and the Inland Waterway Transport Law, which require revision to create a unified and modern regulatory environment. Infrastructure bottlenecks and congestion at gateways such as HCM City and Hai Phong also persist. Le o Muoi, director of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration, said the association must play a more active role in shaping legislation by gathering business feedback to ensure legal reforms align with practical needs. He stressed the need for members to follow the national seaport master plan, avoid fragmented investment, and strengthen regional linkages. The VPA was urged to foster multimodal logistics chains by integrating seaports with road, rail, and inland waterways while pushing for the development of inland container depots and logistics hubs. A common set of standards for green and smart ports is also needed. Besides, enterprises are encouraged to pioneer digital management, renewable energy use, and carbon reduction. At the congress, Huynh Van Cuong was elected President of the VPA for the 202530 tenure while Nguyen Xuan Ky serves as Secretary-General. VNA/VNS MOSCOW The International Trade Day Forum 2025 (IDT-2025) took place at the World Trade Centre in Moscow on Friday, bringing together more than one thousand delegates from over thirty Russian regions and fifteen countries. Organised by the Russian Association of Exporters and Importers, the forum is considered one of Russias major platforms for promoting trade and international economic cooperation. Viet Nam participated as a partner country, with its delegation led by Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia ang Minh Khoi. Plenary discussions focused on global economic trends and their impact on Russia, as well as the countrys priorities in external economic policy. Delegates exchanged views on strengthening supply chains and expanding cooperation, particularly with BRICS members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In his remarks, Ambassador Khoi reviewed Viet Nams economic transformation over nearly four decades of reform and integration. He noted that Viet Nam has become Russias largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, while Russia is among Viet Nams top five European partners. Despite complex global conditions, bilateral trade grew strongly in 2024, reaching US$4.6 billion, up twenty-six per cent from the previous year. In the first eight months of 2025, trade volume rose to $3.3 billion, an increase of five per cent year-on-year. Key projects are underway in energy, science, and technology. The ambassador stressed Viet Nams competitive advantages, being ranked among the top thirty fastest-growing trading nations and among the fifteen leading developing economies in attracting foreign direct investment. He encouraged businesses from both countries to explore cooperation in industry, food processing, high technology, and renewable energy. He also urged greater efforts to share information, improve the business environment, and organise trade fairs, exhibitions, and business delegations to strengthen mutual understanding and trust. He further proposed a roadmap to translate these opportunities into concrete, mutually beneficial projects, including boosting two-way trade and expanding market access. He voiced confidence that the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Russia will serve as a solid foundation for stronger business partnerships contributing to shared prosperity. Viet Nams Trade Counselor in Moscow Duong Hoang Minh shared that the forum offered a valuable chance for Vietnamese firms to deepen their understanding of the Russian market, seek new clients, and navigate legal frameworks for exports. He highlighted that Vietnamese businesses are returning to Russia, while many Russian delegations have recently explored the Vietnamese market. With support from both governments, challenges in payments, transport, and logistics are gradually being resolved. He noted that companies can now conduct transactions in local currencies and ship goods directly between Hai Phong and HCM City ports of Viet Nam and Russias Vladivostok. These new arrangements, he said, create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to expand exports not only to Russia but also across the Eurasian market. VNA/VNS The advisory panel backed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted against the MMRV combo vaccine and recommended that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopt new restrictions on the combination shot. The MMRV combo vaccine protects against various diseases, including chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella. RFK Jr.'s panel advised that the vaccine should not be given before kids are four years old. They also noted that kids in the lower age group should be given separate vaccines. Changes to MMRV Vaccine Policies The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, put off an expected vote on hepatitis B shots that are given to infants on the same day they are born. It is also expected to decide whether or not it would recommend that some babies wait a month for similar shots. The committee is the one responsible for making recommendations to the CDC director on how already-approved vaccines should be used. Almost always, CDC directors accept those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and guide vaccination programs throughout the country, according to CNBC. However, public health experts now worry that the latest votes will raise unwarranted concerns among parents. Kennedy, who is a longtime vaccine skeptic, has previously made or proposed several changes to the nation's vaccine system. These efforts include the replacement of the entire 17-member panel earlier this year, where he replaced them with a group of individuals that includes several anti-vaccine viewers. Experts also worry that the panel's actions could narrow access to crucial shots. RFK Jr. is moving quickly with efforts to push for changes to vaccine policies, including restricting eligibility to receive COVID-19 vaccines. He also ousted the U.S.'s top public health official and amplified federal support for state vaccine exemptions, Reuters reported. RFK Jr.'s Advisory Panel The panel's vote against the MMRV vaccine was made based on studies that showed a higher risk of seizures in children under four years with those who were given separate measles-mumps-rubella and varicella injections. Many doctors argue that the MMRV change and proposed recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine are not supported by scientific evidence. They add that these will only hamper access and potentially limit insurance coverage. Dr. Sean O'Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said that the primary goal of the panel's meeting is to sow distrust and instill fear among parents and families. He hopes that their efforts do not gain much traction, as per Politico. Air pollution has become one of Viet Nams most pressing environmental challenges, particularly in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. A Vietnam News Agency spoke with Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong, deputy director of the Environment Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), about the scale of the problem, what the government is doing to address it, and how young people can help shape a cleaner future. How would you describe Viet Nams progress on environmental protection in recent years? Under the strong direction of the [ruling Viet Nam Communist] Party and the State, weve seen important progress that has supported more sustainable economic and social development. But the challenges remain daunting. Our major cities are under enormous pressure. Industrialisation and urbanisation are moving at an unprecedented pace. When you combine that with unfavourable climate and weather conditions, you get worsening air and water pollution. That is why leaders, including Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, have repeatedly sounded the alarm. At countless meetings and forums, they have stressed that environmental hot spots, especially Ha Nois air pollution, must be treated as top priorities. Their message is clear: this is not optional, it is an order. And based on that, MAE has been developing and coordinating measures that focus resources where they matter most. Weve also looked abroad. Beijing is the clearest example: it took years of effort, backed by enormous investment and full political commitment, before the city began to reclaim its blue skies. Pollution cannot be solved by a single agency, nor can it be cleaned up in five years. It requires at least a decade, often two, to tackle root causes whether by reducing emissions at the source or by changing public awareness and behaviour. For Viet Nam, that means mobilising strong resources to shift away from short-term 'hot growth' and towards growth that is green and sustainable, with investment in infrastructure, technology and community engagement. What concrete steps is your department taking to improve air quality? We are working on two main fronts: long-term policy and urgent short-term action. On the policy side, weve drafted the National Action Plan on Pollution Remediation and Air Quality Management for 20252030, with a vision to 2045. This plan lays out clear objectives, measurable targets, nine groups of tasks and solutions and 25 priority projects. It also assigns responsibilities to each ministry, sector and locality, in line with the 'six clarities' principle set out by the Prime Minister: clarity of personnel, tasks, timeline, responsibilities, authority, and results. We are also finalising a roadmap to enforce national emission standards on all cars, motorcycles and mopeds currently in circulation, starting with Ha Noi and HCM City. This will inevitably affect millions of people, but it is a vital step to control one of the most widespread and difficult-to-manage sources of emissions in our cities. Beyond cutting pollution, it will also help build more modern and liveable urban environments. At the same time, we are addressing immediate challenges, especially as we approach the so-called pollution season at the end of the year. To prepare for late 2025, weve rolled out a plan that focuses on monitoring, forecasting, public communication, and enforcement. We are expanding our air-quality monitoring network with at least 50 new systems in Ha Noi and surrounding provinces, potentially soon rising to 125. This will provide denser and more detailed data, helping us pinpoint pollution hot spots. But monitoring alone is not enough; the public also needs timely information. Since mid-August, 48-hour air quality forecasts have been broadcast daily on Vietnam Televisions news programmes. This is a major step forward in making scientific, reliable information widely available so that people can protect themselves. We are now working with the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change to extend forecasts to at least three days. Were also embracing new technologies. In cooperation with the National Remote Sensing Department, we plan to deploy drones to detect straw burning, agricultural waste fires and dust from major construction sites. These tools will allow us to track pollution at its source. At the same time, we are strengthening inspections and stepping up penalties for violations, whether from polluting factories, overloaded trucks or illegal waste burning. The Prime Minister has assigned clear responsibilities to ministries and localities, and our Ministry is working closely with Ha Noi to carry out inspections and hold violators accountable. Young people are often seen as central to environmental change. What role do you expect them to play? Students and young people are the future of our nation. We hope they will plant the green seeds of tomorrow, spreading the message of environmental protection, learning from global best practices and bringing those lessons back to Viet Nam. Their creativity, energy and aspirations will be the strongest driving force for building a greener future. Every initiative matters whether large or small. Together, these contributions will shape a future that is not just prosperous, but also sustainable, trustworthy and full of happiness. What more needs to be done to make lasting progress? Air pollution is not a challenge that can be solved overnight. Beijings story shows it can take many years and investments worth billions of US dollars to achieve meaningful results. For Viet Nam, success depends on shared responsibility. MAE cannot do this alone. Communities, businesses and local governments must all work together. This is especially true for Ha Noi and the surrounding provinces of the Red River Delta, where pollution easily crosses administrative boundaries. Local governments in Ha Noi, HCM City and other key areas must keep pushing forward with solutions: expanding public and green transport networks, tightening control of construction activities, reducing industrial emissions and putting an end to open burning. At the national level, we will continue to inventory emission sources and invest in standardised monitoring stations, so that air-quality data is reliable and comprehensive. Partnerships will play a decisive role, too. The For a Green Future Fund and Vingroup are already on board, and through an MoU between MAE and Vingroup, we hope to work together in four key areas: cutting-edge monitoring and forecasting, green and circular economy investment, international cooperation to bring in new technology and green finance and grassroots campaigns to inspire community action. VNS HCM CITY The Vietnamese version of American magazine Esquire officially launched in HCM City on September 19. Esquire Viet Nam provides information on fashion, style, travel, cuisine, culture, and refined experiences, targeting men in their 30s to 50s. The magazine is co-published by the The Gioi Di San (World of Heritage) E-magazine under the Cultural Heritage Association of Viet Nam and Sunflower Media. At the launch of the magazine, Tran ang Khoa, the magazines editor-in-chief, said: First published in the US in 1933, Esquire has long been synonymous with some of the greatest writers of the 20th century, including Ernest Hemingway, who won both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. "For Esquire Viet Nam, we want to celebrate Vietnamese identity in a changing global landscape, spotlighting modern Vietnamese men who are dynamic, sophisticated, creative, and deeply engaged in building our nation stronger. The debut issue highlights actor Lien Binh Phat on the cover. The 35-year-old actor said, I feel honoured to collaborate with Esquire Viet Nam, being on the cover of the debut issue. I hope the magazine story inspires readers. Phat rose to fame after winning the Golden Kite Awards for Best Actor for his role as a cai luong (reformed opera) performer in Song Lang (The Tap Box) about the 100-year history and development of cai luong, a traditional theatre genre in the South. He is also a nominee for Best Leading Actor in a TV Series at the 2025 Golden Bell Awards for his role in the Taiwanese-Vietnamese co-produced drama called The Outlaw Doctor, becoming the first Vietnamese artist to be nominated for one of the most prestigious film awards in Taiwan (China). In addition, the debut issue introduces 30 figures who have influenced different fields in Viet Nam, ranging from intelligent information, business and mass media to sports, music and cinema, including CEO of Vietcetera Hao Tran, American diplomat and former US Ambassador to Viet Nam Ted Osius, designer Ly Qui Khanh, Taekwondo player ao Thanh Phong, and dancer ang Quan. The publication includes in-depth stories presented through interviews, analyses, feature articles, and practical guides. Esquire Viet Nam is published in March, June, September and December. It is available at the website www.esquire.vn, and on social media platforms of Facebook and Instagram. VNS HA NOI In the face of mounting challenges to multilateralism and the United Nations (UN), Viet Nam is expected to remain a proactive partner in advancing multilateral cooperation with the UN, playing a central role and serving as a model of effective collaboration. In an interview granted to the press ahead of State President Luong Cuongs working trip to attend the High-level General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) and engage in bilateral activities in the US from September 2124, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs ang Hoang Giang underlined the special significance of the visit, which carries both bilateral and multilateral objectives. On the multilateral front, the visit will continue the consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, and proactive and active international integration, as set forth by the 13th National Party Congress and other major Party and State policies. Through the visit, Viet Nam seeks to convey a message reaffirming its role as a responsible UN member, actively engaging and making substantive contributions to the organisations key priorities and activities, particularly at a time when the UN requires the support and companionship of proactive and constructive countries such as Viet Nam. During the visit, President Cuong is scheduled to meet with leaders of various countries and partners to deepen relations in a more practical and effective manner, while mobilising cooperation and support from the UN and key partners for Viet Nams current priorities. These include assuming international responsibilities such as hosting the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Ha Noi on October 25, preparing to chair the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 2026, and running for several important UN positions. The State President will attend the High-level Meeting marking the UNs 80th anniversary, deliver keynote addresses at the High-level General Debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, and take part in a global high-level event on climate action. On the bilateral front, the visit takes place as Viet Nam and the US celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties, an opportunity for both countries to look back on their three-decade journey from past adversaries to friends, partners, comprehensive partners, and now comprehensive strategic partners, while mapping out a roadmap for the sustainable, effective, and substantive implementation of this new partnership framework. Both sides are expected to continue to uphold the fundamental principles of their relationship, including respect for the UN Charter, international law, and each others political institutions, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They will work to further strengthen political trust and strategic confidence, promote mutually beneficial cooperation that brings tangible benefits to both peoples, and contribute to peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable development in the region and the wider world, without undermining the legitimate interests of other stakeholders. Accordingly, President Cuong will hold meetings with US leaders, engage with businesses, financial institutions, long-standing partners, and leading scholars, and chair a ceremony celebrating Viet Nams 80th National Day in New York. These activities aim to reaffirm Viet Nams commitment to further advancing relations with the US, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and science-technology; to push for the implementation of agreements and commitments reached by senior leaders of both countries; to rally broad-based support for Viet Nam and Viet NamUS ties; and to demonstrate the Party and States attention to the Vietnamese community in the US. According to Deputy Minister Giang, nearly five decades of cooperation have made Viet NamUN ties a strong and enduring partnership. The UN has always accompanied and provided Viet Nam with valuable support, from the post-war reconstruction period, through the lifting of embargoes, to the countrys deeper international integration. In turn, Viet Nam has increasingly taken the initiative and made substantive, wide-ranging contributions, through ideas, concrete actions, personnel, and resources, to the UNs major activities and priorities. Viet Nam has spearheaded timely initiatives that resonated with international concerns and were welcomed by the UN and the global community, including the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, UN Security Council resolutions on protecting essential infrastructure, addressing the consequences of post-war landmines, and highlighting the role of regional organisations such as ASEAN. The country has also achieved notable successes in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals and is actively implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the same time, it has been a frontrunner in UN reform through the effective implementation of the Delivering as One initiative, and is currently among the countries participating in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a key UN priority for addressing climate change. In recent years, Viet Nam has held several important positions in major UN bodies on peace, security, law, human rights, and culture, including Vice President of the 77th UN General Assembly (20222023), member of the UN Human Rights Council (20232025), member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (20212023), and a current member of all six key bodies of UNESCO. Over more than a decade of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Viet Nam has deployed nearly 1,500 officers and soldiers to missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Abyei, with women accounting for sixteen per cent, surpassing the UN target. As for Viet NamUS relations, after 30 years of diplomatic ties and two years of implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two countries have made remarkable strides, making their relationship a model of reconciliation and forward-looking cooperation in international relations. Thanks to persistent efforts from both governments and peoples, the relationship has grown continuously and delivered impressive results across all fields. Politically, bilateral ties have been bolstered through frequent high-level visits and exchanges. The US has increasingly valued Viet Nams role and reaffirmed its support for a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Viet Nam. Economically, both sides are working to further expand trade and investment in a sustainable manner while addressing issues such as reciprocal taxation. The US is Viet Nams largest export market, with bilateral trade surpassing 100 billion USD. Investment and technological cooperation are also being enhanced, particularly in future-oriented areas such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Viet Nam highly values US support in policy development, high-quality human resource training, and essential digital infrastructure to enable deeper participation in global semiconductor supply chains. Defence and security cooperation has progressed steadily, especially in war legacy remediation, with priority given to dioxin clean-up projects and support for people with disabilities. On the international stage, the two countries closely coordinate at regional and global forums, particularly within ASEAN mechanisms and the UN Security Council, in addressing global challenges. Viet Nam welcomes US engagement and concrete initiatives in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, and appreciates Washingtons continued support for ASEAN centrality and Viet Nams role in regional and international forums and in tackling shared challenges. Both sides will also maintain candid and constructive exchanges on differences. President Cuongs trip is expected to leave a positive mark, affirming Viet Nams role, position, and substantive contributions to addressing global issues, while further strengthening Viet Nams relations with the US and other countries, and contributing to peace and development in the region and the world, Deputy Minister Giang noted. VNA/VNS HA NOI National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam returned to Ha Noi on Friday, wrapping up their five-day working trip for attendance at the 46th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-46) and an official visit to Malaysia. Within the framework of the AIPA-46 General Assembly, the top Vietnamese legislator attended the Executive Committee meeting, the opening ceremony, and delivered a keynote address at the first plenary session. In his remarks, he emphasised that AIPA, together with its member parliaments, is playing a pioneering role in building a future of equal development opportunities and shared prosperity for all ASEAN people. He proposed three important priority areas for the ASEAN InterParliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to focus on in the coming time. They include strengthening regional cooperation by serving as a bridge to wider participation in realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2045; taking the lead in building institutions and policies to ensure that regional commitments and agreements are effectively implemented in practice, particularly in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. AIPA should actively contribute to consolidating a stronger social foundation for regional cooperation by encouraging, formulating, and implementing activities that nurture and spread community awareness and identity; enhancing communication, and promoting cooperation in culture, education, tourism, as well as organising exchange and interaction activities. It should actively expand and deepen its external relations, thereby helping to consolidate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)s role as a central hub in the network of regional and global linkages and cooperation, he said. Chairman Man affirmed that the Vietnamese NA will continue to stand side by side with AIPA to turn ASEANs vision and aspirations into reality; and build an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, creative, and dynamic ASEAN Community that truly puts people at its centre. On the sidelines, he held bilateral meetings with parliamentary heads of AIPA member states and partners. During his official visit to Malaysia, the NA leader had a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, held talks with Speaker of the House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato Johari bin Abdul, and President of the Senate Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah. At the meetings, both sides expressed their delight at the substantive progress in bilateral ties, particularly since the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November last year. The two sides agreed on the importance of consolidating political trust and implementing the 20252030 Action Programme for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They discussed measures to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation toward the 18 billion USD trade target, with emphasis on halal products, renewable and green energy, digital transformation, agriculture, tourism, and education. Parliamentary cooperation was also highlighted, with consensus on enhancing high-level and committee-level exchanges, promoting interaction among women and young parliamentarians, and sharing legislative experiences to support the implementation of new cooperation areas. Both sides stressed the need to jointly supervise the execution of international treaties and agreements already signed. In Kuala Lumpur, Chairman Man had a working session with leaders of Malaysias national oil company Petronas, and met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community. The visit has contributed to deepening political trust and advancing practical cooperation across all fields, reaffirming Viet Nams commitment to coordinating with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to build a resilient, inclusive, and united ASEAN Community with strengthened centrality in the regional architecture. VNA/VNS BEIJING The Vietnamese Embassy in China held a reception marking the 80th National Day of Viet Nam (September 2, 1945 2025), drawing a large number of Chinese senior officials, international friends, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the neighbouring country. Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh recalled the historic significance of the August Revolution and National Day, which secured national independence and paved the way for Viet Nams development. He highlighted Viet Nams achievements in development and integration, crediting both domestic efforts and international support, particularly from China. The diplomat stressed that Viet NamChina relations have maintained positive momentum, advancing comprehensively under the orientation of the six major orientations. High-level exchanges remain a highlight, with mutual visits by General Secretary and President To Lam (August 2024) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of China Xi Jinping (April 2025). For the first time in bilateral history, in almost the same period, three key leaders - Viet Nam's State President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji - visited each others countries for major commemorations and multilateral events, underscoring mutual respect and support, he noted. Ambassador Binh expressed deep gratitude to the Party, State and people of China, and international partners for their longstanding support. He affirmed that strengthening stable and healthy relations with China is Viet Nams strategic choice and top priority, voicing hope for deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and building a Viet NamChina community with a shared future that carries strategic significance and long-term, practical benefits for both peoples. In a meeting ahead of the celebration, Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, on behalf of the CPC, the Chinese State and people, congratulated Viet Nam on the countrys National Day, praised Viet Nams remarkable achievements over the past 80 years, and highlighted the significance of 2025, when the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He emphasised that under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of both Parties and States, the Viet NamChina relationship founded by Chairman Mao Zedong and President Ho Chi Minh and nurtured by revolutionary predecessors has now entered a new stage of building a high-level community with a shared future. China, he added, stands ready to work with Viet Nam to implement high-level consensus, organise commemorative activities, advance comprehensive strategic cooperation under the six major orientations, and contribute to building the ChinaViet Nam community with a shared future as well as each countrys socialist modernisation cause. Guests toured a photo exhibition on Viet Nams land and people, visited a display of Vietnamese brands, and enjoyed cultural performances along with traditional Vietnamese cuisine. VNA/VNS HA NOI National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Mans official visit to Malaysia and attendance at the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly have left strong impressions across all aspects and reaffirmed Viet Nams role, commitment, responsibility, and proactive engagement in AIPA in particular and ASEAN cooperation in general. Speaking to the press, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan said the September 1620 trip reflected the two countries strong political determination to implement their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including enhancing parliamentary cooperation in a more effective and substantive manner. The visit deepened bilateral political relations and multifaceted cooperation, especially as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. During the trip, NA Chairman Man held talks with the President of the Malaysian Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, paid a courtesy call on the Malaysian Prime Minister, and met with the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, achieving practical outcomes that align with both countries aspirations and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region. The two sides reached important orientations, particularly in economy, trade, and investment, with the goal of soon raising bilateral trade to over US$18 billion. They also agreed to facilitate economic cooperation, address legal bottlenecks to boost Malaysian investment in Viet Nam, and step up collaboration in renewable energy, clean energy, oil and gas, sciencetechnology, digital transformation, innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), the Halal industry, as well as participation in ASEAN power grid projects. The two countries also pledged to foster cultural, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, especially among youth. Parliamentary cooperation was a key topic throughout the visit. Both sides agreed to increase exchanges of high-level and committee-level delegations, as well as women and young parliamentarians; share information and legislative experience; and create favourable conditions to advance new cooperation areas within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. They also committed to strengthening supervision of international treaties and agreements signed between the two governments, while coordinating closely and supporting each other at multilateral forums. At the multilateral level, Chairman Man, together with leaders of AIPA member parliaments, actively engaged in discussions, affirming that parliaments will stand alongside governments to translate high-level commitments and AIPA resolutions into concrete actions with practical results. He underscored the importance of aligning ASEANs common strategies and cooperation plans with national development agendas, while fostering cooperation in economy, trade, science and technology, innovation, climate change response, and disaster management. The AIPA-46 General Assembly adopted several resolutions proposed and co-sponsored by Viet Nam, particularly in priority areas such as digital economy, digital transformation, cyber security, intra-bloc trade, enhanced cooperation with partners, and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in maintaining regional peace and stability. Notably, resolutions on youths role in digital transformation, digital human resources development, effective digital economy utilisation, and combating cybercrime were passed, contributing to the strengthening of the digital ecosystem in line with ASEANs common development goals and Viet Nams current priorities. Deputy Minister Tuan said the visit has opened new opportunities to further strengthen Viet NamMalaysia cooperation across various fields, commensurate with the stature of the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides will soon finalise and implement the 20252030 Action Programme, a key framework to realise commitments and deepen bilateral ties. Economic cooperation remains a highlight of bilateral relations. Viet Nam and Malaysia will work together to support businesses in expanding trade and investment, striving to surpass the $18 billion trade target and achieve higher milestones. Priority areas include oil and gas, energy, high technology, digital transformation, fisheries, aquaculture, and the Halal industry. In the socio-cultural field, the two countries will enhance people-to-people exchanges, expand education and vocational training cooperation, especially in high-quality human resources, and promote tourism. Malaysia will also offer more scholarships for Vietnamese students. Both sides agreed to boost youth education, exchanges, and cooperation to foster deeper bonds between the two peoples. At the same time, the Party and State of Viet Nam will continue to care for the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, ensuring its stable, healthy development and contributions to bilateral relations as well as the sustainable development of both nations. Viet Nam affirmed its support for Malaysias priorities as ASEAN Chair in 2025 and pledged close coordination on regional and international issues of shared concern, with a view to building a strong, united ASEAN Community that upholds its central role, while contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and beyond. VNA/VNS HUNG YEN In a warehouse raid in August, Hung Yen police uncovered hundreds of bags of fake animal feed, raw materials with no labels and counterfeit stamps ready to be passed off as imported goods. It was not just another bust, but part of a wider battle that provincial authorities have vowed to fight without compromise. Situated at the gateway to Ha Noi and linked to major northern trade routes, Hung Yen is no stranger to illicit commerce. Its expressways and busy transport networks attract smugglers and counterfeiters seeking quick profits. But local leaders say the province is determined to push back, launching a relentless fight against trade fraud and counterfeit goods that threaten consumer health, undermine honest businesses and damage the reputation of real products. Counterfeit products in Viet Nam range from food and pharmaceuticals to cosmetics, clothing and electronics. Increasingly sophisticated, they often fool even careful buyers. Since the start of 2025, the province has inspected and dealt with 453 violations, including 43 cases involving banned goods, 389 related to trade fraud and 10 criminal prosecutions targeting counterfeit production. More than VN27.6 billion (over US$1 million) has been collected in fines and payments for the State budget. On August 29, Nghia Tru Commune saw one of the province's most striking cases, in which police seized 380 bags of fake branded cat food and more than 1.6 tonnes of raw materials. Just weeks earlier, a smuggling ring moving over one million litres of counterfeit vegetable oil was dismantled, leading to six prosecutions under food fraud charges. A police officer said that these recent cases reflect the determination of enforcement authorities, noting that they would show no tolerance for the production or trade of counterfeit goods and that those involved in every violation would face strict punishment. The fight is not limited to warehouses and highways. E-commerce platforms and social media have become a breeding ground for counterfeit products. Glossy ads, false claims and easy online payments have made fake goods more accessible than ever. In just eight months, Hung Yens Market Management Department handled more than 120 online cases and forced 827 businesses and households to sign commitments pledging not to deal in counterfeit or smuggled products. Authorities said that enforcement alone cannot eradicate counterfeiting. Consumers must also play their part by demanding authentic products, checking labels and invoices and reporting suspicious goods. Every fake product sold survives because someone buys it, said a provincial market official. Consumers are on the front lines of this fight. Enterprises are also under pressure to act responsibly. Local authorities call on businesses to obey regulations, work closely with inspectors and take proactive steps to safeguard their brands. Protecting consumers should be viewed not merely as a legal obligation, but an ethical commitment one that enhances corporate reputation and reinforces the standing of Vietnamese products in global markets, they said. To strengthen its fight against counterfeit goods, Hung Yen Province is increasingly using e-commerce platforms and digital tools to improve market oversight and monitoring. Bui Quy Khanh, Deputy Head of the provincial market surveillance sub-department, has set up specialised e-commerce monitoring teams and is applying artificial intelligence and big data analytics to identify suspicious activity more efficiently. By working closely with major online platforms, authorities can quickly detect and remove fraudulent listings, while partnerships with businesses help verify product origins and ensure authenticity. These enforcement efforts are complemented by public awareness campaigns, which educate consumers on how to spot fake products and encourage them to report suspicious goods. Between 2024 and 2025, Hung Yen secured over 800 commitments from businesses and operators pledging not to sell counterfeit or unverified products. The province plans to launch a dedicated e-commerce platform connecting authorities, businesses and consumers. This digital initiative aims to create a stronger foundation for preventing trade fraud, protecting legitimate businesses and giving consumers confidence in a transparent and reliable marketplace. VNS HUNG YEN Two months after African swine fever (ASF) first struck ong Thai Ninh Commune, outbreaks across Hung Yen Province are showing signs of being brought under control, thanks to quick action, clear communication and strict compliance with the 'five nos' principle of disease prevention. In Kim Son 2 village, Hung Ha Commune, farmer Luong Van Linh lost eight sows and 32 piglets after his herd tested positive for ASF. The culling wiped out hundreds of millions of ong in investment, yet instead of concealing the outbreak, Linh immediately notified local authorities. It was a huge loss, he said. But if more of us speak up early, the disease can be stopped. I only hope there will be support to rebuild the herd. Unlike previous epidemics, when some farmers hesitated to report sick pigs, this year communities have responded more quickly. Loudspeakers, door-to-door visits and village meetings have spread a consistent message: no concealing outbreaks, no transporting sick or dead pigs, no trading in sick or dead pigs, no dumping carcasses and no feeding untreated food waste. Containing the outbreaks Dien Ha Commune, home to nearly 62,000 pigs, shows both the scale of risk and the speed of response. Since mid-August, 17 outbreaks have been confirmed and more than 360 pigs culled almost 21 tonnes in total. The commune set up three task forces for outreach, surveillance and culling, while following the 'four on the spot' principle: command, manpower, equipment and funding all handled locally. Communication has been crucial, said inh Cong Chuyen, Standing Vice Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Dien Ha Commune. When people understand whats at stake, they report early, and we can act quickly. Across the province, similar measures are being enforced. Communes disinfect barns, restrict entry to farms and advise farmers to boost animal nutrition to increase resistance. Veterinary teams visit households, supervise culling and disinfection, and guide farmers on biosecurity. The role of the five nos According to Nguyen Thi Ben, deputy head of the provincial Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, the 'five nos' rule has been decisive. Once farmers understood and followed the principle, we were able to isolate outbreaks within households instead of letting them spread across villages, she said. That has reduced losses and helped us keep ASF under control. The province has supported these efforts with resources, including more than 28,000 litres of disinfectant distributed to communes, hundreds of tons of lime spread by farmers around barns and a province-wide 'Month of Sanitation' in livestock areas. Since July, ASF has been reported in 149 households across 32 communes and wards in Hung Yen. More than 3,600 pigs over 200 tons have been destroyed. Still, the provinces culling rate remains lower than in neighbouring provinces, which officials cite as proof that the combined approach is working. Fourteen communes have now passed 21 days without new cases, signalling that outbreaks may be waning. Many burial sites for pig carcasses are full, raising concerns about disposal during larger outbreaks. Long-distance transport risks spreading the virus, while limited veterinary staff and mounting farmer losses strain resources. Authorities continue to urge farmers not to restock herds in areas where outbreaks have occurred, to maintain rigorous hygiene and to apply safe biosecure practices. Vaccination against other diseases is also being promoted to strengthen pig immunity. The ASF outbreak shows that without timely reporting and community cooperation, containment would have been impossible. The province is striving to sustain vigilance to ensure the gains against ASF are not reversed. The farm is quiet now. But because people followed the rules and told the truth, the disease is under control. With help, we hope to bring back the herd," farmer Linh said. VNS HA NOI More than 300 volunteers joined hands on Saturday (September 20) to clean up Pham Hung Street in Ha Noi as part of World Cleanup Day 2025, the worlds largest civic action campaign tackling global waste. This years event carried the theme 5% pioneers Global impact, highlighting research from the University of Leeds, UK, which suggests that when just five per cent of a community takes action for a shared goal, it can trigger a tipping point in behaviour and social awareness. Nguyen Thi Cam Tu, national coordinator of Lets Do It Vietnam, said people dont need to be a celebrity or a leader to create change every individual who takes action is already part of the 5 per cent pioneers. Cleanup activities not only improve the environment but also shift behaviour from littering to waste sorting, reducing and reusing. The programme welcomed Hannes Hanso, Ambassador of Estonia to China, concurrently accredited to Viet Nam, Mongolia and Thailand. Estonia is the birthplace of the Lets Do It! World movement. In his keynote address, he praised Viet Nams active role: When millions of people perform small acts together, we can achieve great change for future generations. I hope this movement will continue to thrive in Viet Nam and worldwide. The event, supported by local authorities and partners such as Hirdaramani Vietnam, Easia Travel and FUWA BIOTECH, collected nearly 850kg of waste, mainly single-use plastics, medical masks and cigarette butts. Volunteers were trained in waste sorting and provided with gloves, tongs and collection bags to ensure safety and efficiency. Nationwide, the campaign mobilised over 1,000 volunteers in cities including a Nang, HCM City, Quy Nhon, Quang Ngai and Can Tho, with parallel cleanups organised in Gia Lai, Kon Tum and other provinces. In total, more than three tonnes of waste were collected. Launched in Estonia in 2008, World Cleanup Day has become a global movement spanning more than 190 countries. In December 2023, the United Nations officially recognised the day in its calendar of International Days and Weeks, underscoring its role in tackling global environmental challenges through community mobilisation. VNS HCM CITY The residence of the French Consul General in HCM City was opened to welcome 1,500 visitors for European Heritage Days on September 20. Visitors were offered a tour of the 153-year-old French residence and discovered precious Vietnamese artefacts that represent the country's decorative and spiritual art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The highlight of the collection is a lacquer painting titled "am ruoc," created in 1939 by the renowned artist Nguyen Gia Tri and furniture from the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue. Audio commentary was also provided for each item exhibited in the residence, which visitors can access by scanning a QR code. The event also featured an outdoor exhibition of French inventions, in response to the FranceViet Nam Year of Innovation, with each artefact linked to stories of cooperation between France and Viet Nam in various fields. In addition, visitors could try out French cuisine for free, including bread, cheese, jam, drinks and others. Etienne Ranaivoson, the new Consul General of France in HCM City, said that a special feature of European Heritage Days is that the public can access heritage buildings that are still used for administrative purposes and are normally closed to the public. For instance, some of the places that are open to the public include the headquarters of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Elysee Palace. The residence is a venue for many diplomatic activities between France and Viet Nam and is evidence of the long-standing ties between the two countries, he added. Huynh Tran Huy, a visitor, said this was a meaningful event that helped him learn more about French culture and architecture. He also mentioned that the space within a French residence is in harmony with nature, which also shows a similarity with Vietnamese residential culture. The residence is a long-standing cultural landmark, demonstrating the sophistication of French architecture and the cultural fusion between Viet Nam and France. VNS Taiwan officials announced plans to provide new family subsidies, giving up to $3,320 for each newborn, as the country experiences a low birth rate. On Thursday, the nation's cabinet approved standardized cash payouts to families for every newborn as well as coverage of a larger proportion of infertility treatment costs. Under the new policy, twins will qualify for a payment of almost $7,000. Taiwan's Declining Birth Rate The country's previous system included payouts that ranged from $1,300 to $2,300 for each new baby in the family, depending on the mother's employment status. The Asian nation became a "super-aged society" this year, which means that more than 20% of its population is 65 years or older. Taiwan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, having a total birth rate of 0.087 in 2022. In order to maintain a total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman, countries need to hit what the French Institute for Demographic Studies calls "replacement level," according to Aljazeera. This means the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves in the population. Last year, Taiwan experienced its ninth consecutive year of declining birth rates, based on data from the country's Ministry of Interior. The new benefits will also extend to couples who are facing infertility, as women aged 39 and under will reportedly be eligible to receive subsidies for up to six attempts at in vitro fertilization (IVF). On the other hand, women aged between 39 and 45 will receive subsidies for their first three attempts. The plan will be effective next year to standardize and increase childbirth allowances across social insurance systems. The proposed package also includes subsidies for egg-freezing and sperm-freezing for Taiwanese nationals aged 18 to 40 who are at risk of fertility loss due to illnesses, AA reported. New Family Subsidies The new policy is part of the country's broader efforts to address its rapidly declining birth rate. Currently, the National Development Council predicts that Taiwan will be among the world's oldest societies by 2060. Its elderly population is projected to rise to more than 41% of its total population. During a briefing, Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung said that the proposed package is part of the government's efforts to address the current issues in the nation, as per Focus Taiwan. The lawmaker added that the new subsidies are expected to provide assistance to more than 120,000 families across Taiwan. TOKYO A fortnight-long online course methods of teaching Vietnamese to overseas children closed on Saturday. Jointly organised by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, Japan, and the Global Network for Teaching Vietnamese Language and Culture, the programme drew over five hundred teachers from thirty countries and territories. Vu Chi Mai, Consul General in Fukuoka, stressed that preserving and spreading Vietnamese culture among the Vietnamese community abroad is a sacred mission connecting younger generations to their roots. inh Hoang Linh, Consul General in Khon Kaen, Thailand, said that the training provided modern methods and stronger links with the homeland. Professor Nguyen Minh Thuyet, head of the advisory board, praised the global dedication of teachers, while Venerable Thich France Quang shared how the programme has strengthened Vietnamese classes for children in Sri Lanka. The course featured five intensive online sessions, hundreds of submitted assignments, and contributions from leading scholars. Organisers also announced the upcoming launch of the Global Network for Teaching Vietnamese Language and Culture on September 29, aiming to build a worldwide map of Vietnamese classes, digitise materials, and expand training support. VNA/VNS HCM CITY Vietnamese fisheries surveillance and Coast Guard forces promptly provided emergency aid to two fishermen in distress while on duty in southern waters on September 19. At around 9pm, Fisheries Surveillance Ship KN 215 of Fisheries Surveillance Squadron No. 2 received an SOS message from fishing vessel KG-95054TS, reporting that a crew member was experiencing serious health problems. The ship immediately changed course and reached the vessel after 45 minutes. Medical staff quickly transferred the patient, identified as Tran Van Thich, 56, from Kien Giang Province, to the surveillance ship for treatment. Thich showed severe symptoms of poisoning, including high fever, unstable blood pressure, vomiting and diarrhea. After receiving emergency care and medication, the fishermans condition gradually stabilised by 11pm. He was handed back to his vessel with instructions to be brought ashore for further treatment. During the mission, fisheries surveillance officers also distributed legal information materials on preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, encouraging fishermen to comply with regulations. Earlier the same day, at 9:20am, Coast Guard Region No.3 Command Ship 276 received a distress call from fishing vessel KG-91423TS, captained by Tran Thanh Long from Kien Giang Province. Crew member Le Van Tri from An Giang Province had been bitten by a sea snake while fishing. Coast Guard medics were dispatched by speedboat to provide emergency care. The fisherman was treated for high blood pressure, pain and swelling in his arm. His condition stabilised after first aid was administered, but doctors advised that he be taken ashore immediately for specialised treatment. The timely actions of Fisheries Surveillance Squadron No. 2 and Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command once again underline their professionalism, humanitarian spirit and commitment to safeguarding lives at sea. These forces not only enforce maritime law and ensure order at sea, but also serve as a reliable companion to fishermen, helping them work safely while contributing to protecting Viet Nams maritime sovereignty. VNS BEIJING, Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's Xinjiang is experiencing the best period of development in its history, according to a white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council on Friday, highlighting that solid steps have been taken to govern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in accordance with the law, maintain stability through ethnic unity, strengthen cultural identity and bonds, bring greater prosperity to the region and its people, and develop Xinjiang from a long-term perspective. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "This has contributed to unprecedented economic and social development and significant improvement of people's well-being, and brought a greater sense of gain, happiness and security to the people," noted the white paper titled "CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements." Stronger foundations for stability, peace and security have been built in Xinjiang, the document said, adding that a historic transformation from chaos to stability and from stability to good governance has been achieved in the region. Since 2012, the central government has allocated more than 4 trillion yuan (about $562.3 billion) in transfer payments to Xinjiang, including nearly 543.48 billion yuan in 2024 alone, according to the white paper. Xinjiang has consciously integrated its regional opening-up strategy into the country's overall plan of opening up to the west, aiming to build a golden channel across the Eurasian continent and a gateway for opening up to the west, said the white paper. Xinjiang has seen comprehensive improvements in infrastructure, said the white paper, noting that the operating mileage of railways and the highway network totaled 9,202 kilometers and 230,000 kilometers respectively, as of 2024, and the number of civil air routes reached 595, of which 25 are international routes. Leveraging its natural resources and industrial capabilities, Xinjiang has accelerated efforts to develop a modern industrial system with its own unique advantages. The white paper mentioned that Xinjiang has been China's top cotton producer for 32 consecutive years, with the mechanization rate in plowing, planting, and harvesting reaching 97 percent. It also pointed out that Xinjiang continues to improve its policies on promoting public health and has significantly increased its protection of people's health, adding that the average life expectancy of residents in Xinjiang rose from 30 years in 1949 to 77 years in 2024. The region has also seen rapid economic development over the past 70 years, with the GDP surging to 2.05 trillion yuan (about $288 billion) in 2024 from 1.23 billion yuan in 1955. Xinjiang fully, accurately and faithfully implements the CPC's policy on freedom of religious belief by respecting people's religious beliefs, the white paper said. Xinjiang respects and protects ethnic minorities' right to learn and use their own spoken and written languages, it added, noting that the region administers religious affairs in accordance with the law, allows religious groups to manage their own affairs independently, and guides religions to be compatible with socialist society. Xinjiang has improved its comprehensive preservation of cultural heritage. The document said that Xinjiang has formulated plans for the protection of regional cultural heritage, and released local regulations to strengthen legal guarantees for preserving cultural heritage. The white paper also noted the battle against desertification on the fringes of the Taklimakan Desert in the region has been stepped up, with the desert now entirely encircled with a sand-blocking green belt stretching 3,046 kilometers, the longest in the world. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-09-20/Xinjiang-in-its-most-prosperous-period-ever-white-paper-1GNq6HFDPwY/p.html SOURCE CGTN Compassionate Boxes introduced in North Wales to support grieving families This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 20th, 2025 Families in North Wales will now receive Compassionate Boxes when personal belongings of loved ones who have died suddenly are returned, following a new initiative between North Wales Police and Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin. Traditionally clothing or personal items from victims of incidents like road traffic collisions may have been returned in bags or containers. The new scheme aims to offer a more sensitive and dignified alternative. The boxes, sourced from a Devon-based organisation, contain the deceaseds belongings as well as thoughtful items designed to provide comfort, including a poem, knitted hearts, a lavender bag, and a memory box label. Childrens boxes also include knitted teddies and a coloured ribbon. The idea was first developed after the death of Chris Wale in Devon in 2023, when his family sought to create a more compassionate way of returning effects. When his daughter, Nichola, went to collect his belongings, they were handed to her in a plastic shopping bag and she wanted to change this. Together with Theresa Murphy, a trained bereavement counsellor, and the support of the wider community, this has grown into a source of support for families across the UK. The boxes are given free of charge to organisations that request them, though donations are welcome, and the team behind the initiative fundraise all year to pay for the boxes. I am pleased that Compassionate Boxes are being introduced in North Wales. I hope they will show care and concern for grieving families at a devastating time, said Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales. I well understand the feeling of being overwhelmed and upset when a family member loses their life, in whatever circumstance they might pass. It is vital families and next of kin know that the policing family cares about them and their welfare. Treating their loved ones effects with dignity and compassion is an important part of this process. I would like to thank the organisers of Compassionate Boxes for creating this initiative and the officers of North Wales Police for bringing the idea to our region. I hope it will bring a great deal of comfort to members of our community when they need it most. Theresa Murphy from Compassionate Boxes, said: In the quietest moments of grief, Compassionate Boxes arrive not just with care, but with the message that no one should face loss alone. DC Donna Vernon from North Wales Police added: It is vital that Police Force take the time to think about how personal belongings are returned to loved ones, sensitively and with dignity. I am sure the Compassionate Boxes will make a huge difference to families in North Wales. Compassionate Boxes are available to individuals who have lost a loved one, as well as police, prisons, and hospitals who need to return personal belongings with care, and chaplains, social workers, and bereavement teams who support grieving families. Boxes are available for adults and children, and all are non-denominational. To learn more about Compassionate Boxes, visit: www.compassionateboxes.co.uk Medical misogyny failing women in rural Wales, says MS This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 20th, 2025 A Senedd member warned a womans postcode too often dictates whether she receives timely care in Wales as he shared his daughters own 13-year ordeal. Plaid Cymrus Cefin Campbell expressed concerns about systemic failings in womens health care and a unique patchwork of barriers facing women in rural Wales. He shared the story of his daughters struggle with chronic debilitating pain after her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed as normal period pains by doctors. Leading a powerful debate, Mr Campbell told the Senedd his daughter became emotionally distressed on one occasion during an appointment with her GP in Carmarthenshire. He said: Rather than investigating further what might be the underlying reason for the excruciating pain she was suffering, she was offered mental health support and a few paracetamols. Needless to say, the GP was a male doctor. Needless suffering Mr Campbell said his daughters determination resulted in her eventually being diagnosed with adenomyosis, a painful gynaecological condition, at a west Wales hospital. But her story doesnt stop there, he told the Senedd, with his daughter discovering she had been misdiagnosed and actually had stage-four endometriosis after moving to Cardiff. As a parent, I was so angry and disappointed that shed been let down and had suffered so much needless pain for so long. Now, things have to change. Mr Campbell warned womens health has been systematically deprioritised due to a lack of clinical understanding, political will, representation and research. The Mid and West Wales politician said: The outcome is all too familiar: women waiting years for diagnoses, travelling long distances for treatment or being silenced entirely. Postcode lottery Mr Campbell said the Welsh Governments new 10-year womens health plan offers few concrete measures and fails to address specific challenges women face in rural Wales. He warned the closure of surgeries and A&E departments coupled with poor transport and digital infrastructure risks dismantling access to care, ultimately undermining the plan. He told the chamber or Siambr: Cutting rural services, from GP surgeries to minor injuries units, doesnt help womens health at all. Unfortunately, in Wales, a postcode, for a woman, will often dictate whether she receives timely care or has to suffer in silence. His colleague Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymrus shadow health secretary, said far too many women in rural Wales are disappointed by the health system. However, Sarah Murphy stressed womens health is a priority for first minister Eluned Morgan who stayed behind to listen in after the chamber had emptied following voting. No one size fits all Responding to the debate on September 17, Ms Murphy whose responsibilities include womens health pointed to 3m to support the plan and an additional 3.7m for research. The mental health minister said the plan, which contains eight priority areas and more than 60 actions, will see a womens health hub in each health board area by March 2026. She told the Senedd: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the hubs in Wales, so each womens health hub will need to respond to the particular needs of the women in that health board and particularly marginalised groups of women. It is essential that they can access the same standard of care even if its delivered differently in Carmarthen, Cardiff and Conwy, for example. Ms Murphy stressed the scale and long-term nature of the reforms but was confident Wales is on the right path, saying: There is absolutely the clinical will, the political determination. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Wrexham talent shines at prestigious EuroSkills competition This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 20th, 2025 A young engineer from Wrexham has been recognised among Europes best after winning a Medallion of Excellence at the prestigious EuroSkills competition in Denmark. Tomas Ankers, who trains at Coleg Cambria and works for Electroimpact, impressed judges in the CNC Milling category a discipline focused on high-precision automated milling securing a medallion that places him among the top competitors in Europe. Tomas was one of 19 competitors from across 17 different skills disciplines who travelled to Herning to represent the UK in the prestigious competition. Speaking after his success, Tomas said: I was shocked when the results were read out. My family were all watching the medal ceremony from home, cheering me on. Theres a lot of work to be done before I can hopefully secure the place in the team for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 but what drives me is winning, its what motivates me and gets me up every day. The biennial EuroSkills competition saw nearly 600 competitors from over 30 countries go head-to-head in vocational skills vital to modern economies. Team UK walked away with a bronze medal and five medallions of excellence. Wales, which sent seven representatives as part of the team, received two medallions of excellence. Whilst not podium finishes, these awards are a recognition of skill placing the individuals among the very best on the international stage. Those selected by Team UK from colleges and training providers across the nations are then further trained for months by WorldSkillsUK, in partnership with the worlds lifelong learning company, Pearson. Tomas was joined by fellow Welsh winner Yuliia Batrak, from Colwyn Bay, won a medallion for Restaurant Services. Yuliia trains at Grwp Llandrillo Menai and works at St Georges Hotel and said: I came from the Ukraine three years ago and fell in love with the United Kingdom and restaurant services. WorldSkills UK has given me this amazing opportunity to learn so much and compete on the European stage. Grwp Llandrillo Menai provided all the equipment for the training and helped me so much. Minister for Skills, Jack Sargeant, said: A huge congratulations to the whole of Team UK, but especially to the seven talented young people who carried with them hopes of Welsh success. I am sure I am joined by others when I say we are so proud of you, your skills and your efforts this year. These results prove Wales has an incredible array of skills talent and that our young people are ready to meet the challenges of tomorrows economy. Llongyfarchiadau eto! Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: Congratulations to Yuliia and Tomas on achieving a Medallion for Excellence at EuroSkills Herning 2025. We are incredibly proud of them and the whole of Team UK, who have shown commitment, determination and resilience over three days of intense competition. We selected a young, driven team that show huge potential to develop into world-class skilled professionals, to compete against more experienced competitors from across Europe. This has allowed the team to accelerate their development through the unique opportunity of competition at the highest level, in preparation for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Team UK will now rejoin the WorldSkills UK training squad and continue honing their expertise, with the aim of being selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills China in 2026. Known as the skills Olympics, next Septembers event is considered the ultimate test of a nations ability to meet future skill needs. A man now faces charges in connection with a shooting on Delucchi Lane in Reno on Thursday night. Police say 26-year-old Timothy Brown shot the 28-year-old victim in the leg after an argument. Brown was booked into the Washoe County Jail on charges of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, as well as Discharging a Firearm where others could be Endangered. ORIGINAL STORY: A man has been arrested following a shooting incident on Thursday night in south Reno. One person was grazed by a bullet in the incident, suffering non-life-threatening injuries, according to a spokesperson for the Reno Police Department. It happened around 6:15 p.m. on Delucchi Lane. 26-year-old Timothy Brown was arrested following the incident. He faces charges including battery with a deadly weapon and discharging a gun or weapon where a person may be endangered. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., owner and operator of television stations in California, allegedly failed to provide employees with accurate wages due to missed meal breaks. This allegedly resulted in violations of various California Labor codes. **THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT** LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. 25STCV24426, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here . The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP According to the lawsuit filed, Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods , (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse for required expenses, (f) failed to pay sick wages, and (g) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-203, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. Defendant allegedly denied Plaintiff's first rest periods of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of at least two (2) to four (4) hours from time to time, a first and second rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of between six (6) and eight (8) hours from time to time, and a first, second and third rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of ten (10) hours or more from time to time. Employees were also allegedly required by Defendant to continue working, despite clocking out for the day, to ensure all work was timely finished before being able to leave for the day without paying them for all the time worked. This resulted in Defendant allegedly rounding hours instead of actual time worked. violated Cal. Lab. Code 1194, 1197, and 1197.1 . For more information about the class action lawsuit against Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. **THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT** Media Contact Nicholas De Blouw Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP (800) 568-8020 [email protected] https://www.bamlawca.com/ SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP The Las Cruces Police Department unveiled a new $2 million real-time crime center last week that will use closed-circuit, drone and body worn camera footage to help monitor locations across the city. City of Las Cruces LAS CRUCES The alleged second shooter accused in a fatal gunfight at a city park is free as he awaits a preliminary court hearing next week. State District Judge Douglas Driggers on Wednesday denied a bid by prosecutors to hold Elijah Sambrano, 18, behind bars ahead of his trial. He faces felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence for initially refusing to turn himself in or present his firearm for investigation. Court records indicate he was taken into custody on Sept. 10, six days following the incident. Shots were exchanged in the parking lot of Salopek/Stull Park on Sept. 4 in what police describe as an altercation involving the passengers of two vehicles. The driver of one of those vehicles, Julia Clark, was fatally wounded when the altercation quickly escalated to gunfire. The 19-year-old was flown to University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, in critical condition, where she died on Sept 6. Christopher Hernandez, 19, was a passenger in Clarks vehicle and told police that Sambrano shot him. His injuries were not life-threatening. Apolinar Rosales Jr., 18, was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, plus a misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 19. He remains in custody at the Dona Ana County Detention Center awaiting arraignment on Monday, according to court records. Prosecutors say Rosales, another passenger in Clarks vehicle, struck Clark while shooting at adversaries from the second vehicle, who included Sambrano. Prosecutors allege that Sambrano emerged with a handgun after parking behind the SUV driven by Clark and demanded Hernandez give him everything he had before shooting him in his right leg. The incident occurred at a public community park, a petition seeking to keep Sambrano in custody stated. Salopek/Stull Park was dedicated nearly 40 years ago in a residential neighborhood near Tortugas Pueblo, and features playground and picnic equipment as well as walking trails. At least one witness uninvolved with the parties was present when the shooting took place, per police reports. The judge ruled that prosecutors failed to prove that no conditions of release would keep the community safe, and ordered Sambranos release under a secured $5,000 bond and standard pretrial release conditions, including prohibitions from possessing firearms and avoiding the victim as well as the park. The shooting struck a nerve in the city as the latest in a string of shootings involving juveniles and young adults with firearms in and near city parks. Four men ranging 14 to 20 years in age are awaiting trial in a shootout that occurred in Young Park in March, that killed three teenage boys and wounded 15 other people. In May, a Las Cruces police officer shot and killed 18-year-old Josiah Perrault across the street from the same park, as Perrault allegedly chased two people across a neighboring parking lot with a firearm. In a sensational case that President Donald Trump commented on during his 2024 presidential campaign, 51-year-old James Garcia was stabbed to death and decapitated in Apodaca Park in 2021. His killer, Joel Arciniega-Saenz, 28, was convicted of first-degree murder in March. Community members have called on the city to reinforce behavioral health services as well as increase community activities for youth. Ad No granular data about service calls and reported incidents at city parks had been assembled, the city told the Journal. LCPD Chief Jeremy Story has pointed to understaffing as part of the challenge in securing parks and other gathering spaces across the city. Last week, Story unveiled a new $2 million real-time crime center monitoring areas of the city through closed-circuit, drone and body-worn cameras allowing operators to coordinate with officers in the field and retrieve data about subjects and premises while police activity is underway. On Monday, Story told the City Council surveillance technology had been deployed at the largest of eight city parks, and he said 25 police academy graduates were about to begin field training. If we zoom out and look at the number of parks that we have to cover in the city that gives us some perspective, Story told council members. The reality is, we would like to do a better job of covering all the parks. Staffing is a matter of officers vs. calls for service vs. proactive time. Thats a formula that we want to improve. Sherman McCorkle In February 2018, the secretaries of the Navy, Army and Air Force sent a joint letter to all U.S. governors, urging them to enhance state support for military families, especially in areas affecting their quality of life during relocations. Among their top concerns was access to medical care. Representing the interests of 2.4 million service members, these senior leaders called on states to prioritize robust health care accessibility for military personnel and their families. New Mexico has struggled with a critical shortage of doctors for many years. By 2021, data showed that four out of five counties in the state fell short of the recommended 8.5 primary care practitioners for every 10,000 residents. The Cicero Institute further highlighted the severity of the problem, identifying 32 out of 33 counties as being in urgent need of primary care physicians with only Los Alamos County meeting the necessary benchmark. The situation worsened in 2021 when the state Legislature enacted some of the nations highest malpractice caps, increasing potential liabilities for hospitals and independent practices nearly tenfold. This legislative change caused malpractice insurance premiums for physicians to skyrocket doubling, tripling or even quadrupling in some cases. The dramatic rise in both the frequency and magnitude of malpractice settlements has made practicing medicine in New Mexico an increasingly risky proposition for many doctors. By 2025, eight years after the service secretaries call to action, New Mexicos physician shortage remains a major barrier to health care access for both residents and military families relocating to the state. The heightened financial and legal uncertainties have led many physicians to reconsider their commitment to practicing in New Mexico, with some choosing to leave or retire early. This trend has resulted in longer wait times for appointments and diminished access to specialized medical services, further straining the health care system. The most effective and immediate step New Mexico can take to address its physician shortage is to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). Similar in spirit to the Uniform Commercial Code, professional licensure compacts like the IMLC streamline the process for qualifying physicians to obtain licenses and practice across state lines. This not only facilitates cross-state telemedicine without legal obstacles but also enables rapid responses to medical crises by reducing bureaucratic delays. Importantly, the IMLC maintains high professional standards rather than lowering them. The compact is a proven solution: More than 40 states including all of New Mexicos neighbors (Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah) have already joined. Many physicians who have left New Mexico have relocated to these states, drawn by more favorable legal and professional environments. For several years, the Kirtland Partnership Committee has championed legislation to enable New Mexico to join the IMLC. However, these efforts have faced resistance from supporters of the 2021 malpractice caps, which many see as unreasonably high. On the opposing side is the group New Mexico Safety Over Profits, whose primary donors are plaintiff attorneys and law firms that collect significant portions of jury awards. This ongoing debate has hindered progress on health care reform. New Mexico derives significant economic benefits from its military community. In the previous year alone, Kirtland Air Force Base contributed $7.5 billion to the states economy. Military leaders consider health care access a crucial factor when selecting locations for operations. Currently, it is estimated that 1 in 4 planned military transfers to New Mexico does not take place due to concerns about inadequate health care. All three New Mexico bases are in the Air Forces top 15 highest rejection rate of Dependent Travel not Advised based on the medical specialty care available in the state. Addressing the 2018 request from military service secretaries is therefore essential for both the states economic future and national security interests. The 2021 malpractice statute has also created challenges for recruitment at premier research institutions such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as in the private high-wage technology sector all of which rely on accessible, high-quality health care to attract talent. New Mexicos experience with the National Nurse Licensure Compact, which the state joined in 2003, demonstrates the value of professional licensure compacts. In some communities, up to 80% of available nurses are present because of this compact. While joining the IMLC will not resolve every health care challenge the state faces, it represents the most practical, reasonable and cost-effective approach to expanding New Mexicos physician workforce and improving health care access for all residents. WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- National Press Club President Mike Balsamo today released the following statement on the Pentagon's new pledge requirement for reporters: "The Pentagon is now demanding that journalists sign a pledge not to obtain or report any information even if unclassified unless it has been expressly authorized by the government. This is a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the U.S. military. For generations, Pentagon reporters have provided the public with vital information about how wars are fought, how defense dollars are spent, and how decisions are made that put American lives at risk. That work has only been possible because reporters could seek out facts without needing government permission. If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American. Independent reporting on the military is essential to democracy. It is what allows citizens to hold leaders accountable and ensures that decisions of war and peace are made in the light of day. This pledge undermines that principle, and the National Press Club calls on the Pentagon to rescind it immediately. This crackdown also comes at a time when the nation is witnessing a devastating hollowing out of defense trade publications, just as rigorous, independent coverage of military and national security issues has never been more essential." About the National Press Club Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Based in Washington, D.C., the Club has nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts newsmakers from around the globe, champions press freedom worldwide through its Press Freedom Center and serves as a hub for journalistic excellence and advocacy. Contact: Bill McCarren, Director, Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club 202-662-7534 | [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club Starbucks is bringing back the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso (Photo provided by Starbucks) A popular fall beverage is headed back to Starbucks. The coffee chain is bringing back its Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, according to USA TODAY. Starbucks is also adding an Apple Crisp Cold Foam and a new Apple Crisp Protein Cold Foam. The beverages will be available beginning Oct. 14 for a limited time. The Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso features Starbucks Blonde Espresso with notes of apple, cinnamon and brown sugar and topped with oat milk. Starbucks is releasing a first-of-its-kind menu item Starbucks has set a launch date for its new protein cold foams and lattes. AllRecipes reports the coffee chain will release the new menu items on Sept. 29. According to AllRecipes, Starbucks Protein Cold Foam is a bespoke protein powder mixed into a neutral cold foam base. The foam will come in a variety of flavors, including banana, vanilla (plain and sugar-free), chocolate, pecan, and pumpkin spice. Fast Company reports the cold foam has between 15 and 18 grams of protein. According to TODAY.COM, the protein cold foam was tested in five Starbucks stores. A shop owner smiling while turning around the 'open' sign in her shop window, ready to start the business day. Getty Images Cities across America offer varying advantages for entrepreneurs looking to start new businesses, according to a new study. WalletHub recently ranked the best cities to start a business, from restaurants to high-tech ventures. The study compared 100 U.S. cities based on their potential for long-term business success. You can read more about the methodology here. Starting a business can be very scary, considering one in every five startups doesnt make it past the first year, said Chip Lupo, Wallethub analyst. Thats why its especially important to live in a city that provides an environment where new businesses can thrive, with enough capital, workers and customers to keep it going long-term. Orlando, Florida, takes first place for best large cities to start a business. Orlando has seen a higher rate of small business growth compared to most other major U.S. cities. According to the Kauffman Early-Stage Entrepreneurship Index, startups in Orlando have a high survival rate, largely due to the citys high number of investors per capita, which helps new businesses secure the funding they need. The city also has a growing working-age population, providing a robust talent pool for new employers. The second spot on the list of best cities for starting a business is Tampa, Florida. Corporate tax rates here are low, which allows businesses to pocket more revenue. Similar to Orlando, Tampa has a high number of investors per capita. It also scores very high on the Entrepreneurial Activity Index, meaning that many startups in Tampa have a high survival rate. Austin, Texas ranks third among the best cities to start a business. The city boasts one of the highest rates of venture capital investment per capita in the nation, creating opportunities for various types of businesses to thrive. Austin also has a large population of college-educated residents, which can offer new businesses qualified employees to hire, along with the city having the best employment growth in the country. Heres the list of the 10 best cities to start a business in America: 1. Orlando, Florida Business Environment Rank: 1 Access to Resources Rank: 36 Business Costs Rank: 35 2. Tampa, Florida Business Environment Rank: 4 Access to Resources Rank: 10 Business Costs Rank: 37 3. Austin, Texas Business Environment Rank: 2 Access to Resources Rank: 4 Business Costs Rank: 81 4. Jacksonville, Florida Business Environment Rank: 5 Access to Resources Rank: 76 Business Costs Rank: 18 5. Miami, Florida Business Environment Rank: 3 Access to Resources Rank: 57 Business Costs Rank: 51 6. St. Petersburg, Florida Business Environment Rank: 6 Access to Resources Rank: 56 Business Costs Rank: 29 7. Boise, Idaho Business Environment Rank: 10 Access to Resources Rank: 44 Business Costs Rank: 45 8. Atlanta, Georgia Business Environment Rank: 14 Access to Resources Rank: 16 Business Costs Rank: 48 9. Raleigh, North Carolina Business Environment Rank: 24 Access to Resources Rank: 7 Business Costs Rank: 38 10. Hialeah, Florida Business Environment Rank: 8 Access to Resources Rank: 81 Business Costs Rank: 22 Did any Alabama city make the list? According to Wallethubs list of best cities to start a business, one Alabama city made the cut. Birmingham, Alabama ranked 36 out of 100, beating each city in the top 10 of best cities to start a business for its low business costs rank (3). Wallethub scored Birmingham 82 in business environment and 33 in access to resources. Shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, East Precinct officers were dispatched to a person shot call in the 4300 block of 41st Avenue North in Inglenook. (Carol Robinson) An argument during a party at a Birmingham home ended in gunfire, leaving one man dead and another injured. Birmingham police on Saturday identified the victim as James Burns Jr. He was 21 and lived in Pinson. Shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, East Precinct officers were dispatched to a person shot call in the 4300 block of 41st Avenue North in Inglenook. They arrived on the scene to find Burns unresponsive in the doorway of a house. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene. Shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, East Precinct officers were dispatched to a person shot call in the 4300 block of 41st Avenue North in Inglenook. (Carol Robinson) As officers began their investigation, they learned a second man showed up at UAB Hospital with a gunshot wound, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Were still trying to figure out how that male arrived at UAB Hospital, Fitzgerald said Friday night. Our officers and detectives are working to see if he was shot during this incident. Fitzgerald said there appeared to be a party taking place at the home. The victim was involved in a physical altercation that led to shots possibly being exchanged between the victim and a second male, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Our officers are guarding the person at UAB because we believe he may be the second person involved in this shootout, he said. It wasnt immediately clear how many people were at the party, but Fitzgerald said most of those in attendance when the shots rang out and before police arrived. Multiple shots were exchanged, Fitzgerald said. Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said the suspect is in the Birmingham City Jail on a 48-hour hold pending the ongoing investigation. Burns is Birminghams 59th homicide this year. One of the victims was shot in 2024 but died in 2025. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 91 homicides including the 59 in Birmingham. Police are asking for anyone who was at the party or has information about the deadly shooting call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Character cut-outs are seen at Paramount+'s South Park in San Diego event during 2025 San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2025, in San Diego. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Paramount+/TNS) TNS An executive producer for The Charlie Kirk Show and close friend of the conservative personality has asked Paramount to continue airing reruns of the episode that features a parody of the slain political influencer. As someone who can speak with some authority on this, Charlie loved that he was featured in South Park, Andrew Kolvet posted Wednesday on X. He would want the episode back up. Comedy Central, which is owned by Paramount, announced it will not air reruns of the second episode of the latest season after Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10 in Utah. The episode can still be found on the Paramount+ streaming service. Paramount did not respond immediately to The Times request for comment. Got a Nut, which premiered Aug. 6, follows Cartman taking over a podcast where he argues with students about political topics. In the episode, the South Park character changes his hairstyle to resemble Kirks and says he wants to become a master debater. When Comedy Central teased the episode, Kirk told Fox News Digital that he saw it as a badge of honor. We as conservatives need to be able to take a joke, he told Fox in late July. We shouldnt take ourselves so seriously. Around the same time, Kirk changed the profile picture of his podcasts Instagram and TikTok accounts to a picture of Cartman sporting the hosts hairdo. Since Kirks death, some businesses are showing little mercy to employees who speak out negatively about the situation. On Wednesday, ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live indefinitely after affiliates complained about comments the host made on Mondays show. DC Comics canceled its Red Hood comic book series after writer Gretchen Felker-Martin made comments mocking Kirks death on her Bluesky account. (Felker-Martin is transgender; Kirk regularly spoke out against transitioning.) On Thursday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr told CNBCs Squawk on the Street that were not done yet in terms of making changes to the media ecosystem. The family of Sterling Arnold filed suit this week, accusing the City of Huntsville, the Huntsville Police Department and two unnamed HPD officers of excessive force and wrongful death in connection to his 2023 death. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media A North Alabama mother is seeking justice for her late husband, who was shot and killed by Huntsville police officers two years ago. The family of Sterling Arnold filed suit this week, accusing the City of Huntsville, the Huntsville Police Department and two unnamed HPD officers of excessive force and wrongful death. Arnold died Sept. 14, 2023, after Huntsville police officers responded to an early evening call to Monroe Street near Church Street in Downtown Huntsville. HPD told AL.com that Arnold was armed and was shot during the encounter with police. He died from the gunshot wounds. Arnolds wife, Tangela Riles-Arnold, filed the lawsuit on Sept. 12, 2025. Riles-Arnold claims she called police a couple of days before Arnolds death to report her husband was having a mental health crisis and asked them to secure the firearms at his house. Police officers did not secure the weapon nor evaluate Arnold for a mental health intervention, she claimed. Two days later, she called the police again for a second mental health crisis. The officers found Arnold near his home at the Association of Realtors parking lot in Downtown Huntsville, where the fatal incident happened. The complaint asserts that Arnold was killed in front of his wife and four of his seven children. Riles-Arnold is requesting damages for emotional distress, parental support and more. The Madison County District Attorneys Office and ALEA investigators investigated the shooting. The DA cleared the officers involved in the shooting in September 2023. Matt Curtis Real Estate firm recently completed its 150th home in Central America as part of the companys Love Thy Neighbor initiative. The home was constructed for a Guatemalan family. Matt Curtis courtesy Matt Curtis Real Estate firm recently finished construction of its 150th home in Central America as part of the companys Love Thy Neighbor initiative. The project was completed in partnership with Casas por Cristo. The home was constructed for a Guatemalan family. The milestone reflects the firms ongoing commitment to giving back and creating a lasting impact beyond real estate, Company President Matt Curtis said. Were humbled to celebrate the completion of our 150th home for families in need, Matt Curtis said. Theres no greater joy than seeing the smile on a familys face when they receive the keys to their very first home. Its a reminder that our work is about more than housesits about changing lives and changing family trees. The Love Thy Neighbor program is a cornerstone of the companys mission, Curtis said. For every 100 homes sold locally, Matt Curtis Real Estate funds the construction of a home for a family in Central America. This years build in Guatemala was marked by community, worship, and celebration. Curtis also took part in the dedication ceremony and shared meals with members of the community. In the future, Curtis said his firm remains dedicated to expanding its service to clients in north Alabama and beyond through the Love Thy Neighbor Project. Alex Thomson holds a "Make America Great Again" hat during a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) AP Turning Point USA on Sunday will hold a public memorial service celebrating the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk," a conservative influencer and cofounder of the organization. Kirk died Sept. 10 after being shot while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University. Turning Point USA, which advocates for conservative policies among the countrys youth, wrote on its website that the service would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Charlie died doing what he loved: fighting for truth, for faith, for family, and for America, the site reads. His sacrifice will endure as a guiding light for generations. Though our hearts are heavy, we do not grieve as those without hope. Charlies legacy endures in his family, in Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, and in the millions he inspired to live with conviction. Doors are expected to open at 8 a.m. local time (10 a.m. CT) and the program is planned to begin at 11 a.m. local time (1 p.m. CT), according to the site. How to watch Multiple news outlets will be offering live streams of the event. Those include: Several high-ranking conservative political officials are expected to be in attendance at the service in Arizona. The full list of speakers announced so far includes: President Donald Trump Vice President JD Vance Erika Kirk White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Secretary of State Marco Rubio Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Donald Trump Jr. Tucker Carlson White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller U.S. Ambassador to India nominee Sergio Gor Kirk was a friend of Trump, and his work with TPUSA was recently largely credited with President Trumps unprecedented success with young voters this past election by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Tuberville cosponsored a resolution passed in the Senate this week with Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., that designates Oct. 14, Kirks birthday, as National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. I will continue fighting every day for the values Charlie believed in: faith, family, and freedom, Tuberville wrote in a release Thursday. If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. A brand new episode of the popular Outlander prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, premieres on Starz Friday, Sept. 19. During this weeks new episode, all focus shifts to Ellen as she must commit to a difficult test laid out by the Grants to prove her worthiness to marry into the clan. How to watch Outlander: Blood of My Blood Cord cutters looking to keep up with the weekly episode releases of the hit Starz original series can stream the show through a variety of streaming services, including cost-saving platforms like Philo. Philo is considered one of the most affordable traditional cable alternatives out there. At just $28 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. Fubo is another popular live TV streaming service that appeals to cord cutters. Starting at $84.99 a month after its 5-day 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 after free trial Fubo 5-day 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. What to expect from this weeks new episode Last weeks episode ending leads into this weeks episode effortlessly, and as announced by Colum, otherwise known as Laird McKenzie, Ellen is set to participate in a test that establishes her virtue, one that the Grants hope to solidify Ellens worthiness of joining their clan with the betrothal. Season 1, episode 7 Luceo Non Uro recap Last weeks episode proved to be one of the most difficult for all protagonists involved as no one seemed to catch a break from the constant battles each of them face. The start of the episode focused heavily on Julia and Brian. The opening scene captured Julia, Brian, Lord Lovat and Brians mother, Davina as they all gathered at a nearby church for the christening of Julias child. Though Brian and Davina know Lord Lovat is not the true father of Julias baby, they have decided to keep this secret to themselves to keep Julia safe. Fans who tuned in could see Julia struggling with the idea of participating in this very public spectacle, but to ensure the safety of her babyWilliam Henry Beauchampthe ceremony went on as planned. During the ceremony, Brians friend and cousin, Murtagh snuck in and with Brians betrayal still fresh on his mind, avoided Brian at all costs. Despite the sudden cold shoulder from his cousin, Brian attempted to talk to Murtagh following the ceremonys conclusion but fell short after Murtagh landed a solid blow to his cheek. In need of an explanation, Murtagh revealed to Brian he knew of his secret courtship with Ellen and thought it best to keep their distance for the foreseeable future. Although Murtagh was eager for some time and space away from Brian, he was ordered by Lord Lovat to take Brian to the secret Jacobite meeting that was approaching. Meanwhile at Castle Leoch, Ellen was busy preparing for her approaching nuptials when she was thrust into a situation regarding her brother Dougal, who against all orders from Colum, had decided to skip returning home from his duties to attend the Jacobite meeting, which would label the clan as traitorous to the clan. With no other option and to avoid raising suspicions, Ellen concocted a plan to find Dougal under the guise of visiting with the mistress who owned the property where the meeting was to take place and invite her personally to her upcoming wedding. While there, Ellen was to dissuade Dougal from donating clan MacKenzie funds towards the rebellion efforts. After arriving at the location of the meeting, Ellens plans were revealed to the mistress of the house who aided her in locating her brother, but despite her courageous efforts, Dougal had tunnel vision and promised the funds. Despite this, the meeting was interrupted by the Grants and the redcoats, who were on a mission to locate a thief in attendance who had executed a raid on the Grants property. While this was the main reason for the redcoats arrival, they quickly switched up and announced there would be multiple arrests following a suspicion on the meeting being Jacobite-related. Mass panic ensued, and though Brian was worried about himself and Murtagh, his primary concern lay with the fact that Ellen was there and could be harmed if her presence was noted. With this in mind, Brian shot a pistol which caused everyone to begin trampling. Luckily for the protagonists in attendance, Ellen, Brian, Murtagh, Dougal and the others managed to escape. Unable to keep themselves apart, Brian and Ellen reunite outside, only to be seen by Dougal who swore to reveal Ellens secret to Colum. Panicked, Ellen swore to reveal to Colum Dougals promise of funds to the rebellion. Following the chaos of the meeting, the episode shifted again and featured a still grieving Henry, who decided with Julia and their child dead (to his knowledge) he would return to his own time to care for their surviving daughter, Claire. With his plan in mind, he visited the brothel one last time to retrieve his last connection to Julia, her necklace she gave him. After listening to the lady at the brothel, who he had intimate relations with during last weeks episode as he wallowed in grief, he shut down any hopes of her accompanying him and left. Just as Henry was nearing the standing stones in hopes of returning home, he was cornered by the rest of Grants men and ordered to return to the estate to assist the laird with an assignment. The assignment turned out to be ordering Ellen to participate in an uncomfortable test that would determine her virtue, which the Grants felt was necessary after rumors alluded to Ellens unfaithfulness to Malcolm Grant. NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until October 20, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), if they purchased the Company's securities between April 29, 2025 to August 5, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Get Help Snap investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-snap-2/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Snap and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On August 5, 2025, the Company announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, disclosing a deceleration in advertising revenue growth due to "an issue related to our ad platform, the timing of Ramadan and the effects of the de minimis changes." On this news, the price of Snap's shares fell from a closing price of $9.39 per share on August 5, 2025 to $7.78 per share on August 6, 2025, a decline of about 17.15% in the span of just a single day. The case is Abdul-Hameed v. Snap, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-07844. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler Samsung is reportedly shaking things up with its upcoming One UI 8.5 update. The firmware will bring a fresh look to some of the most fundamental apps on your Galaxy phones. While were still a ways off from its official release, leaked images give us a glimpse into the design changes that Samsungs One UI 8.5 will bring to the Phone and My Files apps. It seems Samsungs goal is to make these apps easier to use with one hand and to give them a cleaner, more modern feel. This is what the Phone app looks like in Samsungs One UI 8.5 First up is the Phone app. As spotted by SammyGuru, the biggest change here is the navigation bar at the bottom. The three main tabskeypad, recents, and contactsare now housed inside a single, floating, pill-shaped container. A highlight will show which tab is active. This is a notable shift from the traditional separate tabs and appears to take some inspiration from Apples iOS. The update also brings a new feature called Direct voicemail, although its exact functionality is still a mystery. UI revamp for the My Files app in Samsungs One UI 8.5 Next, the My Files app is getting a significant overhaul in order to improve the user experience. The app is bringing back the circular icons for file categories, a design choice that was previously replaced by a pill-shaped layout. This return to a more classic look gives the app a clean, intuitive feel. The redesign also extends to the recent files and downloads cards. They now have a fresh look to match the new style. Samsung is also moving the search bar in the My Files app to the bottom of the screen. This change aims to improve one-handed navigation. Now it will be much easier to reach on larger displays. Another visual change is the return of the classic yellow color for folder icons, giving the app a more vibrant and recognizable look. The app will also show a PC-like folder path at the top for easier navigation. Its important to remember that these changes are from a leaked, unfinished software build. The app reportedly crashes after only a few seconds, indicating that there is still a lot of work to be done. The One UI 8.5 update is expected to debut on the Galaxy S26 series early next year. However, this early look provides an interesting early look at whats to come. Overall, Samsung seems to be actively working to refine the user experience of its most essential apps. Christopher Cash at Westminster magistrates court in April 2024. He learned this week that the case against him had been abandoned. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters Shortly before 10am last Monday, the Conservative MP Alicia Kearns received an unwelcome phone call. I dont know how to tell you this, said the specialist police officer on the line. Ten minutes later the Old Bailey heard what Kearns now knew. A long-awaited trial of two men a former parliamentary aide to Kearns, Christopher Cash, and an associate, Christopher Berry accused of spying for China was to be abandoned. The cops were equally disappointed, Kearns told the Guardian afterwards. The trial had been expected to be an extraordinary test of Londons already fraught relationship with Beijing. Scheduled to begin at Woolwich crown court on 6 October, it had been expected to hear allegations that politically sensitive information was passing from Westminster to a member of Chinas ruling politburo. Kearns, a key witness, had no forewarning. A week earlier, police from the Metropolitan polices SO15 unit, which handles spy as well as terror cases, had called to arrange a familiarisation visit to the court for her. Now she has been left frustrated. Something is very amiss. If the Crown Prosecution Service has the evidence, why not put it in front of a jury and test it? she said. The CPS said the case had been kept under continuous review. Prosecutors said on Monday that the evidential standard was no longer met, though the same standard applied when the two men were charged in April 2024 for allegedly breaching the Official Secrets Act, a decision to prosecute that required the consent of the then attorney general, the Conservative Victoria Prentis. Cash and Berry, who had always maintained their innocence, now had no case to answer. Cash said outside the court: The last two and a half years have been a nightmare for me and my family. . Berrys lawyer John Armstrong, complained that his client had not been given the satisfaction of knowing why it was dropped. Cash, 30, was first an intern, then a researcher and finally the director of the China Research Group, a group of Beijing-sceptic Conservative MPs set up in April 2020. Its first chair was Tom Tugendhat, and Cash assisted him on China issues. After Tugendhat became security minister in September 2022, Kearns succeeded him as chair and inherited Cash. Soon after, the backbencher also became chair of the foreign affairs select committee. At the end of November that year, Kearns led a delegation of MPs from the committee to visit Taiwan, a trip that was heavily criticised by Beijing, which considers the island nation to be part of its territory. The young researcher, a Mandarin speaker, was very capable, Kearns said. She asked Cash to obtain a parliamentary pass a process that requires a degree of vetting so he could be more readily available, though he was normally based at a serviced office in Waterloo. Kearns described Cash as somebody who often described his love of China but was always heavily critical of the Communist party. Cash helped the MP lobby to insert national security provisions aimed at preventing Chinese companies from undercutting British rivals into a procurement bill and expose the presence of covert Chinese police stations in the UK. She said he was within the trusted personal circles of her staff. Nevertheless, she was confident he had no access to anything secret because she was not in government, though she acknowledged he had no shortage of colour on how parliament works; what do MPs read, consume, how they operate. Allies describe Cash as an old-school guy who felt a strong loyalty to the UK. Having always been a law-abiding citizen and working in an area in which I was committed to promoting the interests of my country, I was suddenly accused of betraying that country, Cash said on Monday, reflecting on his shock at what had been for him and his friend Berry a dizzying turn of events. For months their arrest in March 2023 remained secret in normally gossipy Westminster. It was not until that September that newspapers picked up the story, but details were limited because it was legally difficult to discuss the case before it came to trial. The case that the CPS outlined in April 2024 can now be reported on, though prosecutors ultimately decided the evidence for their version of events did not meet the standard required. The CPS alleged a simple chain of communication from Cash to Beijings politburo. An individual judged to be a Chinese intelligence agent was said to have commissioned at least 34 reports from Berry on subjects of political interest, some of the ideas for which were touted by Berry. In turn, the CPS alleged, Berry obtained information for inclusion from Cash. The two had known each other for several years: both were teachers in Chinas eastern city of Hangzhou between 2017 and 2019. Though the CPS claimed most of the information provided by Cash was solicited by Berry, it said over time Cash shared unsolicited, off the record information too. Meanwhile, the Chinese agent was alleged by the CPS to have passed on politically sensitive information obtained from Cash via Berry to a senior member of the Chinese Communist party and a politburo member. This was deemed prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK because the information they passed on was directly or indirectly useful to the Chinese state. China criticised the proceedings from the outset, using language typical of its public pronouncements. This week a spokesperson for the embassy said the allegations were entirely fabricated and malicious slander. Cash did not have to defend himself in court but allies say he was neither paid nor blackmailed into helping. Though he accepts he passed on information to Berry in good faith, it was said to be material in the public domain on how parliament or British politics works, or uncomplicated analyses who he thought would win the next election. Berrys legal team was expected to argue that he believed the 34 reports at the centre of the case were written for a corporate client in China looking to expand in the UK. Armstrong, his lawyer, said the reports were a confection of open-source material from various sources, with Berry offering his thoughts on contemporary politics. Any information from Cash was unclassified Westminster gossip, he said. Some speculate that prosecutors were responding to political pressure as Labour tries to improve the UKs trading relationship with China. Kearns noted that Keir Starmer was hoping to visit China, perhaps sometime in 2026, and she accused Labour of a supine approach to the ruling Communist party. On Monday a Downing Street spokesperson said it was extremely disappointing that these individuals will not face trial. Similar comments were made by the security minister, Dan Jarvis, during a Commons debate on Monday in which multiple MPs were critical of the outcome. The decision to drop the case had been an independent one for the prosecutors, Jarvis said. Luke de Pulford, the executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, believes that if the case had gone ahead the defendants would have tried to litigate the question as to whether China was an enemy. Such a definition was required by the 1911 Official Secrets Act, under which the two were prosecuted, though it is not by its replacement, the 2023 National Security Act. Defining China as an enemy goes beyond normal government language and may not have pleased Beijing. In last Junes strategic defence review, China was said to pose sophisticated and persistent challenge to the UK. However, the issue is well established and was known about when Cash and Berry were charged. Prosecutors deny that any outside pressure played a part in their decision. It may have been a surprise, but the CPS says it concluded that the case was no longer strong enough, leaving two wrecked lives in its wake. Armstrong, Berrys lawyer, said his client, now a self-employed financial analyst, was just trying to pick up the pieces. Cash, meanwhile, said he was unhappy to see some MPs still trying to imply he had a case to answer. My arrest has destroyed my life and the career I loved, he said. This further campaign to assert my guilt simply amplifies the injustice that I have already had to face. I will comment more in due course. 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Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian Anti-immigration protesters have clashed with anti-racist counter-protesters in tense scenes in Glasgow this afternoon, a week after the largest far-right event in decades took place in London. The statue of Scottish statesman Donald Dewar, father of the Holyrood parliament, was surrounded by union flags bearing the words: Stop the boats and Unite the kingdom. Further down Buchanan Street, one of the citys main shopping thoroughfares, representatives from trade unions as well as anti-racism and Palestinian solidarity groups carried signs and banners reading Bairns not bigots, Aye welcome refugees and God hates fascists. By 1pm, hundreds of people waving placards reading The people will not be silenced and Just a worried mum had gathered at the steps leading up to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for the unity rally, which was first advertised by a podcaster called John Watt. A number of other groups, including Save Our Future & Our Kids Futures, which has been coordinating protests against an asylum hotel in Falkirk, stepped in and encouraged their supporters to attend after Watt announced on social media that he was pulling out due to unforeseen circumstances. Last week, the Daily Record revealed that Watt had been convicted of abusing two former girlfriends in 2018. There was a significant police presence and febrile atmosphere with the unity protesters blocked in at the top of Buchanan Street, while the larger group of counter-protesters amassed further down the pedestrian thoroughfare. Those making speeches to the anti-immigration protest struggled to make themselves heard above chants of shame on you and heavy beats from the anti-racists superior sound system, which blasted out sing-a-long hits by Abba and Chappell Roan. Standing by the steps leading up to the concert hall, three women held aloft a banner bearing a colourful portrait of the far-right Christian activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated two weeks ago in Utah. They praised Kirk, saying he wasnt scared to say what other people are afraid to say and bemoaned a lack of Christian teaching in modern Scottish schools while too many other religions are being brought in. One of the women, Laura Dunsmore, a nurse, said it was important to emphasise that the protest wasnt only about illegal immigration. Its about the state of the country, the state of the world. You cant access healthcare, our streets are crumbling. We cant vote our way out of this. We need change at a higher level. Further down the wide street, holding a handmade placard reading This mum welcomes refugees, Cat, a software technician from Glasgows Southside, was jigging to pop hits along with her partner and baby. I felt I should lean in to the mum bit especially because they are saying they want to protect women and children, and as a woman and a mum Im not worried about asylum seekers. Im far more worried about those guys over there. She said it was important to come to the counter-protest to show solidarity in particular after last weekends rally in London organised by the far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. As groups at the edge of the protest began pushing and shoving, police moved quickly to separate the two groups, closing off access routes for Saturday shoppers and tourists who expressed alarm or irritation at the disruption. After concluding their speeches, the unity rally had begun to disperse by 3pm, declaring the event a success, while a hardcore of counter-protesters continued to dance along to disco hits in a more carnival atmosphere. Police Scotland said it was investigating an assault. A spokesperson said: A 47-year-old man was arrested in connection with an assault during a protest on Buchanan Street. Areas of Glasgow have been draped in Saltires in recent weeks, in a direct parallel with the Operation Raise the Colours movement that has co-opted the St Georges cross in England, as ownership of the blue and white cross of St Andrew has become a cultural and political battleground in Scotland. Last summer, Scotland escaped the racist violence that spread across England and Northern Ireland after the horrific Southport killings in July. But a year later, the landscape is very different, with recent polling for More in Common suggesting that Reform was neck and neck with Scottish Labour in voting intention for next Mays Scottish parliament election, though behind the SNP. Immigration appears to be a top concern for Scottish voters for the first time and the Scottish government is facing a refugee housing crisis in Glasgow, Scotlands largest city. This article was amended on 22 September 2025 because after publication, Police Scotland issued a corrected statement. Earlier it said it was investigating the assault of a police officer. That was updated to say that the assault was by one member of the public on another, not on a police officer. An armed man claiming to be connected to law enforcement was detained Friday after entering the Arizona stadium where conservative activist Charlie Kirks memorial service is scheduled to take place Sunday, according to the Secret Service. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several Cabinet members are scheduled to speak at the service, with tight security measures in place. Kirk was a close adviser to the White House, and Trump credits him with bolstering the youth vote in the 2024 election campaign. The man, who was not named, entered State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and was observed exhibiting suspicious behavior, a statement released late Friday said. When Secret Service agents approached him, he claimed to be a member of law enforcement and said he was armed. An armed man was detained at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, ahead of the upcoming memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk (Getty Images) The individual is not a member of authorized law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody, the service said, adding that he had not been arrested as of late Friday night. The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location. The man had at least one gun and one knife when he was stopped, The Washington Post reports, citing a law enforcement official familiar with the matter, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. He also showed inactive law enforcement credentials and told Secret Service agents he was there to provide private security, the official added. The man was doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service tomorrow, Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Kirks organization, Turning Point USA, wrote on X. We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or US Secret Service, Kolvet said. Also important to note that this was before the site had been fully sealed and locked down. Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyones safety. The Department of Homeland Security has designated Kirks memorial a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. This allows the federal government to assign it sweeping security resources, on the same level as events such as the Super Bowl, which has previously been held at the same stadium. Those wishing to attend Sundays memorial are subject to stringent security checks. Absolutely no bags of any kind will be permitted. According to the official, Secret Service teams have been on the ground for several days coordinating security with other federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. A security perimeter will be put in place around the stadium on Saturday. Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Tyler Robinson, 22, was detained late the next day after handing himself in. Barbie and Peter Reynolds arriving at Heathrow airport on Saturday. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters A British couple who were detained without charge for nearly eight months by the Taliban in Afghanistan have arrived in the UK. Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her husband Peter, 80, were released on Friday, having been arrested as they travelled to their home in Bamyan province, central Afghanistan, in February. The couple, pictured smiling by Sky News as they arrived at Heathrow airport on Saturday, were held without charge in a maximum security prison, which included long periods of separation. They had lived in the South Asian country for nearly two decades and ran a training and education organisation. Their son, Jonathan Reynolds, said the family was thrilled and overwhelmed with thankfulness that the couple had been released and had returned to the UK. In a statement on Friday, the family said: We are overwhelmed with gratitude and relief to share that our parents, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, have been released after seven months and 21 days in detention by the Taliban. This is a moment of immense joy for our family, and we are deeply thankful to everyone who played a role in securing their release. The family said they wanted to extend their appreciation to the emir of Qatar for his leadership and compassion, and also thanked Mohammed Al-Khulaifi and Mirdef Al Qashouti for their diplomatic efforts and support. The statement said: Their dedication and humanity have made an unforgettable impact on our lives. We are also extremely grateful to the UK government for its commitment and support to our family, including ensuring that our parents had access to essential medication during their detention and upon release. We further thank the US government for its support to the US members of our family, and to the UN special rapporteurs for their intervention and support. This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation. While the road to recovery will be long as our parents regain their health and spend time with their family, today is a day of tremendous joy and relief, the statement added. We are forever grateful to the Qataris for standing with us during this difficult time. Thank you for giving us our family back. The couple had reunited with their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, in Doha, on Friday afternoon. The Taliban have never explained what prompted the couples detention. A spokesperson at the Taliban governments foreign ministry, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said on X that the couple had violated Afghan law and were released from prison on Friday after a court hearing. He did not say what law the couple were accused of breaking. The couple had five children, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who live in the UK and US. Their eldest son, Simon, died in 1993. Oxfam put 265 of its 2,100 staff at risk of redundancy earlier this year (Getty Images) The number of UK charities that have been forced to shut their doors for good has jumped by 74 per cent this year, with the rising cost of living, stalling donations and the increase in employers national insurance all blamed for the shocking rise. The sector has raised fears that people in need will be left without vital support, with Oxfam warning that charities are being asked to do more with less, at the very moment people need us most. There are also concerns that the governments Employment Rights Bill, which would require charities to guarantee hours for zero-hours staff and pay compensation for cancelled shifts, could further strain charities budgets, driving more insolvencies. Oxfam, which in April said it took the difficult decision to put 265 of its 2,100 staff at risk of redundancy, has now warned that charities are being asked to do more with less, at the very moment people need us most. The number of major UK charities, defined as those that recorded revenues of over 50k, shutting down jumped to 151 in 2024/25, up from 87 in 2023/24, according to charity commission data analysed by chartered accountants and business advisers Lubbock Fine. The firm said the increase in insolvencies reflects a triple hit of rising employment costs, stalling donations and reduced government funding. The surge in closures comes as demand for services such as food banks and counselling programmes is rising, leaving more vulnerable people without essential support. Earlier this year, Macmillan Cancer Support announced it had axed a quarter of its staff, downgraded its helpline and scrapped its flagship financial hardship scheme, which provided millions of pounds in grants to thousands of patients. Data from the Charities Aid Foundation indicated that there are four million fewer individual donors since 2019, while cash donations from British businesses have fallen by around 300m this year compared to last, equating to around 5,455 small charities going unfunded. Macmillan Cancer Support has scrapped its flagship financial hardship scheme A spokesperson for Oxfam told The Independent: Communities across the world are facing unprecedented levels of need, from conflict to climate change to rising inequality. Charities are being asked to do more with less, at the very moment people need us most. Rising living costs and higher National Insurance contributions are adding to the strain, and future cuts to UK aid risk deepening this crisis, stripping away vital lifelines for those living in poverty. "Aid is a smart investment in stability, security and opportunity for all of us. At a time of growing global challenges, the UK should be looking to strengthen its support for civil society, not scale it back. Hazra Patel, partner specialising in charities at Lubbock Fine, told The Independent: Charities in the UK are facing a growing burden of costs, leaving many with no option but to shut their doors. This is an alarming trend, as it leaves people in need without the vital support that charities once provided. Pointing to higher employers National Insurance Contributions, she added: Employment costs are rising on multiple fronts, forcing charities to cut back staff and scale down operations just to survive. Rising costs and stalling donations are hurting charities deeply, and government policy is offering little support. Many in the sector fear they will be forced to scale back or close altogether. In May, the Trussell Trust revealed a stark increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed across the UK, with a 51 per cent rise recorded over the past five years. The charity delivered nearly 2.9 million emergency food parcels in the year to March 2025, a significant jump from the 1.9 million distributed in the year to March 2020. This surge has prompted urgent calls for government intervention and a reassessment of welfare reform policies. A government spokesperson said: We support our charities through one of the worlds most generous tax regimes for the sector which provided 6bn in relief for the sector last year alone, including exemptions from paying business rates. This comes on top of removing barriers to support philanthropy, doubling the Employment Allowance to protect the smallest charities and creating a new Civil Society Covenant to usher in a new era of trust and partnership to tackle some of the countrys biggest challenges. US comedian and TV host Conan OBrien has said the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! should disturb everyone on the right, left, and centre. US network ABC pulled the show from schedules on Wednesday after Kimmels comments about the fatal shooting of conservative activist and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk. The president suggested on Friday that if any TV networks only give him bad press maybe their licence should be taken away. OBrien, 62, who hosted his eponymous talk show Conan from 2010 to 2021, said in an Instagram post: The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and the promise to silence other Late Night hosts for criticising the administration should disturb everyone on the right, left, and centre. Its wrong and anyone with a conscience knows its wrong. In an address to the audience during his show, Kimmel said the Maga gang are desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them. British satirist Jonathan Pie said Kimmel had implied the killer was Republican, and added: I would pull him up on that, because we dont know. Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Doug Peters/PA) He also told the Sky News Daily podcast: Were in an odd time when a late-night comedian is held to a higher standard than the president of the United States and his vice-president. On his own podcast, US senator Ted Cruz said he was thrilled about the suspension but also said that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carrs threat to ABC over Kimmels comments was dangerous as hell. Carr told Fox News on Thursday the FCC was going to continue to hold these broadcasters accountable to the public interest and added: If broadcasters dont like that simple solution, they can turn their licence in to the FCC. US comedian Jon Stewart hosted a special edition of The Daily Show on Thursday, portraying what he described as a patriotically obedient host and satirically admonishing his studio audience for booing clips of Mr Trump. Late Night With Seth Meyers followed a similar track on NBC, with the host telling his audience: The (Trump) administration is pursuing a crackdown on free speech completely unrelated, I just want to say before we get started here that Ive always admired and respected Mr Trump. Stephen Colbert was more direct in his criticism as he hosted Thursdays episode of The Late Show, which was preceded by a social media post from the shows official Instagram account which stated: The Late Show stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his staff. Meanwhile, The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon said: To be honest with you all, I dont know whats going on no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he is a decent, funny and loving guy. And I hope he comes back. His monologue also took a comedic angle, with an announcer censoring several of the punchlines to his jokes about Mr Trump. Former president Barack Obama suggested the issue was precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent. Mr Kirk, who was a prominent political commentator in the US and ally of the president, was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event on September 10. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged on Tuesday and could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Mr Kirk. Dublin Airport (Simon Calder) Dublin Airport is reopening a terminal after thousands of people were evacuated due to a suspicious luggage item. A bomb disposal squad was called by Irelands national police on Saturday afternoon after a luggage item of concern was discovered at Dublin Airport, prompting the evacuation of Terminal 2. The luggage was later declared safe after examination by the bomb disposal team and normal operations resumed at the airport. Police told The Independent that earlier reports in Irish media that one person had been arrested with suspected detonators in his bag were incorrect, clarifying that no arrests had been made. It comes as dozens of flights have been delayed and cancelled at European airports after a cyber attack on a service provider used for check-in and boarding systems, including from Dublin Airport. The main hall of Dublin airport (Getty/iStock) Police said they responded to a report of an item of airline luggage of concern at Dublin Airport. They added: Following a preliminary examination on scene, the piece of luggage was contained and deemed safe for removal from T2 to an alternate location which would not impact on airport operations. Dublin Airport, and associated access routes reopened for normal operations. Police are continuing their enquiries into the incident. Dublin Airport said it was also experiencing minor impacts related to a Europe-wide software issue. During a chaotic morning at the airport, a cyber attack rendered automated systems inoperable, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures. Click here to follow the latest on the cyber attack causing flight chaos across Europe. London Heathrow and Berlin Airport also said the attack was disrupting their flights, with passengers advised to check details of their journey with airlines before heading to the airport on Saturday. Heathrow said that Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for multiple airlines globally, is experiencing a technical issue which may cause delays for departing passengers. People at London Heathrow Airport, after flights were delayed following an alleged cyber attack targeted a service provider for check-in and boarding systems (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) (PA Wire) A Dublin Airport spokesperson said earlier: "Earlier, Terminal 2 was evacuated as a precaution. The safety and security of passengers and staff remain our top priority. "Some temporary disruption to flight schedules may occur, so passengers are advised to check with their airline for the latest updates. We appreciate our passengers patience and cooperation. "Separately, an unrelated software issue has affected airline check-in and boarding systems at some European airports today. This has had a minor impact at Cork and Dublin airports, where some airlines have implemented manual processes. "An Garda Siochana has advised that traffic remains heavy on routes approaching Dublin Airport." The former federal prosecutor who helped broker a controversial 2008 plea deal that let Jeffrey Epstein largely avoid prison time and serious charges in an early sex crimes case reportedly defended his record on Friday during lengthy testimony before a House committee. Alexander Acosta, the former U.S. attorney who negotiated the deal, was defiant, unremorseful, and evasive before the House Oversight Committee, according to Democrats. There was a clear lack of remorse, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia told The Miami Herald. This is someone who should at least acknowledge that he made a mistake his memory faded whenever we asked pointed questions. The testimony marked the first time Acosta, 56, has spoken under oath about the plea deal, which saw Epstein plead guilty to lesser state charges and avoid a federal sex trafficking case. Under the terms, the late financier and his associates also got immunity from federal prosecution. Epstein, who had been on federal officials radar since 2006, ended up serving just over a year in prison, much of the time being allowed to commute to his West Palm Beach office. An Epstein survivor has said she was raped during this period. Former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta reportedly defended his decision to strike a widely criticized plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 to resolve a sex-trafficking investigation (Getty) The scores of Epstein victims who had already come forward were not notified about the plea deal, and its terms were initially sealed, further preventing public knowledge about the agreement. Ive testified for six hours, Acosta told reporters of his comments before the committee. Ill let the record speak for itself. During his testimony, Acosta expressed concern that a potential loss in federal court wouldve been seen as a green light for Epstein to continue committing crimes, according to a committee readout. He also testified that he never met with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and that he never saw Donald Trumps name mentioned on any Epstein-related documents. The Independent has contacted the news network Newsmax, where Acosta serves as a board member, for further comment. FBI Director Kash Patel has sharply criticized original federal probe into Epstein allegations during Acostas tenure, referring to it as an original sin of the Epstein scandal (Getty Images) Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the committee, painted a different picture of the former officials testimony, thanking him for providing useful information and accusing Democrats of overly politicizing the process. They were battering around so many questions about Trump, Comer told Politico. The members were talking over each other. Acosta, a veteran government lawyer, went on to lead the Labor Department under the first Trump administration. He resigned in 2019 when Epstein was re-arrested as part of a renewed federal sex-trafficking investigation, saying he didnt want to be a distraction for the administration. During his testimony on Friday, Acosta said his decision to resign was his alone. Earlier this week, FBI Director Kash Patel testified in the Senate that Acostas case was the original sin of errors in how officials prosecuted Epstein. The Epstein scandal has continued to haunt the Trump administration, after the White House backtracked on further releases of information despite prior promises of major transparency (PA Media) The original case involved a very limited search warrant, or set of search warrants, and didn't take as much investigatory material it should have seized, Patel said. If I were the FBI director then, it wouldn't have happened. The Epstein scandal continues to haunt the Trump administration and the president, a former friend of Epstein who was accused of (and denies) writing a sexually suggestive 50th birthday letter to the late financier about a wonderful secret. The FBI, meanwhile, concluded this summer that Epstein did not maintain a long-rumored client list full of well-known figures, and that federal officials had determined no further disclosure is appropriate or warranted regarding the late sex offender. This angered a MAGA base that had been promised wide-ranging releases about Epstein. Officials in Congress, including Republicans, have continued to push for more information, subpoenaing the Department of Justice and the Epstein estate, among others. The Renton police department said the four suspects first argued with the woman, 39, on Monday evening then beat her after she saw them again later. Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP Four people including three teenagers are accused of a hate crime in Washington state after being arrested in connection with an alleged attack on a transgender woman that left the victim hospitalized, according to authorities. The Renton police department said the four suspects in the case first argued with the 39-year-old woman on Monday evening then beat her after she saw them again later. Investigators say they hurled homophobic slurs at the victim, who was attacked on a street near a transit center in Renton and suffered serious injuries. They chased her, knocked her to the ground, and repeatedly assaulted her, police said in their statement. Police documents obtained by ABC elaborate, recounting how the woman told officers she first encountered the group while telling them to stop harassing people at a local transit center. That drew the groups attention, and they began charging towards her, the police documents alleged. She told police she fell and heard someone yell a transphobic slur. As she tried to get up and leave, members of the group began assaulting her, and one of the alleged attackers choked her. The victim reportedly said she believed she was going to die. ABC reported that video of the reported attack recorded by a witness showed the group violently punch and kick the victim in her head and upper body, including while she was on the ground, according to what police wrote in documents. The group walked away while the woman was on the ground, police said. Police arrested two of the suspects boys ages 15 and 17 who were siblings near the scene of the alleged attack soon after it happened. A third boy, 16, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of assault and a hate crime. Police put out a plea on social media to help identify the fourth suspect, posting surveillance pictures of him, taking note of his distinctive facial hair, necklace and jacket. Court filings cited by ABC said officers identified him through his high school campus security team. A family member on the local Crime Stoppers chapters website recognized the man in the photo and urged him to surrender. Police said that man then turned himself over to police to be booked on counts of assault and a hate crime. Police did not identify the three teen suspects because of their ages. They identified the fourth as 25-year-old Ramodre Edwards. King county prosecutors charged the two sibling suspects with assault, strangulation, great bodily harm and a hate crime. Both pleaded not guilty and were ordered to remain on electronic home monitoring, prosecutors reportedly said. The third teen suspect was put on electronic home detention pending a charging decision from prosecutors, which was expected on 23 September, as ABC first reported, citing prosecutors. A charging decision for Edwards whose bail was set at $300,000 is also expected 23 September. It's no secret that grandparents practically turn to mush around their grandkids, and that's not limited to their human grandchildren! They love their fur grandbabies just as much, and not surprisingly, the feeling is mutual. And when one Golden Retriever puppy was first introduced to her new grandma and grandpa? Let's just say it was clearly love at first sight, to the point where the sweet little pup couldn't resist showering her granny in sweet kisses. Take a look at this video and get ready to say, "Awww!" Tofu the Golden might have just found her new favorite family member. How sweet is this? The way she looks up at her lovingly while showering her with kisses seems to say, "I am so happy to be in your arms and I love you so much." People who watched the clip can't get enough. One person said, "Someone is going to get spoiled rotten ," which is right on the money! Another viewer added, "Grandma wrapped around my paw " Other people couldn't get over Tofu's precious little belly and cute toe beans, and one chimed in with, "Giving Grandma so many kisses for those lovely puppy tummy tickles, and a big yawn " Related: Golden Retriever Puppy's 'Perfectly-Toasted' Glow-Up Has the Internet Smitten How to Successfully Introduce Your Puppy to New People When having your puppy meet new family members or friends, there are some steps you'll want to take to ensure it's a safe, comfortable meeting for everyone. The Wisconsin Humane Society suggests: Managing every interaction - when socializing a new puppy to new people, be sure to coordinate each new meeting. Watch your dog's body language, and if they appear fearful, have the person offer some treats. The organization adds, "Have them simply toss a few tasty treats to your dog and then ignore the dog. This helps your pup create positive associations and assures them that they wont be rushed into an uncomfortable situation, allowing them time to acclimate to the new person whenever they feel safe doing so." Related: Golden Retriever Puppy Gets Left Out of Crate by Accident and Pure Sweetness Ensues As far as Tofu is concerned, however? It's obvious there wasn't one ounce of fear in meeting her new family member, which is quite typical of Golden Retriever puppies! This is only the beginning of a beautiful love story that we can't wait to see continue. This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Heathrow said passengers should check their flight status before travelling. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters Flights have been delayed and cancelled at three leading European airports including Londons largest, Heathrow after the company behind the software used for check-in and boarding said it was hit by a cyber-attack. Airports in Brussels and Berlin are also experiencing delays and disruption as a result of the problem affecting Collins Aerospace, which works for several airlines at airports across the world. The attack has raised concerns about the robustness of the systems underpinning critical infrastructure, with a prominent cybersecurity expert suggesting the disruption could theoretically spread to more airports. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has said she is being kept informed. Im aware of an incident affecting airline check-in and boarding, impacting flights at Heathrow and other European airports, said Alexander. Im getting regular updates and monitoring the situation. If youre flying at Heathrow today, check with your airline before travelling. The attack has affected Collins Muse software. The company is a subsidiary of RTX, which advises other firms on cybersecurity, as well as providing services supporting military operations. Heathrow said passengers should check their flight status before travelling, and asked them not to arrive any earlier than three hours before a longhaul flight, or two hours before a domestic one. Brussels airport said the attack happened on Friday night and it meant the check-in and boarding processes could only be handled manually. It said the problem was in Collins hands, adding: This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights. The airport advised passengers to check their flight status with their airline and only travel to the airport if their flight was confirmed. Berlin airport said: Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution. Collins Aerospace said: We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our Muse software in select airports. We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. We will share more details as they are available. The European Commission said it was closely monitoring the cyber-attack, adding: While passengers are facing disruption, aviation safety and air traffic control remain unaffected Current signs do not indicate a widespread or severe attack. Prof Alan Woodword, a professor of cybersecurity at the University of Surrey, said the incident raised serious questions over why the airports appear to be reliant on Collins to fix the issue with Muse. Related: Inside the Jaguar Land Rover hack: stalled smart factories, outsourced cybersecurity and supply chain woes This suggested control of the system was probably centralised. Were Collins forced to close it off to allow it to deal with the problem, he said, the disruptions going to be enormous. Woodword also questioned why, given Muse is used in airports across Europe, only three had been affected. He said that, if the system was indeed centralised, this left open the possibility the attackers had so far picked only some of the airports they could target. Maria Casey, from Aldershot in Hampshire, was on her way to a two-week backpacking holiday in Krabi, southern Thailand, flying through Abu Dhabi. But her Etihad flight departing at 9.30am was delayed and she ended up queueing for three hours because baggage check-in had to be done manually with luggage tags written by hand. Only two desks were staffed, which is why we were cheesed off, she told the PA news agency. Didnt know then it was a cyber-attack until four hours later. Chinese women playing greater role in sci-tech innovation: astronaut Wang Yaping Xinhua) 10:36, September 20, 2025 BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese women are playing a greater role in sci-tech innovation through institutional and policy support from the country, said Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping, also a part-time vice president of the All-China Women's Federation, at a press conference on Friday. Supports include the National Natural Science Foundation of China easing the age limit for female applicants, and research institutions exploring the provision of child care subsidies and flexible working times, said Wang, who was a crew member on China's Shenzhou-10 and Shenzhou-13 missions, and the first female astronaut to enter China's space station. These measures reduce the pressure to take care of children and families that women working in science and technology experience, support their devotion to research work, and allow them to balance family and career, she said. The press conference was held by State Council Information Office and concerned a white paper titled, "China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era." According to the white paper, China has brought in a series of measures to support female sci-tech talent in undertaking national projects and participating in decision-making, and to improve their evaluation and incentive mechanisms. For example, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has eased the age limit for female applicants to young scientist programs, extending it by two to five years compared to male applicants in different categories. Wang also noted that China has a societal atmosphere of gender equality. "It is the concept of gender equality that has given me the opportunity to carry out two space flight missions and realize my dreams," she said. The white paper shows that the amount of female sci-tech talent in China has gradually increased, the structure of that talent pool has been continuously optimized, and capabilities have improved significantly. These women have made outstanding contributions to basic theory, applied technology, engineering practices and other areas. According to the white paper, there were 2.846 million women in the research and development sector in 2024 -- an increase of 1.692 million from 2012. It also shows that women now account for 45.8 percent of China's sci-tech workers, making important contributions to the frontiers of sci-tech innovation. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) Matias Augusto Travizano, 45, summited Mt. Shasta by hiking the Clear Creek Trail on September 12 but lost the route during descent due to poor visibility (Getty Images) A tech entrepreneur from Argentina died last week following a tragic fall while descending Mt. Shasta in Northern California. Matias Augusto Travizano, 45, reached the 14,179foot summit by hiking the Clear Creek Trail, a nontechnical route often used during late summer and fall. After summiting on September 12, he was descending with two other individual climbers when poor visibility caused by cloud cover led them off course, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said. Straying from the trail, they found themselves stranded on an ice sheet near the Wintun Glacier, at about 13,500 feet, officials said. Travizano and one companion attempted to glissade, slide down snow or ice, to return to safer terrain, officials said. During the slide, Travizano struck a boulder and briefly lost consciousness. For roughly five to 10 minutes, Travizano remained motionless as the second climber tried to descend and assist him, officials said. When the second climber got within 80 feet, Travizano regained consciousness and began moving, but slipped again and fell out of sight, ultimately plummeting nearly 2,000 feet over ice and rocky terrain. The third climber arrived shortly after and contacted emergency services. Mt. Shasta attracts up to 6,000 summit attempts every year (Getty Images) Search and rescue efforts responded, including a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew. Travizanos body was located later that day near the base of the glacier, at about 10,200 feet. Travizano was an engineer and entrepreneur who had ties to San Francisco as the former CEO of GranData. According to the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, he also had connections to Argentine President Javier Mileis 2024 visit to Silicon Valley. The stratovolcano in the Cascade Range typically sees about one fatality per year, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Despite the risks, it remains a popular destination for climbers, attracting 5,000 to 6,000 summit attempts annually thanks to its easy road access, challenging terrain, and breathtaking views of snow-covered peaks and forested landscapes. The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office has conducted 15 rescue missions on Mt. Shasta this year, six of which required ground teams and nine involving helicopter extractions by CHP Northern Air Operations. Officials have since stressed the importance of not hiking alone, as having a partner can be critical in emergencies. Queues at Heathrow Airport after a cyber attack hit a service provider - Jamie Lorriman/Jamie Lorriman Hundreds of flights from Heathrow were delayed on Saturday by a cyber-attack on a service provider for several major European airports. More than 400 flights from the west London airport set off behind schedule and at least seven were cancelled, according to flight tracking data. The incident, which left automated systems for check-in and boarding inoperable, also affected Brussels and Berlin airports, causing major disruption across the continent. Manual check-in procedures were brought in to mitigate the issues, which had not been resolved by early on Saturday evening. Arguments broke out between passengers waiting in long check-in queues at Terminal 4. One woman shouted at another: Get out and stop pushing. Everyone is tired, its not an excuse. Other passengers held heated conversations with airport staff. The attack targeted Collins Aerospace, a large American aviation and defence company that provides passenger processing systems globally. The firm said it was aware of cyber-related disruption to its Muse passenger handling software and was working to restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The Muse system allows airlines to share check-in desks and boarding gates, and reportedly operates at over 100 airports worldwide. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said she was aware of the incident and was monitoring the situation. Claims Russia was involved The Government faced calls to find out if the Kremlin was behind the attack, with a spokesman for the Liberal Democrats observing that three Russian military jets had violated Estonian airspace hours before the incident. Moscow insisted its aircraft kept to neutral waters over the Baltic Sea. The National Cyber Security Centre said it was working with Collins Aerospace and affected UK airports, alongside Department for Transport and law enforcement colleagues, to fully understand the impact of an incident. The centre, part of GCHQ, Britains cyber intelligence agency, declined to say whether it was investigating potential Russian involvement. Brussels Airport said the attack occurred on Friday night and a total of 14 flights had been cancelled by mid-afternoon. This is impacting processors, gates, and other European airports, a spokesman said. This means that passenger boarding and check-in is being done manually. This takes longer, which is why some flights are being cancelled or delayed. There were long queues at Brussels International Airport - Harry Nakos/AP The German government office for information security said aviation security had not been compromised by the attack and it was in contact with Berlin airport, which was among those affected. Dublin Airport said it and Cork Airport had suffered a minor impact, with some airlines implementing manual check-in processes. At Heathrow, long queues were reported as airport staff attempted to deal with passenger frustrations. Helen Steel, 49, who was trying to fly home with KLM to Oslo via Amsterdam with a cat called Thomas, said the experience had been an absolute nightmare. Ive got an animal here, so Im very concerned about his welfare, she said. Ive been shouted at twice and I broke down in tears because I was worried about him. None of us have had any information whatsoever. Whenever we ask ground staff, they shout at us. Tereza Pultarova, a freelance journalist from London, went to Heathrow in the early hours of the morning to catch a flight to Amsterdam, where she was to take a connecting flight to Cape Town. But on arrival at Terminal 4, she was faced with queues and delays that led to her missing her flight. They were checking in people at the rate of, like, one person per 10 minutes, she said. Im not exaggerating. It was just insane, the queue wasnt moving. Ms Pultarova was to visit the Square Kilometre Array telescopes in the Karoo Desert for work. She was eventually told she could get on the 3.30pm flight, meaning she missed her connection in Amsterdam. Im a freelance journalist, so its causing me loss of income, she said. Origins under investigation There is no evidence of a widespread or severe attack, the European Commission said in a statement. It added that the origin of the incident was still under investigation Cybersecurity experts said that the aviation industry was increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. Vykintas Maknickas, chief executive of NordVPNs travel eSIM app Saily, said airports and airlines often used the same service provider, meaning an attack on a single vendor could have a widespread impact. While this approach boosts operational efficiency, it significantly reduces resilience, he said. Russian hacking groups have been repeatedly accused of conducting cyber-attacks on Ukraine and its Nato allies. Russia has also reported suffering several aviation-related cyber-attacks in recent months. On Friday, Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg said its website had been hacked and knocked offline, without providing further details. Aeroflot, the Russian airline, was forced to cancel dozens of flights in July due to an attack that was claimed by a pro-Ukraine group. Our live coverage has now ended Our live coverage of the cyber attack affecting Heathrow and several other European airports has now ended. Thank you for reading. Lib Dems: Government must find out if Russia is behind cyber-attack The Liberal Democrats have urged the Government to determine whether Russia is behind a cyber-attack affecting British and European airports. A party spokesman said: After the flagrant violation of Estonian airspace, the Government needs to urgently establish if Vladimir Putin is now attacking our cyber systems. If the Kremlin is behind this attack, causing chaos at our busiest airport, we need to be firm in our response. Estonia has said three Russian military jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday morning. Russian hacking groups have been accused of conducting widespread cyber-attacks against Ukraine and its Nato allies. Russia has also reported suffering several aviation-related cyber attacks in recent months. On Friday, Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg said its website had been hacked and knocked offline, without providing further details. Aeroflot, the Russian airline, was forced to cancel dozens of flights in July due to an attack that was claimed by a pro-Ukraine group. National Cyber Security Centre working with affected British airports The National Cyber Security Centre said it is working with Collins Aerospace and affected UK airports, alongside Department for Transport and law enforcement colleagues, to fully understand the impact of an incident. It added: All organisations are urged to make use of the NCSCs free guidance, services and tools to help reduce the chances of a cyber attack and bolster their resilience in the face of online threats. The National Cyber Security Centre is part of GCHQ, Britains cyber intelligence agency, and provides computer security guidance and support to industry and government. Collins Aerospace is the American company targeted in the attack. It provides passenger processing systems to airports globally. Pictured: People queue at Heathrow Airport after cyber-attack Queues at Heathrow Airport - KC Barnard/PA Long queues and frustration at Heathrow Terminal 4 Long snaking queues have been reported at Heathrow Airports Terminal 4. Many passengers have resorted to sitting on the floor as airport staff attempt to manage customer frustration. One passenger said she broke down in tears after being shouted at by staff amid the disruption. Helen Steel, 49, who was trying to fly home with KLM to Oslo via Amsterdam with a cat named Thomas, said the experience had been an absolute nightmare. Ive got an animal here, so Im very concerned about his welfare, she said. Ive been shouted at twice and I broke down in tears because I was worried about him. None of us have had any information whatsoever. Whenever we ask ground staff, they shout at us. 14 flights cancelled at Brussels Airport Brussels Airport has confirmed that 14 flights have been cancelled so far today, up from 10 earlier. The airport said the average delay for departing flights is now one hour. It advises passengers to only come to the airport if they have confirmed with their airline beforehand that the flight is going ahead. Aviation security not compromised, says German government Aviation security has not been affected by todays cyber attack, the German federal office for information security said. The office added that the global system for handling passengers is currently not operational and that the procedure was being done manually at affected airports. It said it was in contact with Berlin Airport, which is among those affected. Air travel increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, cyber expert says The air travel industry is increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, cyber security expert Vykintas Maknickas warned. Mr Maknickas explained that different airlines and airports often rely on the same service provider for passenger handling, which means an attack on a single vendor can have widespread impact. Todays attack highlights the increasing vulnerabilities within the aviation sector as airports and airlines continue to rely on interconnected systems for operations, he said. Many airports, including those affected in this incident, rely on the same third-party systems for passenger handling. While this approach boosts operational efficiency, it significantly reduces resilience, he added. A single cyberattack on one vendor can quickly escalate into widespread disruptions across multiple airports. Dublin Airport terminal evacuated as safety precaution Dublin Airports terminal 2 has been evacuated after a suspicious item was reportedly found in the security scanners. The airports operator said the move was taken as a precautionary measure and that the safety and security of our passengers and staff is our absolute priority. Irish police have arrived and passengers are being directed to assembly points, RTE reported. An Irish Defence Forces bomb disposal unit and counter terror police were sent to the airport, the Irish Examiner reported. It is not known if the incident is related to the cyber attack affecting several European airports. Pictured: Long check-in queues at Brussels Airport People stand in a line to check in after a cyber attack caused delays at Brussels International Airport - Harry Nakos/AP Flight chaos spreads to Dublin Flight disruption at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airport has spread to Dublin, Eurocontrol, the continent-wide air traffic control organisation, said. Eurocontrol said airlines had been told to cancel 50 per cent of their flight schedules due to the IT issues affecting Brussels Airport. It added that Dublin Airport is experiencing similar problems and that operational measures may need to be taken, without specifying what they would be. According to flightradar24, 32 upcoming departures from Dublin are delayed, with an average wait time of 27 minutes. Pictured: People queue at Heathrow amid cyber attack disruption Travellers wait near a check-in area at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 - Isabel Infantes/REUTERS Traveller describes insane queues at Heathrow Tereza Pultarova, a freelance journalist from London, went to Heathrow in the early hours of the morning to catch a flight to Amsterdam, where she was to hop on a connection flight to Cape Town. But on arrival at Terminal 4, she was faced with queues and delays that led to her missing her flight. They were checking in people at the rate of, like, one person per 10 minutes, she said. Im not exaggerating. It was just insane, the queue wasnt moving. Ms Pultarova was to visit the Square Kilometre Array telescopes in the Karoo Desert for work. She was eventually told she could get on the 3.30pm flight, which means she will miss her connection flight in Amsterdam. Im a freelance journalist, so its causing me loss of income, she said. It was a short break - from the 21st to the 26th - so its three nights at the Karoo site. Its one of those things where you dont have really flexibility. So for me, its really been a big bummer. Im monitoring the situation, Transport Secretary says The Transport Secretary said she is aware of an issue affecting flights at Heathrow and is monitoring the situation. Heidi Alexander said: Im aware of an incident affecting airline check-in and boarding, impacting flights at Heathrow and other European airports. Im getting regular updates and monitoring the situation. If youre flying at Heathrow today, check with your airline before travelling. No solution yet, Brussels Airport says Brussels Airport has confirmed that the disruption is due to a cyber attack, and said it still has not resolved the issue. A spokesman said: One of our external service providers, who provides us with a system for passenger check-in and boarding, was hit by a cyber attack last night. This is impacting processors, gates, and other European airports. What were seeing is that as of this morning, there hasnt been a solution yet. So, very concretely, this means that passenger boarding and check-in is being done manually. This takes longer, which is why some flights are being cancelled or delayed. Nearly 170 departures delayed at Heathrow 165 departures from Heathrow Airport have been delayed so far today and four have been cancelled, according to FlightRadar24. Delays are currently lasting an average of 40 minutes, it stated. The live flight tracker also states that 33 arriving flights have been delayed. London Gatwick Airport, which has not reported being affected by the cyber attack, is currently experiencing departure delays of 41 minutes. What you need to know about refunds and compensation Flights have been delayed and cancelled at Heathrow Airport after a cyber-attack hit a service provider for several major European airports. You can read everything you need to know about refunds and compensation in our guide here. Pictured: Long queues at Brussels Airport People wait at Brussels Airport after a cyberattack that caused disruption at several European Airports - Marta Fiorin/REUTERS EasyJet says it does not expect flight disruption on Saturday EasyJet said it does not expect the reported cyber attack affecting several major European airports to disrupt its flight schedule on Saturday. An airline spokesman said: Were aware of an IT system issue affecting a small number of airports. While we are currently operating as normal and do not expect this to impact our flying programme for the remainder of the day, we continue to monitor the situation closely. Service provider working to resolve cyber attack issues The airport service provider targeted in a reported cyber attack said it was working to resolve issues caused by the incident. Collins Aerospace said on Saturday: We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our Muse software in select airports. We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. We will share more details as they are available. The Muse software is a passenger processing system, which reportedly operates at over 100 airports worldwide. Flight radar shows reduced departures at Heathrow Credit: FlightRadar24 Were aware of cyber-related disruption, service provider says The parent company of the check-in service provider affected by a reported cyber attack said it is aware of disruption to its software at several airports. RTX, which owns Collins Aerospace, said: We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our Muse software in select airports. The Muse software is a passenger processing system, which reportedly operates at over 100 airports worldwide. Brussels Airport significantly affected Brussels Airport says it has been significantly affected and that there will be a large impact on flight schedules. An airport spokesman said: There was a cyberattack on Friday night 19 September against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems affecting several European airports including Brussels Airport. This means that at the moment only manual check-in and boarding is possible. This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights. The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. What is Collins Aerospace? The disruption affecting London Heathrow and other major European airports is linked to an attack on Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for multiple airlines globally. Collins Aerospace is an American aviation and defence company owned by parent business RTX, which also controls Raytheon, the defence contractors, and the aerospace firm Pratt & Whitney. Heathrow says technical issue causing delays In a statement published to X, Heathrow Airport said: Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers. While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling, the statement continued. Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight. Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption. Brussels Airport warns of large impact on the flight schedule after cyber attack Brussels Airport said a cyber attack carried out on Friday night had rendered automated systems inoperable. The airport said that only manual check-in and boarding were available. This has had a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights. The service provider is actively working on the tissue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, the statement finished. Good morning Welcome to our live coverage of disruptions at major European airports after a cyber-attack. People carry the coffins of journalists killed by Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen. Photograph: Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Thirty one journalists and media staff were killed by Israeli strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen last week in what the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Friday was the deadliest attack on journalists in the last 16 years. Israel struck a newspaper complex in Sanaa, Yemens capital, which housed three Houthi-connected media outlets on 10 September. At the time, members of the Yemeni armys press arm were finishing the weekly print edition, according to the publications editor-in-chief, which increased the number of journalists present during the strike. At least 35 people were killed in the attack, including one child who accompanied a journalist to the office, and 131 were wounded, according to the Houthi ministry of health. All of the journalists worked for either the Houthi-affiliated 26 September newspaper or Yemen newspaper. The attack was the second-deadliest against journalists that the CPJ had ever recorded, after the Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines in 2009. It is a brutal and unjustified attack that targeted innocent people whose only crime was working in the media field, armed with nothing but their pens and words, Nasser al-Khadri, the editor-in-chief of 26 September, told the CPJ. Killing journalists or media workers, even those who have an affiliation to armed groups, is against international humanitarian law unless they directly take part in hostilities. The Israeli military said in a statement that it had struck military targets in Sanaa that included the Houthi public relations department, which distributed psychological terror. It also said the strikes were in retaliation to continued Houthi attacks on Israel, which the Houthis have said are meant as solidarity with Palestinians during the war on Gaza. The Houthis have consistently launched missiles at Israel since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, and have targeted ships in the Red Sea, which they determine to have an association with Israel. The CPJ said the attack in Yemen comes as part of a larger pattern of Israel killing media workers across the Middle East and excusing those killings by attempting to portray journalists as combatants. Since 7 October 2023, Israel has killed 247 journalists in Gaza, according to the UN human rights office. When Israel bombed media tents and killed six journalists, including Al Jazeeras Anas al-Sharif, in Gaza City on 10 August, Israel claimed without evidence that they were members of Hamas. On 26 August, an Israeli double-tap strike on al-Nasser hospital in southern Gaza killed five more journalists. Related: IDF warns aid workers only hospitals are protected sites in northern Gaza In Lebanon, Israel also killed journalists affiliated with pro-Hezbollah channels, as well as members of Hezbollahs media office, all of whom would be considered civilians under international law. Since 7 October 2023, Israel has emerged as a regional killer of journalists This latest killing spree is not only a grave violation of international law, but also a terrifying warning to journalists across the region: no place is safe, said the CPJ regional programme director, Sara Qudah. There has been a global outcry against Israels systematic killing of journalists in Gaza, but no apparent consequences for Israeli soldiers who killed media workers. The killing of Yemeni journalists went largely ignored by governments, creating fears of further impunity. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson addresses the TUC Conference at Brighton Centre on September 9, 2025 in Brighton, England - James McCauley/Getty Images Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appears set to launch yet another assault on Britains private schools. Having already imposed VAT on fees paid by hard working parents, her department is now laying the groundwork for a significant rise in the sums paid by those private schools that opt for Ofsted inspections. This would be another blow to the finances of many schools, but perhaps more importantly would send a deeply negative signal about the course of Government policy. Private schools are one of Britains last remaining great assets, providing a high-quality education to British pupils and valuable export earnings. We should be supporting parents who make great sacrifices to invest in their childrens future, not saddling them with even higher costs. Instead, the ill-judged imposition of VAT on fees already appears to have led to the closure of multiple institutions; this latest proposal is the last thing the sector needs. Ms Phillipson is one of two candidates for the Labour deputy leadership, and is understood to have Sir Keir Starmers backing in the race. It is notable, then, that in her attempt to fend off the challenge of Lucy Powell, the candidate with the apparent backing of the Left, that Ms Phillipson is launching another assault on private education and suggesting that scrapping the two-child benefit cap could be on the table in the near future. More spending on welfare is the last thing the public finances need; it is also the sort of policy likely to appeal to Labour voters. Levying taxes and fees on private education may result in the loss of prized educational assets, but is likely to play well with activists motivated by class hostility. It is a worrying sign that Ms Phillipson appears to believe these demagogic policies are necessary in order to win. A further tilt to the Left within the Labour party could well result in more spiteful measures targeting private schools, motivated less by an intention of promoting the wellbeing of British pupils, or ensuring that children receive the highest quality education on offer, but instead by the long-held ambition of activists to cut the sector down to size. This would be a tragedy for the students who attend these schools, and for Britain as a whole. Banned from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia will hold a rival international song contest on Saturday, with an emphasis on "traditional values". Instead of camp, think conservative - patriotic pop with a PG-rating. "Intervision" was launched under the order of Vladimir Putin, with the hope it would serve as an expression of Moscow's international pulling power. There are contestants from 23 countries, which are a mixture of Russia's allies, old and new, including Belarus, Cuba, and Tajikistan, as well as China, India and Saudi Arabia. The United States, originally the odd one out, was due to be represented by an artist called "Vassy". But late on Saturday, the organisers announced she had pulled out - as a result of "unprecedented political pressure from the government of Australia". Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister and deputy chairman of the supervisory board of Intervision, said the contest "was not striving for any political effect". The organisers "expressed their regret" over the US decision, but stressed that it would still be represented on the judging panel by singer Deep Purple. 'War whitewash' Intervision is not entirely new. It was originally launched in the 1960s as an instrument of Soviet soft power, before largely fading from view in the 1980s. According to Moscow, its revival has nothing to do with politics. But Ukraine has condemned it as propaganda, and an attempt to whitewash Russia's war. It was a point I put to some contestants after their final press conferences, but it didn't go down well. "We don't think like that, we are here to spread peace," India's Rauhan Malik told me, when I asked if his participation was a show of support for Russia's invasion. "Are you not turning a blind eye to Russia's aggression?" I countered. "I have no idea about it," he said. "I have no idea about the current situation that's happening. I don't want to speak about that as well." Really? He had no idea? But before I could go on, I felt a forceful hand on my shoulder and a minder stepped in. The intervention was even quicker when it came to speaking to Brazil's act. As soon as I mentioned the word Ukraine, I was drowned out by shouts of "no, no, no, no" and the duo were ushered away. Where's the glitter? Intervision is not just a reaction to Russia's recent exclusion from Eurosivion, however, it's also a reaction to the contest's values and what it's come to represent. Its celebration of sexual diversity and LGBTQ+ rights are seen as a symbol of what the Kremlin calls the West's moral decline. In contrast, Intervision organisers say their contest will promote "traditional, family values." Judging by the costumes on show ahead of last week's draw, that translates to less glitter, more embroidery, with a thematic emphasis on national heritage. Read more from Sky News: NATO responds after Russian military jets 'violate' Estonian airspace 'Gender testing rules would have earned me an Olympic medal' Two ambulance workers arrested in connection with six deaths So what do Russians think of Intervision's resurrection? Can it replace Eurovision? "We don't miss Eurovision," Galina and Tatiana say, underneath a collection of purple and pink 'Intervision' flags near Red Square. "It was so horrible, especially lately. We didn't like watching it at all." Polina agrees, believing Russia's version will be "more interesting". "Many countries that participated in Eurovision want to boycott it, so it's interesting to see a more peaceful event now," she says. Igor is more circumspect. "I'd like to believe that this isn't a political event," he says, "but rather an event that unites nations and people." Intervision will succeed in uniting some nations. But at the same time, it may only deepen divisions with others - further evidence that Russia and the West are singing very different tunes. CNN analyst Van Jones revealed Saturday that the day before Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor college debate event, the conservative activist had messaged him inviting him onto his show. The liberal pundit believes Kirks final text to him offers a powerful message about debating and managing political disagreements. Jones and Kirk had been sparring publicly over the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and its relationship to race. Writing on Substack, Jones said of Kirk: He said the gruesome killing of a White woman by a Black man was motivated solely by anti-White hatred. I denounced those comments on CNN as unfounded. He went on TV and denounced MY denunciation. Then he unleashed a firehose of tweets, challenging my argument. CNN contributor Van Jones, pictured in March, revealed Charlie Kirk sent him a final message the day before his assassination as the two argued online (Getty Images for Anti-Defamation League) Kirks pushback sparked an online torrent of racist death threats against me, the likes of which I have rarely seen, Jones wrote. Things were seriously heading off the rails. To his surprise, in the middle of their spat, Kirk reached out in a direct message. Hey Van, I mean it, Id love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race, Kirk wrote in his message on X, which Jones shared on his Instagram. I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well, the slain 31-year-old conservative activist had added. We can disagree about the issues agreeably. On Substack, Jones further wrote: Unfortunately, before I could even respond, Charlie Kirk was killed seemingly assassinated for the words he'd spoken. I've taken issue with many of those words sometimes strongly but never his right to speak them. Never his right to express those views and then go home to his family. That is a sacred American value. The liberal commentator also wrote on Instagram: When our public dispute started going sideways, whats Kirks response? He pushed for more civility, not more stridency or venom. For all our differences, neither Charlie nor I ever wanted to see the other person harmed or silenced. Jones condemned the murder of Kirk on the day it happened, writing: Todays attack on Charlie Kirk is absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking. He fought with words, not weapons. There is no place for political violence in our society, and those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice. My prayers are with Charlies loved ones, the traumatized students at Utah Valley University, and all who have been impacted by this senseless act. Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN, Jones stressed that he and Kirk were not friends and explained his reasoning for releasing the message. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an outdoor live debate event on September 10 (Getty Images) I'm watching the whole country talk about Civil War, censorship, justifying murder. About this guy. This guy is reaching out to his mortal enemy, saying we need to be gentlemen, sit down together and disagree agreeably, and the next day, he's killed, Jones said. He continued: He was not for censorship, he was not for Civil War. He was not for violence. He was for dialogue, open debate, and dialogue even with me. I did not agree with him on literally almost anything, said Jones, but we were words, not weapons guys And we were getting into a position where we could get some real debate going, whether it's going to be on CNN on his show, that wasn't worked out, but I would have taken him up. I wanted to beat Charlie Kirk in a debate. I didn't want somebody to shoot him. Speaking about the reaction to Kirks murder, Jones said: We need to lower the temperature. Yes, we disagree. But like he said, we can disagree agreeably We have a choice now. This could be the beginning of us getting off of this pathway. But the pathway we're on, Anderson, is scary. It's about more violence, it's about more retribution, it's about more censorship, it's about more of everything that nobody wants, but we can't seem to get off of it. Jones concluded: Charlie Kirk, in this last message was pointing a way out. Liverpools habit of conceding goals from positions of strength caused them problems again as they found themselves hanging on for a 2-1 win in the 247th Merseyside derby. A fifth successive league victory kept the champions in an unassailable position at the top of the table but, while there was no need for any late drama of recent matches, they never appear more vulnerable than when 2-0 up. Three times in six matches this season they have been pegged back from that position only to score added-time winners, but when Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike scored inside 29 minutes at home to Everton it appeared it would be plain sailing. But, as this campaign has proved, nothing is straightforward for Arne Slots side, which is still adjusting to the influx of summer signings, and a strangely lacklustre second half allowed the visitors to significantly change the dynamic with Idrissa Gueyes 58th-minute strike. Everton then finished strongest but just did not have enough quality to snatch an equaliser, and David Moyes left Anfield having equalled Sir Bobby Robsons unwanted record of never having won at the ground in 23 attempts, losing the last nine in succession. Summing signing Florian Wirtz was dropped to the Liverpool bench for the first time while Everton were relying heavily on their own 100million man albeit on loan Jack Grealish for inspiration, but his every loss of possession, mis-control and error was jeered mercilessly. Conor Bradley, making his first start of the season, had a relatively easy job in the first half but faced a more difficult job after the break. Ryan Gravenberch fired the home side in front (Peter Byrne/PA) Another fast start saw Liverpool take the lead in the 10th minute. Mohamed Salahs looped cross dropped into the right-hand side of the penalty area and Gravenberch, not renowned for his finishing, allowed it to bounce before hooking a shot across and over Jordan Pickford. The Dutchman did not score at all last season but already has two in five games. Salah whipped a shot over while Cody Gakpo mis-hit a volley into the ground before Ekitike showed them how it should be done. The France international, whose ability to drop deep to turn and run at Evertons defence, finished off a brilliant move which cut through the visitors static midfield, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister combining before Gravenberch slide through an inviting pass. Ekitike controlled with his first touch and rolled an angled shot through Pickfords legs with his second. Hugo Ekitike doubled LIverpools lead (Peter Byrne/PA) Beto, whose only sight of goal was a difficult one when Iliman Ndiaye crossed behind him, was replaced by Thierno Barry at half-time, but it was Liverpools slow start to the second half which gave Everton hope when there appeared little. While Slot was preparing his first changes Curtis Jones and Wirtz to re-energise his side, Grealish swung a cross to the far post where Ndiaye laid it back for Gueye to smash home. Alexander Isak replaced Ekitike not long after but even the British record signing, still short of match fitness, struggled to turn the tide back in Liverpools favour. The full-time whistle came as something of a relief for the hosts, who extended their current narrative of winning while being far from their best. Evertons season, meanwhile, has stalled after the international break but Moyes will take encouragement from their second half even if it did not amount to anything. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, from an RNLI vessel. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA More than 1,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Friday, according to Home Office figures, ending a spell of more than a week with no new arrivals. Thirteen boats carrying 1,072 individuals made the crossing on Friday, which averages more than 80 people a boat. It is the third time this year the figure for a single day has surpassed 1,000 and brings the total number this year to a record 32,103. Before Friday, there had been eight days with no arrivals recorded in Dover, Kent, due to adverse weather and sea conditions. Ministers are hoping their one in, one out plan will provide a deterrent to would-be asylum seekers if they believe they risk being quickly sent back. Three people have been removed from the UK so far under the deal with France. Related: First person removed to France under one in, one out asylum deal, says UK Home Office sources said an Iranian man had been returned on Friday, following the removal of an Eritrean man after he lost a high court attempt to halt his removal, and an Indian national was deported on Thursday. The first flights carrying asylum seekers from France to the UK under the deal are expected to take place next week. Labour intends to increase the number of people being sent back under the pilot deal over the coming months. The treaty allows the UK to immediately detain anyone who crosses the Channel and, within about two weeks, agree with the French authorities to return the individual. For each migrant the UK returns to France, another migrant with a strong case for asylum in the UK will come in return. Ministers have praised the returns, with the deputy prime minister, David Lammy, saying they provided an immediate deterrent to people seeking to cross the Channel. But the Conservative shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, said it would offer no deterrent effect whatsoever, adding that the numbers returned so far were pathetic. Tevin Tobun didn't give up early business ideas after being turned down for The Prince's Trust funding. For a kid in South East London, it was literally like moving to Scotland as it was such a different world for us, logistics entrepreneur Tevin Tobun recalls of his journey from Camberwell to Middlesex University in the mid-1990s. It was the realisation that I needed to do things very differently. You're talking about a 45-minute journey to college, making new friends and understanding that the world is maybe broader than everything I've seen up to that point. It didn't take him long. When Tobun completed his health studies degree in 2001 he began to take a shine to business. He read newspapers, listened to the news and took in that the then-Labour government was starting to change how schools were funded. Read More: Meet the British billionaire who still works harder than anyone he knows He conceived a one-stop shop service idea to oversee support, facility and construction services, which were previously under local authority remits. Tobun pitched the idea to The Prince's Trust for a 3,000 grant but was turned down. However, his bus journey home from Clapham cemented a desire to succeed. I was just going to try and that clearly was one of the greatest decisions I ever made, he says. Living in a crowded home, he used a 500 undergraduate overdraft to secure two months rent on a small office space nearby. It was a former boiler room with no windows and Tobun recalls dripping with sweat, even with the door open, as he scoured the Yellow Pages and hit the phones. Tevin Tobun is at the helm of one of the UKs leading independently owned B2B last-mile food logistics specialists. (Ernest Simons) His business break came at age 22 when the female head of London's Walworth Academy asked him to tender for its support services. Tobun wore a suit for the first time and, realising he couldnt compete with the other experienced companies in the room, focused on what he could do. That shifted my pitch completely because it became about, You need this done in six weeks. You need people who are flexible and agile to be able to meet this'. I said I'll do whatever it takes to make sure this is delivered. This is the only opportunity I would ever get. Tobun won the 250,000 contract, marking the beginning of a journey into multiple sectors spanning three continents. His company, GV Group, has now grown into one of the UK's largest independent transport and logistics companies. Twenty years after Tobun entered the business world, GV Group had sales of 33m. Read More: 'Future is the USA' for 40m British-made success story After brokering his first school contract, Tobun began to focus on improving last-mile delivery in London. In a pre-congestion charge era, Tobun won a deal with Westminster Council to oversee logistics and supply chain across its borough after concocting a schools partnership plan where cooked meals could be offered to all. His portfolio expanded to Platebox, delivering school meals annually, and Foodmove, which facilitates cross-sector warehousing and deliveries. Tobun also envisaged London's streets becoming clogged with heavy lorries and the rise of delivery services. As his businesses grew under the flagship GV Group originally called Gate Ventures, with the first two letters of a friend Gavin and his own forename Tobun began to look into automating his services by building a marketplace platform to help small businesses and upwards. The Routd platform helps all manner of businesses that require efficient last-mile logistics. It was future-proofing what tomorrow might look like, and what I've always focused on about business is what people can't see, says Tobun. Tobuns latest venture is with AI-led, last-mile logistics platform Routd, which has launched in the US with a global contract from Amazon and helps delivery drivers and transport firms. The company is forecast to achieve a turnover of over 3.5m in 2025, its second full year of trading. Tobun anticipates a 15m turnover for Routd by 2028. I was in the US and someone asked me how I, as a UK company, came to the US and made such a success, says Tobun. I said it was because what happens is British people come to America and try to be American. I was very clear. The uniqueness is that we come from a very diverse environment. So it meant that every time I think about the profile of what a customer looks like, I think about all those people. "And I was just very clear that we were going to be true to what we do, which is: 'how do we add value to a business?'" Tevin Tobun, left, at the The Black Excellence Awards at The Savoy Hotel in 2021. (Dave Benett via Getty Images) Employing around 1,000 staff globally at GV Group, with half based in the UK, the fast-growing Routd has about 40 employees. For me, the Holy Grail is always about what the future holds and creating an agile business that continues to meet those ever-changing demands, he adds. Next year will mark Tobuns 25th year in business, including his early forays as a solo entrepreneur. I've learned very quickly that people can let you down when everything is at stake, he adds. It took me 10 years to have CEO on my business card, because for me it was a reminder that without people there is no Tevin." It was just a constant reminder that leadership has to be leading from the front, where people understand that you are very clear on the role they play for the success of a company. Read More: 'I returned to my old office to sell ties after being made redundant' In 2023, Tobun was inducted into the Dr Martin Luther King Board of Sponsors at Morehouse College in the US. In January he was given the Freedom of the City of London. Over two decades on from first venturing away from his south London roots, Tobun also returned last summer to Middlesex University to receive an honorary degree. No matter your background, he said at the time, I urge each and every graduate to have the audacity to believe they can rewrite their narrative and build a legacy no matter how humble their beginnings. CEO Says: Tevin Tobun on... How I lead "When you try to join our team, I always try and make people understand that it's not about being a cog in the wheel, it's being in an entrepreneurial business. I didn't learn business the traditional way. I've never applied for a job, I was never a junior or senior manager. I learned business by making mistakes. So, the very first thing is accepting that you will make mistakes and spending your energy fixing them. Let everybody just come up with ideas, but be much more accepting that I might say something that just doesn't work, and doesn't make sense. We'll try something else. And that is really creating an environment where sometimes in meetings you'll be stunned at what people bring to the table." Read more: Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Hoyle said: We must pursue all avenues to ensure the protection of members and people that work within the House of Commons. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian The UK parliament has been left vulnerable to foreign actors after charges against two men suspected of spying for China were dropped, the speaker of the House of Commons has warned. Speaking to the Times, Lindsay Hoyle said the decision to drop the charges effectively gave Beijing licence to operate within parliament. Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, had denied accusations of providing information prejudicial to the interests of the state in breach of the Official Secrets Act between December 2021 and February 2023. Related: UK government disappointed charges dropped against men accused of spying for China The men were due to go on trial next month but charges against the pair were dropped on Monday, sparking criticism across both sides of the political aisle. As speaker, I take the security of this house incredibly seriously. I believe this leaves the door open to foreign actors trying to spy on the house, Hoyle said. This door must be closed hard. We must pursue all avenues to ensure the protection of members and people that work within the House of Commons. It will not be tolerated. Cash worked as a parliamentary researcher and was director of the China Research Group. He was closely linked to then senior Tories, including the former security minister Tom Tugendhat and Alicia Kearns. The director of public prosecutions said there was no outside pressure influencing the decision to drop the charges. Hoyles warning follows remarks made that day, when he said he was a very unhappy speaker after being told the case would not go ahead. Given the very important issues raised by this case, I am asking officials to consider whether any further steps which should be taken, operational, strategic or legal, to ensure that all those who work in this parliament are able to undertake their activities securely and without interference, Hoyle said. I am a very unhappy speaker with whats happened. The fact that for two years, two years, and its taken until today for somebody to withdraw this case. That is not good or good enough. Stephen Parkinson, the chief prosecutor in England and Wales, said he shared the disappointment, and indeed frustration, expressed by many parliamentarians, as well as members of the public, that this prosecution had to stop. He said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which he leads, had determined the case had to be stopped because of an evidential failure. Cash and Berry had denied allegations that they collected and communicated information that could be useful to an enemy between December 2021 and February 2023. On Monday, they found out they no longer faced prosecution as Little told the Old Bailey that the evidential stage of the case was no longer met. Parkinson said in a letter: Although I am not in a position to address in detail the reasons that we came to our decision, I think it important to highlight two points stated in court that were not repeated in all sections of the media. First, prosecution counsel Tom Little KC informed the court that, having kept the case under review, we had determined that the case could no longer proceed to trial since the evidence no longer met the evidential test (which you will be aware is the requirement that there is a realistic prospect of a conviction). Accordingly, the reason that this case had to be stopped was due to an evidential failure. It is important that I reiterate that at the time the charging decision was made it concluded, correctly in my view, that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute. Parkinson noted that securing a conviction would have required proving China was an enemy as stated in the Official Secrets Act 1911. The law has since been changed with the National Security Act 2023, which he said contains more extensive provisions to deal with espionage and those who are acting on behalf of foreign powers. Your Party conference expected to go ahead despite major rift between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana Your Party is pushing ahead with plans for its founding conference in November, despite major divisions between co-leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, which have left the future of the party in doubt. Insiders have told The Independent that diplomatic efforts are underway within the new left-wing group to try to heal divisions although it is not expected that any resolution will be reached quickly. It comes after Ms Sultana said on Thursday she had been subjected to a sexist boys club amid a dispute over a new membership system. The membership row led to Corbyn seeking legal advice (PA) However, despite the row, which has even led Mr Corbyn to say he has sought legal advice, the party has no plans to cancel its conference, The Independent has been told. The conference, which was announced on Tuesday, is expected to see thousands of delegates come together in November for the first time and has been described by one insider as the litmus test for the fledgling party. In an email to supporters, the party said it would open membership applications by the end of September, ahead of the conference two months later. But it did not give precise dates or a location. On Thursday morning, an invite went out to supporters of the outfit, so far described as Your Party in its campaign material, inviting them to officially sign up and give it financial backing. But Mr Corbyn described this as an unauthorised email and warned people in a statement posted on social media not to sign up via the link. The former Labour leader and Independent MP for Islington North also said legal advice is being taken over the message, which featured the names of four other Independent MPs who have set up an ad-hoc parliamentary group with Mr Corbyn. They are Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohamed and Shockat Adam. Any direct debits should be immediately cancelled, Mr Corbyns message said. In turn, Coventry South MP Ms Sultana said: After being sidelined by the MPs named in todays statement and effectively frozen out of the official accounts, I took the step of launching a membership portal so that supporters could continue to engage and organise. Despite Mr Corbyns warning, she insisted supporters of Your Party should sign up now as the portal was a safe, secure, legitimate means of becoming a member of the party. Ms Sultana added: My sole motivation has been to safeguard the grassroots involvement that is essential in building this party. Unfortunately I have been subjected to what can only be described as a sexist boys club: I have been treated appallingly and excluded completely. Later on Thursday, the party said it had reported itself to the UKs data protection watchdog over the morning email, claiming that a false membership system has been unilaterally launched. It said data had been collected and payments taken and that the data controller had flagged the matter with the Information Commissioners Office, citing its responsibilities to our supporters and duties under the law. The party said the developments were a blow for everyone who has put their hope in a real alternative and that Ms Sultana has not been excluded from any discussions. The row over whether the membership portal is legitimate is the latest in a series of disagreements between the two MPs over the direction of the party, which has yet to hold an annual conference or decide on an official name. Earlier this year, Ms Sultana announced she would be setting up the new left-wing political party with Mr Corbyn, before he appeared ready to confirm this was the case. She has also reportedly clashed with Independent MP for Blackburn, Mr Hussain, over their different views on trans rights. The party had begun to build momentum with more than 750,000 supporters signed up since its launch earlier this year under the placeholder name of Your Party, according to Ms Sultana. But opponents on Thursday also highlighted a Companies House listing that showed Mr Corbyn ceased to be a person with significant control of Your Party UK Ltd on 15 September. It is understood that this is because the former Labour leader fell below the threshold as other Independent MPs became directors. The Pentagon has demanded that journalists pledge not to use any unauthorized material, including unclassified information, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth cracks down on the media amid fury over leaks from his department. If any journalists do not obey the departments new rules, they risk having their credentials revoked, Hegseth said in a post on X Friday. The press does not run the Pentagon the people do, Hegseth said. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules or go home. A 17-page document was circulated to media organizations Friday, outlining the latest rules to restrict the press. The Defense Department, recently rebranded the Department of War under the Trump administration, said that information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is cracking down on the media following a string of major leaks from the Pentagon (Getty Images) It added that only authorized persons who have received favorable determinations of eligibility for access, signed approved non-disclosure agreements, and have a need-to-know may be granted access to classified information. The move was condemned by the National Press Club, which said the restrictions were a threat to the independent reporting provided by Pentagon journalists for generations. That work has only been possible because reporters could seek out facts without needing government permission, the organizations president, Mike Balsamo, said in a statement. If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see, Balsamo added. That should alarm every American. Hegseth also removed several news organizations from their dedicated Pentagon offices in February, including the New York Times, NBC News and NPR, to make way for right-wing outlets including Newsmax, OAN and Breitbart. Hegseth, who has suffered a string of major leaks under his watch at the Pentagon, has taken extreme action to clamp down on insiders speaking to the press. The move was condemned by the National Press Club, which said the restrictions were a threat to the independent reporting provided by Pentagon journalists for generations (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) After the Signalgate scandal in March, Hegseths team began administering polygraph tests in April to those in his inner circle, U.S. officials, and others with knowledge of the matter, The Washington Post reported at the time. The alleged spate of polygraphs came during a tumultuous period where Hegseth fired three senior Pentagon appointees Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick who he accused of leaking classified and sensitive information to the media. The men deny any accusations of wrongdoing. Hegseths department was engulfed by the Signalgate scandal in March after former national security adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added The Atlantics editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a chat group with some of the administrations most senior officials. Hegseth shared minute-by-minute updates in the chat group about a U.S. strike in Yemen. Waltz was ousted from the post following the embarrassment, and was confirmed Friday as Trumps U.S. ambassador to the United Nations by the Senate, while Hegseth clung on to his position. Cars and residential buildings were damaged during Russian strikes on the outskirts of Kyiv on Saturday - Reuters Poland and its allies have scrambled fighter jets to ensure the safety of Nato airspace after a Russian airstrike near Ukraines western border. Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness, the Polish armed forces said on Saturday. Nearly all of Ukraine was under air raid alerts early on Saturday morning following warnings of Russian missile and drone attacks from Kyivs air force. Poland scrambled the fighter jets after Moscow launched strikes near its border with Ukraine, but Polish military officials stressed the operation was preventative and aimed at securing airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened area. The Warsaw-led operation, which ended at around 7am local time on Saturday, was launched partly because of a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine last week. During that escalation, Polish and other Nato fighter jets were forced to shoot down Russian drones flying over eastern Poland, causing some to crash into farmland and damage residential areas. At the time, Poland said this was a blatant attempt at provocation by Russia and one that appeared to probe Natos air defences, as well as its readiness to respond to military threats. Saturdays scrambling of fighter jets also came hours after Russian aircraft violated Estonian airspace, in what Tallinn described as an unprecedentedly brazen escalation. Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 jets, which can carry hypersonic missiles, entered its airspace via the Gulf of Finland without permission before circling for 12 minutes. In response, Nato sent Italian F-35 jets stationed in Estonia to intercept the aircraft. Russia denied violating the Baltic states aircraft, with a spokesman claiming the incident involved a scheduled flight... in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring. Moscow launched wider attacks on Ukraine on Saturday, which killed at least three people and targeted the countrys civilian areas, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. The enemys target was our infrastructure, residential areas and civilian enterprises, the Ukrainian president said, referring to attacks in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy and Kharkiv. Mr Zelensky added that a missile equipped with cluster munitions struck a building in the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine. Russia, along with the US and Ukraine, is not party to the convention on cluster munitions, which bans their usage. Credit: SESU_UA / X Each such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure, Mr Zelensky continued. He said he is hopeful that upcoming talks in New York with Donald Trump will bring his country closer to an agreement that includes security guarantees for Kyiv. I would like to receive signals for myself on how close we are to understanding that the security guarantees from all partners will be the kind we need, he said. Security guarantees are, for Kyiv, a crucial part of any ceasefire pact with Russia because they would prevent Moscow from breaking the agreement and launching a renewed invasion. However, the Trump administration has repeatedly ruled out Nato membership for Ukraine, which would be the strongest deterrent against further Russian aggression. Mr Zelensky went on to say it was important that the West is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if the next round of peace talks were to fail. If the war continues and there is no movement toward peace, we expect sanctions, he added. Rachel Reeves is seeking to fill a 50bn black hole in the national finances - Nichlas Pollier/Bloomberg Rachel Reeves is poised to announce a VAT hike on cab journeys which will hammer residents of rural areas, industry insiders have warned. Campaigners said the Chancellor would use her autumn Budget to unveil a taxi tax which would raise around 750m a year for the Treasury. It comes after figures showed borrowing had hit record highs, excluding the Covid pandemic years, overshooting official estimates by 11.4bn between April and August. Ms Reeves is expected to announce a slew of painful tax rises at her Budget on Nov 26 to fill a 50bn black hole in the national finances. The taxi industry fears it could be one of the victims, with the Treasury currently considering proposals to impose 20 per cent VAT on all journeys. Rural residents hammered Industry figures said that doing so would push up the cost of trips outside London, disproportionately impacting those who live in the countryside. Michael Solomon Williams, from the Campaign for Better Transport, said: Taxis and private hire vehicles are an important part of an integrated transport mix, especially for people who live in rural areas, cant drive or need accessible door-to-door travel. The focus should be on making public transport more affordable and accessible not taxing the services that fill its gaps, hiking prices and undermining connectivity. Under the current rules, taxi firms outside of London do not have to charge VAT on journeys because their drivers are classed as self-employed contractors. Individual cabbies do not hit the required earnings threshold of 90,000 a year at which VAT liability kicks in, meaning that no tax is due to HMRC. Uber, which does charge VAT on the profit from journeys, challenged the status quo and initially won a court ruling which would have forced other companies to pay the tax too. At that point the Government launched a consultation on standardising the system by simply applying full VAT to all private hire vehicle journeys. The initial verdict was overturned on appeal last summer and that decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling handed down in July. Treasury plans to go ahead But despite the decision, ministers have confirmed that they are still considering going ahead with imposing a blanket 20 per cent VAT rate. Earlier this month Dan Tomlinson, the exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said in response to a written question on the issue: The Government continues to take this complex issue very seriously and recognises businesses need for certainty. The Government is carefully considering the wide range of views shared through last years consultation on the VAT treatment of private hire vehicles and will publish a detailed response soon. Treasury ministers have previously suggested a decision would be announced at the budget, saying in response to another question that decisions on tax policy are taken at fiscal events in the context of overall public finances. Industry insiders said they had been told that the Chancellor planned to go ahead with the VAT raid and would announce it at the Budget. The Treasury has estimated that it would raise around 750 million, though the taxi industry disputes that figure. Breach of Labour manifesto The Stop the Taxi Tax campaign, which has been set up to oppose the move, said that it would be a breach of Labours manifesto pledges. A spokesman for the group said: The Taxi Tax breaches Labours manifesto promise not to raise VAT. Not only that, it will hit those living in rural communities especially hard, who lack reliable and accessible public transport. We urge the Chancellor to stick to her promise, stop the The Taxi Tax and avoid dealing another blow to people in rural and isolated communities. Polling for the campaign, carried out by Strand Partners, found that seven in 10 voters were opposed to increasing VAT on cab journeys. Almost six in 10 respondents living in rural villages said they would reduce their use of taxis if fares increased and half said they would find a 20 per cent rise unaffordable. A Treasury spokesman said: We take this issue very seriously and recognise its complexity. We are reviewing feedback from our recent consultation and will publish our detailed response shortly. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has told Sir Keir Starmer it is time to look at rejoining the European Union to ease the countrys economic woes and get a grip on the small boats crisis. Lord Kinnock, who led the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992, said the UK could no longer afford the huge self-inflicted losses created by leaving the European Union and that restoring membership would be a major boost for growth. He said he understood the reluctance within government over the issue, but sooner or later, were going to have to say if we really want sustained economic growth, we have to be part of a body of the single market with our nearest neighbours. The comments by Lord Kinnock, a former European Commissioner and vice-president of the European Commission, come at the same time as warnings that Rachel Reeves will have to raise taxes in the Budget in November to meet her self-imposed borrowing rules. On Friday, experts warned that unexpectedly high government borrowing figures in August meant tax rises were inevitable. Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock has made a number of interventions in recent weeks, urging Starmer to change course on several key policies (Getty) Lord Kinnock said: If we rejoined, wed be able to get rid of the economic growth deficit, which is costing us 100bn a year, which means the government is losing 40bn in tax revenue. We cant afford to carry on losing revenues on that scale or the investment in jobs that would go with that amount. We need to resume normality and be part of our continent again. It would hugely help our economy out at a time of desperate need in a major way. It wouldnt be marginal, it would be about five per cent of GDP added to our economy, he added. I think it has always been time to look at rejoining the EU. Lord Kinnock also argued that EU membership would strengthen Britains ability to manage migration, as Sir Keir fails to get a grip on illegal migration with small-boat crossings at a record high. Around 1,000 people crossed the Channel in dinghies on Friday, while the government has so far only been able to deport three migrants under its one in, one out returns deal with France after a slew of last-minute legal challenges. Lord Kinnock said: It would help the small boats crisis, too, as we will be part of the Dublin Protocol again, he said. Under that protocol, which we participated in until 2021 when we fully left the EU, anyone who arrived by irregular means could be returned to the last EU country through which they came from [France]. Lord Kinnock with Keir Starmer as the 2024 election results came in (PA) At the time, we didnt have to do it much as there were very, very, very few people arriving by irregular means. Why? Because they knew that when apprehended, they would be sent back. We had to get out of the Dublin Protocol when we left the EU, something believers of Farage and the rest of them never acknowledged, but it was always the truth. When we left the EU, we left the Dublin Protocol, which is the main deterrent to irregular migration. That is what has happened. On free movement, Lord Kinnock said the system had never been properly enforced before Brexit. If you havent got a job within three months of moving inside the single market, you have to go home. Before Brexit, we had a system without limitation, and that was a mistake, as people need reassurance that if people arent coming here to work, then they are not as welcome as they would be if they were making a contribution. When we had the figures before the referendum, the migrant workers from the rest of the European Union were generating a surplus revenue of about 2.6 per cent to 3bn a year. For very understandable reasons, they were young, working, made little demand on the education system, virtually no demand on the NHS, and they werent unemployed. They were generating much more than they took out. Experts have warned Rachel Reeves will have to raise taxes in the Budget (Toby Melville) Lord Kinnock has called for Britain to return to full EU membership, but would also support remaining outside the bloc if Britain rejoined the single market. The most sensible proposal was made back in 2018 by my son, Steve [Kinnock, MP and care minister], who advocated for a common market, too. That is to say, rejoining the European Free Trade Association with Norway. It would have meant we were in the single market and the customs union, we wouldnt have to accept the rules of the European Union, without it being on the council of the commissioner or in the parliament. Although, he continued, I much prefer the idea of restoring full membership because it gives the UK power and influence over our nearest and biggest market of the European Union. It would be an enormous benefit to our country and people. He conceded that Labour would face political difficulties in pursuing re-entry. It is something a Labour government can do but not easily and without having a big argument, which is an inhibition. I think the sensible people in the government understand there would be this enormous diversion of a huge debate over re-entry. They are reluctant to do it for good reasons because they want to focus on promoting growth and restoring public services. I understand the reluctance, but sooner or later, were going to have to say if we really want sustained economic growth, we have to be part of a body of the single market with our nearest neighbours. It is not the first time in recent months that Lord Kinnock has urged the government to adopt a different stance on certain issues. In July, he suggested a wealth tax would bolster the public finances without breaking Labours election pledges, while earlier this month, he claimed those supporting Palestine Action are not terrorists in the latest blow to Sir Keirs government, which proscribed the group. A government spokesperson said: We will not be rejoining the European Union. Thanks to the new UK-France treaty, people arriving in small boats can now be detained and sent back to France, with the first returns having taken place this week. Prime Minister Keir Starmer - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters Tomorrow Sir Keir Starmer will formally announce that Britain will recognise Palestinian statehood. While symbolic in most respects Britain ceased to be the colonial power in the region in 1948 there will be at least one real world impact: Hamas will be able to point to a tangible outcome of its terror campaign against Israel, and claim its tactics work. The Prime Minister is also understood to be preparing further sanctions against Hamas, the first to be imposed by this Labour Government. Hamas is already a proscribed terror group in the UK, with multiple tranches of British sanctions against members and funders set out in the past, but these additional sanctions are welcome as far as they go. Yet we must accept that they will make no significant impact to Hamass prospects, and will do little to accelerate the defeat of a genocidal terror group that unleashed latter-day Einsatzgruppen on Jewish civilians on October 7 2023. In doing so, it seems likely that Sir Keir is striving to appear even-handed, betraying our erstwhile ally Israel while hoping to sweeten the pill by simultaneously hitting Hamas. He surely hopes that this combination will placate the US administration and signal to pro-Israeli British voters that he isnt singling out the Jewish state for opprobrium, while also demonstrating to far-Left and Israelophobic elements that he agrees with their absurd worldview. This attempt at having his cake and eating it, first seen at this weeks press conference with President Donald Trump, will convince nobody. The premature and unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state is one of the gravest errors in British foreign policy of the past 50 years. It is a shameful moment for this Government and country, and a fundamental rupture with our past approach. A two-state solution has long been desired in Britain, and used to be supported in Israel too. The prerequisites were extensive: recognition was to be part of an effective package when a new dispensation could be found. Peace and agreed borders would come first. Crucially, Palestinian elites would accept Israels right to exist as a Jewish state in defensible borders. Palestinians would cease to be refugees claiming a right to return to Israel, and in return have an independent state as a permanent home, with trade deals, aid and global recognition following. Crucially, attempts to negotiate this outcome stumbled on the intransigence of a Palestinian elite that hated Israel more than it loved the idea of its own nation. As a result these steps have not happened. The ultimate diplomatic prize, recognition, is now being squandered with nothing gained in return. Moreover, there is no prospect whatsoever that Israel and the United States will allow a terror organisation fanatically dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state to claim the trappings of statehood in any meaningful sense. If peace is ever realised in the Middle East, it will have nothing to do with Sir Keirs cakeist foreign policy. Steve Martin has canceled multiple comedy tour stops due to Covid. The comedian, 80, and his Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short were scheduled to perform in Virginia Beach and Richmond, Virginia this weekend as part of their The Dukes of Funnytown! Tour. Martin shared news of the two cancelations shortly before showtime Friday. Dear Virginia Beach and Richmond. Sadly, I have come down with Covid. I cant possibly do the shows that you deserve. So Marty and I must cancel tonight & tomorrow. But we will return under better circumstances, Martin wrote in an initial Instagram post caption featuring a photo of a sad-looking dog wearing Mickey Mouse ears. He followed up hours later with another post, this time a photo of a joint flu and Covid test, showing a positive line indicating the latter, with the jokey caption: Hey! No flu! Ticket holders for those performances will receive a refund. Steve Martin has canceled multiple comedy tour stops due to Covid (NBC) Fans offered well wishes to Martin in the comments section of his Instagram posts. I hope you feel better very soon, Steve. Take extra care of you, one person wrote while another said: Please come back when you feel better. Ive wanted to see you in person for over 40 years. The duo is next scheduled to appear October 4 in Florida, a date rescheduled from January after Short contracted Covid. Theyll then continue on with their tour, stopping in cities including Las Vegas, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Austin. The tour is set to conclude in Cleveland in April 2026. Martin and Short attended last Sundays Emmy Awards alongside Only Murders in the Building co-star Selena Gomez. Currently in its fifth season, the hit Hulu show is releasing episodes weekly. The show was nominated for seven Emmys, including an acting nod for Short, but ultimately walked away empty handed. Since its inception, it has received 56 total nominations, winning seven trophies. Longtime collaborators Martin and Short star with Gomez as three New York City true crime sleuths. Neighbors Oliver Putnam (Short), Mabel Mora ( Gomez) and Charles-Haden Savage (Martin) continuously find themselves wrapped up in solving grisly murders. Season five features a brand new murder mystery along with a new set of guest stars, including Renee Zellweger, Keegan-Michael Key, Christoph Waltz, and Logan Lerman. The first three episodes of Only Murders in the Building season five premiered September 9 on Hulu, with weekly episodes debuting on Tuesdays. Strictly Come Dancing fans have been expressing their frustration over the pairing of professional dancer Amy Dowden with celebrity contestant Thomas Skinner. It was revealed during Saturdays launch programme that the pair would be partnered together on this years instalment of the BBC dance show, but viewers have taken issue with the decision in light of the controversy surrounding Skinners casting. Some viewers have highlighted how the spotlight on Skinners participation in the series may have an impact on Dowdens longevity in this years competition, while others suggested that the dancers popularity among fans may help Skinners chances. Dowden was unable to compete in the last two seasons of Strictly as she was receiving cancer treatment in 2023 and suffered a subsequent foot injury that saw her withdraw from last years competition. One viewer wrote on X/Twitter: I feel so bad for Amy, especially after all shes been through these past few years and they pair her with Thomas. Another fan added: I cannot say enough how absolutely gutted I am for Amy being partnered with Thomas. A third said: My main comment: justice for Amy!! One Reddit user suggested the partnership was strategic, saying: Amy is beloved by the majority of the audience, so they probably thought it best to pair him with a pro that is so well liked. One commenter replied: I think you could be right but its so unfair for Amy, because she needs a good run after last year and Skinners going out in the first three weeks. The Independent has contacted the BBC for comment. Thomas Skinner is dancing with professional Amy Dowden on this years Strictly (BBC/Ray Burmiston) Skinner, a businessman and social media star who rose to fame on The Apprentice, has proved a controversial casting on the series after he attended a Cotswolds barbecue with US vice-president JD Vance. During the same period, he was pictured wearing a Maga (Make America Great Again) cap. He has also faced criticism for social media posts in which he stated it is not far-right to be flying your flag and loving your country. He said that London was no longer safe, claiming that the city had become hostile and tense. In response to the backlash to his casting, Skinner said on X that he had become a target and was being portrayed as public enemy number one. Skinner said that he doesnt regret meeting Mr Vance, saying: I am a normal bloke and it was an amazing opportunity. The social media star added that he had been branded controversial, but all I do is share videos of me having a roast dinner, and do a morning video to say, Have a good day. Online, he shares daily updates with his fans and documents his breakfasts and roast dinners. Dowden, who has performed as a professional on Strictly since 2017, was absent from the series in 2023 as she underwent treatment for stage three breast cancer. Dowden has returned to Strictly after missing the past two series (BBC/Getty) She returned in 2024 and was briefly partnered with JB Gill until she was forced to drop out following a stress fracture to her shin. Fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley took Dowdens place for the remainder of the competition. Elsewhere during the launch programme, it was revealed that Doctor Who star Alex Kingston would be partnered with Johannes Radebe, while other pairings included EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and new professional dancer Julian Caillon, Former England rugby union player Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova, and model Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola. Jimmy Kimmels late-night show was pulled following comments about Charlie Kirks death - Jill Connelly/Bloomberg Donald Trump will regret pushing to get Jimmy Kimmels talk show taken off air, Ted Cruz has warned. The Texas senator, who has emerged as the most prominent conservative critic of Kimmels cancellation, claimed the US governments mafioso tactics could be used against Republicans by a Democrat president. The issue has opened a schism on the Right between those who support the pressure brought by the Trump administration on broadcasters and those who fear a crackdown on civil liberties. Kimmel, a long-time critic of Mr Trump, this week said the Maga gang was trying to score political points from Charlie Kirks killing. He accused the presidents supporters of trying to distance themselves from the ideology of the alleged assassin. Mr Kimmel said Maga was trying to score political points from Charlie Kirks murder - Chris Pizzello/AP In fact, the authorities have said 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was charged this week with murdering the conservative influencer as he spoke to students in Utah, held Left-wing and pro-transgender views. Brendan Carr, Mr Trumps head of the federal communications commission (FCC) watchdog, on Wednesday accused Kimmel of pushing a sick lie and suggested he could strip networks of their broadcast licences. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, he said, hours before ABC said it would suspend Kimmels show indefinitely following crisis meetings with top executives. Conservatives will regret it, says Mr Cruz Speaking on his Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast on Friday, the Texas senator criticised Kimmel who once labelled him a moist, gelatinous tubeworm but warned the FCCs intervention set a dangerous precedent. Thats right out of Goodfellas, Mr Cruz, a staunch conservative who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, said of Mr Carrs comments. Thats right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going: Nice bar you have here itd be a shame if something happened to it. He continued: It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. I like Brendan Carr, but we should not be in this business. The Texas senator said the intervention was right out of Goodfellas - Antranik Tavitian/REUTERS Ben Shapiro, the Right-wing podcaster, said Kimmel was terrible but echoed Mr Cruzs fears about the consequences under a Democrat president. One day the shoe will be on the other foot, he warned. If Democrats win the presidency and you got a Democrat in charge of the FCC you know which affiliates are going to get threatened? All of the Fox affiliates. Republicans clamp down on hate speech Mr Trump on Friday pushed back on Mr Cruzs comments, praising his FCC boss for taking on networks that ignored his great success and gave him 97 per cent bad publicity. I think Brendan Carr doesnt like to see the airwaves be used illegally and incorrectly, and purposely horribly, he said. The US president, who has frequently railed against cancel culture and pledged to protect freedom of speech, celebrated Kimmels suspension earlier this year and called for two more late-night TV hosts, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, to lose their jobs. Pam Bondi, the attorney general, provoked a backlash from the Right when she signalled she would clamp down on hate speech following celebrations on social media of Kirks death last week. Prominent conservative voices have noted that Kirk argued hate speech did not legally exist in the US and fear the administration could use his murder as a pretext to restrict First Amendment rights. Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host and a figurehead of the libertarian Right, called for civil disobedience if the Trump administration attempted to crack down on freedom of speech. You hope that a year from now, the turmoil were seeing in the aftermath of his murder wont be leveraged to bring hate speech laws to this country, he said on Wednesday. And trust me... if that does happen, there is never a more justified moment for civil disobedience than that, ever. And there never will be. Because if they can tell you what to say, theyre telling you what to think. Key man: Mohammed Kudus starts for Tottenham against Brighton (London Standard) Tottenham have made three changes for todays Premier League clash with Brighton, with Xavi Simons among those benched as Destiny Udogie makes his first start of the season. Spurs, who beat West Ham last weekend and then backed it up by seeing off Villarreal in a 1-0 win to start their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, have a new-look left flank at the Amex Stadium today as Wilson Odobert makes a surprise start ahead of Simons on that wing, with full-back Udogie coming in for Djed Spence. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW BRIGHTON VS TOTTENHAM LIVE! Joao Palhinha is also named in Thomas Franks starting XI today after coming off the bench against Villarreal, with Pape Matar Sarr the man to make way. Xavi Simons has been named on Tottenhams bench today (REUTERS) It means in-form teenager Lucas Bergvall keeps his place, while Richarlison leads the line again in the absence of Randal Kolo Muani - who misses out altogether with a dead leg - and the injured Dominic Solanke. Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Bergvall, Odobert; Richarlison Subs: Kinsky, Spence, Danso, Gray, Sarr, Xavi, Johnson, Tel, Scarlett Injured: Takai, Dragusin, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday, September 20, 2025 Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let it limit sex designations on passports for transgender and nonbinary Americans The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to overturn an injunction blocking it from forcing transgender and non-binary people to be misgendered on their passports. In April, a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the administration to temporarily pause its new policy requiring that trans people's I.D. documents be marked only with their birth sex and denying the 'X' designation for non-binary people. "[These policies] are part of a coordinated and rapid rollback of rights and protections previously afforded to transgender Americans, suggesting that these challenged actions are built on a foundation of irrational prejudice toward fellow citizens," wrote U.S. district judge Julia E. Kobick. Her ruling was upheld on September 4 by an appeals court, which ruled that the government had not "demonstrated a strong likelihood of success". Now the Justice Department is appealing to the highest court in the land, arguing that Kobick's injunction "has no basis in law or logic" and would force the government to issue "inaccurate" documents. In court, lawyers opposing the government argued that the policy would make it impossible for trans people to use their I.D. documents without outing themselves (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) "The Constitution does not prohibit the government from defining sex in terms of an individuals biological classification," wrote the Department's lawyers in a filing on Friday. "The district courts class-wide injunction irreparably harms the government and the public by blocking the Presidents exercise of his constitutionally and statutorily conferred power to prescribe rules of the issuance of passports... "Even worse, the injunction forces the government to misrepresent the sex of passport holders to foreign nations by using markers that reflect 'the false claim that males can identify as and thus become women and vice versa.'" The administration further argued that the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v Skrmetti a case challenging Tennessee's ban on transition healthcare for trans under-18s negated Kobick's ruling that the passport policy broke the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by discriminating based on sex. In Skrmetti, the court ultimately ruled that banning such treatments for trans children but not cisgender (or non-trans children) did not count as sex discrimination, or even as discrimination against trans people. Other courts have already begun to interpret that logic as applying to adult healthcare too. "As this Court reaffirmed in United States v. Skrmetti, a policy does not discriminate based on sex if it applies equally to each sex without treating any member of one sex worse than a similarly situated member of the other," the Department wrote. "And here, the challenged policy applies equally, regardless of sex defining sex for everyone in terms of biology rather than self-identification." While the passport police were active, some trans people including Hollywood star Hunter Schafer were issued passports that listed them as their birth sex, while others suffered delays in getting a passport at all. The Trump administration has consistently described biological sex as "immutable", and it's true that the basic fact of whether someone's body produces sperm or eggs cannot be changed, nor can their chromosomes. But many other features of sex, including genitals, body shape, and sexual function, can be altered via hormonal or surgical intervention and generally play a bigger role in how someone is perceived and treated in daily life. The Supreme Court, which has a conservative supermajority including three Trump-appointed judges, will now decide whether to take up the case. Over the past nine months, it has handed a series of victories to the Trump administration, often giving little or no explanation of its reasoning. Earlier this month, a group of ten federal judges criticized the Court for its unsigned "shadow docket" opinions, saying it was "undermining" them and "throwing [them] under the bus". President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants. H-1B visas are designed to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the U.S. for jobs that are deemed difficult to fill, particularly in the tech sector. Since 2012, about 60 percent of all H-1B visas have gone to workers in computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center. At the Friday afternoon signing, Trump told reporters, We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that's what's going to happen. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also noted the fee will be required annually. "Everyone's going to be happy, and we're going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people, Trump said. And in many cases, these companies are going to pay a lot of money for that, and they're very happy about it. The new rule takes effect on Sunday and will remain in force for 12 months. A decision on whether to renew the executive order will be made 30 days after the H1B lottery. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday imposing a $100,000 annual fee for companies sponsoring H-1B visa applicants (Getty Images) Trump also signed an executive order creating the long-promised Gold Card, a green cardequivalent visa for foreigners who contribute $1 million to the United States in exchange for permanent residency. The program offers expedited immigrant visas to individuals who make a significant financial gift of $1 million personally, or $2 million through a sponsoring corporation or similar entity acting on their behalf. The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, is tasked with implementing the program and allocating the funds to support American commerce and industry. Trump framed the high cost as a way to ensure only the most exceptional talent would qualify, comparing the payment to a signing bonus in professional sports. Its going to hopefully bring some great people to our country, Trump said. This way, a corporation sort of like a signing bonus in baseball or football a corporation will be able to get them to stay in the country." Some in the tech world are already expressing concern about the move. Deedy Das, a partner at the venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, called the decision devastating news on X. It creates disincentive to attract the world's smartest talent to the US, Das wrote. They have to pay a high education price and may now not be able to easily recoup it with a job. If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces it's ability to innovate and grow the economy. It makes U.S.' global competitiveness a lot worse. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, warned that this could worsen the existing physician shortage in the U.S. There is a doctor shortage in the U.S. right now. Every year, hundreds of doctors get H-1B visas to help fill those gaps, Reichlin-Melnick wrote on X. If hospitals had to pay an additional $100,000 fee, it's possible they would simply give up and not even try to fill positions. H-1B visas became a contentious issue in MAGA-world late last year, when Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy faced backlash from many members of Trumps conservative base after they expressed support for the program. Trump defended the program at the time, telling the New York Post in December that he has always been in favor of the visas. His wife, First Lady Melania Trump, was granted an H-1B visa in 1996 to work in the U.S. as a model. They met in 1998 and married in 2005. The U.S. government grants 65,000 H-1B visas each year, with another 20,000 available for workers with an advanced degree from a U.S. institution. Critics of the H-1B visa program say the eligible jobs are often entry-level rather than senior roles, and that companies can pay employees less by classifying jobs at lower skill levels, regardless of the workers experience, the Associated Press reports. Trump orders a third boat blown up which he claims killed three narcoterrorists on alleged drug vessel President Donald Trump said that the U.S. has carried out yet another strike on a vessel allegedly carrying illicit narcotics. Trump announced the strike via Truth Social on Friday evening, writing that three men were killed and that the vessel was in international waters. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, he added. Trump attached footage of the strike to his post. On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility, Trump wrote. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans. Its unclear exactly where the boat was located. The U.S. Southern Command area includes the Caribbean Sea and South America. This is the third strike Trump has ordered against an alleged drug vessel this month. President Donald Trump said U.S. forces launched a strike against a vessel allegedly carrying narcotics in the U.S. Southern Command Area. The strike killed three, Trump said (President Donald Trump/Truth Social) On September 2, Trump said that the U.S. struck a drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. The strike killed 11 people on board, Trump said. Authorities in Venezuela have said the 11 killed in the attack were not connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. Then, Trump announced Monday that U.S. forces struck a vessel from Venezuela allegedly carrying narcotics on its way to the U.S. The strike killed three terrorists, Trump said. Its unclear exactly what evidence the U.S. had that the three vessels struck this month were carrying narcotics. The Pentagon declined to provide additional information when contacted by The Independent. When asked to provide evidence that the vessel targeted in Mondays strike was carrying drugs, Trump responded that we have proof, according to CNN. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was spattered all over the ocean, big bags of cocaine and fentanyl all over the place, he said. Trump said we have proof when asked to provide evidence that the targets of Mondays strike were carrying drugs (Getty Images) Officials who were briefing Congressional staff also did not provide conclusive evidence that the targets of the September 2 strike were members of Tren de Aragua, CNN reported last week, citing a top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee and three people familiar with the briefing. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the Trump administration of using the strikes to intimidate and seek regime change, the Associated Press reports. Many Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on the strikes. Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine filed a resolution Friday just hours before Trump announced the latest strike seeking to end the hostilities. Blowing up boats in the Caribbean without any legal authority risks dragging the United States into another war, and provoking attacks against American citizens, Schiff said in a statement after Trump announced the latest strike. Senator Jack Reed, the top-ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, also said Monday that Trumps strikes are an outrageous violation of the law and a dangerous assault on our Constitution. "No president can secretly wage war or carry out unjustified killings that is authoritarianism, not democracy, he said. Shortly after the first strike this month, the White House notified Congress that Trump was acting within his constitutional authority, CBS News reports. "I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as commander in chief and chief executive to conduct United States foreign relations," the notification reads. If there is a warm fuzz left over from what No 10 no doubt sees as a successful management of Donald Trumps toddler ego, it should be washed away by the cold shower of reality. While King Charles took the US president on a fairground ride around Windsor Great Park, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were enjoying the glow of a nuclear embrace. The influence of the West has been in freefall under Trump 2.0. But now that the Saudis and Pakistanis have signed a joint defence pact, which inevitably brings Riyadh under Islamabads nuclear umbrella, Anglo-American influence in the Middle East and beyond has crashed into the desert sands. The two nations, both hotbeds of Islamist ideologies that have spread violence around the world, are showing theyre far beyond the reach of Western influence and post-colonial hangovers. The UK had enjoyed an outsized influence in Pakistan. During the Afghan conflict in the early 2000s, a senior British general once said after meetings in the Pakistani capital, that every level of government and military, even the intelligence services, is still convinced that the Americans are working for us. Thats over now. Trump at the Saudi Royal Palace in May 2017, a trip which launched a dramatic relationship revamp that freed the hands of the Gulf monarchies (Saudi Royal Palace/AFP via Getty) After Israel bombed Qatar, killing at least five people, including a Qatari national, earlier this month, and Trump claimed he didnt know about the attack, no US ally in the Middle East will believe a word that comes out of the Oval Office. And none of the emirs and other rulers in the region can rely on America for their security. Already waning in influence, the USs unprincipled support for Israel over Gaza has shaken even the cynical and largely unprincipled rulers of the Middle East. Talks between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which has 600,000 people in its armed forces and nuclear weapons (aimed at India), obviously pre-date the Qatar attacks by Israel. But as the US has its biggest air base on the Gulf island, but was unable/unwilling to protect it against Israel, why would local leaders believe America will protect them against another Israeli attack or a nuclear Iran in the future? Saudi Arabia and Tehran have been warming up their relationship, even as the US and Israel attacked Irans nuclear programme and assassins hunted its nuclear scientists. Now, Riyadh believes, it has nuclear cover from Pakistan. This is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means, a Saudi official told Reuters. In conventional war terms, the deal gives both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan the right to call on one another if they are attacked. Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, embraces Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after signing a joint defence pact in Riyadh on Wednesday India and Pakistan fought a five-day conflict earlier this year after Delhi launched reprisal raids against alleged terrorist bases following an attack in Kashmir. The two countries have been at or on the brink of war almost non-stop since 1948. Pakistan will feel a lot stronger with Saudi muscle and money behind it. Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is trying to modernise his country but bringing it into conflict with the very Wahhabi Islamic tradition that has kept the House of Saud in power since the 1930s. Osama bin Ladens violent interpretation of strict and medieval Wahhabism inspired al-Qaeda, the so-called Isis, and al-Shabaab in Somalia. The non-violent version, preached in Saudi mosques, has underpinned the authority that holds the Kingdom together. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, Deobandist beliefs have given rise to the Taliban in both countries and have been used by Pakistans intelligence services to motivate militia and covert groups to undermine Indias rule over much of Kashmir. It might have been inevitable that these two nations would come together in a defence pact. But it has been accelerated by the mercurial behaviour of the US especially since Trump returned to the White House. Trump and Sir Keir Starmer shared a stage at Chequers to celebrate the special relationship between the US and the UK (PA Wire) Western political and military dominance over the world has been brutally undermined by the actions of the West itself. Claims by democracies to hold the moral high ground in international affairs and human rights have been smashed by the illegal invasion of Iraq and the extrajudicial killings of alleged terrorists, and now drug dealers, by successive US administrations. Saudi Arabia might try to argue now that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, lured to his death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, was simply a pre-emptive attack on a terrorist, not the killing of a critic. Under the kind of doctrine now being used by the White House to kill alleged drug smugglers from Venezuela with air strikes, without trial or visible evidence, its hard to see why any nation would resist the temptation to knock off its critics wherever they are. Russia at least bothers to deny its overseas assassinations. The USs latest veto of a UN Security Council resolution to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza will be seen in the Middle East and Pakistan as yet another example of racist moral perfidy from Washington. And since the Taliban beat America and its allies out of Afghanistan, the perception that the West can impose what it cannot persuade through military power has been exposed as a fiction. In short, the world is feral and dangerous, and has slipped out of Western control. No wonder like-minded nations such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia band together to survive the mess of the age. The UK has sent fighter jets to Poland in a clear warning shot to Vladimir Putin that Western nations will not tolerate Russias repeated incursions into Nato territory. The RAF Typhoons took part in a Nato operation to bolster European security after Russia provoked global outrage when its jets flew into Estonian airspace on Friday. Defence secretary John Healey said the use of British fighter planes sent a clear signal: Nato airspace will be defended. And David Lammy warned Putin Britain can of course face his military down. Combined with 27 countries, of course, we can face down Putin, he knows that, and I want to reassure you that whilst we take this seriously, he understands that he will be up against a very, very serious effort, the deputy prime minister said. It comes after Polish fighter jets were scrambled on Friday night to protect the countrys airspace as Russia unleashed a massive aerial attack on sites across Ukraine. Polish aircraft were at the highest state of readiness, the countrys operational command said on X (Twitter), as more than 600 drones and missiles were fired at Ukraine overnight in a bombardment which killed at least three and injured dozens. European countries are on high alert following a string of Russian breaches into Nato territory, following drone incursions into Poland and Romania, as Putins forces continue to provoke the alliances defences. An FGR4 Typhoon during the first Royal Air Force Eastern Sentry deployment over Poland, 70 miles from the Belarusian border (PA Wire) The latest breach saw three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets enter Estonian territory where they remained without permission for 12 minutes, the Estonian foreign ministry said on Friday. The incursion led US president Donald Trump to warn of big trouble as he grows increasingly frustrated by Russias provocations. He told reporters: I dont love it. I dont like when that happens. Could be big trouble. The UKs involvement in the Nato air defence mission over Poland saw two British fighter jets take off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night, supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft, to patrol Polish skies against threats from Russia, including drones. They returned to the UK early on Saturday morning. Mr Healy said he was proud of the British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our allies from reckless Russian aggression. Aircrew pilot a Royal Air Force Voyager air-refuelling tanker during the first Royal Air Force Eastern Sentry deployment over Poland (PA Wire) This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security making us secure at home and strong abroad, he added. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said the UK forces remained agile, integrated, and ready in the face of the Russian threat. Our partnership with Nato has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAFs first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UKs steadfast commitment to Nato and its allies, he added. The announcement of the mission comes hours after it emerged the UK could use frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraines war effort. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said it was right to explore all options to support Ukraine at a meeting with her European counterparts in Copenhagen on Saturday. Defence secretary John Healy said he was proud of the British pilots and air crew who took part in the operation (PA Wire) It follows comments from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last week, who suggested providing a loan to Ukraine backed by the cash balances associated with Russian assets frozen by the EU. The move would allow the EU to use Russian assets to fund Ukraines fight against Moscows invasion without immediately confiscating them, amid fears this could breach international law. Announcing the UKs plans, Ms Reeves said: While Russia has no respect for international law, the UK does. We will only consider options in line with international law and that are economically and financially responsible. In March, the UK announced it would provide a 2.26bn loan to Ukraine based on profits generated by frozen Russian assets. But the government has been urged to go further. On Saturday, former defence secretary Ben Wallace called on the government to use frozen Russian assets to fund the war effort in Ukraine against Moscows invasion as he urged the UK to double down and stretch Russian president Vladimir Putins forces. He said the move would force Russia to divert assets to Ukraine, making it harder for Putin to make incursions into other countries such as Estonia, in an interview with BBC Radio 4s Today programme. This is Russias war, and Russia should pay, said Rachel Reeves (PA Wire) The Liberal Democrats have called on ministers to seize Russian assets outright and use them to support Ukraine. The Treasury said a reparations loan could see billions of pounds made available for Ukraine without touching the underlying assets. Ms Reeves said: This is Russias war, and Russia should pay. It is right to explore all options to support Ukraine. Defending against Russian aggression is vital not just to the long-term security and prosperity of Ukraine, but to the UK and the whole of Europe. Since the outbreak of war, the UK has committed up to 21.8bn for Ukraine, just less than the 25bn of Russian assets the government has frozen. Meanwhile, Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the latest Russian air attack that he said saw 580 drones and 40 missiles target infrastructure, civilian manufacturing companies and residential areas. All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia, Mr Zelensky said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram. Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure. Russia denies targeting civilians. UK to recognise Palestinian state in historic move as Starmer condemns humanitarian crisis in Gaza Keir Starmer will take the historic step of recognising Palestine on Sunday after ministers concluded the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave has deteriorated amid Israels assault on Gaza City. Weeks after he laid down the gauntlet to Israel, saying it had to meet demands including a ceasefire, he will announce the UK has no choice but to formally recognise Palestinian statehood. The move is set to spark a diplomatic row, with the US claiming that it rewards Hamas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning it as appeasement towards jihadist terrorists. Smoke is seen billowing from the besieged Palestinian territory after Israeli bombardment on 19 September (AFP via Getty Images) But as Israeli strikes continue to bombard Gaza City, killing at least 14 people overnight on Friday according to health officials, other nations, including Canada, are also expected to recognise Palestinian statehood in the coming days. David Lammy on Sunday acknowledged that recognising a Palestinian state would do little to change the situation for those on the ground in Gaza. Speaking to the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said: Will this feed children? No, it won't, that's down to humanitarian aid. Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire. The deputy prime minister added: But does this mean that you hold out for that two-state solution, and stand by the Palestinian cause being a just cause? Well that was the determination that I and the prime minister made at the end of July. He also conceded that a Palestinian state would not emerge "overnight" after Britains recognition of one. He told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: "Any decision to recognise a Palestinian state, if that were to take place later on today, does not make a Palestinian state happen overnight." Labour pledged to recognise a Palestinian state in its manifesto before the last general election, and earlier this year, Sir Keir bowed to growing pressure from his own MPs, including some high-profile members of his cabinet, to lay out a plan to make the historic move. The PM suggested British recognition would be conditional, and he would refrain if Israel committed to a ceasefire, a two-state solution to peace, and halted annexation of the West Bank. But he made clear that the UK would recognise Palestine ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, if the situation did not improve. It is understood that ministers believe it is clear the situation has worsened significantly in the past few weeks, amid more images of violence, starvation and suffering in Gaza. Both Palestinians and Israelis deserve to see an end to the conflict, and the international community has a moral responsibility to act, they warn. But the government has not dropped its demands that Hamas release all the hostages seized during Hamass 7 October 2023 attack, which also saw 1,200 killed, agree to an immediate ceasefire and accept it will have no role in the government of Gaza. More action on UK sanctions on Hamas, which the government classifies as a brutal terrorist organisation, are expected to be set out shortly. Sir Keir Starmer is to recognise Palestine on Sunday (PA Wire) On Saturday, US politicians urged the UK and other allies to reverse direction on Palestinian statehood, warning such a move would empower Hamas and threaten Israels security. Congressional Republican leaders, including chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Senator Rick Scott, sent a letter to the UK, France, Canada, Australia and other key allies, calling on them to oppose efforts at the UN General Assembly to legitimise a Palestinian state. We are writing with respect to your efforts to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace, wrote Ms Stefanik and Mr Scott. It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims. The letter was backed by US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, who called the move baffling and deeply troubling. International leaders will convene at the UN General Assembly in New York, and we will be watching if close allies like France and Canada and the UK move ahead with plans to recognise a Palestinian state, he said. It is baffling and deeply troubling to reward Hamas with statehood before they have returned every hostage. The move was also condemned by the families of hostages taken by Hamas. In an open letter to Sir Keir, a group of hostage families said: Your regrettable announcement of the UKs intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly has dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones. Hamas has already celebrated the UKs decision as a victory and reneged on a ceasefire deal. We write to you with a simple plea do not take this step until our loved ones are home and in our arms. Keir Starmer has denied he waited until Donald Trump left the UK to recognise Palestine (Getty Images) Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also accused the PM of giving Hamas a reward for terrorism, writing in The Daily Telegraph that she would never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism. She added that Labours foreign policy was to condemn our allies, indulge our adversaries and hand away our sovereignty. During a visit to London last week, Israeli president Isaac Herzog said recognising Palestine wont help one Palestinian, one hostage and could be adversely interpreted by Hamas. Australia, France and Canada have all committed to recognising a Palestinian state at the UN. During a joint press conference with the prime minister at Chequers on Thursday, US president Donald Trump said he disagreed with recognition, although he did not repeat previous comments that it would reward Hamas. Sir Keir Starmer has formally recognised a Palestinian state to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution in the Middle East. The prime minister previously said that Benjamin Netanyahus government must end its starvation tactics and allow the supply of aid into the embattled enclave ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month, or else the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood. Sir Keir confirmed the historic move on Sunday after Israel failed to meet a series of conditions that would have postponed the historic step, including a ceasefire in Gaza, as its military continues its bombardment of the embattled enclave. The announcement came just minutes after Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese also confirmed recognition. The prime minister has come under mounting pressure from his own party to recognise a Palestinian state, which has only grown since Mr Macron announced Frances intention to do so back in July. With warnings that people in Gaza are facing starvation, growing numbers of Labour MPs want Keir Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel (Alamy/PA) Here, The Independent asks experts about what the UK recognising Palestinian statehood would mean in practice. What would UK recognition of Palestine as a state mean? Speaking before news of the announcement, Dr Julie Norman, an associate professor at UCL specialising in Middle Eastern politics, said while it looked likely that the UK would recognise Palestine as a state, which would mean voting for this at the United Nations it would be unlikely the UN would be able to recognise Palestinian statehood due to the probability of the United States blocking the move. However, she said countries such as the UK and France voting for recognition at the UN would be a significant move. And she said the UK officially recognising Palestinian statehood would still be of value, even if the reality is that not much would change on the ground, with Israel still fully rejecting the prospect of recognition. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas (AP) Speaking of British recognition, Dr Norman said: It would be a strong moral commitment and stance to Palestine at a moment when its never been more fraught in Gaza and the West Bank. In the short term, its a diplomatic stance, and it makes room for policy changes. Also, if and when parties come back to discuss the long-term conflict, it would put Palestine in a better position. So it wouldnt change things immediately, but I would say it still has value. She added that the move might initially see more change in London than in Ramallah, a city in the central West Bank that serves as the administrative capital of Palestine with, for example, the opening of an embassy in the UK capital. This would not mean recognition of Hamas. A Palestinian woman walks at the site of houses destroyed during an Israeli raid in the western part of Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip (Reuters) What is the two-state solution? The idea of dividing the Holy Land goes back decades. When the British mandate over Palestine ended, the UN partition plan in 1947 envisioned dividing the territory into Jewish and Arab states. Upon Israels declaration of independence the following year, war erupted with its Arab neighbours and the plan was never implemented. More than half of the Palestinian population fled or were forced to flee. Under a 1949 armistice, Jordan held control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Egypt over Gaza. Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 six-day war. The Palestinians seek these lands for a future independent state, and the idea of a two-state solution based on Israels pre-1967 boundaries has been the basis of peace talks dating back to the 1990s. The two-state solution has wide international support, but there is disagreement about how it would be implemented. Israels creation and expansion of settlements in the Occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law, are seen as a major obstacle to this. Starvation in war-torn Gaza has reached a critical point (Reuters) What would recognition of Palestine as a state mean for refugees? Sir Vincent Fean, a former British consul general to Jerusalem and now a trustee of the charity Britain Palestine Project, explained that recognition of Palestine as a state would mean that if Palestinian passports were issued, they would subsequently be recognised by the UK as passports of a state. However, Sir Vincent said Palestinian statehood would not affect the UKs refugee system. Does it impact the tally of refugees coming to the UK? No, he said. This is because he expects the visa regime the UK currently has with Palestine where travel is only allowed between the two after a successful visa application will continue. He added that Palestinian statehood wouldnt particularly change the right of return for Palestinians to their homeland. He said this was a long-standing right, although it would require negotiation with Israel. Keir Starmers decision came after he convened a meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the Middle East (PA) What does UK recognition of Palestinian statehood mean for how the two would communicate? Sir Vincent said this was a very important point to clarify, as he highlighted the distinction between recognising the entity of Palestine and recognising factions of government. He said: Its important to say the British government doesnt recognise governments, it recognises states. So it isnt actually recognising President [Mahmoud] Abbas as head of the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation] and head of the Palestinian Authority. In practice, he would be the interlocutor in Ramallah, because there isnt an alternative. He stressed, however, that Britain has already proscribed Hamas as a terrorist group and that this would not change. Dr Norman added that the Palestinian Authority is currently the main governing entity for Palestinians in the West Bank, which the UK has recognised and had lines of communication with for a long time. If Britain were to recognise Palestinian statehood, this would continue. Sir Vincent also said that the prospect of Hamas running Palestine next is practically zero because the militants chances of winning an election are remote. He said the plan for the future governance of Gaza involving the Palestinian Authority will be a focus of the UN meeting being held this week. Israeli soldiers work on their tanks in a staging area on the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Tuesday (AP) What countries have recognised Palestinian statehood? Portugal will recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday. The official declaration of recognition will take place even before next weeks high-level conference, it added. Foreign minister Paulo Rangel already said this week that the country was considering the recognition of a Palestinian state during a visit to the UK. Unlike neighbouring Spain, whose leftist government recognised Palestinian statehood in May 2024, Portugal has taken a more cautious approach, saying it wanted to work out a common position with other EU countries first. In July, France announced it would recognise Palestinian statehood, drawing angry rebukes from Israel and the United States. Mr Macron last week published a letter sent to Mr Abbas confirming Frances intention to press ahead with recognition and work to convince other partners to do the same. He said he would make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly. Paulo Rangel announced the plans on a trip to the UK (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) France is one of the first major Western powers to shift its diplomatic stance on a Palestinian state, after Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognised it last year. The three countries made the declaration and agreed its borders would be demarcated as they were before the 1967 war, when Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. However, they also recognised that those borders may change if a final settlement is reached over the territory, and that their decisions did not diminish their belief in Israels fundamental right to exist in peace and security. About 144 of the 193 UN member states recognise Palestine as a state, including most of the global South as well as Russia, China and India. But only a handful of the 27 European Union members do so, mostly former communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus. The UN General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in November 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to non-member state from entity. The issue came to the fore in the UK after Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France would recognise Palestine as a state (AP) What implications would UK recognition of Palestinian statehood have internationally? Dr Norman said: This is where it can be important. Two major global powers, such as the UK and France, making the move would be significant and would pave the way for conversations on the issue happening elsewhere, such as in Canada, she said. It starts isolating the US as the main major power backing Israel to the exclusion of Palestine, she said. It makes them the exception and shows the rest of the world somewhat united in Palestinian self-determination, which has been the UKs policy for a while now. If were serious about that, then we need to be serious about that. We dont have as much military weight as the US, but we do still have diplomatic weight, and we should use what we can. It would show Europe is committed to a two-state solution, and wouldnt let that disappear or sit in the back seat. (Six Senses Fort Bartwara) In a wellness travel landscape saturated with detox bootcamps and silent retreats, a spa safari break remains a relatively niche concept. Remote yoga breaks in the Nepalese Himalayas? A dream. Sleeping side by side with wild animals in the Serengeti? Travel goals. But the two combined? Far rarer yet infinitely more special. The combination of bucket list-worthy thrills followed by full-body and soul rejuvenation taps into one of 2025s biggest travel trends. Jetsetters are looking for unique, once-in-a-lifetime moments, and the luxury spa and safari break does exactly that. Six Senses Fort Barwara is leading the way, delivering adventure with a side of Ayurvedic wisdom. (Six Senses Fort Barwara) The Six Senses portfolio is perhaps best known for its ultra-opulent properties and healing programmes, but its Indian bolthole, a mere 30-minute drive away from Rajasthans Ranthambhore National Park, brings a wider offering to the mix. The destination property promises spa tranquillity alongside safari thrills and visiting for two nights, as part of a multi-week Indian adventure exploring the countrys diverse landscapes, was just what the (Ayurvedic) doctor ordered. Getting there My journey to the 14th-century fort began in Rajasthans technicolour capital of Jaipur, which is also where youll find the closest airport a three-hour trip. After a whirlwind group tour, my friend Charley and I were scooped up by our driver Babu, and in his calming presence and the most comfortable car, we began our road trip. Charley cried with joy, but I was too busy reclining my chair 180 degrees and gulping down refreshing watermelon juice to comfort her. Before long, the citys buzz fell away, and the Rajasthani countryside whipped past the blacked-out window. (Six Senses Fort Bartwara) The hotel After winding through the chaotic Indian roads, we pulled up to the historic 700-year-old destination with our jaws on the floor. Sprawling across 5.5 acres, Fort Barwara was renovated over 10 years to blend modern luxury with ancient architecture, incorporating original elements like the Dhanvantari and Radha Krishna temples, restored to become the pillars of healing, rejuvenation and serenity that they are today. The marble used is the same as youll find at the Taj Mahal. (Six Senses Fort Barwara) There are eight room types, each of which pays homage to the local community with Rajasthani interiors, including hand-carved mirror arches and hammered silver basins. The Rani Rajkumari Suite, where we stayed, had thoughtful details throughout, from the Aum gesture door handles to modern amenities like the heated toilet. (KIATTIPONG PANCHEE) The retreat The wellness retreat commences not with a treatment, but a ceremony, the first of three during our stay at the property. The hotel has maintained its spiritual feel, and each evening at 6pm, a local priest leads a Puja ceremony with Sanskrit chants, red thread bracelets as blessings, bindis and fresh apples. (Six Senses Fort Bartwara) Daily schedules delivered via WhatsApp from your designated GEM (thats Guest Experience Maker) include yoga sessions, horticulture and heritage walks, cooking classes and the very important timings to Beer OClock happy hours. Its a holiday, after all. A wellness consultation with Dr. Sree, the propertys resident Ayurvedic doctor, is a must. He has over 17 years of experience and is a firm believer in practical solutions, while sharing time-honoured traditions that are ingrained in Indian culture, like the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric-based golden milk. Dr Sree stresses the importance of caring for your body and giving it what it needs, likening it to charging your phone. This is a 360-degree approach that is not just about yoga and breathwork, but also fitness, food and sleep. As such, the finest attention to detail is paid to the mattress and pillow combinations, the workout amenities and the healthy dishes created with home-grown, organic ingredients. He takes my pulse, examines my tongue, and seemingly reads my soul. For me type A, anxious, relentlessly curious he prescribed a series of rituals to pacify my dominant elements: fire and air. His advice? Chew each bite 20 times, breathe deeply ten times each morning and night, and apply sesame oil to my belly button before bed. Its about balance, not just to treat woes but to elevate everyday life. (Six Senses Fort Bartwara) Treatments at Fort Barwara are deeply personalised. During the Six Senses Signature Massage, I began by selecting a stone that resonates with my energy, and this process sets the intention for the stress relief to follow. A sound bowl hummed gently, my selected oil calming or uplifting dictated the mood, and the therapist tailored the pressure to my needs. The result? Ninety minutes of transcendence. The safari No trip to Fort Barwara is complete without a visit to Ranthambhore. The national park is a 1,734-square-kilometre reserve famed for Bengal tigers and it is a mere 30-minute drive from the Six Senses. Safari drives run twice daily (at 5am or late in the afternoon) as its famed inhabitants are nocturnal. We selected the former and watched a golden sunrise in the heart of the beautiful nature reserve. (Six Senses Fort Bartwara) The park, divided into 10 sections, houses around 80 tigers as well as leopards, jackals, bears, antelopes, hyenas, deer, pythons and vipers. Our guide yelled chalo (lets go) and we were off in open-top jeeps, stopping only for a pre-packed breakfast boxes from the hotel or in the hopes of spotting feline movement. And then it happened. Footprints in the track and warning calls from the monkeys dictated our path and sent our excitement into overdrive. Before we knew it, we spotted Shakti a tigress named after the Hindi word for power slowly stalking a lakes edge. But the morning had more in store. We heard a distinctive call a deer this time and suddenly we were on high alert. A predator was nearby. We cut the engine, whipped out the binoculars and channelled our inner David Attenborough, patiently waiting for it to reveal itself. And there he was. Emerging from the hills, we saw Ganesh, known by the guides as the killing machine. What a thrill. Rates at Six Senses Fort Barwara, part of IHGs luxury and lifestyle portfolio, start from $846 (approx. 621) per night based on two people sharing including breakfast. Book it here Portuguese man o war beached on the Cornwall coast. Swimmers have been warned they are poisonous - David George Climate change is to blame for poisonous sea creatures washing up on British beaches, experts have claimed. The luminous Portuguese man o war was found on six beaches in Wales and Cornwall in the last two weeks. The long-tentacled creature has a painful sting which can in extreme cases cause death. Ruth Chamberlain, a marine biologist at Project Jellyfish, claimed sightings of the man o war were increasing in Britain because of the warming oceans. As the sea temperature increases, its more likely we will see more of these sightings, she told BBC News. Rising temperatures will increase sightings of the Portuguese man o war, say experts - David George The creatures have been spotted at three beaches in Wales at Freshwater West and Porth Trecastell in Pembrokeshire and Rhosneigr in Anglesey. They have also been found at Sennen, Crantock and Longrock in Cornwall. The public has been warned not to touch the sea animals, which have a distinctive gas-filled bladder and are carried by currents from the Atlantic Ocean. Usually found in the Atlantic and Pacific, they have purple tentacles which can reach up to 50 metres. A spate of sightings happened in 2016, with several of the stinging creature washing up on beaches in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. A spokesman for the Coastguard at Rhosneigr said: Visitors enjoying a swim earlier today at our local Porth Trecastell beach happened to come across what looks like a Portuguese man o war washed up on the beach. If it is an actual Portuguese man o war, HM Coastguard advises the public and dog owners to avoid touching them due to their extremely painful sting, even when the creature is dead. Matt Slater, marine conservation officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: Portuguese man o war are capable of giving a painful and sometimes serious sting. Swimmers are advised to avoid them. If stung, wash the area affected with sea water and scrape away any tentacles [or] stinging cells with a credit card or similar. Then apply hot water to the area to denature the sting and seek medical advice from lifeguards or GP. A spokesman for the National Coastwatch Institution at St Ives, Cornwall, said: Please be wary if going into the sea as they could also be heading up our coastline. They pack a real punch. The creatures made up 2.6 per cent of all jellyfish sightings in British waters last year, according to the Marine Conservation Society. David Lammy announced plans during a visit to Britains highest security jail, HMP Belmarsh - Stefan Rousseau/PA Front-line prison officers are to be given body armour and Tasers to defend against a surge in serious violence in jails. In his first interview as Justice Secretary, David Lammy also indicated he was prepared to make greater use of separation units for high-risk criminals and terrorists to protect officers from a cohort of violent pernicious prisoners with malevolent intent. He announced the plans during a visit to HMP Belmarsh, Britains highest security jail, where the countrys most dangerous prisoners are held. Inmates include Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomb plotter, and Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer, both of whom have allegedly attacked officers while in custody. Some 10,000 more officers, half of all 20,000 front-line staff, will be given body armour. This includes 5,000 protective vests allocated to every officer in high-security prisons such as Belmarsh, to be fitted individually for each guard. At present, stab vests have been restricted to officers in the three high-security separation units and tactical response units. They also have helmets, armoured gloves, aluminium batons, shields, Pava pepper spray and smoke bombs. They are deployed to tackle extreme violence and riots. Some 500 Tasers will also be given to trained staff in local response teams based in prisons, scaling up the weaponry from 20 given to specialist staff when the initial trial started in July. Violent attacks on prison staff are up 14 per cent to record levels - Stefan Rousseau/PA Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: We will always support measures that protect our brave prison officers. Front-line officers have been left exposed for far too long. They cannot afford more delays this equipment needs to reach them immediately. The situation in our prisons is a national security emergency. The Justice Secretary must immediately roll out anti-drone technology to stop weapons and potentially guns being flown into prisons. Every day the Justice Secretary delays, lives are put at risk. The measures follow a series of high-profile attacks, including one by Abedi, jailed for life for his part in killing 22 people in the Manchester Arena bomb. He used makeshift knives and hot cooking oil to attack three officers, one of whom suffered life-threatening injuries, at HMP Frankland, the high-security jail in County Durham. Mr Lammy said he had read the report into the horrific attack by Abedi in Franklands separation unit, which prompted Shabana Mahmood, who preceded Mr Lammy as justice secretary, to order a review of how the units could be strengthened and potentially expanded to protect officers. Overall, violent attacks on staff are up 14 per cent in the past year and have hit record levels. The review has been carried out by Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terror laws, who visited a supermax prison in Colorado to see whether the US approach of near 24-hour solitary confinement of high-risk prisoners works. The Prison Officers Association (POA) has called for a similar model in the UK. Asked by The Telegraph if he favoured such a regime, Mr Lammy said: There is a cohort of violent, pernicious prisoners with malevolent intent and the system has to work hard to ensure they are not able to achieve that level of intent and put any officer in a vulnerable position. I will look closely at what [Mr Hall] recommends. I have over many years in the system, seen secure facilities in other jurisdictions like the US but also in Europe and France. Its important we keep pace as we build those 14,000 new places by 2031. Supermax system too harsh Mr Hall told The Telegraph that there were elements of the US regime from which the UK could learn, such as a carrot and stick reward system to control behaviour. There were some good things about the supermax system, but it was a bit too harsh, I think. I dont think its necessary to go that far, he said. But the staff there could decide what the rules were, and if you broke the rules you went down. You behaved, you went up. The problem with the UK system is that for legal reasons, and I hate to say that it is legal reasons, the three separation centres weve got have all got to have the same regime. Belmarsh has a prison-within-a-prison to house high-risk offenders and exceptional risk inmates. These include psychopathic killers, terrorists and criminals with what Jenny Louis, the governor, describes as the means or wealth to escape. It is why wires are strung above prison yards to prevent escape helicopters from landing. During Mr Lammys visit on Friday, Lewis, a 28-year-old officer who has to search every inch of the jail for contraband, including the prison within a prison, showed off his black stab-proof vest to the Justice Secretary. He said violence was probably going up. I think this [vest] will deter and hopefully reduce violence, he said. Asked what accounts for the violence, he listed drugs, weapons, mobile phones and people getting into debt that spirals out of control. We wont need emergency measures He said he had colleagues admitted to hospital and had seen staff stabbed during his seven years as an officer. On how the vest felt to wear, he said: I could quite happily wear it all day. Mr Lammy has two major pieces of legislation to steer through Parliament, one reforming sentencing to stop prisons running out of space, the second overhauling the courts, including scaling back the right to jury trials for thousands of defendants. After a period when Labour has had to adopt emergency early release schemes to not run out of space, Mr Lammy said: I think Im hoping, under my watch, well see stability in the system, so we wont need emergency measures. He also wants to boost the number of officers, with more likely to join if the job becomes safer. However, Mr Lammy admitted it was still an acute period, with internal forecasts predicting jails will again run out of space by next spring. I dont want to suggest that this isnt still an acute period where we have to keep a very, very close eye, both on prison places, and certainly on the backlog, he said. He indicated he would be taking up recommendations in a review of courts by Sir Brian Leveson, the senior judge who proposed barring the right to jury trial for a wider range of offences and introducing a new interim court to replace juries with a judge and two magistrates. Mr Lammy told The Telegraph: There will always be jury trials for our most serious offences but its important I look closely at the thresholds and closely at the rules to ensure we are able to bear down on that backlog and ensure victims have confidence in the system and are not waiting years and years. Mr Lammy, a former barrister, said the current record backlog of 77,000 Crown Court cases meant trials had been collapsing as victims and witnesses found their recollections fading, or pulled out in frustration at delays of two or more years. The most important thing is justice delayed is justice denied. That is a priority, he said. September 19, 2025: For decades, the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) was treated as something of an afterthoughta Cold War idea that never had its day. It was designed to provide an artillery punch for the AirLand Battle, hitting Soviet and Warsaw Pact units 150 to 300 kilometers away with cluster warheads or other types of advanced conventional munitions. ATACMS' first combat mission came in Desert Storm when a Block I version (early operational model, 165-kilometer max range) struck an Iraqi SA-2 surface-to-air missile site. It was a joint Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission, and it worked. The missile was fired by a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) fitted with an ATACMS pod. Scratch one Iraqi SA-2 site, allowing Coalition aircraft to strike other targets unhindered. The final after-action report captured several telling details. When the launcher received the emergency fire mission, it was part of a moving convoy. The MLRS crew took a hasty firing position. The battery had no pre-arranged launch points. The battery calculated the firing data, launched the weapon, and the ATACMS suppressed the SAM site. That was the AirLand Battle concept: a highly mobile missile weapon that could hit targets several hundred kilometers away within minutes. In this case, land-based missile artillery helped facilitate deep fixed-wing airstrikes. But the 1991 recognition came a year later, in footnotes, not headlines. VII Corps reported it fired 32 Block I missiles at a wide array of target types. Ten of the missions were SEAD targets, six of which were completely destroyed. Other targets engaged included a multiple rocket launcher site, short-range surface-to-surface missile sites, refueling sites, and at least one bridge. Translation: enemy heavy fire support weapons and targets that reduce enemy mobility (fuel and bridges). In Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003), U.S. Army V Corps Artillery fired 414 ATACMS missiles. Some of the missiles V Corps employed had unitary warheads (high-explosive, detonating on impact). After-action reports noted that ATACMS required minimal airspace deconflictionclearing the attack zone so missile and artillery fire does not interfere with fixed-wing and rotor-wing air operations (and now, presumably, drone operations). The ATACMSs trajectory, velocity, and steep rates of ascent and descent differ from the flight characteristics of conventional cruise missiles or MLRS rockets. This makes the missile an ideal weapon for deep attacks in campaigns where enemy air defenses and aircraft continue to contest airspacemeaning when the good guys dont have air superiority. In 2007, the Army terminated the ATACMS program and began developing its replacementthe Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). PrSM offers longer range, faster speed, and more explosive power. The first batch of operational PrSMs will have a range of 300 to 400 kilometers. PrSM is still in development but has been test-fired. Belatedly, Ukraine received ATACMS, but Washington initially prohibited Ukraine from firing the weapon at targets inside Russia. Ukraine first used ATACMS in October 2023, hitting Russian airfields in occupied Berdiansk and Luhansk. The ATACMS that struck Berdiansk carried submunitions (cluster explosives). Several media outlets have reported that Russia has been unable to intercept ATACMS missiles. In late 2024, the U.S. granted Ukraine permission to hit targets inside Russian territory. (An ATACMS struck an S-400 air defense missile site in the Kursk region of Russia.) Is ATACMS a game-changer, the war-winning tech? The current ATACMS certainly complicates Russian operations in Ukraine and threatens vulnerable logistical support operations within Russia. If Ukraine had had ATACMS with no restrictions in Summer 2022a different question altogether. If Ukraine had three squadrons of F-16s supported by ATACMS providing SEAD, Ukraines 2023 offensive might well have reached the Don. (AB) Families of Hamas hostages claim Keir Starmers intervention has dramatically complicated their efforts to bring home loved ones - Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Sir Keir Starmer is rewarding murderers by recognising Palestine, the families of Hamas hostages have said. Relatives of those taken captive by the terror group on Oct 7 2023 have condemned the Governments decision to recognise a Palestinian state. In a letter to the Prime Minister on Saturday, a group of 16 relatives urged Sir Keir to about-turn on recognition and accused him of having dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones. The Government is expected to issue a formal recognition of a Palestinian state this weekend. Speaking to The Telegraph, Sharon Sharabi, the brother of freed hostage Eli Sharabi and deceased hostage Yossi, said: While hostages are still held captive by Hamas, beaten, humiliated, and starved, the British Government chooses to ignore the unimaginable situation of terrorism and reward the murderers. Hostage Eli Sharabi is greeted by his family on release from captivity in February - Haim Tsach/GPO History will judge those who supported terrorism. The world refuses to understand that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that encourages democracy, stability, and peace. A total of 48 hostages remain in captivity almost two years on from the Oct 7 attacks on Israel, when more than 1,200 were murdered by Hamas, triggering the war in Gaza. In the letter, the hostage families wrote to Sir Keir: Your regrettable announcement of the UKs intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly has dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones. Hamas has already celebrated the UKs decision as a victory and reneged on a ceasefire deal. We write to you with a simple plea do not take this step until our loved ones are home and in our arms. The best way to end this terrible war is for Hamas to release all of the 48 remaining hostages. Those who are alive for rehabilitation and those who are not, for proper burial. We implore you to use the UKs relationships with countries across the region to apply maximum pressure upon Hamas. Ilay David, one of the signatories, said recognition was a bad idea and made the release of his brother Evyatar, the 28-year-old hostage seen emaciated in a Hamas video last month, less likely. Matan Eshet and Ilay David, cousin and brother of Evyatar David, who is still being held hostage by Hamas - Heathcliff O'Malley It harms the negotiations, he said. It is bad for Gazans, bad for the hostage. Any form of recognition from nations like the UK is a bad idea. The timing is wrong. We have to say, Until the hostages are home and Hamas de-weaponises we cannot recognise anything. It is the wrong move right now. We want to meet with Starmer but he refuses to meet with us. I want him to look into my mothers eyes, into my brothers eyes on that video, and promise that he will do whatever he can to make sure my brother survives. Giving this recognition is like saying to Hamas: It is OK you can keep starving the hostages, you can keep using them as human shields. This kind of recognition gives Hamas power to be stubborn in negotiations. That is the last thing we need right now. Hamas terrorists are still holding 48 people hostage - Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto Ditza Or, the British mother of Avinatan Or ,who is still being held hostage, said: Mr Starmer, we expect the Prime Minister of England to remain true to timeless values, not short-term self-interests. With eternity, we fight against evil and cruelty, on our way to illuminate the world. You have the opportunity to be a partner to the light, or to join the evil. The world is watching you, what will you choose? Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had disagreements with the Prime Minister over the recognition. Sir Keir said in July that he would recognise Palestinian statehood before the UN general assembly later this month, unless Israel met a series of conditions, including a lasting ceasefire and aid deliveries. Critics have said the move, which is backed by France, will destroy Britains leverage over both Israel and Hamas by removing the incentive for the terror group to release the remaining hostages from Gaza. A factory worker uses tongs to position heated metal under a forging press during the manufacturing process.Kateryna Babaieva / Pexels (The Center Square) Another multi-million-dollar grant has been awarded to a multi-billion-dollar company in Texas through the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund. The latest is a $250 million TSIF grant awarded to Samsung Austin Semiconductor, LLC for its semiconductor fabrication facility in Taylor. Samsung Electronics has three semiconductor fab facilities in Texas; two are in Austin and one is in Taylor. Samsung says its making a capital investment of more than $4.73 billion into the Taylor facility. Its part of an onshoring strategy and transition to the manufacture of 2-nanometer leading-edge logic chips that power next-generation technologies in areas like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-performance computing, the governors office said. In November 2021, Samsung announced it was investing $17 billion in a new facility in Taylor to build world-class semiconductors and microchips in an effort to reduce future supply chain shortages and dependence on manufacturing in China, The Center Square reported. It remains the largest foreign direct investment in Texas on record, bringing the companys total Texas investment to more than $47 billion since it began operations in the U.S. in 1978. Texas is home to the future of technology and innovation, Abbott said in a statement. With approximately $40 billion invested in Texas, Samsung is helping to cement Texas position as the leading state for semiconductor manufacturing, bringing in more business investment to Texas communities and creating thousands of good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans. The $4.73 billion investment will provide a more secure domestic supply of chips for critical U.S. industries and ensure the most advanced chips that will power next-generation technologies are Made in Texas, Abbott said. Samsung has been proud to call Texas home for the past 30 years and is deeply appreciative to the State of Texas and the Governors Office for this significant grant award, Samsung Vice Chairman and Head of Device Solutions Young Hyun Jun said in a statement. This grant will ensure that our semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor delivers the most advanced technology for our global customers and continues to reinforce the chip supply chain in the U.S. The grant is an outworking of Abbott prioritizing Texas leading the U.S. in chip manufacturing when supply chain issues began under the Biden administration. In 2023, the state legislature passed Texas CHIPS Act, which created a new Texas CHIPS Office, the new fund and grant and the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, The Center Square reported. The legislature created them to leverage Texas investments in the semiconductor industry, encourage semiconductor-related companies to expand in the state, further develop the expertise and capacity of Texas institutions of higher education, and maintain the states position as the nations leader in semiconductor manufacturing. Critics argue the latest TSIF grant is another example of taxpayer funded corporate welfare, where companies with multi-million and billion-dollar valuations are expanding operations in Texas on the taxpayers dime, The Center Square reported. Critics argue they would expand in Texas even if they didnt get the grant because of Texas business friendly and low tax policies. Prior to the Texas CHIPS Act, Texas ranks number 1 in the United States for semiconductor manufacturing for the expansion of the semiconductor industry, Abbott said. He maintains the Texas CHIPS Act expands that pathway to ensure that Texans will be leading the way for semiconductors for decades to come. Throughout his tenure, Abbott has been spearheading foreign investment in Texas. Last year, Abbott met with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. executives at their semiconductor campus in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, as part of an international trip to secure investment in Texas manufacturing. He also met with Samsung executives in Austin to celebrate Samsungs continuing expansion in Texas and largest foreign direct investment in Texas history. He also joined South Korean SeAH Group executives to announce their new steel manufacturing plant in Temple. The company said it was investing $110 million in the project that would create more than 100 new jobs. Texas trade with South Korea totals more than $32 billion; South Korea is Texas fourth largest trading partner. It also ranks first in foreign direct investment in Texas, with South Korean companies like Samsung making key investments. The share of singlesthat is, not married, living with a partner, or committed to anyone romanticallycan vary a lot from country to country and even within the demographics of a particular one. In the United States, for example, about three in ten adults (31%) belong to this category. However, more than a third of them (35%) say they have never even been in a relationship, with roughly equal shares of men (35%) and women (37%). One Reddit thread tapped into this very divide, asking men what they realized about women only after getting a girlfriend. The responses ranged from funny to heartfelt, and many revealed just how much dating can change a person's perspective. #1 That 99% of the time when they come to us to vent or go off about something, that is literally all they want to do in that moment. They are not looking for Mr. Fixit, just someone to sit in the mud with them. Image credits: pyroskunkz #2 That pockets can be fake. Never occurred to me that clothing would have fake pockets! Fake pockets?! Ladies, you deserve real pockets that can hold all sorts of dumb c**p. F**k the patriarchy, get you some pockets! #3 The things that men do to impress women mostly just impress other men. Most women dont actually give a s**t about your car, your abs, your muscles, your d**k size, etc. #4 They do makeup to impress themselves and other women, it has very little to do with looking good for dudes. I always thought women did makeup to attract guys but my girlfriend said it was because she wanted to feel pretty and I believe it. Image credits: frawtlopp #5 If you want to know what women want, ask women and not your buddies. #6 Periods are no joke. The pain, cramping, headaches. Its like having a flu once a month. Idk how women work full time like this. Obviously not all women get strong period symptoms, but still. #7 They actually appreciate small efforts more than big gestures. Image credits: EmbarrassedTowel6885 #8 They get harassed a looooooooooot. Sure I knew, vaguely, but now that I hear about her experiencing that on a regular basis it's way more concrete. . Image credits: Karpattata #9 Theyll love you to the ends of the earth as long as you dont let them down. #10 That taking a shower and washing their hair are two different types of showers. #11 They move through the house like ninjas, man. You never hear them until they're standing in the doorway and say "whatcha doin, babe?" and send you three feet into the air. Image credits: LeakyAssFire #12 Women are extremely perceptive towards emotions and demeanor. If something is slightly off, they'll know. Image credits: GuruParrot #13 I came to see that emotional intelligence is far more important than I had previously believed. Being present, communicating, and making small gestures all have a significant impact. Consistency, respect, and listening are more important than flashy romantic gestures. #14 Women love the little things, tell her shes pretty, tell her she smells nice, remember her birthday, call her, listen to her talk, give her attention, these things mean more to them than they show. #15 The bra and panties rarely match. #16 Turns out theyre just as nervous around us as we are around them. Everyones just winging it. Image credits: CryptoEdgePro #17 They're all wildly different. Just be prepped to go with whatever and communicate effectively. Image credits: Ohnoherewego13 #18 The amount of toilet paper used having to go from changing the roll every couple weeks to every few days. Image credits: qbsky #19 Even the most attractive and seemingly put together woman can be staggeringly insecure. #20 You should probably have a second towel and keep your bathroom spotless. They don't care much if your living area is perfect but that room in specific is a comfort zone. Image credits: LargeSnorlax #21 They can take off their bra without taking off their shirt. A s**y revelation to young me. Image credits: CaroCogitatus #22 That being clean refers to dirt and dust, not clutter. A counter can be full of things and still clean apparently. #23 When we first lived together, I would do all the laundry and noticed all her undies had discharge and assumed she was aroused all the time but never wanted to do anything with me. Boy was I wrong and embarrassed. #24 Women always need 2 towels for shower time, one for the hair one for the body. #25 They notice EVERYTHING and remember EVERYTHING. They also love hot showers, like burn your skin hot. IDK how they do it. #26 I still don't understand how they fold their clothes. Their clothing shapes don't make any sense. Image credits: thumbs27 #27 So much hair. Everywhere. When we weren't living toghter yet I found hair in my fresh boxers 3 days later. Now that we do live toghter... i need to clean the vacuum's head on every 3rs use as its all hair and it doesnt suck good. Im suprised she is not bald at this point. Image credits: supe3rnova #28 I found out that they are not as organized/ tidy as I expected. For example, my restroom was comprised of just shampoo, body soap, towel, and three toiletries, and everything in its place. Once she moved in, it was like a tornado just swooped right through. Oh, and clothes everywhere, EVERYWHERE!!! Bras hanging on all the bedroom door knobs . We got married! #29 Women are definitely more patient and definitely more multitasking. Also it's amazing how much fits into one bag. The amount of times when men try to harass my girl. It is much more than men think it is. The amount of protection they want is a lot, but it makes sense if you think of how many guys try to bully a woman or want to get into their pants. Many times even forcefully. So if a woman can trust you, that's a huge thing. #30 10 months into a relationship with my first girlfriend, I learn that women are a lot more careful with their words and do a lot of analysis on any decision they make. #31 Keep a calendar to record the special dates you've come through together , that will save and help you in your relationship . Image credits: GoldaWarfield #32 They be fartin. Image credits: EZE333 #33 They love to put that inside curtain in the shower and it helps so much! #34 It's not about the message, it's about the tone. Edit: d**n, and here I was thinking only mine does that. #35 That men and women view things like fairness, equality, intention, etc; totally differently. And that boys really need to start playing house more. #36 They want security more than anything else. Have a good job, stable emotions, being chatty and generally clean will get you the attention of a lot of women. That whole "alpha male" schtick gets you mocked behind your back, used like a toy destined for the curb. Women will actually use "alpha male" idiots for a free meal and shiny baubles only to kick his g**n butt to the curb when he catches on that he isn't in charge of the anything. Not keeping yourself clean, and your domicile clean will cause a lot of women to form low opinions. Nobody wants to live with the plague, filth and squalor. If a girls friends likes you. The girlfriend really likes you. Never sleep with the friend of a girl friend. If she likes her dad, and her dad likes you, she like you. Keep chocolate around for the time she is on her period. They need a space for themselves away from other people. Women and incredibly mean and cruel to each other. #37 HAIR-TIES EVERYWHERE. Image credits: Silent-Good19 #38 Periods can really stink. Never thought about it until I got a girlfriend. #39 Sure, we can share a suitcase," is just a woman's way of saying, "Honey, the space for your week's worth of clothes has been graciously upgraded to a single shoelace and the desperate hope of finding a laundry mat.". #40 They're so soft, soft skin nice squishy soft b*m lovely. #41 She has so much more stuff than I do boxes of decorations for everything tons of skin/hair product candles soaps everything. #42 Physical things: They have complicated insides that often get outside. Sights and smells I had not anticipated. You get used to it. Emotionally: A lot of the time they don't want to talk it out. they just need time to cool off, let their mood normalize. #43 Reasurance is extremely important, being reliable is as well.Have a hair , face, body and scrubbing towell available.Have facial cleaner/makeup remover on hand. Image credits: Reasonable_Ad_5496 #44 Laundry. The laundry. Its so much. You can wear a shirt twice if you hang it back up. No? You cant? And you wear 3 different shirts a day? Okay. Oh is that pile on the floor clean? It is? I see. And that pile? Dirty? Ok. Is there anything in the washer? Oh a load in the washer AND the dryer. Can I wash my socks today? #45 If you clear off a spot to set something down itll be covered in knick knacks as soon as you turn around. Food & Wine / Frank August Key Points Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon was named the top bourbon of 2025 by the International Wine & Spirit Competition, earning 98 points and a Bourbon Trophy. Judges praised its layered flavor, highlighting apple tart, custard, dried apricots, buckwheat honey, vanilla, and warm spice. Founded in 2022, Frank August is a non-distilling producer that quickly gained recognition, with four additional whiskeys scoring at least 95 points in the competition. The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) announced its top bourbon for 2025: Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Scoring 98 out of 100 points, this bottle retails for around $70 and outperformed many more expensive (and widely known) bourbons. Frank August might not be a household name yet, but it has definitely earned recognition in certain whiskey circles. Founded in 2022 by former fashion executive Johnathan Crocker and partners, it is a non-distilling producer (NDP) that sources and blends whiskey from Kentucky distilleries. Its winning entrant is a 100-proof Kentucky bourbon, blended in batches of 10 to 15 barrels sourced from an undisclosed distillery (or distilleries). As a result, we dont know the exact mash bill, and its a non-age-stated blend. (Though, due to federal labeling requirements, we know its at least four years old.) The bourbon was initially tasted in June at IWSCs North American competition in Bardstown, Kentucky. Judges who sampled and rated the spirit included Millie Milliken (spirits and cocktail writer), Dr. Bill Lumsden (head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg), Reece Sims (founder of Flavor Camp), and Ryan Mills (whiskey influencer and educator). Frank August Small Batch was ultimately awarded an impressive 98 points and a Gold Outstanding medal. Courtesy of Frank August The International Wine & Spirit Competition has crowned Frank August Small Batch the top bourbon of 2025, awarding it 98 points. Courtesy of Frank August Small Batch Judges praised its fruit-forward nose and layered, honeyed spice on the palate. Four other Frank August whiskeys also scored 95 points or higher at the competition. Judges noted a delightful mix of apple tart, custard, and intriguing dried apricots on the nose, followed by a palate that offers a refined medley of buckwheat honey, dried apricots, vanilla, and warm spice. Related: This $66 Scotch Just Won Best Single Malt in the World In August, members of IWSCs Spirits Judging Committee convened in London to retaste all Gold Outstanding winners. They then selected the top entries to receive category trophies. Frank August Small Batch wasnt the only bourbon to score 98 points, but after the final evaluation, it was chosen above others as this years Bourbon Trophy winner. Fast Facts: Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon ABV: 50% Origin: Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon is sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery (or distilleries). Its blended in batches of 10 to 15 barrels at a time. Although the whiskey is non-age stated, due to federal labeling regulations, we know its at least four years old. Frank August has been blending and selling small-batch whiskeys since 2022. Price: Usually between $70 and $80 Along with the 98-point small batch bourbon, four other Frank August whiskeys scored at least 95 points in competition: Frank August Cask Strength Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Frank August Case Study: 05 Wheated Reserve; Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey; and Frank August Case Study: 03 Winter Cover Rye. Related: An Indiana-Distilled Whiskey Is Officially Americas Best Rye at IWSC 2025 The overall American Whiskey Trophy was awarded to Pinkhooks Vertical Series 9 Year Old Rye, another 98-point spirit. This whiskey was originally distilled from a 95% rye mash bill at Indianas MGP distillery. Barrels were then aged at Castle & Key Distillery in Kentucky before blending. Other 2025 whiskey trophy winners at the 2025 IWSC Single Malt Scotch Whisky Under 20 Years : Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt Single Malt Scotch Whisky Over 20 Years : Chivas Brothers Aglac Charrann 27 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky : Dewars Double Double 38 Year Old Irish Whiskey : Blackwater Distillerys The Full Irish Blended Whiskey Worldwide Whiskey: Ki Ones Unicorn Korean Single Malt Whisky Read the original article on Food & Wine 95-year-old woman charged with murder of roommate at New York nursing home An elderly Brooklyn woman was arrested after allegedly beating her roommate to death at their New York City nursing home. Galina Smirnova, 95, was jailed without bond at Rikers Island on Friday, Sept. 19, on charges of second-degree murder and possession of a criminal weapon, New York City court records show. Smirnova had been admitted to the Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on West 29th Street in Coney Island, according to New York City Criminal Court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Per an arrest affidavit, New York City police officers responded to a 911 call at the nursing facility at 10:27 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14, and found Nina Kravtsov, 89, suffering from head trauma. Texas A&M President to resign: Move comes after backlash over gender identity lesson A bloody wheelchair footrest pedal found Detectives' preliminary investigation found that an employee checked on Kravtsov in the room she shared with Smirnova at 8:55 p.m. on Sept. 14, and the 89-year-old was asleep in bed. An hour later, when the employee returned for the welfare check, she saw Kravtsov in her bed, covered in blood "with gash marks about her face and head." The employee also found Smirnova covered in blood, washing her hands in the unit's shared bathroom, according to the affidavit. The employee told officers she noticed footrest leg pedals had been removed from a wheelchair inside the room, with one on the floor covered in blood, and the other outside on the ground under a window. Kravtsov was taken to a hospital, where she died the next morning as a result of blunt force trauma, the affidavit continues. Police did not share a motive for the killing in the court document or when contacted by USA TODAY. Video footage leads to Galina Smirnova's arrest Police arrested Smirnova after detectives saw video surveillance showing no one else entering or leaving the room between the time the employee checked on Kravtsov when she was alive, until she was found fatally wounded. The New York City Clerk's Office said a local public defender is representing Smirnova in this case. USA TODAY contacted the public defender's office on Friday, Sept. 19, but has not received a response. Smirnova's next court date had not been scheduled as of Sept. 19, court records show. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 95-year-old woman arrested in death of roommate at NYC nursing home President Donald Trump on Friday announces a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants, potentially leading to a worker shortage in technology and professional sectors. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images President Donald Trumps latest effort to overhaul Americas legal immigration system raising the annual fee on H-1B visa applicants from $215 to $100,000 could deal a major blow to some US industries that rely on skilled foreign workers. During a signing at the Oval Office Friday, Trump argued that America needs great workers and that the newly imposed fee pretty much ensures that thats whats going to happen. Administration officials also claimed the hefty fee would incentivize companies to hire American workers. The company needs to decide is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or they should head home and go hire an American? Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said at the signing. Thats the point of immigration: Hire Americans and make sure the people coming in are the top, top people. Of the 85,000 H-1B visas granted annually, another 20,000 are reserved for people with advanced degrees from American higher education institutions. But Trumps allies have been divided on how to tackle the visa program. Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, whom Trump chose to lead the administrations Department of Government Efficiency, have defended companies that use the work visa and depend on foreign workers to operate. Steve Bannon, a top strategist in Trumps first term, blasted H-1B visas on his War Room podcast in December 2024 as a scam by Silicon Valley titans, who are about taking American jobs and bringing over what essentially become indentured servants at lower wages. Heres what the new policy means for businesses and workers. How will visa holders be affected? The $100,000 visa fee, which takes effect Sunday at 12:01 a.m. ET, will apply only to new H-1B applications, according to the White House. The rule expires a year later, on September 21, 2026, unless its extended. This is NOT an annual fee. Its a one-time fee that applies only to the petition, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted to X on Saturday, adding that it does not apply to renewals or current visa holders. Google and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, advised visa holders to reconsider international travel plans and to consider returns to the United States by Saturday night, if necessary, according to emails viewed by CNN. But Leavitt clarified Saturday afternoon that any current H-1B holders who are outside the United States will not be charged $100,000 to reenter. Which industries will be impacted? Most H-1B petitions approved during fiscal 2024 which spanned from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024 were for computer-related roles (64%), according to a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report. The next largest occupation was in the field of architecture, engineering and surveying (10%). The third-most-approved petitions were for education-related jobs (6%), according to USCIS. The largest detailed industry sector for approved H-1B visas was related to custom computer programming (25%). Professional, scientific and technical services was the No. 1 industry among employers (48%), while manufacturing (11%) was the second-most popular. Which companies could be most impacted? According to the USCIS data hub, Amazon is the largest H-1B sponsor. The online retailing giant was approved for more than 9,000 H-1B visas during fiscal 2024. Tech giants also rely on the H-1B program, with Google sponsoring 5,364 approved H-1B visas in fiscal 2024, followed by Meta (4,844), Microsoft (4,725) and Apple (3,873). Tech giants that have backed the Trump administration in recent months are among the main beneficiaries of H-1B visas. Above, the Amazon headquarters in Seattle. - David Ryder/Getty Images What does this mean for job competition? Small businesses and startups are more likely to balk at that $100,000 fee than companies like Amazon, Meta, Apple and Alphabet, the parent company of Google. The four companies have a combined capitalization of about $11.1 trillion. The fee could also mean foreign-born workers would be denied entry-level positions, as the $100,000 cost would be too much of a burden to pay for a lower-waged worker. Recent college graduates, who are experiencing the worst market for new grads since the Covid-19 pandemic, could stand to gain from job openings if the openings remain in America. Thats particularly good news for computer science and tech-related graduates, who are entering the market amid rounds of layoffs and plummeting opportunities. What will companies do? During his 2016 campaign, Trump accused US companies of using H-1B visas for the explicit purpose of substituting for American workers at lower pay. But the USCIS reported that, of approved H-1B petitions, the median annual compensation was $120,000. Companies will likely continue to offer higher-paying salaries to the best talent pool of foreign workers. But restrictions could make companies shift hiring initiatives abroad to countries like India, China and Canada, according to the American Immigration Council. How are job seekers affected? Placing limits on H-1B holders doesnt guarantee Americans will be hired in the impacted sectors. When immigration slowed during the pandemic and following the first Trump administrations temporary ban on some immigrant visas, it led to record-high job openings. Jobseekers talk to recruiters during the New York Public Library's annual Bronx Job Fair & Expo on September 6, 2024. - Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg/Getty Images Economists warned at the time that the worker shortage couldnt be solved without ramping up immigration. Businesses are having to turn down work because they simply cant find the workers to do it, Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, told CNN in 2021. Could the policy face legal hurdles? The new fee on visas is likely to be challenged in US courts. To be clear, the president has literally zero legal authority to impose a $100,000 fee on visas, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, on X. The only authority Congress has ever given the executive branch here is to charge fees to recover the cost of processing the application. CNNs Alejandra Jaramillo, Adam Cancryn, Matt Egan and Yong Xiong contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Getty Man holding stomach (stock image) NEED TO KNOW A 36-year-old husband and father was diagnosed with cancer after he thought he simply had a case of food poisoning Matthew Duggan said he thought his symptoms would just go away but finally sought medical treatment after about a month Doctors ultimately discovered a 4-inch tumor in Duggans bowels, and he required surgery and six months of chemotherapy A 36-year-old man with a wife and young child thought he had a case of food poisoning but it turned out to be cancer. Mathew Duggan of Tasmania, Australia, noticed a change in his bowel habits in February 2024, per the Daily Mail. He told the outlet that he began experiencing diarrhea but thought it would just go away. Duggan said the symptom dragged on for about a month, adding, then I started to feel pain, and eventually I noticed blood in my stool. That's when I finally called the doctor. His doctor initially reassured him that it was nothing serious. Duggan recalled, Because of my age, I was told it would probably just be hemorrhoids or polyps. Cancer wasn't on the radar." However, a colonoscopy revealed that he had a 4-inch cancerous tumor in his bowel news that he never expected. Getty Heart monitor (stock image) At 36, you're focused on work, family, your little girl. Cancer just doesn't cross your mind, Duggan told the Daily Mail. Duggan had surgery on the tumor in May 2024. He then underwent six months of chemotherapy, which he said was the most grueling part of the process due to the neuropathy pain the treatment caused in his lower extremities. 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 neuropathy in my feet got so bad that there were times I wanted to cut both my legs off. It felt like someone stabbing the bottoms of my feet constantly pins and needles, burning, just unbearable pain. I couldn't walk from the bed to the fridge. Some days I couldn't go to work. It was the worst pain of my life, he recalled. He also said that he and his wife chose not to tell their then-3-year-old daughter about his diagnosis. She [my daughter] didn't come with me to the hospital or see me during chemo. We didn't want to expose her to it, he said. Getty Patient in hospital (stock image) He added, She only knows the positives now the fundraising we've done, the support we've had from the community. She's been my biggest little supporter without even knowing what I was going through. Duggan also said he opted to keep his diagnosis a secret from many people in his life. I didn't want my life to change. I didn't want people coming up to me all the time, asking how I was, looking at me differently because I had cancer. I just wanted to get on with treatment quietly and try to keep things normal, he explained. Duggan told the outlet he began seeking community in cancer support groups, which made him feel less alone. "It was a relief to finally see I wasn't the only one. That helped lift a weight off my shoulders, he said. As for the advice he hopes to impart to others after his experience with diagnosis and treatment? Your body tells you when something's wrong. Don't wait. Don't let anyone dismiss it because of your age. If I had ignored it any longer, it could have been too late, Duggan said. In May, Duggan ran more than 300 miles over 12 days as part of a Do It For Cancer fundraising event. Im wanting to create awareness around bowel cancer, especially in young people, as every health professional Ive seen across my journey told me that Im too young to have [it], he wrote on the fundraising page. He continued, I want to make young people aware of the symptoms and to get checked as early as possible to stop young people dying from this disease. According to the Cancer Research Institute, rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) among young people are on the rise, with 20% of those diagnosed now under the age of 55. Additionally, there has been a consistent annual 2% increase in cases among adults ages 20-39, since the mid-1990s. Experts believe the increase is related to more sedentary lifestyles, as well as an increased consumption of processed foods and red meat, per the Institute. Read the original article on People Elmore County Sheriff Kristopher Matthews NEED TO KNOW An Alabama man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he let his baby son starve to death The boys mother, Shirley Matthews, was convicted of the same crime in 2024, and she was also sentenced to 20 years Honestly, prison is too good for what they deserve, but its all the law will allow, District Attorney CJ Robinson said An Alabama man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he starved his 2-month-old son to death. Kristopher Matthews, 40, of Elmore County was found guilty of aggravated child abuse in August in connection with the 2018 death of his son Karson, according to local news outlets WSFA 12 and WAKA Action 8. On Thursday, Sept. 18, 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney CJ Robinson issued a press release stating that Karson was born weighing 6 lbs., 2 oz., and died two months later weighing substantially less. In an interview with law enforcement, Kristopher Matthews admitted to having never taken Karson to the doctor after being released from the hospital after birth. He claimed he never personally fed his child and had no duty to do so since he was the father, the release said. Robinson compared the photos in this case to horror movie scenes. This withered childs body was nothing but a dirty, skin-covered skeleton, he explained. A haunting image that no one who saw it will ever forget. Elmore County Jail Shirley Matthews The childs mother, Shirley Matthews, was convicted of the same crime in July 2024. She was also sentenced to 20 years in prison. Kristopher and Shirley Matthews completely destroyed the life of their baby boy by neglecting his existence until he died, Robinson said. No question, this is one of the hardest cases we have ever had to prosecute. The suffering and agonizing death of this baby was completely avoidable. Evil is real, he continued, adding, Honestly, prison is too good for what they deserve, but it's all the law will allow." Elmore County Sheriff Kristopher Matthews Presiding Judge Amanda Baxley addressed Matthews during the sentencing, calling the case horrific, per the release. I wish I could sentence you to more than 20 years, but the law at the time of this offense handcuffed the prosecution and handcuffs me as well, she added. 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. Baxley additionally said that the law in Alabama has since been updated to allow for more severe sentencing in situations like this, but the law was not yet in effect at the time of Matthews crime. PEOPLE reached out to the District Attorney's Office for comment on Saturday, Sept. 20, but did not receive an immediate response. It is unclear who served as legal counsel for Matthews at this time. Read the original article on People UK passengers are subject to the same rules as those in the EU (Simon Calder) Flights from the UK and EU airports (as well as those in the wider EEA), are subject to European air passengers rights rules. They were devised to require airlines to do the right thing for their passengers. They specify the care and compensation you can expect when your plane is cancelled or heavily delayed. These rules also apply for flights on EU and British airlines departing from outside the European Union and the UK. A cancellation, or even a delay of hours rather than minutes, could trigger the obligation for an airline to provide a hotel room and meals as appropriate. If the airline is to blame, it will also owe hundreds of pounds in cash. Conversely, when flying on a non-EU/UK carrier from outside Europe, you may just have to put a dismal aviation episode down to an expensive experience, and see if your travel insurer can help. These are the key questions and answers. In the UK and Europe, what can I expect if my flight is cancelled or delayed? For delays of under two hours, you have no rights (unless a short delay in the UK triggers a missed connection and much later arrival at your final ticketed destination see below). For longer delays, the airline should provide refreshments as appropriate after a specified length of time. This applies regardless of the cause of the delay. The time at which the duty of care kicks in depends on the distance you are flying: Short flights (up to 1,500km): refreshments after two hours Mid-haul journeys (1,500 to 3,500km): three hours Longer trips: four hours Note that if the airline believes providing the care would further delay the flight, it need not deliver. If the delay extends overnight, the airline is obliged to find and pay for a hotel room. In practice, carriers often say, too difficult, and invite the passenger to book their own and reclaim later. While this practice does not comply fully with the rules, aviation authorities tend to turn a blind eye to it. My flight from an airport outside the UK or EU is cancelled. What am I entitled to? If you are booked on a UK or EU airline, you have full rights as above. On any other airline, you have none though in practice a reputable airline will provide meals and accommodation as appropriate. Some travel insurance policies will help meet expenses that cannot be claimed back elsewhere, and may pay a modest amount of flight delay compensation. Its no longer worth going. Can I cancel and get my money back? If your flight is cancelled, and you decide not to travel, you should get money back within a week. Some airlines may offer a voucher instead. If there is a benefit in taking a voucher say an uplift in value of 25 per cent and you know you will be using the same airline within a year, that might be a good decision. But easyJet, Britain's biggest budget airline, does not offer any benefits it insists on cash. How do I qualify for a cash payout? If you are flying from a UK/EU airport or on a British/ European airline and have your flight cancelled or are delayed in arrival by at least three hours the presumption is that you are owed hundreds of pounds in compensation. The payment depends on distance: Under 1,500km, for example London to Barcelona: 220 or 250 1,500-3,500km, such as Manchester-Lisbon: 350 or 400 Above 3,500km, eg Birmingham-Dubai: 520 or 600. If a long-haul arrival delay is between three and four hours, the compensation is halved. The only way the airline can avoid paying out is by demonstrating extraordinary circumstances were responsible. Define extraordinary circumstances? The rules provide only a partial answer: political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes. Court cases have gradually refined the concept of extraordinary circumstances to exclude technical problems. In other words: if a mechanical failure caused the delay, you are due compensation. A judge ruled such issues are inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of the air carrier. Official strikes by the airlines own staff are regarded as within the carriers control, but oddly wildcat walkouts not sanctioned by a trade union are not. Crew sickness is a grey area, with no legal certainty. Ryanair says: Only a small number of claims will be eligible for compensation. Most delays/cancellations are out of Ryanairs control. How do I claim? Each airline should enable you to fill out an online form, but these are sometimes difficult to track down. The pages for leading airlines are here: Compensation must be paid by bank transfer (or cheque), except if the airline obtains the prior signed agreement of the passenger to pay with vouchers for future travel. For example, an airline might offer a 30 per cent uplift if you accept vouchers that are valid for a year so a choice between 350 in cash or 455-worth of flights. What if I have a justifiable claim but it is turned down? One course of action is alternative dispute resolution, but The Independent has serious reservations about some of the decisions of these arbiters. Writing a Letter Before Action warning that you will go to Money Claim Online if you do not get a positive response within two weeks is worth trying, so long as you follow through. For a 350 claim the fee is 50, which is refunded if you win. Since Brexit UK citizens no longer have access to the European Small Claims Procedure, so if you are chasing compensation on a flight originating in the EU it might be easiest to go through a claims handler. One such firm is AirHelp, but be warned that the company will keep between 35 and 50 per cent of any payout (the higher amount if court action is involved). My flight was an hour late departing, but I missed a tight connection If you arrive at your final ticketed destination three hours or more late, you are still in line for compensation as long as the cause was down to the airline. For example, in 2018, I flew on British Airways from Heathrow to Moscow for an onward connection to Volgograd on the Russian airline S7. The plane was an hour late leaving London because of overrunning engineering work. I missed the connection in Moscow and arrived five hours behind schedule at Volgograd. BA paid delay compensation without a fuss; the issue of meals was easily solved because S7 sent me to the business lounge to wait. It is notable that in the CAA delay figures for 2023, almost all the airlines that are largely feeding hub airports did better than the average: Air France, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways all outplayed easyJet and Ryanair in getting planes away on time. They have a strong incentive for punctuality, with connections sometimes less than an hour and the penalty for messing up so high. Turkish Airlines is unique among the big network carriers with an average delay of 29 minutes, which must wreck a significant number of transfers. This piece is kept updated with the latest advice. For more travel news and advice listen to Simon Calders podcast. The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Utah Valley University's campus has left a community in shock and a nation wrestling with questions of political violence, free speech, and the role of universities as arenas for public debate. Kirk, 31, was scheduled to speak at UVU on Wednesday when he was struck by gunfire from a rooftop across the street. Authorities confirmed later that evening that a suspect had been arrested, though they have not yet disclosed a motive. The FBI is assisting state and local police in the investigation. The shooting which was captured in part on video and spread quickly on social media has been called one of the most high-profile acts of violence against a political figure on an American campus in recent memory. UVU's Response: Shock, Grief, and Security Concerns University leaders acted swiftly to address the tragedy. In a message to faculty and staff, officials described the shooting as "deeply disturbing" and emphasized the school's focus on healing and dialogue in the wake of the violence. "Today's act of violence at Utah Valley University, resulting in the death of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, is deeply disturbing. Our deep condolences are with Mr. Kirk's family, loved ones, and all who were present during this horrific incident," the statement read. "The U's Department Public Safety Department is working to increase safety measures on campus to make police officers available to speak to students, faculty and staff. Additional public safety patrols and layers of security will be present at university events today and the rest of the week." A Broader Debate: Political Violence on Campus The tragedy has reignited debates around political violence and free expression in the United States. For years, universities have been flashpoints in broader cultural and political battles, with student groups clashing over invited speakers and campus policies. Kirk's presence often drew both packed auditoriums of supporters and organized protests from detractors. His death now raises the question of how universities can continue to provide space for ideological exchange without putting lives at risk. Security experts note that campuses are inherently open spaces, making them difficult to secure against targeted violence. The incident at UVU may prompt new national guidelines on how schools handle politically charged events. The Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk For supporters, Kirk was more than a campus speaker he was a driving force behind a new generation of conservative activism. In 2012, at just 18, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that grew into one of the most influential conservative youth organizations in the country. The group built a vast presence on college campuses, advocating for free markets, limited government, and traditional values. By his late twenties, Kirk had become a fixture on television, radio, and social media. He was a frequent guest at conservative conferences and an ally of former President Donald Trump, who praised him as one of the movement's rising stars. Kirk's sharp commentary often critical of progressive ideology, campus "cancel culture," and what he called the "left's war on free speech" made him a hero to many and a lightning rod for criticism. "He gave young conservatives a voice on campuses where they felt silenced," said one student. "For so many of us, Charlie was proof that we weren't alone." A Polarizing Figure But Kirk's style was also deeply polarizing. Critics accused him of fueling division and amplifying conspiracy theories. His events often drew protests, some of which turned tense or violent, though rarely to the level seen in Utah this week. The fact that he died on a university campus the very arena where he sought to build his influence has added a symbolic weight to his passing. Looking Ahead Back at UVU, grief and uncertainty hang over the campus. Counseling services have been expanded, and student groups are organizing vigils in Kirk's honor. Faculty members are planning open forums to discuss political polarization and safety. University officials maintain they will "do everything possible to minimize disruption to students" as the semester continues. But with the investigation still unfolding, and the nation still absorbing the shock of Kirk's death, questions about campus safety and the future of political discourse in higher education remain unanswered. For now, Utah Valley University and the thousands touched by Charlie Kirk's work are left to mourn and reflect on what his life, and his tragic death, mean for the future of free speech in America. Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya performs funeral prayers for his family members killed in an Israeli airstrike on his family home in the Al Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on Saturday. - Khames Alrefi/Anadolu/Getty Images On Friday, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya left his family home for a shift as the director of the Al-Shifa Hospital. A day later, the bodies of six family members arrived while he was still on duty. An Israeli airstrike hit his home in the Al Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, where multiple generations had been living together, the doctor said. This is the family home where we live. My brother, two of my brothers sons, my nephews wife, and two of their children were martyred, Abu Salmiya told CNN. The strike on Abu Salmiyas family home killed six people and injured seven others, including the hospital directors sister, niece and nephews, he said. CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the target of the strikes. A video shared by the director general of Gazas Ministry of Health, Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, showed a grief-stricken Abu Salmiya kneeling next to the bodies of his family members at the hospital, still wearing his doctors scrubs. We pray that God grants patience and strength to his heart and the hearts of his family, Al-Bursh said in a post on social media. Gazas civil defense said they rescued four injured people and recovered three bodies at the home in Gazas northern beach area. A missing person remains buried under the rubble. Our crews are trying to reach him and retrieve him, the civil defense said. The latest assault comes as global outcry intensifies over Israels attempts to capture Gaza City. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing the city, where Israel has been demolishing high-rise buildings. Palestinians from Gaza City move southward with their belongings on the coastal road near the Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, on Friday. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images Israel says the city, Gazas largest, remains a Hamas stronghold. The groups military wing issued an image of the remaining Israeli hostages it is holding, warning the incursion in Gaza City means that Israel has lost any chance of getting its hostages out of the territory. Israels military on Saturday said it had struck more than 120 terrorist targets since the start of its ground operation in Gaza City. In a statement, the IDF said during several days of fighting Israeli troops had discovered tunnel shafts and underground passages and located submachine guns and ammunition hidden in civilian structures. It also claimed to have eliminated more than 30 terrorists. The IDF also said it was creating a corridor to enable the movement of the civilian population southward for their safety. The statement came as graphic videos shared by Palestinians on social media and geolocated by CNN showed the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that hit a truck transporting displaced people on Al-Shifa Street, west of Gaza City. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 90 people had been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza City on Saturday. The deaths were recorded at the Al-Shifa Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Jordanian Hospital and the Al-Quds Hospital in the city. More than 65,200 Palestinian people in Gaza have been killed since October 7, 2023, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian health ministry. The United Nations and others have warned that the assault will worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis, with parts of Gaza officially declared under famine. This week, an independent United Nations inquiry concluded for the first time that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel firmly denies. CNNs Lauren Izso contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A One Piece flag hangs on the gates of the Singha Durbar palace in Kathmandu, Nepal on September 9 as smoke and flames rise from the building. - Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu/Getty Images As Nepals famed Singha Durbar palace went up in flames last week, protesters determined to rattle the government hung a manga flag showing a skull wearing a straw hat against the buildings ornate golden gates. The juxtaposition of the cartoon flag with the historic complex now home to government buildings may have seemed bizarre, but for the Gen Z protesters that filled the streets of Nepal, ousting the countrys prime minister and sparking two days of deadly social unrest, the gesture was packed with meaning. The flag comes from the wildly popular 1997 Japanese manga One Piece by Eciichiro Oda, which tells the swashbuckling story of the charming pirate captain Monkey D. Luffy and his misfit Straw Hat crew. Together, they set sail under a Jolly Roger flag that wears Luffys quintessential straw hat and his trademark beaming smile. To One Piece fans, the flag symbolizes Luffys quest to chase his dreams, liberate oppressed people, and fight the autocratic World Government. Hes fearless and determined with a few tricks up his sleeve to thwart opponents, including the enviable ability to evade capture with a rubber body that stretches, bounces and bends. But in the real world, the One Piece flag that adorns Luffys ship has transcended borders and languages to become a rallying cry and symbol for youth-led protest movements. In Asia, the flag gained popularity as a tool of political expression and defiance during protests in Indonesia, the Philippines and Nepal, and has also popped up on the streets of Paris. Bikhyat Khatri, who helped organize the Nepal protests, said the flag symbolizes aggression and determination to push anything that comes in its way. A lot of youths in Nepal love anime, Khatri explained. We wanted the movement to feel like a Gen Z movement, so the slogans and symbols used during the protest were linked with things that Gen Z youths could relate to. Protesters wave flags in front of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 29. - Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images Pop culture symbols elevate protest messages Luffy first appeared in the popular manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in July 1997. At the time, the character was 17 and owed his bendy superpowers to eating a mythical fruit. One Piece has since broken the world record for the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author, according to Guinness World Records. More than 500 million copies have been printed worldwide. The long-running series has inspired an anime television series, podcasts and fan sites. In 2023, it was adapted into a Netflix series. Andrea Horbinski, a manga and anime expert who holds a PhD in modern Japanese history, said she was not surprised to see the One Piece flag adopted by a political cause. Luffy, the series protagonist, is a cheerful character who smiles through adversity. You cant help but root for him, Horbinski said. A protester carries Indonesia's national flag and a pirate flag from the Japanese anime One Piece during a protest in front of the governor's residence in Surabaya on August 29. - Juni Kriswanto/AFP/Getty Images No challenge is too daunting for the young man with an ambition to be Pirate King, if only he can find the One Piece treasure. Luffy, he is very determined. He has this quest. He and his crew have certainly gone through setbacks, but theyve continued pursuing it, Horbinski added. Thats what people are responding to and thinking about when they are bringing the flag to these kinds of protests. Nuurrianti Jalli, a professor of media and communications at Oklahoma State University, said these symbols are effective in protests because they can help elevate what the people are trying to say without having to say it word for word. Through the internet and social media, these symbols can spill across borders to galvanize other young people who share similar concerns. Theyre not speaking the same language, but they understand what the story is about, Jalli said. Real and digital worlds merge Characters and symbols from popular culture are often adopted by protesters to convey a shared cause or value system. Pepe the Frog, the right-wing online meme, was adopted by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong in 2019, while a three-fingered salute from the Hunger Games movie series is used by young pro-democracy protesters in Thailand and opponents of the 2021 military coup in Myanmar as a symbol of resistance. The One Piece Jolly Roger Flag is a useful symbol because it can be easily adapted from protest to protest and infused with new meanings more specific to the time and place, said Natalie Pang, professor in the department of communications and new media at the National University of Singapore. Gen Z demonstrators protest government corruption in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 8. - Ambir Tolang/NurPhoto/Getty Images In Nepal, protesters displayed slogans such as Gen Z wont be silent, Your luxury our misery! and Nepo Babies alongside the flag in reference to anger over politicians children displaying their lavish lifestyles on social media. As a visual symbol, it is gaining a lot of traction because it is in a way, quite effective for people to rally around it to say, I stand for these symbols, these values as well, Pang said. It is not just rallying people around the values, but also potentially mobilizing them to join in those protests. Through social media, there is a blending of the real world and the digital world, she added. We are seeing a kind of remixing, a kind of diffusing of both political cultures of expression together with popular culture of consumption. Protesters hold torches during the "Block Everything" protest movement that called for a shutdown of France on September 10 at Republique Square in Paris, France. - Ibrahim Ezzat/Anadolu/Getty Images Lightning rod In Indonesia, the One Piece flag became a lightning rod after residents chose to display it ahead of the August Independence Day celebrations. Government officials accused the protesters of attempting to divide the country and likened flying the flag to treason. These comments, as well as local media reports about authorities seizing the flags and ordering murals removed, prompted Amnesty International to issue a statement calling on the Indonesian government to stop repressing freedom of expression. As he put the finishing touches on his spraypainted mural of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger, Indonesian artist Kemas Muhammad Firdaus told Reuters news agency the manga drawing was a symbol of warning for the government, so they have to look at their people. Many Indonesians are hoisting the One Piece flag because they want the government to listen to them, Firdaus told Reuters, as he held his own Jolly Roger flag. At the end of the day, people are hoping that the government will fix the ongoing problems. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com @hollsmp/TikTokDuke Duke, Hesston and friend NEED TO KNOW Duke secretly traveled from South Korea to Mexico to surprise his best friend Hesston on his wedding day after six years apart Holly, the grooms sister, filmed the moment and posted it to TikTok, where it went viral with millions of views Mikayla, Hesstons partner, coordinated the surprise and says seeing her husband reunited with Duke was so heartfelt In a TikTok that swept the internet, a grooms best friend stunned him at his wedding in Cancun, Mexico, after flying 7,000 miles from Seoul, South Korea, to reunite after six years apart. My whole job was keeping the secret and not cracking the whole time, Holly, the sister of the groom, tells PEOPLE. She was the one behind the camera, capturing the exact moment her brother Hesston laid eyes on his longtime friend Duke again. I didnt do too much of the logistics, Holly says. I was just trying to keep the secret and then ended up videoing the reunion. The logistics fell largely to Mikayla, Hesstons partner, who worked quietly with their wedding coordinator and travel agent. Duke reached out to me about a month before the wedding, asking if there was any way he could still come, Mikayla tells PEOPLE. I had to get with my coordinator and my travel agent to get it all worked out, Mikayla explains. It was Dukes idea to keep it a surprise. Keeping the plan airtight wasnt easy. The most challenging part was keeping it a secret, Hesston and I have never been able to keep surprises well, Mikayla says. Not even for birthdays or Christmas, she adds. So it was really hard to keep this from him. Plus, Duke already told Hesston he wouldnt be able to make it a few months prior. So, he really has no idea! Duke Duke and Hesston For Duke, the decision to come wasnt made until just before the big day. At first, I dont think I could have made it cause of work and my financial status, Duke tells PEOPLE. But a couple weeks before his wedding, I decided to go, he continues. I decided to show up... without Hesston knowing. So yeah, it was a surprise and a little like a wedding prank that I tried to do. Even then, he worried the secret might slip. I thought they were gonna accidentally maybe tell Heston, Duke says. I told Mikayla several times to keep it a secret, which she did really great. Theres another friend, Anthony, and I told him, Duke explains. Maybe like four or five people knew, including Holly, and I told them several, several times not to tell Hesston. And it turns out nobody actually told him, so it really turned out great. When the day arrived, Hesston had no inkling. It was pretty insane, Hesston tells PEOPLE. We just got out of the pool and everyone was gathering, and then there he was. That just blew my mind, he continues. I havent seen him since 2019 when we graduated. I dont know how else to say, but [it was] not expected. Seeing Duke again was like welcoming back family. Its like a sibling moving far away, Hesston says. We just did everything together back in high school and in college for a little bit. Its more meaningful than I can fully describe." Their friendship stretches back more than a decade. We were friends since like 2013 maybe, Hesston recalls. I offered for him to live with my family for a couple different years during high school. We went to OSU together for the first year too, he says. So we spent a lot of time there before life took him overseas. When he saw the reunion unfold, Duke admits he was struck by Hesstons reaction. Hes not a really like emotional guy, hes a really chill guy, Duke says. Duke Duke, Hesston, and their friend when they were younger So I wasnt expecting to see that kind of facial expression when he first saw me, Duke continues. I havent seen him for five or six years, and then I got to show up at his wedding and surprise him. So it was a great day. Mikayla, watching it happen, felt overwhelmed. It was a very special moment for me, she tells PEOPLE. I had actually never met Duke in person since he has been in South Korea for so long. Hestons reaction to the surprise was so heartfelt, Mikayla adds. I was just so happy to see him happy in that moment. Holly turned to TikTok to share what she had caught on film. There is absolutely no way I thought that it would blow up the way it did, she shares. But the post took off. It currently has more than 4.4 million views and 560,000 likes. The responses to the video, Holly says, "have been overwhelmingly positive. Just people in the comments like, all I do is get on this app and cry, she continues. It just speaks to how far Duke traveled for his best friend. Duke Duke, Hesston, and their friend The comments were filled with admiration and some envy. Not a lot of people would do that, Holly says. I saw a lot of comments talking about how 'I wish I had a friend like this.' People were also like, Hesston, now you have to go to Korea for his wedding one day, Holly shares. And hes like, yeah, 100%. Duke even posted his own version of the moment. It wasnt as viral as hers, but I got some views, so it was pretty fun, he tells PEOPLE. Ive never got so much attention like this before in my life. Crazy. I kind of hate internet attention, honestly. But, you know, its fun. 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. For Hesston, the experience comes down to one thought. Not expected, he says, smiling. But unforgettable. Read the original article on People Washington The Department of Homeland Security has escalated its clash with so-called sanctuary states this week, warning California, New York, and Illinois in letters obtained by CBS News that refusal to honor immigration detainers could trigger federal legal action. In letters dated Sept. 10, Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons ordered the attorneys general of the three states to declare within two days whether they would comply with "thousands of ICE detainers" lodged against individuals in state custody, according to DHS. Immigration detainers are formal requests by ICE asking local jails and prisons to notify the agency before releasing an individual, and to hold them briefly so federal agents can take undocumented migrants into federal custody. According to DHS, Illinois and New York formally declined to cooperate. California initially did not respond. On Thursday, Lyons sent follow-up letters obtained by CBS News accusing each state of obstructing immigration enforcement and vowing to enlist the Department of Justice in response. Senior DHS officials tell CBS News the department will tap the DOJ to sue states, blocking future federal funding. In his follow-up letter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Lyons wrote that the state's refusal "will result in thousands of criminal aliens being released into Illinois communities," adding that "ICE will engage with the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal partners to pursue all appropriate measures against you." New York Attorney General Letitia James received a similar warning after two aides to Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed the state would not expand cooperation, according to DHS. Lyons wrote in his letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, "I take this lack of response to mean that you will continue refusing to honor ICE detainers, resulting in thousands of criminal aliens being released into California communities." The states have largely argued that complying with ICE detainers is voluntary. The California attorney general's office responded to Lyons in a letter, dated Sept. 20 and obtained by CBS News, that pointed to federal regulations and a court case that found that immigration detainers are requests. The Illinois attorney general's office referred CBS News to a letter it sent to Lyons on Sept. 12, which also said ICE detainers are "requests" and state and local authorities cannot be forced to comply with them. The office also noted that it doesn't oversee pre-trial detention in Illinois, so the office "rarely, if ever, receives ICE detainers," and it can't "unilaterally override state law" by forcing local police departments to honor ICE's requests. "Responding to an ICE detainer based on erroneous information could subject Illinois law enforcement agencies to liability for ICE's mistakes," the letter read. "And unfortunately, the number of erroneous detentions by ICE continues to grow at an alarming pace." In a statement to CBS News, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin wrote, "These dangerous sanctuary policies, often combined with cashless bail for serious crimes, allow criminal illegal aliens to be released back into American communities threatening the American people's lives and wellbeing." A DHS spokesperson tells CBS News that the agency has arrested roughly 400,000 undocumented immigrants since the start of the Trump administration, and 70% of those arrested by ICE have criminal charges or convictions. Among those released by state authorities include undocumented migrants charged with sex crimes on minors, multiple assaults on police officers with a dangerous weapon, indecent assault and battery, as well as those with drug trafficking and weapons charges, a DHS spokesperson said. Federal regulation dictates that immigration detainers instruct local jails and prisons to hold someone for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release so ICE can take custody. Historically, federal courts have ruled that these detainers are requests, with some local and state authorities outlawing compliance. Some courts have also found that holding people without a judge's warrant can raise constitutional challenges, citing the Fourth Amendment's protections against unlawful detention. California, New York, and Illinois have each passed laws limiting compliance with ICE detainers. California law bars local police from honoring detainers, except for individuals convicted of select serious crimes, while New York law restricts cooperation, requiring judicial warrants rather than administrative detainers to detain undocumented migrants. The New York attorney general's office advises local police departments not to honor ICE detainers unless they are accompanied by warrants issued by judges. Illinois' TRUST Act also prohibits state and local law enforcement from detaining individuals without a judicial warrant. Supporters of city- and state-level "sanctuary" laws typically argue the policies lead to greater trust between local police and residents whose immigration status may make them reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement or report crimes. But the Trump administration argues "sanctuary" policies make it harder for ICE to apprehend undocumented migrants, prompting the federal agency to send more law enforcement agents into American communities to conduct arrests on the streets. Those operations have drawn protests in major cities like New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles in recent months, leading to some clashes with ICE and several arrests. In recent months, the Justice Department and other agencies have sought to cut off grants to cities and states that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, drawing lawsuits. In his warnings to state attorneys general, Lyons underscored that ICE prefers cooperation but will not allow what he calls "inadvisable and irresponsible obstruction" to continue, though he fell short of specifying exactly how the Justice Department will pursue lawsuits or other federal action in the coming weeks. Watch: Right-wing protest in the Netherlands erupt into violence Saturday Sessions: Maren Morris performs "Running" Saturday Sessions: Maren Morris performs "Grand Bouquet" Armstrong County Jail Jessica Mauthe NEED TO KNOW Police found the remains of four dead babies in a woman's Pennsylvania rental home after she was evicted The bodies were found in bags located throughout the home after the landlord went in to clean and noticed a smell The woman is now in jail and facing several charges, including one count of criminal homicide and four counts of concealing the death of a child The eviction of a Pennsylvania woman led police to a gruesome discovery. In August, landlord Brent Flanigan evicted tenant Jessica Mauthe, 39, from her rental home in Cadogan Township for non-payment, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and ABC affiliate WTAE. On Saturday, Sept. 13, Flanigan went into the unit to clean up, when he discovered a strong odor emanating from a trash bag in a closet, the Post-Gazette reported, citing a criminal complaint. In the closet, he found a dead baby, and he immediately called the police, Flanigan told WTAE. After a search of the vacant residence, authorities said they found two more tote bags in the attic, each containing another dead infant, according to WTAE and the Post-Gazette. CBS Pittsburgh/YouTube Inside Jessica Mauthe's rental home where four dead babies were found The same day of the gruesome discovery, Mauthe was charged with criminal homicide and abuse of a corpse, according to Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Less than a week later, police announced a shocking update. On Thursday, Sept. 18, PSP confirmed that another set of infant remains was discovered, bringing the total of dead infants in Mauthes former residence to four, according to WTAE and CBS News. PSP did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Saturday, Sept. 20. While speaking with investigators, Mauthe a mother of two boys, per CBS Pittsburgh admitted to hiding the bodies of three of the infants shortly after giving birth to them in her home, according to a criminal complaint obtained by CBS News and the Post-Gazette. Per the complaint, she told authorities that about six years ago, she gave birth in the bathroom and passed out after hearing the newborn whimpering, CBS News reported. When she came to, the baby was dead, and she hid its body. Mauthe also told authorities that she gave birth to two other babies, whose remains she put in garbage bags, then tote bags, which she then placed in the home, according to the Post-Gazette. One of them died after she allegedly wrapped it in a towel. She could hear the child making several noises, police said of one of the infants, per the Post-Gazette. Mauthe removed the child from the toilet, wrapped a towel around the infants entire body, where it remained until it stopped making noises. Armstrong County Jail Jessica Mauthe's mugshot Mauthe allegedly never sought medical attention for any of the infants and never notified anyone, CBS News reported, citing investigators. 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. Mauthe has two sons, ages 6 and 8, and a husband, who is currently incarcerated, according to CBS Pittsburgh. The Cadogan Township rental home where the baby remains were discovered was her childhood home. Mauthe took over the lease after her father died, per the Pittsburgh outlet. Mauthe is now facing one count of criminal homicide, one count of involuntary manslaughter, four counts of concealing the death of a child and four counts of abuse of a corpse, CBS News reported, citing state police. She is being held in the Armstrong County Jail, and was denied bail, CBS News reported. The investigation is ongoing. Read the original article on People An armed man who was detained on Friday at the memorial venue in Arizona for the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk was charged on Saturday with impersonating a law enforcement officer. Authorities identified the man as Joshua Runkles, 42, who was taken into custody at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., after exhibiting suspicious behavior, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. Runkles was initially approached by the Secret Service. He then allegedly falsely claimed to be a member of law enforcement and stated that he was armed. Runkles was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony, and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place, a misdemeanor, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. Runkles was booked into the Maricopa County Jail, but was since released on bond. An investigation is ongoing to determine his intent and purpose at the stadium, an Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman said. Later on Saturday, an executive producer for The Charlie Kirk Show said the man was doing advance security for a guest at the memorial service for Kirk on Saturday, and that nothing nefarious was involved. I want to add a note of clarity here, Andrew Kolvet, the producer, wrote on X. This individual was doing advance security for a known guest planning to attend the memorial service tomorrow. We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or US Secret Service, Kolvet wrote. Also important to note that this was before the site had been fully sealed and locked down. Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyones safety. The upcoming memorial for Kirk, who was killed last week in Utah, is set to take place on Sunday. The event will have Super-Bowl-level security measures. It was designated as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event. President Trump, Vice President Vance and other administration officials are set to give remarks at the funeral service. On Friday, federal authorities said they are tracking several threats of unknown credibility against people who plan to be at the service. After a manhunt for Kirks shooter, law enforcement identified Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah resident, as the alleged suspect. Utah is seeking the death penalty against the suspect. This story was posted at 4:19 p.m. and updated at 6:39 p.m. Ian Swanson contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Scotland Police Graham Wright NEED TO KNOW Police in Scotland revealed that the human remains discovered in Rubha Dubh on Sept. 13 belong to Graham Wright A stranger stumbled upon 38-year-old Wrights remains along the shore of Loch Lomond 19 days after he went missing Police are asking the public to reach out with any information regarding this death, which they describe as unexplained Nineteen days after a Glasgow man was reported missing in Scotland, a stranger stumbled upon his remains along the shore of Loch Lomond. Police in Scotland announced on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that the human remains discovered in Rubha Dubh near Firkin Point on Saturday, Sept. 13, belong to Graham Wright, who was reported missing on Aug. 25. Authorities are treating the death as unexplained and are urging anyone to come forward with information regarding the 38-year-olds death. Wright was last seen on Aug. 20 on Cumberland Street in Glasgow before he was reported missing five days later, although he may have been spotted in the same area on Sept. 5, Police Scotland noted. Our thoughts are with Grahams family and friends at this extremely difficult time and they are being supported by specialist officers, Police Scotlands Detective Superintendent Peter Sharp said in a statement. It is vital we get answers for them and extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish how his remains came to be on the shore of Loch Lomond. A dedicated team of officers are carrying out investigations, including door-to-door enquiries and examining all available CCTV footage in the area, Sharp continued, before explaining how the public can help. The detective explained, Please think back do you remember seeing anything out of the ordinary whilst in the area? I am also keen to hear from anyone who was driving in the area, specifically on the A82, between Monday, [Sept. 1], and Saturday, [Sept. 13], as you may have dashcam footage that could help our investigation. In his plea, Sharp said any info, no matter how small, could be useful. We are also appealing for information from anyone who was onboard a boat, or any other vessel, or anyone who may have been using the water near to Firkin Point for any purpose, he added. If you have information or CCTV, or could help with our investigation please come forward. The public can send info or CCTV footage to detectives using this online portal or by contacting them on either 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 1400 of [Sept. 13]. Read the original article on People traffic cones and NYPD cars in front of 952 Rev. James A. Polite Avenue, where a man was shot to death Sept. 20, 2025; bloody towels and a New York Yankees baseball hat seen on the ground in front of 952Rev. James A. Polite Avenue, where a man was shot to death Sept. 20, 2025; NYPD detectives work the scene where 46-year-old Amaury Carrion was shot multiple times in front of 952 Rev. James A. Polite Avenue on Sept. 20, 2025 A Bronx man was fatally shot on the sidewalk near his home after a witness said they heard two men arguing, police sources said. Amaury Carrion was found with three gunshot wounds, including two in the abdomen and one in the chest, around 12:30 a.m. outside of a home on Reverend James A Polite Avenue near East 164th Street in Longwood, the sources said. Carrion, 46, who lived about five doors down from where he was shot, later succumbed to his injuries at Lincoln Hospital, police said. Cops found Amaury Carrion, 46, with three gunshot wounds outside of a home in Longwood around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, police said. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock The victim was described by his weeping family, who gathered outside his home Saturday afternoon, as a loving husband and loving father. Carrion lived at the house for many years with his wife, had two teenage children and worked at the Hunts Point Produce Market, said a cousin, who declined to identify herself. He was a very good person, she said. If you needed him, he would be there in a heartbeat. This happening right now is just shocking. Its just jaw dropping. We just had a party, not too long ago, a whole family birthday party, she said. That was the last time I saw him, and then I got this call today. White towels with blood stains and a New York Yankees baseball hat were seen on the ground at the gruesome scene Saturday morning. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock Carrion was a very nice guy, according to a neighbor who declined to give her name. He never bothered nobody, she said. I always seen him and his wife with their dog. I feel very sorry for her. He was a quiet guy, kept to himself. Very nice guy. She was concerned about violence in her neighborhood, she said. Its scary, she said. I hope they catch him as soon as possible. We need more patrols in this area. There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock An investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential. Simply Recipes / Getty Images Key Takeaways Parmigiano Reggiano is legally protected, so it's only made in specific Italian regions under strict rules. Real Parmigiano Reggiano is made with milk, salt, and rennetno additives. To spot authentic Parmigiano check for rind markings and Made in Italy labeling. Being a food editor comes with many perks and steady learning opportunities. A colleague at Food & Wine recommended the wonton soup at NYC's Wu's Wonton King and it's truly the best I've ever had. Last year, I visited an almond orchard in California, where I got in a bee suit and learned that without bees, we wouldn't have almonds. A few months ago, I took a trip to Parma, Italy to tour a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy factory and taste a lot of cheese. (Watch a snippet of my tour in the Reel below.) This trip forever changed the way I shop for Parmesan, a name synonymous with Parmigiano Reggiano in America. It's a staple cheese that immediately upgrades salads, dinner rolls, casseroles, and of course, pastamy fridge is never without it. I learned that Parmigiano Reggiano and Parmesan are not the same product, and there is an easy way to find the real stuff at the grocery store so that you can enjoy the best-tasting product and never pay more for a knockoff. What Is Parmigiano Reggiano, Officially? Parmigiano Reggiano is an Italian aged cheese designated as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), a mark of quality earned by following strict and elaborate rules that govern everything from what the milked cows eat through each stage of production and sale. For example, Parmigiano Reggiano can be produced only in Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua, and Bologna. Only three ingredients are used: cow's milk, rennet, and salt, with no preservatives or additives. The cheese matures for a minimum of 12 months before it can be labeled as Parmigiano Reggiano. Each wheel of cheese (about four million per year) is individually inspected by an expert certified by The Consortium, the governing body for Parmigiano Reggiano. At 12 months, the cheese is sweeter and creamier, ideal for snacking. The longer it maturestypically 24, 36, and 48 monthsthe crumblier and richer, and the higher its price. Simply Recipes / Paolo Picciotto 2 Ways To Tell If Its the Real Stuff What Americans refer to as Parmesan cheeselike the green plastic bottle of Kraft grated "Parmesan Cheese" or blocks labeled as Parmesan cheese in supermarkets and cheese countersis not true Parmigiano Reggiano. (In 2021, Kraft Heinz sold its cheese products to Groupe Lactalis, a French company.) Why does this matter? Because the real stuff tastes better and sometimes the knockoffs are more expensive. Our nerdy food friends over at Serious Eats taste tested Parmigiano Reggiano and various domestic Parmesan cheeses and determined that "we simply can't, in good conscience, steer you to any of the domestic cheeses we tried when the real version is so much better." Here are two ways to tell if you're paying for real Parmigiano Reggiano: 1. Marks on the Rinds: During production, each wheel of cheese is engraved with its name, Parmigiano Reggiano, in dots (see image above). If you're buying a wheel or hunk with a rind, you should be able to see these markings. 2. Read the Label: In the U.S., the name Parmigiano Reggiano is protectedonly the real cheese product that passed DOP inspection can be labeled as such. Look for the name and "made in Italy" or "from Italy" on the packaging. This is true whether the cheese is sold in a wheel, wedge, block, grated, or shredded. How To Store Parmigiano Reggiano Store Parmigiano Reggiano in the refrigeratorthe ideal temperature is 39F to 46F. It's best to store it wrapped in plastic wrap or a glass plastic container far from smelly foods. How long the cheese will last depends on how long it's been aged. Twelve to 18-month cheeses contain more moisture so they will last for about 15 days when stored properly; 24-month cheeses for one month, and older cheeses indefinitely. Do not toss the cheese if it develops mold on the surface. You can remove it with a knife and still enjoy the cheese. Read the original article on Simply Recipes Minister Arias-Vasquez announces New Dementia Assessment Unit at Ocean Views to be named in Honour of Daphne Alcantara Earlier today, the Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, officially opened the Dementia Awareness Conference at Boyds, an event jointly organised by the Gibraltar Health Authority in collaboration with the Gibraltar Alzheimers and Dementia Society (GADS). During her address, the Minister announced the construction of a new Dementia Assessment Unit at Ocean Views. The facility will be located on the site of the current Sunshine Ward, which will be repurposed to accommodate this important new service. The new Unit will comprise 14 beds across 7 rooms and will be staffed by professionals trained in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), a compassionate and evidence-based approach to understanding and responding to behaviours often associated with dementia. In addition to assessment and care, the Unit will also increase the provision of vital respite beds for individuals living with dementia, helping to assist families providing care in the community. At present, people living with dementia who exhibit responsive behaviours are often admitted to St Bernards Hospital, Ocean Views, or to respite beds at Hillsides. These settings are not always appropriate or therapeutic for managing the complex needs of people living with dementia. The new Dementia Assessment Unit will fill this gap, providing a purpose-built and specialised environment to deliver the right care, in the right place. This development is a key part of the National Dementia Strategy (20232028), which identified the need for a seamless and comprehensive care pathway from diagnosis through to end-of-life care. The introduction of this new facility is an important part of that and will ensure that all individuals living with dementia in Gibraltar receive appropriate, person-centred care in an environment tailored to their needs. The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: I was delighted to officially open the Dementia Awareness Conference this morning. Dementia is condition that can affect any one of us and currently affects many in our community. The number of people affected by the condition is, sadly, only growing. I was very pleased to have been able to announce the creation of this new facility, which will significantly enhance the quality of care we provide to our loved ones with Dementia and, importantly, improve the respite care offered to their families. I know how difficult it can be to care for someone, not least with dementia, so I am proud to be the Minister for Health that will deliver this Dementia Assessment Unit. This announcement also marks the legacy of the late Daphne Alcantara, who fought tirelessly for this cause over so many years as GADS Chairwomen. Before her sudden passing, I promised her that I would deliver this Unit whilst I was the Minister for Health and today I am proud to honour that promise in her memory. I am delighted to also announce that the ward will be named after Daphne. I look forward to inaugurating this facility in the next 6-12 months. Ukrainian air defense fires at Russian drones above Kyiv during overnight during mass drone and missile strikes on Ukraine early Saturday. - Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images Polish and allied military aircraft were scrambled early Saturday after Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine including strikes that targeted near its western border with Poland. It came hours after NATO intercepted three Russian jets over Estonias airspace and with Europe on heightened alert following a series of Russian airspace violations in eastern countries. Due to the activity of the Russian Federations long-range aviation, which is carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace, the Polish military posted on X. Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense systems as well as radiolocation reconnaissance have reached a state of maximum readiness, it said. Russia launched 579 attack drones and various types of dummy drones at Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Kyivs air force said. Moscow also launched eight ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles in the attack, it said. All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He added that three people have been killed in the shelling and dozens more injured. Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure, he said. That is why a strong international response is needed. Overall, eight people were killed and at least 32 injured in Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, according to regional authorities. Brazen incursion On Friday, NATO intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that violated Estonias airspace in what Estonia called an unprecedentedly brazen incident. The countrys foreign ministry said the jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes. Estonias military said the jets had their transponders switched off and did not have flight plans, potentially endangering other aircraft. Italian F-35 fighters that were stationed in Estonia as part of NATOs Eastern Sentry operation, in addition to Swedish and Finnish aircraft, responded to the intrusion, NATO said. F-16 fighter aircraft pictured during military exercises of Poland and NATO allied countries in Poland on September 17. - Attila Husejnow/SOPA/Sipa Russia denied its jets had entered Estonian airspace, insisting the flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules and without violating the borders of other countries. Estonia has requested NATO Article 4 consultations following the violation, the mechanism which allows any member to formally bring an issue to the attention to NATOs principal political decision-making body. A meeting is due to take place early next week. Russian drones violated both Polish and Romanian airspace earlier this month prompting NATO allies to pledge to beef up defenses on the blocs eastern flank. Also earlier this month, NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones that violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine. The operation marked the first time shots were fired by NATO since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The military alliance denounced Moscows absolutely dangerous behavior. The latest attacks come amid a stagnant peace process with Ukraines allies focusing on securing long-term security guarantees for Kyiv. Zelensky said he will meet with US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York next week, and would assess whether such guarantees are close to being finalized. Efforts by Trump to organize a joint summit with Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have so far been unsuccessful. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) BALTIMORE (AP) Trevor Rogers threw six one-hit innings, and the Baltimore Orioles topped the Yankees 4-2 on Friday night, dealing New York a setback in its attempt to catch Toronto atop the AL East. Ryan Mountcastle homered for the last-place Orioles, who improved to 12-5 in September. Rogers (9-2) continued his sensational partial season, lowering his ERA to 1.35 in 17 starts. The Yankees remained three games behind the Blue Jays, who lost 20-1 at Kansas City on Friday night. Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered for New York to join the 30-30 club for the first time. Rogers did not allow a hit until the sixth. He finished with seven strikeouts and two walks. It was his 15th straight start allowing two or fewer runs, the longest streak in the majors this year. Mountcastle opened the scoring with a solo shot off Will Warren (8-8) in the second, and the Yankees made a pair of errors in Baltimore's two-run sixth. Mountcastle's sacrifice fly and Samuel Basallo's RBI grounder made it 3-0. After Rogers was removed with 106 pitches, Chisholm hit a two-run shot in the seventh, but Gunnar Henderson's RBI double in the bottom of the inning made it 4-2. Keegan Akin pitched the ninth for his eighth save. Chisholm has exactly 30 homers and 30 steals on the year. Key moment The Yankees put men on second and third in the eighth against reliever Rico Garcia, but Giancarlo Stanton hit a slow grounder to third to end the threat. Key stat Rogers won't qualify for the ERA title, but he currently has the fifth-best mark of the live ball era in a season with at least 100 innings pitched. The top four are Bob Gibson in 1968 (1.12 ERA), Ted Abernathy in 1967 (1.27), Red Munger in 1944 (1.34) and Bruce Sutter in 1977 (1.34). Up next Carlos Rodon (16-9) starts for the Yankees on Saturday night against Tomoyuki Sugano (10-8) of the Orioles. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB Photo by Element5 Digital | Unsplash (The Center Square) Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has no intention of complying with a U.S. Department of Justice request for information from the states voter registration list. On Sept. 8, the DOJ sent a letter to Hobbs requesting a copy of the state's voter registration database within 14 days. The request included sensitive personal data for each registered voter: full name, date of birth, residential address, driver's license number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The DOJ says it intends to use the information to look for voter ineligibility. The information the DOJ is requesting is protected under RCW 29A.08.710 and not subject to disclosure, SOS Director of External Affairs Charlie Boisner emailed The Center Square on Thursday. Washington voters expect and trust us to protect their personal information, and releasing it without clear legal justification would undermine that trust. In May, the DOJ began sending requests to several states for copies of voter registration databases. The department cited authority under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. Some states have cooperated, but several states including Maine, Oregon, and now Washington have refused the request, citing privacy concerns and contending the government has no legal basis for it. The letter does not indicate that the information would be used to identify criminals or illegal immigrants, Boisner continued. Secretary Hobbs is concerned this request represents an overreach by the federal government into Washingtons independent management of its voter database. State law, he said, means processes and systems are already in place RCW 29A.08.125 (5), (7d), and (10) to verify a persons eligibility to vote in Washington. The Office of the Secretary of State has no authority over immigration enforcement or criminal investigation, so using the information of legally registered voters for those purposes is not within the scope of this office, Boisner noted. Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh pointed out the supremacy of federal law over state law. Is this a joke? State law does not supersede federal law. Article 1, Section 2, of the Washington State Constitution recognizes the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land. By extension, federal statutory law takes precedence over state law when there's a conflict, Walsh emailed The Center Square. Walsh, who also serves in the state House of Representatives, is behind an initiative campaign to require Washington residents to prove they are U.S. citizens before receiving an election ballot. Under the proposed measure, a prospective voter must show an enhanced drivers license or present another form of identification, like a passport or birth certificate, at a county auditors office when they first register. Those already registered to vote would have their registration canceled if they dont supply such proof by the November 2027 election. Thats when the changes would take effect. Boisner said his office is aware of the DOJ's litigation against states that aren't complying. The DOJ recently publicized its plans for litigation against Oregon and Maine secretaries of state for not turning over all the information they requested, so the threat of litigation against Washington is real. We are assessing our options and reviewing the legal basis for the request, as Secretary Hobbs has the utmost respect for the rule of law, Boisner said. However, a letter of request from the DOJ is not itself law, and any action we take must be grounded in clear legal authority. Secretary Hobbs is committed to protecting the privacy of Washington voters and upholding the trust they place in us to safeguard their personal information. Walsh floated another possibility. Speaking hypothetically, if a whistleblower in the state government has already provided the U.S. Department of Justice with Washington's voter registration data, [DOJs] lawful request might be a test of Hobbs' effectiveness and transparency, he said. Will he pass? (WJW) The National Weather Service is warning Lake Erie boaters and swimmers that, despite summer-like weather, its not a good day to be on the lake. There are both a beach hazard statement and a small craft advisory in place for Saturday afternoon. Beach Hazard Statement According to the NWS, the beach hazard statement warns of a high risk of rip currents stretching across northern Ohio, including Ottawa, Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Ashtabula counties. Fugitive crashed into innocent driver in Westlake Wind and wave action will cause currents on the lakeshore. Swimmers should not enter the water. Currents can carry swimmers away from shore through a sand bar and along structures extending out into the lake, states the NWS. The beach hazard statement is in effect from noon Saturday through late Saturday night. Small Craft Advisory A small craft advisory is also in effect on Saturday from noon until 2 a.m. on Sunday. The NWS warns that winds of 15 to 20 knots are expected and waves could reach 3 to 6 feet. Trifecta in the sky: Did you see it? The warning includes nearshore waters stretching from Maumee Bay, Ohio, to Ripley, New York. According to the NWS, inexperienced mariners, especially those in smaller vessels, should avoid hazardous conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Business Insider's reporter made some mistakes during her first trip to Vienna. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I visited Vienna for the first time during a two-week train trip through Europe in 2022. I spent 48 hours in Vienna and left with some regrets that cost me money and time. I booked the wrong room on a sleeper train and the wrong accommodation in the city center. Picture this: Your train finally arrives in Vienna, and all you want to do is sleep. It's 7 a.m., and it's been 24 hours since your last snooze. Part of you wants to spend the day exploring the city you traveled so far to visit for just 48 hours. But your body informs you of the reality that you simply can't right now. That was me in October 2022. My two-night stay in Vienna was a leg of a two-week train trip through four European countries, six cities, and two suburbs. Vienna's blend of fairy-tale flair and unconventional design made it my favorite city of the trip. But I could have saved money, time, and energy if I hadn't made a few poor decisions. My regrets kept me from making the most of my trip to Vienna. Booking the wrong room on a sleeper train left me scrambling to find a hotel room at 7 a.m. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Back to my arrival in Vienna I hadn't slept because I booked a reclining seat on an overnight train from Berlin. I could have booked a bunk in a shared cabin for the 12-hour ride, but I thought I'd save money by booking the OBB Nightjet train's cheapest accommodation: a seat in a cabin with five other people for $40. I also thought I'd maximize my time by traveling through the night. With minimal legroom, a backpack for a pillow, and a windbreaker for a blanket, I stayed up stirring in my head until morning. Once I left the train station, I went to three random hotels nearby before finding one with an empty room. But to check in at 7 a.m. and leave later than the 11 a.m. check-out, I had to book the room for two nights. Ultimately, booking a seat for an overnight ride cost me about $200 more than the train ticket. And napping all day left me with less time to explore the city. "The quality of travel depends not only on the carriages, but also on the route," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider. "We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys." Next time, I'll take their advice and book a bunk for overnight rides. I wish I'd considered taking a high-speed train during the day. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Since I slept until roughly 5 p.m. on my first day in Vienna, I couldn't help thinking I might as well have taken a morning train. According to Austrian Railways, high-speed InterCity Express trains that run during the day get from Berlin to Vienna in under eight hours. The earliest one arrives in Vienna daily at about 2 p.m., which would have given me three hours back. Plus, I would have had a chance to see the views of the places in between. Booking the wrong accommodation cost me energy and added stress to my trip. The airstream trailer outside of the hotel. Joey Hadden/Business Insider As I scrolled through Airbnb for a unique accommodation in Vienna before my trip, the luxury Airstream trailer in the parking lot of the boutique Hotel Daniel stood out among the rest. I was surprised to find an accommodation I associated with camping on a busy street in a city. Intrigued by the opportunity to easily explore the city on foot and have an unusual stay, I booked the Airstream for $300 for two nights. On night one, I realized I'd made a mistake. Outdoor sounds bled into the Airstream past bedtime. Honking cars, passing footsteps, and strangers' loud conversations kept me up too late. I also struggled to sleep because I felt exposed. The Airstream was parked in front of the hotel, right next to the street. On the second night, I was startled by pedestrians taking photos in front of the trailer, banging on the door, and attempting to pry it open. A representative for Hotel Daniel told Business Insider that the Airstream can be noisy throughout the night due to its location. A hotel manager added that this was their first complaint of strangers banging on the trailer door and apologized. In the future, I'll book a stay inside a building when staying in city centers. I shouldn't have tried to squeeze so many sights into a two-day trip. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I have to give myself credit I covered a lot of ground in just 48 hours, especially considering how much I slept on day one. I visited multiple 17th-century palaces, frolicked through hedge mazes, and admired street art along the Danube Canal. I traveled from north to south to see the city's most whimsical buildings up close. In the moment, I felt like I was making great use of my limited time, but in reality, I was missing out on in-depth experiences. Hopping from place to place, I didn't have time to go inside any palaces, cathedrals, or museums I merely viewed their exteriors. Booking a longer trip would have solved this problem, but that's not always possible. If I could have a do-over on my first trip to Vienna, I'd pick one palace and book a tour inside. I'd travel to a couple of whimsical buildings and take time to explore the surrounding blocks. And I'd sit on a bench along the Danube Canal rather than rushing past. Read the original article on Business Insider Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the US Capitol on September 19, 2025. - Francis Chung/Politico/AP Still locked out of power in Washington, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his party are seizing on a fresh battle with President Donald Trump: a high-stakes gamble over this months government funding deadline. With a shutdown on the line, Schumer and other top Democrats in Congress are vowing to play hardball against Trump. One of the partys biggest demands: They want Republican leaders to commit to billions of dollars in enhanced Obamacare subsidies that would otherwise expire at the end of the year. Donald Trump would rather shut down the government than even talk to Democrats about lowering the cost of health care for Americans, Schumer told reporters on Friday. But by taking that hardline approach, Democrats are also taking a major political risk. Party leaders and rank-and-file are publicly projecting a united front, and many Democrats are truly eager for a fight with Trump. But behind the scenes, some are also worried about the partys exit strategy if Trump and the GOP refuse to cave. They fear that a shutdown could wreak havoc across the country only for Democrats to ultimately yield to Republicans with nothing in exchange. One Democratic lawmaker close to leadership acknowledged that the party is heading into uncertain territory with its shutdown threat, but said there were simply no other options. I cant tell you if its gonna be a good play or a bad play on shutting it down, the Democratic member said. The point is, nothing else has worked to stop their momentum. You gotta throw some tacks in the road. Others in the party are more anxious about what happens if Trump and his administration begin yanking resources like food stamps and blaming Democrats for the lapse. Theres no way to play this shutdown game and win, one senior aide to a Democratic centrist added. A funding lapse on October 1, of course, isnt yet guaranteed. Republican leaders in the House and Senate believe Schumer wants to find an off-ramp, according to multiple GOP sources. Some Democrats, too, still publicly and privately hope that Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune can reach a deal on the enhanced subsidies, even if its not formally included in a funding agreement, multiple Democratic sources said. Meanwhile, Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Saturday sent a letter demanding a meeting with the president, who Democrats say isnt talking to them at all. Hours later, Trump signaled openness to meeting with the Democratic leaders but doubted whether it would make a difference. Id love to meet with them, but I dont think its going to have any impact, Trump told reporters. Some saw Fridays Senate votes sinking both Democratic and Republican plans as leverage points rather than real shutdown threats with so many days to go before the deadline. A government shutdown is not good for everyone. No one ever wins and the American people fail, Rep. Ami Bera, a centrist from California, told CNN. I wouldnt make plans on [September] 29 or 30 because we might be back. But Republicans insist theres no reason to have a conversation over health care at all as part of this funding bill, which would simply keep the government operating at status quo through late November. Looks to me like its this or a shutdown, Thune said plainly when asked about Democrats choice. These guys just didnt listen to the voters last November, House GOP Whip Tom Emmer added of Democrats health care demands. Schumers next play Lawmakers left Washington on Friday without a clear path forward. Both sides remained dug in with no plans to vote again until a day before the deadline, and no one on Capitol Hill can predict what happens before then. But for now, Democrats are leaning into their spotlight moment and insist theyre not backing down. Donald Trump says he doesnt want to talk. Hes still in the go-to-hell mode. His marching orders to Republicans are dont even bother with Democrats, Schumer told reporters on Friday, after he and nearly every Democrat in Congress opposed the GOPs plan for a seven-week stopgap. They, by not negotiating, are causing the shutdown. Its a notable position for Schumer, who triggered fierce backlash in his party this spring by helping Trump and Republicans keep the government open without anything in return. This time, he said, the world is totally changed, and the American public has seen the damage the Republicans are doing. Republicans still need at least seven votes in the Senate on any funding bill and Democrats say they wont back the current GOP funding plan. Republicans, meanwhile, say they have no reason to offer anything else. Schumer has faced intense pressure inside the Capitol not to yield this time, including from Jeffries. Many in the party, including Jeffries, see the funding fight as a chance to take a high-visibility stand against Trump and his policies with the whole nation watching closely, according to people familiar with his thinking. A shutdown is bad, they say, but this is their only real leverage point with Trump. Its the Republicans shutdown. Were fighting for the health care of the American people, a forceful Jeffries declared from the Capitol steps on Friday, surrounded by dozens of his members. We will do that today. We will do that tomorrow. We will do that next week. We will do that next month. We will do that this year. We will do that next year. Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont argued Trump and the GOP have broken years of precedent by refusing to engage with Democrats on a bipartisan funding bill. While he was adamant that he doesnt want to see a shutdown, he added: In every other situation weve had here, theres been a negotiation. Its a new world with Trump, and he probably does want a shutdown. Asked about the GOPs insistence they will only put up a status-quo funding bill, he said: Thats today. Well see. If Schumer and Senate Democrats were to accept a side deal on the Obamacare enhanced subsidies without putting it into a funding law it would likely infuriate House Democrats. Many in the party remain distrustful of Schumer after the party-wide reckoning in March, when he yielded to Trump on that earlier funding bill. Schumer and Jeffries have insisted publicly they are in full alignment this time, but even close confidantes of both leaders say they cant predict what happens next. I think he saw the consequences [of] what happened to him in March, Rep. Ro Khanna told reporters, when asked if Schumer would hold the line on the funding bill. Asked the same question, progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, declined to answer: Youd have to ask Mr. Schumer. One senior Democrat who speaks to both party leaders regularly said its unclear whether Schumer can hold the position: We hope so. We dont know. Some House Democrats are working behind the scenes to keep up the pressure on the New York senator. In one instance, a report that said progressive force Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is considering a primary run against Schumer surfaced the morning of the Senates big funding vote. (Asked by CNN, Ocasio-Cortez would not comment on whether she is considering a run in the 2028 primary.) For now, both sides acknowledge theres no clear way out without a big U-turn by one party, but theyre also quick to place the blame. What were asking for is super reasonable, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said. Republicans refuse to negotiate with Democrats, theyre sending us home next week. Its 100% clear they want a shutdown. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is the House minority leader. CNNs Morgan Rimmer, Arlette Saenz and Camila DeChalus contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Spooky season is here, which means turkey time is coming fast! Before you dive headfirst into all things Thanksgiving, there's one crucial question to answer: What day is Thanksgiving in 2025? Knowing exactly when the November holiday falls will help you plan the perfect Thanksgiving menu and a Turkey Day-ready outfit to parade around your living room. And if you're mapping out more than one feast so you can celebrate with both friends and family, the date of Thanksgiving will also help you nail down a time for your annual Friendsgiving. It may sound silly, but if you don't know why the date changes every year, it's a perfectly valid question. Thanksgiving can land earlier or later in the month, so knowing how much time you have before the big feast is super important. How else will you squeeze in all your favorite family Thanksgiving traditions? (And hey, you might even want to get a head start on your Christmas shoppingno judgements here!) When is Thanksgiving 2025? Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 27, 2025. If remembering the exact date every year feels tricky, this tip helps: Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. A helpful fact to note is that the absolute latest Thanksgiving can occur is on the 28th of November, while the earliest it can occur is on the 22nd. Why is Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November? Every year, Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. However, Thanksgiving used to be celebrated on the last Thursday of the month. In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving proclamation asking Americans to set aside the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving. After that, it became the norm to hold the holiday on that day. con poulos In the 1930s, there were two years when Thanksgiving fell on the fifth Thursday of November, according to NPR. Business owners complained to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that this would hurt retailers because there was less time to shop for Christmas. To remedy this, Congress passed a law in 1941 that officially made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of every November. Whew! Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday? If you've ever wondered why Thanksgiving is on a Thursday instead of a Friday, you aren't alone. It's practically the middle of the week, after all! Surprisingly, this tradition dates back to Puritan times. In the colonies, Thanksgivings were held periodically to give thanks for a "blessing," according to Time. Melanie Kirkpatrick, author of Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience, notes that these days of thanks often fell on Thursdays. They avoided Fridays because it was a day of fasting in the Catholic Church, and Saturdays were spent preparing for the Sabbath on Sunday. Another reason Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday is so you can enjoy the shopping holiday that follows. Black Friday lands the very next day, and Cyber Monday arrives after the weekend. For 2025, Black Friday is Friday, November 28, and Cyber Monday is Monday, December 1. Think ahead for Thanksgiving 2026, 2027, and 2028. In 2026, Thanksgiving is on November 26 . In 2027, Thanksgiving falls on November 25 . In 2028, Thanksgiving will take place on November 23. You Might Also Like New England is a mecca for leaf peeping. Above is Echo Lake in New Hampshire (Getty Images) With 81 percent of its land cloaked in forest some 34 billion trees New England is the gold standard for glowing fall foliage. That's the good news for "leaf-peepers" in waiting. The bad? There are so many options for seeing nature at its most kaleidoscopic in the region that firming up an itinerary can be bewildering. This guide clears away the underbrush of confusion and spotlights the must-see routes and stops in the six New England states famed for their fiery displays. We put pins in the map for the "Leaf Peeper's Super-Highway", the most coveted covered bridges, iconic mountain panoramas, perfect waterfall picnic spots and towns with historic homes framed by cascading colors. We also show you where to stay and how best to reach your chosen leaf-peeping havens. The six classic New England leaf-peeping states 1. Vermont Early morning autumn light near Killington, Vermont the state hailed by many as number one for leaf-peeping (Getty Images) A Weather Channel map showing peak fall foliage times for the U.S. (The Weather Channel) With 75 percent of the state forested, Vermont is often considered number one for fall foliage. When? Between the second and third weeks of October is fall foliage o'clock. Though some radiant colors are still visible at the end of the month. What to expect Maple-clad mountains and rolling hills in shades of fiery pink, deep crimson, blazing orange and dazzling yellow. Where to go Hit Vermont's National Scenic Byway Route 100, known as the "Leaf Peeper's Super-Highway". It meanders through charming towns from Wilmington in southern Vermont to Newport near the Canadian border almost the entire length of the state with local radio stations revealing the best places to view the color on any given day via fall foliage "hot spot" updates. For 360-degree views of fiery leaves, take a gondola ride at Stowe, the "Ski Capital of the East" in the winter, or visit the four-season mountain resort town of Manchester and drive or hike to the top of Equinox Mountain for views of a landscape resplendent in fall colors. You can also enjoy a cruise on Lake Champlain's Spirit of Ethan Allan for 360-degree painted landscapes. How to get there The state is connected to New York City via the I-87 and I-90, and with New Hampshire via the I-89. Most people arriving by air fly into Burlington International Airport, which serves several major cities including Washington, D.C, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. The state can also be reached easily by train. The daily Vermonter service runs from Washington, D.C., through New York City, and makes nine stops in Vermont, while the Ethan Allen Express travels daily between New York City and Burlington. Where to stay Outbound Stowe is nestled alongside the tranquil West Branch Little River, four miles from the Mt Mansfield State Forest, with guests at the 73-room property enjoying direct access to picturesque trails, an outdoor pool and free wifi. Leaf-peeping tales can be exchanged around the fire pit as marshmallows are roasted. Read more: These hotels have very specific concierge services, from sandcastle building to a bourbon butler 2. New Hampshire The Kancamagus Highway, known by locals as the 'Kanc', is a leaf-peeping must in New Hampshire (Discover New England) Breathtaking autumnal views greet you at every turn in the Granite State. When? Late September to early October, with northern areas peaking first. What to expect An autumnal cast of sugar maples, red maples, eastern white pines, paper birches, eastern hemlocks, ashes, American beeches, balsam firs and red spruces put on an unforgettable show across valleys, through river gorges and over mountainsides. And for company, some 3,000 to 4,000 moose. Where to go Jump in your car and program New Hampshire's finest foliage routes into your navigation app of choice. If time is not on your side, then make the Kancamagus Highway (known by locals as the "Kanc") your priority. The 34-mile road cuts through the 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest. Highlights en route include the 40-foot-tall Sabbaday Falls on the Kancamagus Pass (perfect for a picnic); the aerial tramway that ascends to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain; and the one-mile hike through the Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves in North Woodstock. Another route with ravishing vistas is the 100-mile Pinkham Notch Loop, which offers immense views of the Presidential Mountains and passes through the town of Jackson, home to a beautiful 19th-century covered bridge known as the Honeymoon Bridge. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a drive along 75-mile-long Moose Alley will give you the best chance of mixing moose sightings with tapestries of mesmerizing fall tones, while the Mount Monadnock Loop deposits drivers at the starting points of moderate hiking trails up 3,165-foot-tall Mount Monadnock. For leaf peeping sprinkled with cute farmsteads, navigate the Concord to Loudon to Pittsfield Loop. How to get there New Hampshire's Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is the state's main commercial airport, though many travelers opt to fly into Boston Logan International Airport, an hour south of the border, and drive. Interstate 93 is the primary north-south route, while New Hampshire is linked with Vermont via the I-89 and Maine using U.S. Route 2. Rail options include taking the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston and Brunswick, which stops in Exeter, Durham and Dover; and the Amtrak Vermonter from Washington, D.C., which stops in Claremont. Where to stay The Omni Mount Washington Hotel is an iconic property set dramatically in New Hampshire's mountainous Bretton Woods. The property features indoor and outdoor pools, and a prohibition-era speakeasy. Read more: Six leaf-peeping US states you didnt expect for stunning fall colors 3. Massachusetts A fall view from the 63-mile-long Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts, which runs from the town of Orange to North Adams (Discover New England) Massachusetts is the third-most densely populated state in the U.S., but is also gloriously forested, with around 60 percent of the land, or three million acres, covered in trees. When? Early October to early November. What to expect Maples, oaks, birches and ashes exploding in color across rolling mountains, along dreamy coastlines and in historic streets. Where to go The Mohawk Trail, which runs 63 miles from Orange to North Adams, is one of the state's most renowned foliage routes, with premium leaf-peeping opportunities in Rocky Mountain Park on the Connecticut River; the pretty town of Shelburne Falls; Mohawk State Forest; and the Natural Bridge State Park, home to North America's only natural white marble arch. The views from the top of 3,489-foot-tall Mount Greylock will also leave you spellbound and there's a paved road all the way to the summit. The 50-mile-long Connecticut River Scenic Byway in the Pioneer Valley is also a mesmerizing experience. The drive itself is beautiful and there are hiking opportunities along the way in Mount Holyoke Range State Park and Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation. Slots in the itinerary should also be assigned to a tour of the Cape Ann peninsula in northeastern Massachusetts, home to Gloucester, the oldest seaport in America; and the Greater Merrimack Valley, northwest of Boston. It's peppered with farmstands, orchards and the town of Lexington, with its classic New England town green. How to get there Boston Logan International Airport is the main hub for flyers, with Worcester Regional Airport serving the central Massachusetts area. A scenic and relaxing way to arrive, though, is by train, with Amtrak running several services that benefit those from the Northeast and Midwest. High-speed Acela trains connect the state with New York City and Washington, D.C., the Lake Shore Limited runs between Boston and Chicago, and The Vermonter connects D.C. with Greenfield and Springfield in Western Massachusetts. There's also the Downeaster, which links Boston with Maine and New Hampshire. The major interstates for drivers are the east-west I-90 for the New York State border; the I-95 for access to the eastern part of the state; the I-93, which links Massachusetts with New Hampshire; and the I-84 and I-91, which travel to Connecticut. Where to stay Luxurious Berkshires Untold offers rooms with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, and free wifi, plus it's only 20 miles from the fall foliage hotspot of Mount Greylock State Reservation. Read more: European towns and villages that look like a Disney movie 4. Maine The sensational summit-to-harbor fall foliage view from Mount Battie in Camden, Maine (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Maine is the most heavily forested state in the U.S., with 89 percent of the land covered in trees. Thats 17.5 million acres of leaves to peep. When? Last week of September to the end of October. What to expect Crisp beach walks, riverside rambles, and oaks, birches and maples saturated with heartwarming autumnal hues. Where to go The short answer is almost anywhere, but lets spotlight some of the most sensational leaf peeping locations across the states regions. In Southern Maine, take the scenic Midcoast Ramble drive, which starts in coastal Brunswick and heads Downeast along Route 1. Be sure to make detours down the multitude of peninsulas to explore charming towns and lighthouses. At the end, in Camden, ascend Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for a sensational summit-to-harbor foliage display. In Central Maine, the serene Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway follows the Kennebec River and passes through intensely picturesque autumnal landscapes flecked with lost-in-time towns, such as Bingham, where classic clapboard homes line the streets. In Eastern Maine, you're spoiled for choice for scenic drives, with the aptly named Million Dollar View offering scintillating views of the Chiputneticook chain of lakes and rolling hayfields, and the 12.5-mile-long Blackwoods Scenic Byway winding through gorgeous glacially formed lakes. In Western Maine, the six covered bridges there make for truly memorable fall photos: Babb's Bridge, over the Presumpscot River; Hemlock Bridge in Fryeburg; Lovejoy Bridge in Andover; Parsonsfield-Porter Bridge over the Ossipee River; Bennett Bridge, which spans the Magalloway River; and the Sunday River Bridge in Newry. Venture to Northern Maine, and a canvas of colors awaits along the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Scenic Byway, with views of the leafy lower slopes of Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak, the summit of fall-foliage perfection. How to get there The main airport is Portland International Jetport, which serves New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago, while the main driving artery is the I-95, which runs the length of the state. Rail travel is also a good option, with the Amtrak Downeaster running from Boston, Massachusetts, to Brunswick, Maine, via several stops in Southern Maine, including Wells, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, and Freeport. Where to stay Ledges By the Bay offers views of Clam Cove, an outdoor pool and free wifi. Read more: Luxury hotels with the best service: The worlds most impressive stays loved by billionaires 5. Connecticut Connecticut is a feast for the eyes in fall. Above is Sleeping Giant State Park (Discover New England) Over half of Connecticut is covered in trees. That's 1.75 million acres of fodder for fall foliage. When? Late September through mid-November. What to expect A feast for the eyes, with quaint houses nestling amid bright-yellow quaking aspens, bronze beeches, purple dogwoods and maples dressed in red. Where to go For dramatic panoramas from hilltop farms, drive from North Stonington to Sterling on Route 49. Take to the Norwich-Woodstock Turnpike and you'll find yourself in a world of pre-1855 homes and historic churches. The drive along the tidal Mystic River on River Road, meanwhile, is always beautiful, but especially magical during fall, while the Last Green Valley Scenic Byway in northeastern Connecticut passes through pristine woods and pretty town greens. Linger into the night and you'll get a show from above, too. The Last Green Valley has one of the darkest skies on the Eastern Seaboard. The Essex to Guilford Shoreline Loop Drive is another gem, with the beautiful towns of Essex, Old Saybrook, Guilford and Deep River wrapped in a vibrant symphony of colors in autumn. If youve packed your hiking boots, Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden is an excellent choice for hikes with wow-factor views in every direction, though the most iconic panorama is from the summit of Mt. Carmel. How to get there Bradley International Airport is the main airport, while for drivers, the I-95 runs along Connecticut's shoreline from the New York state line. The I-91 is a direct link for travelers coming from Massachusetts, Vermont, and other northern destinations. Arriving by rail would be an excellent choice, with Amtrak's Acela high-speed service running from Washington, D.C., New York and Boston to the Connecticut cities of Stamford and New Haven. Where to stay The Mayflower Inn & Spa is located amid 58 acres of landscaped woodland in the idyllic town of Washington and features 30 rooms bedecked with feather-topped mattresses, antique oriental rugs and marble baths. Read more: 10 of the best under-the-radar beaches in the US for crowd-free coastal escapes 6. Rhode Island Rhode Island offers top-tier leaf-peeping, particularly in the heavily wooded western and northern areas. Above is South Ferry Church in Narragansett (Getty Images) Rhode Island packs a fall foliage punch, with almost 420,000 acres of woodland. When? October is when the leaves glow brightest. What to expect Top-tier leaf peeping, particularly in the heavily wooded western and northern areas, with golden birches, deep-red oaks and warm-orange American sweetgums on hand to savor. Where to go Kick off your leaf-peeping expedition by navigating Route 1A along the Rhode Island coastline, which meanders from one cute cove to another and offers ocean and countryside vistas. The itinerary should also include the delightful Scituate Loop. This takes in parts of the Scituate Reservoir, which beautifully reflects the autumnal foliage. Theres also the opportunity to stop at Salisbury Farm in Johnston, which celebrates fall with pumpkins, a corn maze and hay rides. Newport Scenic Byway gives leaf-peepers views of historic mansions framed by sun-kissed leaves, while a drive along the roads of Conanicut Island means youll be soaking in Narragansett Bay and idyllic rolling fields wrapped in a kaleidoscope of color. The inland Route 3 is an adventure into the delightfully rural western part of the state, including the villages of Hopkinton and Hope Valley. Then theres Goddard Memorial State Park in East Greenwich, something of a local favorite thanks to open fields peppered with huge trees, serene horse trails and a swimming beach. How to get there The main commercial airport is the Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport in Warwick, just south of Providence. Its a popular alternative to Boston Logan Airport. But you might like to take the train, with the state on Amtraks Northeast Corridor route. The calling points are Providence, Kingston and Westerly. Driving? There are plenty interstate options, with the I-95 traveling north-south through the state, the I-195 connecting Providence to southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, and U.S. Route 6 connecting Rhode Island to Connecticut. Where to stay The Margin Street Inn in Westerly is a bed & breakfast with a white-washed wooden facade and an interior adorned with floral wallpaper and elegant country-home furniture. Read more: Twenty-two incredible free things to do and see in New York City, from beaches to secret gardens Martha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett in "Rebel Royals." (Courtesy Netflix) Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Shaman Durek Verretts love story has received the screen treatment. The Netflix documentary "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story," out Sept. 16, offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their lives and how they got ready for their wedding in Norway. The pair, who've faced backlash for their alternative beliefs, have been at the center of controversy for quite some time. However, they tell TODAY.com that they hope people can see a different side to them with their new documentary and can understand their love story better. "We hope that people take away that love conquers all, and that you can find love even though it is unpredictable," Martha Louise says. I think that what we are demonstrating is to live unapologetically, live in the truth that we are authentically and to not let other people step into that space and dictate with their opinions against the love that you truly have because like my wife said, love does conquer all, Verrett adds. Read on for more about Verrett and Princess Martha Louise. Who are Shaman Durek and Princess Martha Louise? Shaman Durek and Princess Martha-Louise of Norway in 2022. (Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images) Princess Martha Louise was born on Sept. 22, 1971, and she is the eldest child of Norwegian King Harald V and Queen Sonja, per the Royal House of Norways website. Martha Louise is currently fourth in line for the Norwegian throne after her nephew Prince Sverre Magnus. She is also the host of the HeartSmart Conversations podcast and in 2021, she released a reality series about her life titled Martha. Verrett appeared in the series, per IMDb. Martha Louise has three children from her previous marriage with the late author and playwright Ari Behn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. Shaman Durek Verrett is a divorced 6th generation shaman, who aims to redefine what wellness means by putting the power back into the hands of the people, so that they may live consciously, authentically, and in alignment, his official website reads. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Verrett defined shaman as a person whos here to bridge back the spiritual world and the physical world in a tangible way that makes sense in the here and now. And also to give you tools so that you can be able to explore yourself, see yourself, know yourself, love yourself, and be who you truly came here to be. Verrett is also the host of the podcast Ancient Wisdom Today and author of "Spirit Hacking: Shamanic Keys to Reclaim Your Personal Power, Transform Yourself, and Light Up the World. He also had a recurring role on the CBS show The Doctors, where he would help guests in overcoming their challenges that impact their connection to their physical and emotional well-being. How did Princess Martha Louise and Shaman Durek meet? According to Vanity Fair, Martha Louise and Verrett met in 2018 through a mutual friend. When Verrett invited Martha Louise to his AirBnB in the Hollywood Hills for lunch, the couple felt like they had already known each other. Ive met you before, Martha Louise recalled herself saying in a joint Vanity Fair interview with Verrett. I know you already. Yes, he replied. We were destined to meet before we were born. Martha Louise, who once managed an alternative therapy center that taught clairvoyance and how to speak to angels, per Reuters, quickly became friends with Verrett. What have they said about their relationship? In an Aug. 14, episode of HeartSmart Conversations, the couple opened up about their relationship and revealed what they like about each other. I love Dureks wisdom and humor and his depth, and that we can talk about any topic under the sun and that he always sees me, and always wants to evolve. I love that about you, Martha Louise said, adding that hes also very handsome as well. As for Verrett, he noted that he loves Martha Louises beautiful soul. Shes such a pure heart. She loves her children, she loves her family, she loves people, he said. I love how she is willing to be open to new ideas. Really being able to nurture the people around her is so beautiful. Why have they faced controversy? Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett arrive at their wedding party on Aug. 31, 2024 in Geiranger, Norway. (Heiko Junge/NTB/AFP / Getty Images) Martha Louise and Verrett have faced criticism through the years for their alternative beliefs and their relationship. Some of Verretts beliefs have come under fire. For example, in his 2019 book, he made the claim that childhood cancer is caused by unhappiness. Following scandal, the Norwegian publisher attached to the project declined to publish it in Norway. In a post on Facebook, mayor of Oslo criticized Verrett for selling a $222 spirit optimizer on his website, which Verrett says can do things like energize your food and drinks so they assimilate into your body more easily and harmonize your space. In a joint interview with Vanity Fair, the couple said they receive hate online. Every day I wake up, theres tons of mail from Norway of what a horrible person I am. And Im just like, what have I ever done to any of you? Verrett said. People are very angry, Martha Louise added. They think that he has put a spell on me, that hes an awful person. Theres people writing like, I dont trust his eyes. Look at his evil eyes. They write that a lot. Its shameful. Its terrible. You should never be a part of the royal family being with a Shaman. What is that? Everything he does is just phony and its false. How dont you see through that? Its terrible. Youre a disgrace. And of course, with him being Black and Im being white, you get all that kind of hate as well, she continued. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Martha Louise said the relationship opened her eyes to racism in Norway. Before I met him, I never thought that there was racism in Norway, because were all an open, happy family. But basically, there are not that many people of color in Norway, so it was all a surprise to me, she said. The Royal House of Norway condemned racist backlash in a statement in its website, saying, We deplore the racist attitudes that Durek Verrett has had to contend with, especially on social media. We consider it a strength that the Royal House reflects Norways ethnic diversity. Martha Louise also provided a statement on the Royal House of Norways website clarifying her beliefs in alternative medicine, saying she is grateful for the countrys health care system, but also thinks for many people alternative methods can be an important supplement to help from the conventional medical establishment. I am aware that many people follow what I do and say very closely. My title entails a certain responsibility. It is therefore important to me, including in my business activity, to distinguish between myself as a private person on the one hand and as a member of the Royal Family on the other. Sometimes I stumble, and am grateful to receive supportive advice along the way, she wrote. What is the couples status as royals? In November 2022, following controversy around their engagement, Martha Louise said she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house, but would still retain her title. The process with the family has been amicable and loving, the caption read. As part of her message, she also wrote, Durek has a right to his autonomy and to speak his mind like everyone else. In the same video, Verrett addressed controversy his beliefs stirred. I know that some of the things I have said and done have been seen as controversial in Norway. Some have said this has become a problem in Norway. I want to be clear this was never my intention. I wish Marthas family well and want to do my part to support them in their roles, he said, but maintained he has a right to autonomy. The Royal House of Norway, in a statement, explained the decision. The objective is both to prevent misunderstandings regarding the Royal House and to allow the Princess and Durek Verrett greater freedom in their business activities and other parts of their lives, a statement read. The Royal House of Norway shared details about Verretts specific role in the monarchy. When Durek Verrett and Princess Martha Louise are married, Mr Verrett will become a part of the Royal Family, the website said, as Martha Louises last husband Ari Behn was. But in accordance with tradition he will not have a title or represent the Royal House of Norway. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (Photo illustration by Jim Cooke / Photo by NASA, Getty) Early in his first term, President Trump held a modest ceremony directing NASA to return humans to the moon for the first time in 50 years. It was a goalpost set without a road map. Veterans of the space community reflected on the 2017 document, conspicuously silent on budgets and timelines, equivocating between excitement and concern. Was Trump setting up a giveaway to special interests in the aerospace community? Or was he setting forth a real strategic vision for the coming decade, to secure American leadership in the heavens? It was a return to a plan first proposed by President George W. Bush in 2004, then abandoned by President Obama in 2010, asserting the moon as a vital part of American ambitions in space. Whether to return to the lunar surface at all or skip it to focus on Mars was a long-standing debate governing the division of resources at NASA, where every project is precious, holding extraordinary promise for the knowledge of mankind, yet requiring consistent, high-dollar funding commitments from a capricious Congress. Eight years on, the debate is over. Trumps policy shift has blazed a new American trail in space and spawned an urgent race with China that is fast approaching the finish line. Both nations are in a sprint toward manned missions to the lunar surface by the end of this decade, with sights on 2029 as a common deadline marking the end of Trumps presidency and, in China, the 80th anniversary of the Peoples Republic. A "What Will 2030 Look Like?" sign behind Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who chairs the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, during a confirmation hearing in April. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images) It is a far different race from the original, against the Soviet Union, when U.S. astronauts inspired the world with a televised landing in 1969. This time, Washington would not just plant a flag and return its astronauts home. Instead, the Americans plan to stay, establishing a lunar base that would test humanitys ability to live beyond Earth. China has similar plans. And with both countries aiming for the same strategic area of the surface the south pole of the moon, where peaks of eternal light shine alongside crevices of permanent darkness, believed to store frozen water the stakes of the race are grounded in national security. Whichever nation establishes a presence there first could lay claim to the region for themselves. The world's first full-scale model of the crewed pressurized lunar rover, to be used in the Artemis moon exploration program, is displayed during a press preview in July. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images) Advocates of the U.S. effort, called the Artemis program, increasingly fear that delays at NASA and its private sector partners, coupled with proposed funding cuts to NASA from the Trump administration, could ensure China's victory in a race with broad consequences for U.S. interests. So it is a race that Trump started. The question is whether he can finish it. Read more:The space race is transforming Southern California's economy again While U.S. intelligence officials have assessed that Beijing is on track to meet its goals, NASA veterans say that accomplishing a manned mission before the Chinese appears increasingly out of reach. "It's a stretch," said G. Scott Hubbard, a leader in human space exploration for the last half-century who served as NASAs first "Mars czar" and former director of the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. "Bottom line, yes, it is doable. It'll take an intense effort by the best engineers, and appropriate funding. "It's not inconceivable," he added. Visitors take photos of a space suit during an event marking China's Space Day at the Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Wang Jianwei/Xinhua via Getty Images) The White House said Trump is committed to making "American leadership in space great again," noting his first-term push to return U.S. astronauts to the moon and his efforts to deregulate the U.S. space industry. But officials declined to comment on a timeline for the mission or on China's steady progress. Being first and beating China to the moon matters because it sets the rules of the road, Sean Duffy, Transportation secretary and acting NASA administrator, told The Times. Were committed to doing this right safely, peacefully, and ahead of strategic competitors because American leadership on the moon secures our future in space." The success of the Artemis program, Duffy said, is about ensuring the United States leads in space for generations to come. Those who lead in space lead on Earth, he added. NASA officials, granted anonymity to speak candidly, expressed concern that while leadership on the Artemis program has remained relatively stable, talent on robotics and in other key areas has left the agency at a critical time in the race, with potentially less than two years to go before China launches its first robotic mission to the south pole a scout, of sorts, for a manned landing to follow. A proposal to cut NASA research funding by roughly 47% has gripped officials there with doubt, jeopardizing a sense of job security at the agency and destabilizing a talent pipeline that could prove critical to success. In the 1960s, the federal government increased spending on NASA to 4.4% of GDP to secure victory in the first space race. "There's too much uncertainty," one NASA official said, raising the specter of the Trump administration impounding funds for the agency even if Congress continues to fund it. Inside NASA headquarters, Hubbard said, "the feeling right now is terrified uncertainty everyone is walking on eggshells." "They're treading water," he added. "People want to be given clear direction, and they're not getting it." A Chinese Smart Dragon-3 rocket carrying satellites lifts off from sea on Sept. 9. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images) China's long march gets closer Beijing conducted a series of tests over the last several weeks viewed in Washington as crucial milestones for China on its journey to the moon. A launch of its Lanyue lander, equipped to carry two taikonauts to the lunar surface, "validated" its landing and takeoff system, state media reported. Two subsequent tests of China's Long March 10, a super-heavy lift rocket designed to jump-start the mission, were a "complete success," according to the China Manned Space Agency. Unlike in the United States, China's manned space flight program is housed within its military. Read more:L.A. tech startups get big cash infusion as Silicon Valley pivots to defense "We have seen them steadily progress on all of the various pieces that they are going to need," said Dean Cheng, senior advisor to the China program at the U.S. Institute of Peace. "You need a vehicle to launch, because current rockets simply don't have enough throw-weight. They're testing the lander to carry astronauts to the surface," Cheng said. "These are key pieces, and significant advances this is a brand new rocket and a lunar lander with new technology." China initially set a goal for its manned mission by 2035, but has since moved up its plans, an expression of confidence from Beijing and an unusual break from typical party protocol. Now, China aims not only to have completed that mission, but to begin establishing an International Lunar Research Station on its surface, in conjunction with Russia, by 2030. They are expected to target the south pole. "There's room for two powers under schemes of coordination, but there's not room in an uncoordinated environment. There can easily be a competition for resources," said Thomas Gonzalez Roberts, an assistant professor of international affairs and aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Landing and takeoff of spacecraft on the moon will kick up lunar dust and rocks, risking the safety of astronauts on the ground and sensitive equipment across a base site considerations that are likely driving Beijing's strategy to get there first. Those enjoying the benefits of first arrival could set up generous routes for rovers, equipment at dig sites for deposits, telecommunication assets, and even a nuclear reactor to assert a large area of domain. Since his first term, Trump and his aides have sought to avoid a showdown on the lunar surface, drafting a new set of international rules to govern an otherwise untamed frontier. The Artemis Accords set out a practical set of principles to guide space exploration, according to the State Department. President Biden embraced and extended the initiative, growing the list of signatories to 56 nations. But China is not one of them, prohibited by Congress during the Obama era from cooperating with the United States in space after attempting to steal U.S. technology on intercontinental ballistic missiles and thermonuclear weapons. Instead, Beijing has recruited a small list of countries to join its lunar base program, including Russia, Venezuela, Pakistan, Egypt, Nicaragua, Belarus and South Africa. "I don't think there will be extreme congestion on the moon, but if you really define an area of interest and there is that, with these peaks of eternal light next to permanently shadowed regions you could manufacture congestion," Roberts added. "How do you benefit from obfuscation?" he asked. "If you're the first arrival, you spread yourself out." A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch pad 40 at Cape Canaveral, carrying Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft toward the International Space Station. (Manuel Mazzanti/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The promise and burden of Musk's Starship Last month, Duffy warned NASA staff that the Trump administration suspects Beijing is planning to deliver a nuclear reactor to power a long-term presence at its lunar base by 2029. The move, Duffy said, could allow China to declare a keep-out zone, which would significantly inhibit the United States from establishing a planned Artemis presence if not there first." He ordered the agency to collect proposals by October on delivering a U.S. reactor to the surface no later than that year. The administration's success relies on a man whose relationship with Trump has crashed spectacularly to Earth. Starship, a super heavy-lift launch vehicle produced by Elon Musk's SpaceX, is the rocket Trump is relying on to accomplish the Artemis mission. Yet repeated setbacks in the Starship program have raised alarm at NASA over its fundamental constitution. A concerning series of tests have already delayed the U.S. manned launch, known as Artemis III, toward the end of Trump's term. Last month, in its 10th test flight, the rocket finally succeeded in a suborbital mission. But "Starship has yet to reach orbit," Hubbard said, "and once it reaches orbit, they've got to demonstrate microgravity transfer of cryogenic propellant." "That's something that's never been done before," he added. "So to say that they'll be ready to do all of that in two years is a real stretch." Setbacks are common course in the history of the U.S. space program. But the success of China's recent tests has shown the Trump administration that NASA and its partners have run out of time for further delays. Duffy said that Artemis II, a manned mission to orbit the moon, will take place early next year, overcoming a separate set of design flaws that faced Lockheed Martin's Orion spacecraft. Artemis III would keep astronauts on the surface for more than a week and deliver payloads to help begin the foundation of a base. Whether the Trump administration will commit to the funding and leadership necessary for the mission is an open question. The White House declined to say who within the West Wing is leading the effort. Trump has not named a permanent NASA administrator for Senate confirmation. Success on the moon is meant to provide a testing ground and a launching pad for more ambitious, challenging manned missions to Mars. But Trump's commitment to those ventures are equally in doubt. The administration has proposed canceling funds for a landmark program decades in the making to return samples from the red planet, despite a NASA announcement last week revealed it had discovered signs of ancient Martian life. "I've been on the inside of it you waste enormous amounts of time just trying to find workarounds to get funding in to stay on schedule," Hubbard said. "If you really, really want to beat the Chinese, give NASA the funding and some stability because you're not going to beat them if every day, week or month, there's a different direction, a different budget, a different administrator. "And China may still win," he said, adding: "It would be another claim that they're the dominant power in the world." Get the L.A. Times 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 petition launched by the activist group Zazim brings together Jewish and Arab citizens. The goal is to reach 10,000 signatures by 22 September, when the session promoted by France and Saudi Arabia is scheduled to take place at the UN General Assembly. The initiative is also supported by relatives of the victims of 7 October. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - Nine thousand Israelis - going against the grain of the Netanyahu government's strong opposition - have signed a petition in support of the recognition of the Palestinian state ahead of the upcoming summit co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France on 22 September in New York. The meeting will take place in the context of the UN General Assembly, during which Britain, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium are expected to formally recognise the birth of the Palestinian entity alongside the State of Israel. The petition, entitled No to war - yes to recognition!, had collected 9,055 signatures this morning, with more continuing to sign up. The initiative is being promoted by Zazim - Community Action, an Israeli grassroots movement composed of Jews and Arabs working together for democracy and equality. Among the relatives of the victims of 7 October who signed it is Yonatan Zeigen, son of long-time Israeli-Canadian pacifist Vivian Silver, who told AsiaNews that peace is the only common destiny for the two peoples. We are Israeli citizens who oppose the continuation of the war in Gaza and believe in peace, the petition reads. We call on the nations of the world, the document continues, to recognise Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly. Recognition is a fact, it continues. We must choose whether to join the world or side with [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich and Hamas, who oppose recognition by extolling the ideal of a modern Sparta at perpetual war. Israeli analysts and experts point out that there are no indications that Hamas opposes the recognition of the Palestinian state, so it can only welcome growing international support. However, and this is the crux of the matter, the extremist movement that controls the Gaza Strip strongly opposes the two-state solution, which provides for the recognition of the State of Israel, which should be included in the announcement. That is why, the promoters explain, the petition aims to show the world that a large part of Israeli society understands that the recognition of a Palestinian state is also in Israel's interest, putting pressure on the United States and Germany to also support the initiative. The goal is to collect at least 10,000 signatures from Jewish and Arab citizens on the eve of next week's UN General Assembly, to show the world that there is a strong and clear Israeli voice opposing endless war. And that it expects international involvement to end the war and bring peace. The meeting at the UN headquarters will also include a summit on 22 September, co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, called the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. On this occasion, the majority of states are expected to vote in favour of recognising Palestine. The Franco-Saudi initiative to relaunch discussions on the two-state solution and the recognition of a Palestinian state is an extraordinary opportunity, says Raluca Ganea, co-founder and executive director of Zazim. A political solution with two states for two peoples, each with sovereignty, security and peace, is the only alternative on the table. Many of the signatories are members of bereaved families. Among them is Ayelet Harel, co-executive director of the Parents Circle-Families Forum for bereaved Palestinian and Israeli families, whose brother was killed in 1982 during the Lebanon War. There are also relatives of victims of 7 October 2023 or of people kidnapped and detained in Gaza. Among them are Yotam Kipnis of Zazim, whose parents Lilach and Eviatar were murdered in Kibbutz Be'eri; Liora Eylon, who survived the massacre at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, but whose son was murdered; Maoz Inon, a peace activist whose parents Bilha and Yakov Inon were killed in Netiv Ha'asara; and Yonatan Zeigen, whose mother Vivian Silver was murdered in Kibbutz Be'eri. The planned recognition of the Palestinian state has drawn strong condemnation from Israel, which has called the initiative a reward for terrorism. The only beneficiary is Hamas... When terrorists rejoice, you are not promoting peace, you are promoting terrorism, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said last week. In reality, the petition strongly rejects the idea that the creation of a Palestinian state is a gift to the extremist movement that controls the Gaza Strip and was responsible for the terrorist attack two years ago. When questioned by the Times of Israel, Zeigen dismantles the Israeli government's official propaganda, stating that a Palestinian state is not a reward for Hamas, but is precisely what can dismantle it. Because Hamas, he continues, is an idea based on resistance and uncontrolled violence. At the same time, he warns, the endless cycle of trauma and revenge in which both Israelis and Palestinians are trapped will result in violence until there is a sense or hope of a better future. 7 October, Zeigen continues, showed that the policy of managing the conflict and stifling any other prospects for the Palestinians backfires every time, while perpetual war and destruction fuel the cycle of violence. There is a fundamental issue here, in which two peoples have a common problem: how to live together on the same land, in freedom, security and prosperity, explained Vivian Silver's son. And the road to a solution, he adds, "does not lie in military force, but only when we meet the Palestinians on equal terms. To do this, we must end the occupation, annexation and conflict in general. We do not want to avenge the deaths of our parents. This, comments activist Maoz Inon, will not bring them back to life and will only increase the horrors and terror in which we are trapped." The road to our healing and that of our peoples cannot be paved with bloodshed. It will only be possible, he concludes, through a process of reconciliation. by Stefano Caprio There is an essential and original link between the Orthodox faith and power, as already shown in the 11th century by Metropolitan Hilarion's Discourse on Law and Grace, the manifesto of the Russian faith. Apart from Philip II of Moscow, who rebelled against the massacres of the first Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible at the end of the 16th century and was suffocated in his monastic cell as a result, there are no known cases of other ecclesiastical opponents of the monarchs' holy wars. One of the most dramatic and controversial issues of Putin's Russia's war season concerns its religious foundation, the proclamation of holy war by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and most of the Russian Orthodox clergy, apart from a small minority of pacifist priests who were immediately marginalised, expelled from the clerical state and exiled abroad. The impression is that this is a return to medieval interpretations of the religious war between Christians and Muslims, with rhetoric worthy of the Crusades of a thousand years ago, and there is certainly some truth in this view, but not as a Russian imitation of a Latin and Western past, rather as a return to its own origins of millennial baptism. While Pope Urban II was delivering his homily to incite the conquest of Jerusalem and the Holy Land at the Council of Clermont in 1095, Kievan Rus' was ending the first century of its history in fratricidal struggles between various princes, and shortly thereafter it would be submerged and invaded by Asian populations and Mongol hordes, disappearing from history for two centuries. The reinterpretation of ancient history, imposed by today's leaders as an essential foundation for justifying the current war, focuses precisely on the events and testimonies of that early period, from the Baptism of Kiev in 988 to the Tartar invasion in 1240, because all subsequent periods in the history of Moscow and St Petersburg in Russia, and Kiev and Odessa in Ukraine, as well as Belarus, involving Poles, Moldovans and Romanians, Caucasians and Central Asians from the Tsarist and Soviet empires, depend on the interpretation of the first legendary Russian century. Siberian anthropologist Roman Shamolin, rector of the Open University of Novosibirsk, proposes revising the manifesto of Russian faith, one of the most striking texts of Kievan Rus', namely the Discourse on Law and Grace by Metropolitan Hilarion, the first high-ranking ecclesiastical hierarch of Russian ethnicity imposed by Prince Yaroslav the Wise in the first half of the 11th century, without the canonical blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople. It is a panegyric to Prince Vladimir the Baptist and the new and blessed people of Rus', in comparison with all other peoples and those of other faiths, beginning with the perfidious Jews according to the Pauline contrast between the people of the Law and those of Grace that comes from God. Hilarion solemnly affirms that the Law has passed away, but grace and truth have filled the whole earth, and faith has spread among all nations, even to our Russian nation. The anti-Jewish polemic, rather classic in medieval times, extends in this text to all peoples who have not recognised Christ, or who have in some way betrayed him, falling into heresy and regressing into idolatrous faith. Thus, God has laid down the law to prepare men to receive truth and grace; so that human nature, governed by the law, fleeing idolatrous polytheism, might learn to believe in the one God; so that humanity, like a contaminated vessel, after being washed by the law and circumcision as by water, might receive the milk of grace and baptism. And the baptism referred to is above all that of Kiev, the new beginning of Christian history, because we do not write for the uneducated, but for those who have a deep love for books; we do not write for the enemies of God, the heterodox, but for his children; not for strangers, but for the heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Divine grace is reflected in the one true Orthodoxy, which elevates the Russian heirs above the law and sin, and Christian salvation is beneficial and generous, for it extends to all the ends of the earth, and so although the Jews were before the Christians, the Christians became greater than the Jews by the grace of Christ. Ilarion's Discourse then focuses on praising the powerful, and the great baptiser Vladimir of Kiev, the prince equal to the apostles, extending his praise to his son Yaroslav the Wise, who, by defeating his half-brother Svyatopolk, had restored peace between the principalities of Rus'. There is therefore an essential and original link between the Orthodox faith and power, the so-called symphony of Byzantine tradition, but revised in the Russian apostolic version. "And so it was: the faith that brings grace spread throughout the earth and reached our Russian people. The swamps of the Law have dried up, but the source of the Gospel has swelled with water and covered the earth, spreading to us," relying on the wisdom of the princes, who will be in some way compared or contrasted with the role of metropolitans and patriarchs only in brief flashes of Russian history. In recent times, Patriarch Kirill showed Tsar Putin the way only in the early years, then submitted to his will and his ardour in the conflict with enemy peoples, from the West rather than ancient Asia, but without any major differences in content. As noted by Russia's most renowned church historian and theologian, Deacon Andrei Kuraev, now exiled and transferred to the jurisdiction of Constantinople, throughout the entire period of Kievan Rus', there was not a single year without internal wars between principalities and external wars with other peoples, and there are very few cases in which metropolitans tried to act as peacemakers, asking the powerful to reduce their ambitions and lay down their arms. The tendency was rather the opposite, and any conflict, even in the subsequent centuries of the tsars, was justified and blessed as a defence of the true faith against enemies, as the 19th-century historian Nikolai Kostomarov writes, recalling when Prince Ivan I Kalita, who in the mid-14th century wanted to impose Moscow as the dominant principality, raised the whole Russian land up to Novgorod to take up arms against Pskov, and Metropolitan Feognost launched a curse and excommunication against the enemies, blessing Ivan's armies. Apart from Metropolitan Filipp II of Moscow, who rebelled against the massacres of the first Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible and was therefore suffocated at the end of the 16th century in the monastic cell where he had been imprisoned, there are no known cases of other ecclesiastical opponents of the holy wars of the monarchs of Russia. As Metropolitan Hilarion stated, what was said of the peoples has been fulfilled upon us: The Lord has bared his holy arm before all peoples; all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The greatness of Rus' was exalted as that of the people called to save the earth from all evil, for "Rome praises Peter and Paul, through whom it acquired faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God; Asia, Ephesus and Patmos praise St John the Theologian; India praises St Thomas; Egypt praises St Mark; every land, city and people honours and glorifies its teachers, who taught the Orthodox faith. We too, therefore, as far as we are able, will give praise, however small, to our teacher and preceptor, who accomplished great and magnificent deeds, the great prince of our land Vladimir, grandson of Igor the Old, son of the valiant Svyatoslav, who, reigning in their time, were famous for their courage and valour in many lands, and are still remembered and glorified today for their victories and their strength. In fact, they did not rule a poor and unknown nation, but the Russian nation, which is known and celebrated throughout the world." In this universal memory of the ancient Christian kingdoms, Hilarion omits only the empire of Constantinople and the praise of the apostle Andrew, which had evidently been set aside by the Russians, having taken their place in the communion of defenders of the faith. According to Samolin, in Russian religiosity there is a clear predominance of form over content, image over thought, object over subject, ritual over feeling, and submission to power instead of any reflection on the meaning of faith. Ultimately, a dominance of the immanent over the transcendent since the origins of Christianity in Kiev, further exacerbated in the Muscovite variant and remaining in subsequent ones, from the Western empire of Peter the Great to the atheist one of Joseph Stalin, who restored ecclesiastical structures to support the war against Nazism. Whatever the regime in power, even that of Vladimir Putin's illiberal democracy, the guarantee of its correspondence to the history of the Russian world is always the obeisance of religion, revised according to the canons of the Russian mission to the whole world. As Ilarion of Kiev recalled, 'if anyone was not baptised out of love, he did so out of fear of the one who ordered it, for in him true faith was united with authority; then the darkness of idolatry began to dissipate, and the dawn of true faith appeared, then the darkness of enslavement to demons disappeared, and the sun of the Gospel illuminated the earth'. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 20 September 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The liberated territories of Garabagh are fast becoming a testing ground for Azerbaijans capacity to convert military victory into sustainable state-building. Once synonymous with ruins, displacement, and tragedy, the region is undergoing an ambitious transformation, certainly, closely shaped and supervised by President Ilham Aliyev. The stakes are high: if successful, Garabaghs revival could serve as a model of post-conflict reconstruction; if not, the scars of occupation may linger longer than bricks and mortar can repair. Since the 2020 war, nearly 50,000 people have resettled in towns and villages once emptied by three decades of occupation. The process has been carefully choreographed by Baku. President Ilham Aliyev has made Garabagh reconstruction a personal priority, visiting regularly to inaugurate homes, schools, and infrastructure projects. These trips are not merely ceremonial. They function as high-level monitoring missions: deadlines are enforced, contractors are held to account, and the symbolism of presidential oversight reassures citizens that the states commitment to Garabagh is not fleeting. The social dimension of this resettlement is striking. Formerly abandoned villages are regaining the rhythms of community life, with reopened schools, functioning businesses, and restored civic services. For residents of Khojaly, one of the conflicts most painful symbols, this revival is particularly charged. During his recent visit to Dasbulaq, a village in the Khojaly district, President Aliyev inspected newly completed homes, paved roads, and water and electricity networks. In doing so, he underscored a message central to his leadership: rebuilding Garabagh is not just about physical infrastructure, but about restoring dignity and confidence. Economic revival forms the second pillar of this reconstruction effort. Agriculture has been chosen as a cornerstone industry, combining Garabaghs natural potential with Azerbaijans wider diversification agenda. A mulberry orchard covering 13 hectares has been established in Dasbulaq, equipped with modern irrigation and stocked with 130,000 imported saplings. The project, expected to yield hundreds of tons of mulberry leaves by the end of the decade, will revive the silk industry, a historic Azerbaijani export. Expansion plans envisage 1.5 million saplings and new silk-processing facilities, creating both permanent jobs and seasonal employment. The symbolism here is twofold. First, Garabagh is being integrated into the national economy rather than left as a subsidised frontier. Second, President Aliyev is positioning the revival of traditional industries within a modern framework, linking rural development to export potential and global markets. This duality, heritage combined with strategy, reflects a wider pattern in his governance. Yet the reconstruction push is not without challenges. Building entire towns from scratch demands vast capital, and ensuring returns on investment will require careful planning. Beyond symbolic industries like silk, the region will need diverse economic anchors to avoid dependency on subsidies or single-sector growth. Moreover, the accelerated pace of resettlement risks straining public services if not matched with long-term job creation. President Ilham Aliyev appears conscious of these risks. Under his successful leadership, Garabaghs revival has been tied to infrastructure upgrades across the country, from transport corridors to energy networks. Roads and railways linking the liberated areas to major hubs are being constructed to international standards, positioning Garabagh not as a periphery but as a node within Azerbaijans logistics and trade system. This reflects a broader strategic aim: to fuse reconstruction with regional integration and to ensure the territories contribute meaningfully to national GDP. The political dimension is also significant. By placing himself at the centre of Garabaghs reconstruction, the President of Azerbaijan is reinforcing his image as guarantor of both territorial integrity and economic renewal. Every visit, every ribbon-cutting, becomes part of a carefully managed narrative: Garabagh is not only Azerbaijani by law but is being actively woven back into the nations social and economic fabric. The next phase will test whether this narrative can be sustained. Success will depend on whether returning families find not just houses but livelihoods, and whether symbolic projects like silk production translate into scalable industries. For now, however, President Ilham Aliyevs hard work and efforts are paying dividends in political legitimacy and public confidence. Garabaghs revival is still in its early stages, but the direction is unmistakable. Under the Azerbaijani President's close watch, the region is moving from ruins to renewal, an experiment in post-conflict reconstruction where leadership, symbolism, and economic strategy are tightly bound. Whether this experiment produces a sustainable model or remains a showcase project will define not only the future of Garabagh, but also the legacy of the President who has made it his signature cause. 20 September 2025 15:12 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. For the first time, Azerbaijani direct investments were recorded in Singapore, Colombia, Canada, and New Zealand, totaling $3.43 million, $2.92 million, $2.01 million, and nearly $2 million, respectively. These moves underscore the countrys strategic push to diversify its global economic engagements. The most dramatic increase, however, was in Israel. Direct investments skyrocketed from... Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 20 September 2025 21:00 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijans oil and gas sector has long been the engine driving the countrys economic development, regional influence, and international prestige. In 2025, the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block in the Caspian Sea continues to demonstrate the transformative power of Azerbaijans energy strategy, highlighting both the countrys historical vision and its ongoing capacity for large-scale energy production. Now today marks the 31st birthday of the infamous Contract of the Century. Since the signing of the historic deal in Baku on September 20, 1994, Azerbaijan has steadily advanced its energy sector, attracting billions of dollars in foreign investment and establishing itself as a reliable partner for leading global oil companies. The agreement enabled the joint development of the ACG fields by 13 international companies from eight countries, including BP, Amoco, Unocal, Lukoil, Statoil, and Turkish Petroleum, alongside Azerbaijans SOCAR. This partnership not only facilitated large-scale oil production but also created the foundations for economic stability, infrastructure development, and human capital growth across Azerbaijan. To date, Azerbaijan has produced 613 million tons of oil and 239 billion cubic meters of gas from the ACG block. Of the total gas extracted, 61.3 billion cubic meters have been delivered to the state. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, average daily oil output reached 44,000 tons, with daily oil exports standing at 327,000 barrels. Meanwhile, the newly operational Azeri-Central-Eastern (ACE) platform within the ACG block has already delivered 1.4 million tons of oil and 228 million cubic meters of gas since its inception, reflecting the success of the final investment decision made in 2019 and first production starting in 2024. The impact of Azerbaijans oil sector extends far beyond raw production figures. Revenues from the ACG fields and subsequent projects like the ACE platform have strengthened the state budget, funded infrastructure projects, and supported social programs. The establishment of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) in 1999 has ensured transparent management of oil revenues, protecting resources for future generations while maintaining economic stability. The Contract of the Century also linked Azerbaijan closely with Western energy markets and institutions, paving the way for strategic projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. Since 2006, the 1,768-kilometer BTC pipeline has transported 605 million tons of crude oil, including 13 million tons in the first half of 2025 alone. Operational costs for BTC currently stand at around $60 million with capital expenditures of $30 million, and the pipeline has delivered a total of 4.6 billion barrels of crude oil to international markets since its launch. Beyond production and export figures, Azerbaijans oil strategy has served as a catalyst for broader economic and social progress. The energy sector has created thousands of jobs, provided Azerbaijani specialists with international experience, and supported education for students abroad. Infrastructure projects financed by oil revenuesincluding roads, schools, and hospitalshave elevated the quality of life for citizens and reinforced Azerbaijans long-term development goals. The ACE project represents the next chapter in Azerbaijans energy journey. With the first oil produced in 2024 and ongoing gas output, the platform strengthens the countrys position as a regional energy leader while ensuring the efficient extraction and management of resources. According to the Ministry of Energy, the combined output from ACG and ACE continues to secure Azerbaijans role as a stable, reliable, and influential player in global energy markets. Azerbaijans experience demonstrates that natural resources, when managed strategically and transparently, can serve as a foundation for national development, geopolitical influence, and sustainable growth. From the visionary steps of the 1990s to the current high-output operations of ACG and ACE, the countrys energy sector remains central to its ambition, resilience, and enduring prosperity. 20 September 2025 10:55 (UTC+04:00) Armenia has expressed readiness to begin consultations on determining the venue for signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that Yerevan had declared both before the initialing of the document in Washington and after the text was agreed in mid-March that it was open to engage with Baku at any time to secure a final agreement. We are ready to start consultations on the place where the peace treaty will be signed today, Mirzoyan emphasized. 20 September 2025 19:55 (UTC+04:00) Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan has been invited to the United States to discuss the Trump Road project, Azernews reports. Papoyan confirmed the invitation during a briefing, responding to a question from Radio Liberty's Armenian service. He noted that the details of the Trump Road project will be clarified in the course of negotiations between the Armenian and US delegations. For context, the ArmeniaAzerbaijan peace deal, officially titled the Agreement "On the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan", aims to end the ongoing Garabagh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 8 August 2025, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with the mediation of United States president Donald Trump, initialled an agreement and signed a joint declaration emphasizing the need to continue efforts toward the signing and final ratification of the agreement. Part of the agreement included granting the US exclusive rights to develop the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), for the next 99 years, aiming to connect the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to the rest of Azerbaijan through Armenia. 20 September 2025 12:09 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, currently on an official visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Alley of Honors on September 20 to pay tribute to the memory of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, Heydar Aliyev, and laid flowers at his grave, Azernews reports. The visit also included a tribute to the prominent ophthalmologist and academic, Zarifa Aliyeva, with fresh flowers placed on her grave. In addition, the graves of prominent public and state figure Aziz Aliyev and talented physician Tamerlan Aliyev were visited, and flowers were laid in their memory. 20 September 2025 13:01 (UTC+04:00) On September 20, an official welcome ceremony was held in Baku for President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame, who arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan for an official visit, Azernews reports. A guard of honor was arranged for the President of Rwanda in the square decorated with the national flags of both countries. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed President of Rwanda Paul Kagame. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the President of Rwanda. The national anthems of the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played. The guard of honor marched in front of President Ilham Aliyev and President Paul Kagame to the accompaniment of a military march. The Presidents posed for official photographs. 20 September 2025 13:59 (UTC+04:00) On September 20, a ceremony was held in Baku to exchange documents signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Rwanda, with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Azernews reports. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Rwanda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation James Kabarebe exchanged the "Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda," the "Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Education between the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Rwanda," and the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of the Republic of Rwanda." Azerbaijan's Ambassador accredited to Rwanda Ruslan Nasibov and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board Juliana Kangeli Muganza exchanged the "Cooperation Programme for the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Rwanda Development Board on Cooperation in Establishing Advanced Public Service Delivery Mechanism" and the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Rwanda Development Board on Behalf of the Government of the Republic of Rwanda." X X X Following the exchange ceremony, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Rwanda made press statements. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Mr. President, Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, First of all, I'd like to express gratitude to Mr. President for visiting Azerbaijan. We met last time in Baku last November at COP 29, and at that time I invited Mr. President to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. I'm very grateful that he accepted my invitation, and today is an official visit to our country. I'm sure that this visit will give additional impetus to our bilateral ties. We have already discussed different aspects of our cooperation and expressed the mutual will to deepen and broaden our partnership. Azerbaijan and Rwanda are good partners and friends. We participate jointly in different international institutions and always support each other. During our chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, Rwanda always supported us. They supported us to be elected chair, and then, when our chairmanship was extended for one more year, they also supported us and joined many of our initiatives to strengthen solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement. Definitely, we always actively cooperate in the United Nations and extend mutual support to each other. I'm glad that in recent years our relations have become more result-oriented. There have been different delegations from Azerbaijan visiting Rwanda. Last year, the delegation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation visited Rwanda, and I'm grateful to Mr. President for receiving the Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva. She was very impressed with what she had seenthe large-scale development of the country and also the commitment of the people to statehood, independence, and their independent policy. We are also glad that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has a chance to support educational programs in your country. By the way, this area, I think, should be one of the priorities in our bilateral relationship. I looked at some information prior to Mr. President's visit and found out that we have only one student from Rwanda studying in Azerbaijan. I think we can jointly work to increase the number of students. It's within the framework of the state scholarship of Azerbaijan. There was a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year and also a delegation from the ASAN Agency, the public services agency, to Rwanda with respect to established cooperation and maybe to set up something similar to ASAN. I have already discussed it with Mr. President. He will be visiting one of the public services centers in Azerbaijan and will be very glad if we can provide technical and financial assistance in order to establish this kind of agency in Rwanda. We discussed today opportunities in the energy sector. Both our countries are actively working on that, and also in the area of mining, where there is potential to strengthen our cooperation. We just need to have maybe more regular contacts on different levels and exchanges of business delegations, delegations of different ministries, in order to explore the opportunities of doing business together and also investment opportunities. I expressed our readiness to engage in investment projects in Rwanda, and I'm sure that the visit of Mr. President, our discussions, and the discussion which will follow the press conference will create a very solid platform for partnership in the economic and trade area. We have an excellent political relationship, so we need to have the same level of relationship in all other areas. Once again, Mr. President, thank you for visiting us. I wish you a pleasant stay. X X X Statement by President Paul Kagame - Thank you, President Aliyev. I want, first of all, to thank you for the invitation to visit Azerbaijan and for all the activities that have taken place. I appreciate that there are these areas of cooperation the two countries are going to undertake. There are also many similarities, Mr. President, between Rwanda and Azerbaijan. I think we can build on those similarities and enhance cooperation and development. Thank you for accepting that to happen. We are going to be guided by the many visits, efforts, discussions, and understanding of each other that have already taken place. Thanks to a number of exchanges that have already happened by your governments officials and our own, who have visited Baku, there has been a lot of learning as to what can be achieved through this cooperation. We want to undertake continued efforts and gain momentum in making sure that these cooperation efforts are productive for all of us. Thank you again for opening up your country for this cooperation, through which you can get support in our own country for developing certain key sector areas, as you mentioned, President, in the petroleum sector and mining. Im also looking forward to visiting to witness for myself the public delivery service mechanism that Azerbaijan has put in place. We have one that would still benefit greatly from the ASAN model, which I've been told is very impressive, not just by the look of it, but more by what it has achieved and delivered to the people of this country. We want to ensure that we strengthen that. Last but not least, let me congratulate you, President. I mentioned to you earlier that I saw the development in your country, which is impressive. You have also been pursuing a process of peace that will enhance. I saw the agreement you had in the United Statesthe peace agreement. In fact, I singled this out because, in the same place, we are pursuing another peace agreement for ourselves between Rwanda and the DRC. You are ahead of us in achieving certain milestones, and I wanted to congratulate you. At the same time, President, just know that you have friends in Africa, in Rwanda, and we want to use this opportunity of cooperation and friendship between you and me and our two countries to move forward quickly in our achievements of prosperity. So, thank you very much once again. 20 September 2025 15:30 (UTC+04:00) The Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan has been elected a full member of the European Network of Childrens Ombudsmen (ENOC), Azernews reports, citing the Ombudsmans Office. According to the information, Nigar Aghayeva, Head of the Childrens Rights Protection Sector, and Ayten Tarverdiyeva, Head of the Disability Rights Protection Sector of the Ombudsmans Office, took part in the 29th Annual Conference and General Assembly of ENOC held in Bucharest, Romania. The event focused on the theme Protection and Promotion of the Right to Physical Health of Children and gathered ombudsmen, representatives of ENOC member institutions, international experts, and officials responsible for childrens rights. Speaking at the conference, Aghayeva presented Azerbaijans progress in protecting childrens rights, highlighting legislative improvements, the creation of a specialized structural unit for childrens rights, expanded powers of the Ombudsman following amendments to the Constitutional Law, and the establishment of an independent monitoring group for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. On the basis of these reforms, the Ombudsman Institution of Azerbaijan was promoted from associate to full membership by majority vote at ENOCs General Assembly, as it now meets the requirements of Article 4 of the ENOC Charter. The conference also approved the ENOC statement on the protection of childrens physical health and discussed future priorities of the network. As part of the visit, participants toured the Barnahus center in Bucharest, which provides support for children who are victims of violence. 20 September 2025 15:25 (UTC+04:00) On September 20, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held an expanded meeting over a luncheon with Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 20 September 2025 16:48 (UTC+04:00) On September 20, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame visited the ASAN Service center in Baku to learn about its activities, Azernews reports. Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of Azerbaijan, briefed the Rwandan leader on the establishment of ASAN Service centers at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev and on projects implemented in the field of social innovations. During the visit, Kagame was presented with the ASAN Service model. It was noted that agreements have been signed with over 30 countries and international organizations to export the ASAN concept as an intellectual product. The United Nations also recognizes ASAN as one of the best models of public service delivery, promoting it across four continents. The visit follows the cooperation established between Rwanda and Azerbaijan after Kagames trip to Baku in November 2024 during COP29. To advance this collaboration, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in June between the State Agency and Rwandas relevant institution to share ASAN Service expertise. 20 September 2025 17:40 (UTC+04:00) Rwanda has also supported most of our initiatives aimed at strengthening solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement and joined them, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a joint press statement with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Azernews reports. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Mr. President, Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen, First of all, I'd like to express gratitude to Mr. President for visiting Azerbaijan. We met last time in Baku last November at COP 29, and at that time I invited Mr. President to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. I'm very grateful that he accepted my invitation, and today is an official visit to our country. I'm sure that this visit will give additional impetus to our bilateral ties. We have already discussed different aspects of our cooperation and expressed the mutual will to deepen and broaden our partnership. Azerbaijan and Rwanda are good partners and friends. We participate jointly in different international institutions and always support each other. During our chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, Rwanda always supported us. They supported us to be elected chair, and then, when our chairmanship was extended for one more year, they also supported us and joined many of our initiatives to strengthen solidarity within the Non-Aligned Movement. Definitely, we always actively cooperate in the United Nations and extend mutual support to each other. I'm glad that in recent years our relations have become more result-oriented. There have been different delegations from Azerbaijan visiting Rwanda. Last year, the delegation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation visited Rwanda, and I'm grateful to Mr. President for receiving the Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva. She was very impressed with what she had seenthe large-scale development of the country and also the commitment of the people to statehood, independence, and their independent policy. We are also glad that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has a chance to support educational programs in your country. By the way, this area, I think, should be one of the priorities in our bilateral relationship. I looked at some information prior to Mr. President's visit and found out that we have only one student from Rwanda studying in Azerbaijan. I think we can jointly work to increase the number of students. It's within the framework of the state scholarship of Azerbaijan. There was a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year and also a delegation from the ASAN Agency, the public services agency, to Rwanda with respect to established cooperation and maybe to set up something similar to ASAN. I have already discussed it with Mr. President. He will be visiting one of the public services centers in Azerbaijan and will be very glad if we can provide technical and financial assistance in order to establish this kind of agency in Rwanda. We discussed today opportunities in the energy sector. Both our countries are actively working on that, and also in the area of mining, where there is potential to strengthen our cooperation. We just need to have maybe more regular contacts on different levels and exchanges of business delegations, delegations of different ministries, in order to explore the opportunities of doing business together and also investment opportunities. I expressed our readiness to engage in investment projects in Rwanda, and I'm sure that the visit of Mr. President, our discussions, and the discussion which will follow the press conference will create a very solid platform for partnership in the economic and trade area. We have an excellent political relationship, so we need to have the same level of relationship in all other areas. Once again, Mr. President, thank you for visiting us. I wish you a pleasant stay. 20 September 2025 20:55 (UTC+04:00) The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, and the delegation led by him commenced their visit to Serbia at the invitation of the Chief of General Staff, Serbian Armed Forces General Milan Mojsilovic, Azernews reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense . First, the monument of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in Tasmajdan park in Belgrade was visited, a wreath was laid and his memory was honored. During the visit, Colonel General K.Valiyev held discussions with his Serbian counterpart on the prospects for enhancing military cooperation and attended the military parade held in Belgrade. The events were attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Serbia, Kamil Khasiyev. 20 September 2025 20:24 (UTC+04:00) The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has rejected two amendments to bills under consideration as part of the State Department reauthorization process, Azernews reports per local media. Both amendments, introduced by Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California known for his ties to the Armenian lobby, carried a distinctly anti-Azerbaijani agenda. The first sought to prohibit the US International Development Finance Corporation from supporting any projects in Azerbaijan. The second aimed to revoke the US Presidents authority to waive the application of Amendment 907 to the Freedom Support Act, which restricts American assistance to Azerbaijan. The rejection of these proposals marks another setback for the Armenian lobby in Congress, which has opposed US President Donald Trumps peace initiative between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The State Department reauthorization process is held annually to review, update, and extend the departments legal authorities and organizational framework. 20 September 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) US President Donald Trump has said he "didn't want" London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan at the state banquet hosted by the King at Windsor Castle, Azernews reports via BBC. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One heading back the US, Trump described Sir Sadiq as "among the worst mayors in the world", saying he had wanted to attend the event, but "I asked that he not be there". Sir Sadiq did not attend the state banquet and the BBC understands he did not seek or expect an invitation. A source close to the mayor said Trump's politics sowed "fear and division". This latest war of words adds to the pair's feud, with Trump in 2019 calling the mayor "a stone-cold loser" and Sir Sadiq accusing him of stirring up far-right politics. Trump echoed his past attacks on the mayor's governing of London, calling him a "disaster" on immigration. "I think the Mayor of London Khan is among the worst mayors in the world, and we have some bad ones," he said. "I think he's done a terrible job. Crime in London is through the roof." "I asked that he not be there. He wanted to be there, as I understand, I didn't want him." In response, a source close to Sir Sadiq rejected Trump's assessment of the mayor's work. "Trump's politics is one of fear and division. This includes talking down our great capital city," they said. "London is a global success story - it's open, dynamic and safer than major US cities. Perhaps that's one of the reasons record numbers of Americans are choosing to make London their home." The pair's long-running row dates back to 2015 when the Labour politician condemned Trump's suggestion that Muslims should be banned from travelling to the US. A year later, Trump challenged the mayor to an IQ test. The US leader also attacked the mayor's handling of the London Bridge terror attack in 2017. During the US leader's first state visit in 2019, Sir Sadiq permitted a plan to fly a giant inflatable "Trump baby" blimp to coincide with his trip. In July, Trump took another swipe at the mayor during a press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland, calling Sir Sadiq a "nasty person", to which the prime minister interjected saying: "He's a friend of mine, actually." The US president's second state visit to the UK - unprecedented for a non-royal - was largely marked by pomp and ceremony to signal the warm relations between the two allies. However, thousands of protesters gathered in Parliament Square for a rally against the visit. Four men were arrested after images of Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle ahead of the state banquet. 20 September 2025 19:27 (UTC+04:00) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country will "never surrender" amid "excessive demands" and sanctions from the West, Azernews reports. "The West cannot stop us. They hit us in Natanz, but they are unaware that it is humans who built and will rebuild Natanz," Pezeshkian stated in televised remarks. "Through the 'snapback,' they block the road, but it is the brains and the thoughts that open or build the road," he added. The comments come after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) rejected a resolution to extend Iran sanctions relief, effectively approving the reimposition of "snapback" sanctions on the country on September 28. 20 September 2025 22:22 (UTC+04:00) The US administration is confident that an agreement with China regarding the social media platform TikTok will be finalized in the coming days, Azernews reports. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated, We are 100% confident that the agreement is ready. Now it just needs to be signed, and the presidents team is working on it with his Chinese colleagues. She added that the signing of the agreement is expected in the coming days. 20 September 2025 23:30 (UTC+04:00) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the administration of United States President Donald Trump to put pressure on Egypt about its military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula, Azernews reports, citing American and Israeli officials. According to the sources, Netanyahu claimed during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week that Egypt's activities violated its 1979 peace agreement with Israel, in which the US served as a guarantor. The Israeli sources stressed their country decided to turn to the US after talks with Egypt on the issue showed no progress. The report asserts that Egypt extended runways on Sinai air bases to adapt them for use by fighter jets, and built facilities for storing missiles, but the sources acknowledged they had no proof missiles were being stored at those sites. 20 September 2025 21:50 (UTC+04:00) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Saturday that his country's allies were "wasting time" instead of stepping up sanctions on Russia, Azernews reports. "[US] President [Donald] Trump expects strong action from Europe. I think we are wasting a lot of time if sanctions are not imposed or some steps are not taken, that we very much expect from him," Zelensky told journalists in Kiev and said he plans to pressure Trump to convince all European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia which have been hesitant to stop buying Russian energy, to hit Moscow with sanctions. "Everyone is looking to the United States," he stated. Zelensky and Trump are expected to meet next week during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Ahead of the talks, Trump said that he will likely have to be present if Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet as they "hate each other." 20 September 2025 22:55 (UTC+04:00) The Russian Foreign Ministry called efforts to reinstate sanctions against Iran over its alleged disregard of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal from 2015, "provocative and illegal", Azernews reports. "These actions have nothing to do with diplomacy and lead solely to a further escalation of tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program," the ministry claimed after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) failed to adopt a resolution to permanently lift "snapback" sanctions against Iran. This means the sanctions against Iran will be reinstated by September 28 if no agreement is reached beforehand. Moscow particularly slammed European JCPOA signatories- the United Kingdom, Germany, and France - as well as South Korea, currently presiding over the UNSC, for abstaining during the vote, despite it being the country that submitted the resolution. Carlos Lugo-Garcia (3 counts) of Level III Trafficking Fentanyl Possession With Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Sheriff Scott Hammonds Beaufort County Sheriff's Office On Friday January 3, 2025, Beaufort County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 27-year-old Carlos Lugo-Garcia and executed a search warrant on his home in Beaufort County. Deputies seized approximately 6,300 illegal pressed fentanyl pills and 614 grams of marijuana. Deputies also seized a 9mm handgun.Carlos Lugo-Garcia was arrested and confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under $1,000,000 cash only bond for the following charges:This case concluded a one month-long investigation for the distribution of fentanyl by Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Drug Unit, assisted by Craven County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Bureau and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations. Through the combined efforts of these agencies, over 8,800 illegal pressed fentanyl pills were taken off the streets during this investigation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2 milligrams of fentanyl could be lethal. The amount seized in the investigation had the potential to kill more than 400,000 people.Beaufort County Sheriff Scott Hammonds states this is the largest single pressed fentanyl pill seizure ever to his knowledge in Beaufort County, and he believes this arrest benefits the surrounding counties in lives saved, by removing this large quantity of drugs off of our streets. Sheriff Hammonds asks anyone with information regarding suspected drug sale/use or any other crime to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office at (252) 946-7111. You can also submit tips anonymously by contacting Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252) 974-6400 or submit your confidential tip by downloading the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office App and selecting Submit A Tip. The following statement from Stacey Davis was posted to her Facebook page on Sept. 18th and is shared here with her permission. Statement from Stacey Davis Beaufort County Board of Education September 18, 2025 In recent days, a narrative has emerged that misrepresents my character, my intent, and my service to Beaufort County. Allegations have been amplified suggesting misconduct and a breach of public trust. These portrayals are not only inaccuratethey are politically charged and strategically weaponized. Let me be unequivocal: No criminal charges have been filed. The District Attorney reviewed the matter and declined to pursue action. I cooperated fully with all inquiries and remain in full compliance with North Carolina law. As an elected official, I am protected under the doctrine of legislative immunity, which ensures that public servants can act in good faith without fear of retaliation or distortion. I also affirm my commitment to the ethical standards outlined in Chapter 138A of the State Government Ethics Act and the principles of open government under N.C.G.S. 132-1. Calls for resignation based on optics rather than evidence undermine the very transparency and accountability our community deserves. I will not resign. I will not be silenced. I will continue to serve Beaufort County with integrity, humility, and resolve. This moment is not about a single eventit is about resisting the politicization of public service. I remain committed to lawful governance, student safety, and the preservation of public trust. Let us move forward with facts, not fiction. With policy, not politics. In service and accountability, Stacey Davis Elected Member, Beaufort County Board of Education Advocate for Transparency & Lawful Governance Ambassador, Veterans for America First Chocowinity Fraud BY: HOOD RICHARDSON Getting information about the Joy McRoy fraud cases has been difficult. For one thing it appears that several different accounting systems are involved. For another thing, the timelines are extraordinary, covering seven years or even more. I have asked questions during the past--almost three yearsin fact and have obtained very little information from several sources. The court files are very bare, although discovery began more than one year ago. Now we are finally beginning to learn some of the facts. Last week the N. C. Local Government Commission (LGC) heard a report dealing with several local governments that have not filed timely audit reports. Turns out Chocowinitys was one of the most complex and involved an unusually large amount of money. It was also reported that the cost of uncovering the truth about what went on in the Town of Chocowinity, including the Fire Department and possibly other entities that Town Clerk Joy McRoy was reported to be involved with, would cost over $45,000 and counting. You can read more about this LGC meeting here: Sales tax revenue withheld from 11 towns and cities - NewsBreak. The case has been set for trial in early November of 2025. There is a rumor that a plea bargain may be made before the court date. With the court files so bare it is possible that a plea bargain could be made, and the court files remain void of publicly available evidence because of either the conditions of a negotiated settlement or intentional or accidental failure to file. If this were to become the case, the public interest would be ill served. The public interest (this is public money) will best be served if all discovery and other documents are properly processed in the court system and filed in the public court record. The external auditor who is working on unraveling all this is former State Auditor Beth Wood. She was reported to have advised the LGC that: The bigger event was the substandard audits that were performed in prior years. Ponder that statement for what it means and does not mean here in Beaufort County. That sounds to me like the audit firm Chocowinity used is perhaps being set up to take the blame for the debacle. That brings me back to my original statement that I have been seeking for many months now to learn what was actually going on. When you chase that rabbit to hole it opens up an entirely new and different set of questions. At least part of the mishandling of funds in Chocowinity was with money that came from Beaufort County. What I was told over and over was that even if Beaufort County sent money to Chocowinity (Fire Department) that it is none of the countys business to know what they did with those county funds Frankly, that in and of itself may be the real mishandling that the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners should be concerned about. Ask yourself, how can the County Administration and Board of Commissioners send county taxpayer money to any entity and not have accountability requirements to discover something like what it is being reported happened with some of these funds?! How is that not the business of the County? The Local Government Commission, a part of the State Treasurers Office, oversees public finance in North Carolina. The Commission met during early September and received a report from Beth Wood, CPA, the former NC State Auditor, who is now a partner in the audit firm hired by the Town of Chocowinity to straighten out the Towns books. Her report is troubling considering the lack of interest in how Beaufort County money may be involved and the lack of interest displayed by Beaufort County Government. At least one fire department and EMS unit and the Town of Chocowinity have been involved in these fraud charges. Two other fire departments in Beaufort County have had problems related to fraud recently. Beaufort County government does not require audits for any of the entities we pay tax money to. Audits are waived by vote of the Board of Commissioners for some entities. However, audits are performed by some entities, but Beaufort County Government does not formally require our examination of these audits. Most of the information in this article about statements made by Beth Wood, CPA at the Local Government Commission meeting is taken from an article posted by The Wake Weekly, a paper covering Northern Wake County. There may be as many as three audits each costing as much as $45,000. As nearly as I can tell, McRoy was handling three pots of government money. In order to reconstruct the financial history auditors had to go through seven years of books to get to the year 2022 when the fraud was discovered. Auditors dealt with incomplete information. That is, cleared checks with no check numbers, cash deposits that were not reconciled, items that were not reported at all or incorrectly reported and bank statements with no copy of the cancelled checks. The amount of money missing is believed to be more than $600,000 and the cost of audits could be more than $135,000. A question has been raised about the effectiveness of past audits. But this is a much bigger issue than the audits. In my mind the greater issue is the idea that the accountability of county taxpayer monies was insufficient to know how those monies were actually used by the recipients. That lack of effective accountability management is not the exclusive fault of the auditors. Questions having to do with any legal settlement involve who was responsible, how much of the more than $700,000 will be paid back, how complete will the court record become, how much money was taken from the different bank accounts, and how much of a prison sentence will Joy McRoy and conceivably others receive? Now, let me be very careful about how I say this: Something is wrong in Denmark, as Shakespeare said in Hamlet! And I personally do not think the problem here is just with accountants. Rather, I think the larger issue is a question of management and electoral accountability. Those questions rest at the feet of the County Administration and Board of Commissioners. I personally have no information that any of those individuals misused any taxpayer money, per se. But I do suggest that the system of accountability for how taxpayers funds were doled out and accounted for was, at best, inadequate. The People have a right to know that the problems that allowed this fiasco to happen have been stopped and will never happen again. The accountants are not to blame. The Management System is to blame, and it is right for The People to hold those responsible for the Management System to account to the People about how their money was used. Just how could this happen? by Rev. Mark Creech Return America Unfortunately, North Carolinas HB 636Promoting Wholesome Content for Studentsis stalled in the North Carolina Senate Rules Committee. It shouldnt be languishing there. The legislation is not about politics; its about the souls of our children. HB 636 calls for every public school to form a committee of parents and staff to review every library book and every book-fair title. Anything obscene, vulgar, or sexually charged is rejected. The approved and rejected lists are posted online for everyone to see. Parents can object. If schools defy the standards, parents can seek justice in court. This is not censorship. This is reasonable stewardship of our childrens minds and hearts. Jesus said: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:6) That is not gentle poetry. It is a thunderclap! In the ancient world, a millstone weighed hundreds of pounds. To have one tied around your neck and be thrown into deep water was a picture of swift, inescapable judgment. Christ is warning us that Gods wrath burns the hottest against those who lead children into sin, confusion, or despair. A childs innocence is not a trifle. It is a sacred trust. When adults, institutions, or governments present children with material that glamorizes vice, sexualizes their imaginations, or undermines their grasp of right and wrong, they are not merely careless; they are placing a stumbling block before a precious soul. Our culture shrugs and calls this a rite of passage. God calls it spiritual child abuse! It is one thing to debate ideas among adults; it is another thing altogether to seed confusion, shame, and temptation in the hearts of the young. Every book, every lesson, every program in our schools either helps children grow in virtue or plants seeds of vice. There is no neutrality. The Pavement Education Project in North Carolina has exposed this darkness. Books such as All Boys Arent Blue, Gender Queer, Tricks, Push, and Jack of Hearts saturate school shelves with sexual content, obscenity, and perversion. These are not edgy novels for mature adults to read. These are stumbling blocks placed in the paths of minors with taxpayer money. The Courts are now beginning to recognize and address this problem. In Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Maryland parents who objected to LGBTQ storybooks being forced on their children without an opt-out. Decades earlier, in Mozert v. Hawkins County Public Schools, Christian parents challenged mandatory readings they believed violated their faith. These cases show that parental objections are not from people on the fringe. They come from parents deeply felt, legally cognizable concerns. In a classic episode of The Andy Griffith Show, Buddy Ebsen plays a drifter who charms young Opie with stories of his carefree life, no school, no chores, just fishing and freedom. Opie begins to idolize him and copy his behavior. Andy soon sees whats happening. He confronts the hobo, who defends himself by saying the boy should be allowed to decide for himself. Andy answers with the kind of fatherly wisdom our age desperately needs. Andy responds: You cant let a youngn decide for himself. Hell grab at the first flashy thing with shiny ribbons on it. Then, when he finds out theres a hook in it, its too late. Wrong ideas come packaged with so much glitter that its hard to convince em that other things might be better in the long run. All a parent can do is say wait and trust me and try to keep temptation away. The drifter, chastened, offers to leave, assuming the problem will be solved. But Andy corrects him again, saying: Thats where youre wrong. That boy thinks just about everything you do is perfect. So, my problem is just beginning. You left behind an awful lot of unscrambling to be done. This is precisely where we stand with obscene, sexualized, inappropriate books accessible to children in our public schools. Like the hobos stories, they look colorful flashy things with shiny ribbons on it. But once the hook is set in a young heart, unscrambling the damage can take years. Sadly, it may not be possible at all. HB 636 is an effort to keep temptation away before it ever reaches our childrens hands. This is not censorship; its Mayberry-plain common sense and biblical stewardship of our childrens souls. The North Carolina Senate needs to act on this bill! https://revmarkcreech.org/mayberry-plain-common-sense-keep-the-hook-out-of-our-childrens-hearts Wuthering Heights is getting the Saltburn treatment no wonder its devoted fans are in revolt As the trailer for Emerald Fennells film causes outrage among many Emily Bronte fans, Katie Rosseinsky writes about why those who grew up with this story are so protective over it Katie Rosseinsky UK Independent Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 15:00 The sad literary girls are in uproar. The focus of our outrage? The one and a half minute trailer for Emerald Fennells Wuthering Heights movie, which arrived online with all the subtlety of, well, a trailer for an Emerald Fennell movie. I was pigeonholed into a genre that I didnt get to choose: Singer Ella opens up about breaking away from dance music Lisa Salmon asks experts for advice on adapting a home so that all family members can live happily together Multigenerational living is on the rise although by how much depends on which research you choose. A new study by homelifts specialist Uplifts found 49% of 2,000 UK adults questioned lived in households spanning multiple generations, and more than a third (34%) of these households had made changes to better accommodate all the generations of their family. However, the Centre for Ageing Better points out that in the most recent Census, in 2021, just 2.1% of households in England and Wales were multigenerational, an increase from 1.8% in 2011. But whatever the true figure, academics believe households that span multiple generations are definitely an increasing trend. Prabash Edirisingha, a consumer researcher at Northumbria University who studies family consumption patterns across generations, says: My research into multi-generational households reveals they are now the fastest-growing household type in England and Wales. While the emotional and economic advantages are undeniable, families must remain realistic about the challenges. Different generations often bring diverse expectations, lifestyles and values into shared spaces differences that can lead to tension if not thoughtfully managed. While the increase in multigenerational living is, in part, due to financial necessity, with many young people unable to afford to buy their own homes and their grandparents not wanting to spend their savings on care home costs, the Uplifts research found there are other reasons for the increase too. Although saving money was a key advantage for 39% of those questioned, more than half (55%) cited stronger family bonds as the primary benefit. Kate Sheehan, an occupational therapist specialising in housing adaptations, stresses that the key to successful multigenerational living is not only taking what each member of the family wants and needs into consideration, but also being aware of how those needs might change over time. Achieving positive and harmonious multigenerational living begins with understanding the unique needs of each family member, anticipating future changes, and responding with both functional and attractive design solutions, she says. Its essential that everyone in the household can access all areas of the property, ensuring it truly feels like home for all. Millie Brown, deputy director for homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, explains that only one in eight homes in this country currently has all four key accessibility features for elderly family members: namely a ground-floor toilet, sufficiently wide doorways, circulation space for a wheelchair, and no steps at the front door. Multigenerational living, and supporting older people to age in place, can be hugely beneficial to families and can help to reduce pressures on social care, she says. But many families will find a key barrier to establishing these arrangements is the unsuitability of their own home for older people. Multigenerational living can be hugely beneficial Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset She also points out that financial support for homeowners who want to adapt their homes for multigenerational living has declined substantially in recent years. The other barrier many people are likely to find in creating a multigenerational home is the support on offer to make improvements and adaptations, she says. Grants for home improvement support have shrunk by more than 2 billion over the last decade, and the range of support available to people is variable from one place to another. We need a network of good home hubs local one-stop shops offering comprehensive advice and support on all aspects of home improvement. Finances permitting, Sheehan says the most common and most necessary adaptations for a multigenerational home are 1. Wider doorways If a family member needs a wheelchair, widening doorways will make life at home much easier. Installing wider doorways markedly improves movement throughout the house, not only for accessibility, but also for practical tasks like moving furniture, says Sheehan. Such thoughtful choices enhance comfort and convenience for everyone. 2. Good lighting While younger members of the family might prefer more subdued lighting, particularly when theyre entertaining friends, brighter lighting is a necessity for older relatives whose eyesight may be failing, so bright lights with a dimmer switch, or plenty of lamps that can make a room brighter, may work for everyone. Proper lighting is crucial, especially in spaces like staircases and bathrooms, where slips and trips are common hazards for both young and old, points out Sheehan. 3. Downstairs bedrooms The Uplifts research found 28% of families questioned had added ground-floor bedrooms to their home for an elderly relative. But such a modification goes hand-in-hand with adding a downstairs toilet if the home doesnt already have one. 4. Separate living rooms Nearly a third (32%) of the multigenerational householders surveyed had created separate living areas in their homes modifications that provide privacy and independence for both young and old, if space allows it. In a multigenerational household, personal space is crucial for individual comfort and overall harmony, Sheehan explains. Even when space is limited, providing a dedicated area, such as a chair in a bedroom, can greatly enhance the households ability to coexist successfully. 5. New bathroom/bathroom adjustments The Uplifts research found one of the most common adaptations was a new bathroom, which was added by 32% of multigenerational households. But if a whole new bathroom is too expensive, Sheehan suggests installing a wetroom-style shower in your existing bathroom, and reinforcing walls to enable future fitting of grab rails (which 22% of the survey respondents said theyd installed), or a wall-mounted shower seat. She says: Whenever possible, fit the bathroom door to open outwards this small adjustment can make a significant difference in an emergency, providing swift access if assistance is needed. 6. Adding a lift Because elderly family members may struggle with stairs, adding either a stairlift or a home lift is the ultimate accessibility feature, added by 15% of the multigenerational homeowners surveyed. Stairs can become challenging with age, whether due to physical limitations or simply fatigue from an active daily routine, comments Sheehan. Installing a homelift or stairlift can greatly ease movement between floors. And these solutions arent just for older adults a lift can be invaluable for gently transporting a sleeping child upstairs without disturbance, demonstrating how inclusive design supports the needs of every generation. 7. Kitchen modifications Older people with mobility/balance issues may struggle to stand while cooking, so consider installing a lower worktop to allow them to sit and help with food preparation, says Sheehan, who also suggests fitting an instant hot tap. This will reduce the need to lift and carry hot water not only is it quicker, its more energy-efficient. Face of Fermanagh woman charged over alleged crank calls to Prince Harry She is due back in court on September 22. Ann Marie Donelly Shauna Corr Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 12:00 This is the woman who appeared in court last week over alleged crank calls to 999 claiming Prince Harry had committed crimes. China's police chief meets with Vanuatu's minister of internal affairs Xinhua) 10:43, September 20, 2025 Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat in Beijing on Friday. Wang said that China is willing to work with Vanuatu to implement the Global Security Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, under the guidance of the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries. He noted that the two sides should rely on the ministerial dialogue mechanism on law enforcement capacity and police cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries, strengthen exchanges at all levels, work together to enhance their law enforcement capabilities and strengthen cooperation in cracking down on transnational crimes such as fugitive repatriation and asset recovery, so as to advance the China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership. Napuat expressed gratitude for China's support and assistance, and stated that Vanuatu is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China in the field of police and law enforcement. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) PSNI confirm officers have attended after two protests Paul Givan is confronted by Martina and Josiah Burke last night. Pic: X Paul Givan is confronted by Martina and Josiah Burke last night. Pic: X Members of the Burke family protest at the DUP annual conference on Saturday. Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye. A high-profile evangelical Christian family have protested at the DUP conference for a second day. Police were called to the La Mon hotel in Co Down after members of the Burke family showed up again. It came hours after family members confronted Education Minister Paul Givan after doorstepping him at the event. Enoch Burke has been at the centre of a long-running case in the Irish Republic which began three years ago after he refused to use a transgender student's chosen pronouns because of his Christian beliefs. He has since been jailed for repeatedly showing up at Wilson's Hospital School, a Church of Ireland boarding school in Westmeath, after being sacked. Members of the Burke family have been filmed attempting to speak to several DUP politicians in recent weeks. Paul Givan is confronted by Martina and Josiah Burke last night. Pic: X Last night Mr Burkes mother Martina and brother Josiah were filmed approaching Mr Givan outside the DUP conference. Mr Givan, who recorded the incident on his mobile, invited them to come inside to a more private area, saying he was happy to speak to them. Paul Givan speaks with Josiah Burke last night. Pic: X Inside, they branded the Education Minister a disgrace, and accused him of promoting LBGT rights at schools. Mr Givan invited them to take a seat, which they refused, and he asked someone to record the exchange. Soon afterwards, someone who appeared to be a plain-clothed police officer instructed the family to leave, saying they are on private property. Later, two PSNI officers attended and were filmed speaking to the family. Today, Burke family members were pictured back outside the event. They held placards, claiming children had been sacrificed to the LGBT agenda and accusing the DUP of denying Christian beliefs. Eyewitnesses said they had been asked to leave the scene after the PSNI were called. The PSNI said: Police received a report of a small peaceful protest at hotel premises in the Gransha Road area of Comber on Friday evening. Officers attended the scene, and spoke with those present. The protesters subsequently left the area, and no further issues were reported. Meanwhile, police are currently at the same location this afternoon, Saturday, assisting with a second related protest in the area. The DUP and Mr Givan have been contacted for comment. Members of the Burke family protest at the DUP annual conference on Saturday. Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye. A new joint UK/Irish framework on legacy mechanisms for Northern Ireland offers an opportunity to deal with the "unfinished business" of the Good Friday Agreement, Hilary Benn has said. Earlier this month guidance on supporting transgender pupils was withdrawn from the Education Authoritys website. Mr Givan said he wrote to the EA requesting its withdrawal. Last month Josiah and Martina Burke approached Mervyn Storey in the car park of the Hebron Free Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney. Mr Storey is a former DUP MLA and Education Minister, who is now chair of the Education Authority. The pair accused Mr Storey of enforcing transgender ideology through his role as chair of the EA. The ex-North Antrim MLA was appointed to the role by Mr Givan in 2024. The Burkes claims relate to an EA document entitled Guidance for Schools on Supporting Transgender Young People, which was published in 2019. Paul Givan is confronted by Martina and Josiah Burke last night. Pic: X Hebron Free Presbyterian Church, where Mr Storey is an elder, branded the Burkes behaviour reprehensible and said elderly church members had to be evacuated during the incident. Separately, Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots accused the Burke family of doorstepping him after they turned up at his church last month. The DUP MLA said he had already left the premises when the Burkes called. Posting on social media, Mr Poots urged them to request a formal meeting at his office. DUP members gathered at the La Mon Hotel for todays conference where leader Gavin Robinson addressed delegates this afternoon. The party has opted to have more MLAs and councillors address the conference than in previous years. Mr Givan spoke about building a world-class education system. Robert Russell Bamber was taken to hospital but died just over a week later (PA) An elderly man has died following a road crash in Co Antrim. Three vehicles were involved in the collision on the Moorfields Road in Ballymena last week. Police said Robert Russell Bamber, 80, from the Ballymena area, who was known by his family and friends as Roy, died in hospital on Friday. Inspector Cherith Adair said: Shortly after 7.05pm on Wednesday 10th September it was reported a blue Toyota Aygo, a white Citroen Berlingo and a white Audi A3 were involved in a collision at the Moorfields Road, Ballymena at the junction of the Tully Road. Mr Bamber, who was driving the Toyota Aygo, was taken to hospital for his injuries but sadly passed away on Friday 19th September. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has CCTV or other footage which could assist inquiries is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1396 10/09/25. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson delivers his speech at the DUP party conference at the La Mon Hotel in Belfast (Peter Morrison/PA) DUP leader Gavin Robinson delivered a robust defence of devolution as he told his party conference that Westminster rule would effectively mean de facto Dublin rule from London. The East Belfast MP used his conference speech to argue that unionists in Northern Ireland were much better off with local ministers in charge, as he suggested that direct rule would not only result in more liberal policies being imposed on the region but would also see the Irish government handed more of a role in affairs north of the border. While Mr Robinson did not refer to unionist rivals Traditional Unionist Voice by name, much of his address countered the TUVs long-standing criticism of the DUP for participating in mandatory coalition government alongside Sinn Fein. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson and his wife Lindsay acknowledge delegates following his speech at the DUP party conference at the La Mon Hotel in Belfast (Peter Morrison/PA) Last year, the DUP ended the two-year boycott of devolution it had maintained in protest against Brexits so-called Irish Sea border. Mr Robinson said his party was still determined to force the removal of economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, but he said maintaining the boycott was not in the best interests of people in the region. Our choice was not between perfection or betrayal, it was between progress or paralysis, he said. We chose to return to Stormont to deliver for our people, to keep unionism strong where it matters most, in a position of leadership, where we can effect change. Mr Robinson insisted his party had delivered for voters since it lifted its veto on devolved powersharing. In his speech to several hundred delegates at the La Mon Hotel in east Belfast, the DUP leader acknowledged the Assembly is far from perfect and he criticised Sinn Feins record in the departments overseen by the republican party. He added: But friends, let me say this plainly, those who argue we would be better off with Starmer than with Stormont cannot point to a single area where policy would be better because of a Labour government. Some of the loudest applause from the audience came when Mr Robinson called on the UK Government to clamp down on illegal immigration and when he spoke in defence of a common sense approach on the gender debate that unequivocally backed the approach that a boy is a boy and a girl is a girl. Mr Robinson also reiterated his criticism of the London government for handing its Irish counterparts what he has described as dual control of legacy policy in Northern Ireland. That came after Fridays publication of a joint UK/Irish framework on new mechanisms to address the legacy of the Troubles. The DUP leader attacked the Dublin governments track record on legacy issues, accusing it of continually failing to investigate its own role in the conflict. Mr Robinson also voiced support for what he described as Israels just war in Gaza as he again criticised the Irish government, accusing it of wanting to be pen pals with Hamas. The long-standing MP once again voiced concern at some of the commentary in the current Irish presidential race, particularly the scrutiny of Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys and her husbands links with the Orange Order. Mr Robinson said his party would not let Dublin off the hook for their institutional intolerance of Protestant culture and heritage. The Irish Republic is a country where candidates for their highest office are vilified because of their religion and their familys connection to the Orange institution, he added. On the constitutional debate over Northern Irelands future, Mr Robinson dismissed Sinn Feins claim that a border poll will be held by 2030. Gavin Robinson arrives to deliver his speech at the DUP party conference (Peter Morrison/PA) We can be confident that (Sinn Fein Stormont First Minister) Michelle ONeills prediction of a border poll by 2030 will melt away faster than her credibility as the self-proclaimed First Minister for all, he said. The audience cheered when he insisted that he saw no circumstances in which a united Ireland would be achieved in his lifetime. In a call on other unionist parties for more co-operation ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, he warned: When unionism is divided, our opponents prosper. Mr Robinson said unionists cannot be complacent and must be proactive in making the case for preserving the Union. That objective, he argued as he touched again on the central theme of his address is best served within the devolved structures at Stormont. Colleagues, as we look ahead, unionism must recognise the choice that lies before us, he said. Do we embrace devolution, shaping our own future here in Northern Ireland, with local ministers accountable to local people? Or will we resign ourselves to de facto Dublin rule from London with decisions made by those who dont walk in our shoes? Do we build a society rooted in common sense, in fairness and in opportunity, or do we allow our future to be dictated by the radical, woke ideology of those who sneer at our values, dismiss our traditions, and who undermine the very foundations of our Union? Thats the choice colleagues thats the crossroads. And that is why this party and what we stand for matters today more than ever before. Ahead of the speech, several members of the high-profile evangelical Christian Burke family from Co Mayo staged a small demonstration outside the venue, questioning DUP policy positions on some LGBT issues. They left after police officers advised them it was private property. Robinson admits trust in DUP has been damaged as he tells of regret over partys pledges on sea border DUP leader also insists no prospect of unity poll in his lifetime Party leader Gavin Robinson pictured at the DUP annual conference with his son Reuben. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Adrian Rutherford Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 15:36 Gavin Robinson has expressed regret that the DUP wasnt clearer in setting out the shortcomings of the deal to restore Stormont. People at London Heathrow Airport, after flights were delayed following an alleged cyber attack targeted a service provider for check-in and boarding systems (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) Flights have been delayed and cancelled at airports including Heathrow after an alleged cyber attack targeted a service provider for check-in and boarding systems. London Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airports are all experiencing delays and disruption following the technical issue affecting Collins Aerospace, which works for several airlines at multiple airports across the world. Heathrow said passengers should check their flight status before travelling to the west London airport. Heathrow said: Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers. While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight. Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience. Passengers reported long queues and manual check-ins (KC Barnard/X/@lovebydeception/PA) It is understood British Airways at Terminal 5 remains unaffected and is operating as normal. Tereza Pultarova, a freelance journalist from London, arrived at Heathrow Airport in the early hours of the morning to catch a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight to Amsterdam, where she was to hop on a connection flight to Cape Town in South Africa. But on arrival at the airports Terminal 4, she was faced with queues, delays, and confusion as to whether she will be able to make her trip at all. Weve been here since 4.30am we were supposed to be on a 6.30am flight to Amsterdam, Ms Pultarova told the PA news agency. Most people on this flight have connecting flights to catch in Amsterdam from all over the world. We were kind of stranded here because the weird thing is, KLM wasnt able to issue us boarding passes digitally, and requested us to collect them at the check-in desk. Passengers at Heathrow check for updates on their flight delays (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) And then they told us that there is some sort of global issue with the system theyre using for check-in and boarding, and they have to do everything manually. So then they were checking in people at the rate of, like, one person per 10 minutes. Im not exaggerating. It was just insane, the queue wasnt moving. And then suddenly they said, Oh, the flight will be departing, were closing the gate. So they checked-in like 20 people, maybe like the business class, and then told the people from the 6.30 flight to just go away, that they need to start checking in for the 8.40 flight. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Ms Pultarova was to visit the Square Kilometre Array telescopes in the Karoo Desert for work, and added she had been looking forward to this trip for months. She said: I need to be there at 7am tomorrow, otherwise the party will leave for the Karoo Desert where the telescopes are. So yeah, you know, I need to have information, but nobodys giving me any information, so I dont know what to do. Ms Pultarova was eventually told she could get on the 3.30pm flight which means she will miss her connection flight in Amsterdam. Im a freelance journalist, so its causing me loss of income, she said. Ive been really kind of excited about this trip. It was a short break from the 21st to the 26th so its three nights at the Karoo site. Its one of those things where you dont have really flexibility. So for me, its really been a big bummer. People queuing at terminal 2 of Heathrow on Saturday (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) Maria Casey, from Aldershot in Hampshire, was on her way to a two-week backpacking holiday in Krabi, southern Thailand, via Abu Dhabi. But her Etihad flight departing at 9.30am was delayed and she ended up queuing for three hours because baggage check-in had to be done manually with luggage tags written by hand. Only two desks were staffed which is why we were cheesed off, she told PA. Didnt know then it was a cyber attack until four hours later. Brussels Airport said: There was a cyber attack on Friday night September 19 against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems affecting several European airports, including Brussels Airport. This means that at the moment only manual check-in and boarding is possible. This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights. A statement on the Berlin Airport website said there are longer waiting times at check-in. Collins Aerospace said it is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. It said: We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our Muse (Multi-User System Environment) software in select airports. We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. We will share more details as they are available. People with piles of luggage await flight details at Heathrow T4 (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: Im aware of an incident affecting airline check-in and boarding, impacting flights at Heathrow and other European airports. Im getting regular updates and monitoring the situation. If youre flying at Heathrow today, check with your airline before travelling. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller called on the Government to immediately make a statement on whether Russian involvement is suspected in the alleged attack. After the flagrant violation of Estonian airspace, the Government needs to urgently establish if Vladimir Putin is now attacking our cyber systems, Mr Miller said. If the Kremlin is behind this attack, causing chaos at our busiest airport, we need to be firm in our response. The European Commission, which takes part in managing airspace across Europe, said it is monitoring the situation but added there were no signs the cyber attack was widespread or severe. A spokesperson for the European Commission said on Saturday evening: The commission is closely monitoring the cyber attack that has disrupted airline check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally. While passengers are facing disruption, aviation safety and air traffic control remain unaffected. The commission is working closely with EUROCONTROL, ENISA, airports and airlines to restore operations and to support passengers. Current signs do not indicate a widespread or severe attack. A Royal Air Force FGR4 Typhoon (Callsign Chaos One, armed with ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, is seen from inside an RAF Voyager air-refuelling tanker during the first Royal Air Force Eastern Sentry deployment over Poland, 70 miles from the Belarusian border in the location Russian drones were shot down (Ben Birchall/PA) UK fighter jets have embarked on their first Nato policing mission over Poland since Russian violations of the countrys airspace by patrolling the area where 19 drones were shot down earlier this month. On Monday, the Government announced it would provide further air defence over the eastern European nation with RAF Typhoons setting off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night. Seen very much as a defensive mission by those on board, the fighter jets, which were given the call signs chaos 1-1 and chaos 1-2, policed the skies close to Belarusian and Russian airspace. Nothing significant was reported from the UKs first Nato Eastern Sentry operation. Fighter jets, alongside a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, embarked on the mission 10 days after Russian drones entered Polish airspace and six days after another Russian drone was intercepted flying over Romania. Aircrew pilot a Royal Air Force Voyager air-refuelling tanker during the first Royal Air Force Eastern Sentry deployment over Poland (Ben Birchall/PA) The incident over Poland prompted the nations prime minister Donald Tusk to warn that his country was the closest to open conflict it had been since the Second World War. Estonias foreign ministry also said three Russian jets entered its airspace without permission on Friday and remained there for 12 minutes. The UK is not the only Nato country patrolling the eastern flank with missions also being coordinated alongside Denmark, France and Germany. On board the Voyager aircraft, refuelling operations happened without incident with the 88ft fuel hose being attached to the fighter jets north of Hamburg on the way out to the mission, as well as 70 miles from the Belarusian border. A Royal Air Force Mission System Operator was in charge of the refuelling process (Ben Birchall/PA) The site of the second refuelling was conducted over where 19 Russian drones were shot down earlier this month. The jets, equipped with advanced sensors and infrared-guided advanced short-range air-to-air missiles, refuelled at around 25,000ft while the Voyager was travelling at speeds of approximately 439mph. Pilots on board the Voyager signed off the refuelling exercise with happy hunting. The Voyager pilots found out about their first Nato policing mission on Thursday, after originally being scheduled to take part in a UK-based training exercise. As the Typhoon jets patrolled the eastern flank, the refuelling aircraft circled further inland in a pattern that pilots describe as a race track awaiting the next refuelling exercise. Once the fighter jets were in position to refuel, the refuelling process was coordinated by a missions system operator who cleared the aircraft to make contact with the fuel hose, and directed when fuel could be taken on board through a system akin to traffic lights. On Friday night, the Voyager delivered 27.4 tonnes of fuel to the fighter jets, which positioned themselves just 12 metres (39ft) away from the refuelling aircraft as they went through the process many personnel describe as having a drink. The mission on Friday night happened without any reported incidents (Ben Birchall/PA) Defence Secretary John Healey said the RAF pilots and crew were standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security by carrying out the mission. He said: RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: Nato airspace will be defended. Im proud of the outstanding British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our Allies from reckless Russian aggression. This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security making us secure at home and strong abroad. More than 400 UK personnel are due to support the Nato patrolling missions in eastern Europe. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said: Our partnership with Nato has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAFs first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UKs steadfast commitment to Nato and its allies. RAF Typhoons, supported by Voyager air-air refuelling aircraft, joined allies along the eastern flank to bolster Nato defence and deterrence. We remain agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range. Russian pilots ignored signals from Italian jets responding from Natos Baltic Air Policing Mission when they violated Estonian airspace, a senior Estonian military official has said. The 12-minute incursion was the latest test of the alliances ability to respond to Russian airborne threats after around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on September 10. Russias Defence Ministry on Saturday denied its aircraft flew into Estonias airspace, after Tallinn reported three fighter jets crossed into its territory on Friday without permission. Estonian officials dismissed the denial, saying the violation was confirmed by radar and visual contact and suggested it could be a tactic to draw Western resources away from Ukraine. The Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace between 9.58am and 10.10am local time on Friday in the area of Vaindloo, a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said. A ministry statement said it was the fourth airspace violation by Russia this year. It still needs to be confirmed if the border violation was deliberate or not, Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the commander of Estonias Military Intelligence Centre, told The Associated Press (AP). Regardless, he said, the Russian jets must have known that they are in (Estonian) airspace. The Russian pilots did not pose a military threat, Col Kiviselg said. But although they acknowledged communication from the Italian pilots flying F-35 fighter jets, they apparently ignored it and didnt actually follow the signs, which is partly why they were in Estonian airspace for so long, he added. Why they didnt do it, thats a question for the Russian pilots, Col Kiviselg said. The Russian jets came from an airfield near the city of Petrozavodsk, in north-western Russia, and were heading to Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland. They were tracked by two Finnish fighter jets before being escorted by the two Italian jets, which took off from Estonias Amari Air Base and followed them into international skies, Col Kiviselg said. US President Donald Trump responded on Friday by telling reporters he will be briefed by aides on the incursion. I dont love it, he said, adding: I dont like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but Ill let you know later. Margus Tsahkna, Estonias foreign minister, told AP the incident was a very serious violation of Nato airspace. The last time Estonian airspace was violated for so long was in 2003, he said, just before Estonia joined Nato. Estonias foreign minister Margus Tsahkna (Virginia Mayo/AP) Estonias government responded by saying it would request consultations under Article 4 of Natos treaty which allows a member to formally consult with allies whenever their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. Poland also used the mechanism after its airspace was violated by Russian drones and, after that, Nato launched its Eastern Sentry mission to boost defences along its eastern flank. Posting on X, Lithuanias defence minister Dovile Sakaliene suggested Nato member Turkey set an example of how to respond to such incidents in 2015 when it shot down a Russian fighter jet which violated its airspace for around 17 seconds. But that situation was totally different, Hanno Pevkur, Estonias defence minister said, adding that the Russians actually killed Turks, when Moscow used fighter jets to target what they said were militant groups near the Syrian border with Turkey. During Fridays incident, Estonia and its allies observed the Russian jets route, communication and reaction from the pilots as well as the weapons systems they were carrying and were very confident that there is no need to shoot them down, Mr Pevkur said. Czech President Petr Pavel said on Saturday that Nato must respond adequately to Russian violations, including potentially by shooting down Russian jets, the Czech News Agency reported. Russia will realise very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option, Mr Pavel said. Estonian officials maintained on Saturday that there was no need to trigger Article 5, Natos collective defence clause, despite the repeated violations by Russian jets and drones as well as allegations from Western officials that Moscow is waging a hybrid war against the West including a sabotage campaign, cyber attacks and influence operations. In an online statement published on Saturday, Russias Defence Ministry said its fighter jets had kept to neutral Baltic Sea waters more than three kilometres (1.8 miles) from Vaindloo Island. It said the three MiG-31 jets completed a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad region and did not violate the borders of other states. Mr Pevkur dismissed the statement, saying Estonia and its Nato allies have multiple radars and visual identification which confirm the Russian jets entered the countrys airspace. He suggested the root cause for the air violations, hybrid war and cyber attacks was to distract Western attention from Ukraine. Moscow, Mr Pevkur said, may be trying to provoke Nato nations into sending additional air defence assets to Estonia in the hope that Kyivs allies do more about our own defence and less to support Kyiv. Britain First founder fined and given penalty points for speeding Loyalist flag protester told judge he was totally guilty of breaching 30mph limit Jim Dowson John Toner Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 17:15 The far-right activist who founded Britain First has been fined for speeding. Paedophile who flashed at schoolgirls avoids jail over latest court order breach Pervert failed to notify authorities of a change of address Alan Hamilton John Toner Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 18:30 A playpark pervert who exposed himself to schoolgirls has avoided jail for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo). Police in renewed appeal to public over disappearance of schoolboys in 1969 David Leckey and Jonathan Aven feared to be victims of paedophile ring Missing boys David Leckey and Jonathan Aven Sunday Life reporters Press Association Sat 20 Sep 2025 at 20:25 A fresh appeal for information has been made about two young boys who disappeared almost 60 years ago amid claims they were victims of a paedophile ring. When Claire Griffin couldn't get the story of George Denison Morgan and Yuki Kato out of her head, she knew she had to write a novel based on them. Her research took her to Japan. MILL RIVER When the sale of Limestone Farm became a matter of record last week, county and area dairymen and others were not sure whether to offer the former owners congratulations or condolences. About this series: Revolution: Berkshires is a monthly, 12-part series exploring Berkshire Countys surprising role in the American Revolution. Too often, the story of Americas founding is told as if it began and ended in Boston, Philadelphia or Washington. But history is rooted in place, and here in the Berkshires, town meetinghouses, farms and village greens became laboratories of democracy where the principles of liberty and self-government took hold. Through this series, historian Justin F. Jackson traces how ordinary Berkshire residents farmers, merchants, ministers, landowners and newcomers debated, resisted and acted in ways that helped shape the nations founding ideals. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, these local stories remind us that Americas revolution was not just born in distant halls of power, but also in small communities like ours. Their choices and words still echo today. PREVIOUS: In this series: This article is the second in the Revolution: Berkshires series. Read Before 1776: Sheffields Resolves lit a revolutionary spark online at qrs.ly/1rh0er1. Revolutions are not tea parties. And yet how we remember the American Revolution makes it seem far less chaotic, divisive and violent than it really was. Look no further than the lawn of Great Barringtons town hall, a few feet from the corner of Castle and Main streets. Since 1890, a small stone monument there has commemorated this, the location of Berkshire Countys first courthouse, as site of the first open resistance to British rule in America. Indeed, this simple monument, facing east, seems proudly to defy Boston almost as much as Britain as if to imply that the Berkshire men who closed the court here in August 1774 showed more courage than brethren who had recently turned Boston harbor into a teapot. Like Bostons Tea Party, however, Great Barringtons monument evokes deep ambiguity in the Revolutions memory. Literally and figuratively, the marker sits in the shadow of government buildings that project law, order and authority. Yet the resistance it honors involved an act that any law-abiding person, then or now, would recognize as a heinous crime: kidnapping. Great Barringtons memorial thus renders the Revolution safe for public consumption. What many at the time perceived as treason, insurrection or a civil war becomes instead a story of rebellious colonists who simply revered the law and wished to restore it. PROTEST BECOMES REBELLION Yet the Tea Party of March 1773 was the largest single criminal act of property destruction in American history. To protest a law granting the East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea in North America, Bostonians sworn to secrecy dumped into the sea 42 chests of the stuff (today worth almost $2 million). To avoid accountability, the protestors disguised themselves. Even after independence, only a handful ever admitted they partied with the detested substance. Revolutions prompt this alchemy of memory-making. Americans transformed the reality of coercion by which they fomented a revolution into a national origin myth in which British oppression brought principled, peaceful and law-abiding colonists to the brink of war. That useful story emerged from the Revolution itself. Patriot leaders like John Adams, a lawyer who defended the British soldiers that killed five Bostonians in 1770, tried desperately to keep disciplined protests from devolving into disorderly mobs. CROWDS, CHAOS, COERCION Yet the Revolution grew out of unruly crowd actions that tested laws boundaries, if not also propriety. The Sons of Liberty who pioneered Bostons opposition to British policy emerged in part from anti-Catholic street gangs. Each November, they celebrated the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder plot to blow up Parliament by drunkenly battling for an effigy of the Pope and demanding wealthy Bostonians pay for their revelries. In 1764, one of rioters carts accidentally crushed and killed a young boy. The next year, some of the same men harassed, beat, and tarred and feathered customs officials enforcing the Stamp Act. They looted and destroyed Lt. Gov. Thomas Hutchinsons North End mansion. INTOLERABLE ACTS IGNITE BERKSHIRE In the Tea Partys aftermath, the danger that mob violence might impugn colonists high-minded appeals to the law was omnipresent. In early 1774, Parliament responded to the breakdown of order in Boston by sending troops to re-occupy the town and enacting a series of punitive measures, which enraged colonists deemed the Intolerable Acts. Closing Bostons port, London suspended rights to a jury trial. It also revoked the Massachusetts charters guarantee of local self-government. Suspending most town meetings, Parliament empowered the royal governor to appoint local officials. That prerogative extended to members of the Governors Council, the legislatures upper house, which the directly elected members of the lower house previously chose themselves. Gen. Thomas Gage was named the new governor. Irate colonists harassed and intimidated Gages appointees and their allies. In this incendiary environment, Great Barrington saw the first of many attempts in late 1774 to disrupt Massachusetts courts. Incorporated in 1761, the town of Great Barrington contained a Whig faction that had chastised their representative in the General Assembly, Sheffields Col. John Ashley, after he voted to rescind a letter protesting British taxes. In July 1774, at Stockbridge, however, Ashley chaired a countywide meeting of 60 delegates protesting the Intolerable Acts. (The clerk was Theodore Sedgwick, author of the Sheffield Resolves.) Endorsing Bostonians call for a new continental boycott of British goods, conventioneers pledged strict obedience to all constitutional laws, discouraged all licentiousness and demanded the suppression of all mobs and riots. SHUTTING DOWN THE COURTS Early the next month, men throughout Berkshire County converged on Great Barrington to shut down the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. On Aug. 15, 1774, Pittsfield voters signaled their probable sentiments. It was highly necessary, they declared, that the People of this Province fall into a State of nature until these injurious oppressive & unconstitutional acts were repealed. The next day, according to local historians, a mass of men armed with muskets, scythes and pitchforks 1,000 from the Berkshires and several hundred from Connecticuts neighboring Litchfield County halted proceedings by filling the courthouse to overflowing. Sheriff Elijah Williams implored the crowd to let magistrates enter and do business, but to no avail. The people knew no court, historian Charles Taylor later wrote, and recognized in the judges no authority. The crowd insisted the latter leave the town which they did, Taylor wrote. MAGISTRATES FATE One magistrate, David Ingersoll, didnt go willingly. Born in 1742 at Great Barrington, Ingersoll, like Ashley and Sedgwick, attended Yale and joined the bar. Now this prominent Tory was taken into custody by Connecticut men who spirited him off to Litchfield County and imprisoned him there. Taylor hailed Ingersolls abduction as proof of Berkshire patriotism. Yet the fact that Connecticut men carried him across the border suggests that Massachusetts court-closers knew they were breaking the law and sought to avoid repercussions. Ingersoll, like many Tories, never came home. Before the year was over, he fled to England. Massachusetts banished Ingersoll and confiscated his property, and in 1796, he died in exile. From such daring resistance and tragic endings, revolutions and nations are made. Pittsfield city councilors are calling for a comprehensive review of how the Shannon Grant is being used and whether longtime partner 18 Degrees is effectively reaching the youth most at risk of gun violence as the grant approaches renewal. PITTSFIELD For Lenwood "Woody" Vaspra, commander of the Berkshire County Veterans Coalition, a Friday ceremony to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action wasnt just another date on the calendar it was an opportunity to remember his friends. I had a friend [who] was a POW for eight years, and he came back, and he didn't last too long, but at least he made it back to see his family, Vaspra said at a National POW/MIA Recognition Day remembrance Friday morning. Then my roommate and pilot trainer was shot down, and he was missing in action, and they finally, after a while, found his remains. The ceremony, held by the Charles Persip American Legion Post 68 at the Veterans Memorial Park, paid tribute and renewed a promise that service members from either group wouldn't be forgotten. Members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks, said Tyrone Bellinger, a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 65. They are unable to be with their loved ones and families, so we join together to pay humble tribute to them and to bear witness to their continued absence. Let us remember and never forget their sacrifice. POW/MIA Recognition Day was established by Congress in 1979. Each year, veterans organizations, including the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion hold ceremonies nationwide to commemorate their sacrifices. After the opening remarks, Henry Hank Morris, vice commander and service officer of the American Legion Post 68, led the invocation, offering a prayer for the missing and their loved ones. Bellinger introduced the POW/MIA table of remembrance, set for one to symbolize the service members who have not returned. The table is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his or her suppressors. The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms, Bellinger said while draping a POW/MIA flag on the chair. He described each element of the table, from the single rose to the inverted glass, each representing the sacrifices and hopes of those still unaccounted for. However, guest speaker Brian Sedgwick, commander of the American Legion Post 1236 in New Lebanon, N.Y., emphasized that its not too late to find those missing and the efforts must continue. We're actually making progress in over 50 countries around the world. There's active investigations going on, Sedgwick noted, adding that in the past year, 159 service personnel from World War II have been identified, as well as 55 from the Korean War and eight from the Vietnam War. Our investigators are out there just trying their best to find as many [American service personnel] as we can possibly bring home for the next of kin. Marine Pfc. Erwin S. King of Clarksburg was one such veteran who was recently brought home. In May 2024, his remains were identified 82 years after he went missing in Guadalcanal during World War II. He was buried in September next to his parents in Southview Cemetery in North Adams and was posthumously granted an honorary diploma from Drury High School on June 5. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, nearly 81,000 Americans remain missing from previous conflicts. The ceremony also included the laying of a wreath, the playing of taps by Joseph Difilippo and a benediction. Let us not only remember the POWs and MIAs still unaccounted for, but let us also remember our brave men and women now on peacekeeping missions throughout the world, Morris said. Stewart Edelstein, a Stockbridge resident, is author of several books, including Dubious Doublets: A Delightful Compendium of Unlikely Word Pairs of Common Origin, from Aardvark/Porcelain to Zodiac/Whiskey. The right to speak, think, write and read freely is the core of democracy; without one, we do not have the other. So if you're wondering what meaningful action an individual can take in this dangerous time for democracy, have a look in a book perhaps a banned one and stand up for the freedom to read and the local institutions that protect this endangered liberty. Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime. Subscribe now for 99 Subscriber Sign In | Return Home World leaders gather in New York every September for several days of speeches at the annual United Nations General Assembly, which on Tuesday begins its 80th session. Who speaks when? The United Nations was formed in 1945 with 51 original members and has since grown to 193 members. Leaders of two non-member observer states known at the UN as the Holy See and the State of Palestine and an observer member, the European Union, can also speak. It is tradition for Brazil to always be the first member state to speak. This is because in the early years of the world body Brazil stepped up to speak first when other countries were reluctant to do so, say UN officials. As host to the UN headquarters in New York, the United States is the second country to address the General Assembly. Advertisement From there the list is then based on hierarchy and generally a first come, first served basis. Heads of state speak first, followed by deputy heads of state and crown princes, heads of government, ministers and lower-ranking heads of a delegation. How long will they speak? Leaders are asked to stick to a voluntary 15-minute time limit. According to UN records, one of the longest speeches made during the opening of a General Assembly was in 1960 by Cuban leader Fidel Castro who spoke for about 4-1/2 hours. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi spoke for more than 1-1/2 hours in 2009. What will they talk about? Each start of a General Assembly session has a theme. Leaders might briefly refer to the theme before moving on to whatever topic they like. This year's theme is: "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights." Other topics that leaders are likely to address include: Gaza. Leaders are gathering as the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip approaches two years and a humanitarian crisis worsens in the Palestinian enclave, where a global hunger monitor has warned that famine has taken hold and is likely to spread by the end of the month. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, which Israel denies is due to address the General Assembly on Friday next week. Israel launched a ground assault on Gaza City on Tuesday. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will not attend in person the US, a staunch Israeli ally, has said it will not give him a visa. He will appear via video. Advertisement Ukraine. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy will be seeking to shore up global support for Kyiv as US president Donald Trump tries to broker an end to the war more than three years after Russia invaded its neighbour. He is due to address the assembly on Wednesday while Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will speak on Saturday. The UN Security Council is due to hold a high-level meeting on Ukraine next week. All eyes will be on the US at the council and during Trump's General Assembly speech to see if Washington announces any measures, such as sanctions, to try to get Russian president Vladimir Putin to negotiate with Zelenskiy. Iran. Expect last-minute diplomacy in New York over Iran's nuclear program as Tehran seeks to avoid a return of all UN Security Council sanctions on the Islamic Republic on September 28th. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and foreign minister Abbas Araqchi are both expected to be at the United Nations. Syria. A notable debut this year at the UN General Assembly will be Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa. His Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group led the rebellion that toppled president Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive in December, ending 13 years of civil war. But HTS, previously known as al-Nusra Front, was al Qaeda's former branch in Syria until it broke ties in 2016. The group and Sharaa remain under UN sanctions, but he was given a travel exemption to visit New York from September 21st to 25th. Climate. As the world struggles to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, leaders of smaller island nations and other states most affected by climate changes are expected to again urge action. Advertisement Women. On Monday, a day before speeches begin, leaders will meet to mark the 30th anniversary of a landmark women's rights conference. The 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, is perhaps best known for coining the phrase "women's rights are human rights." While the theme of the meeting on Monday is to recommit, resource and accelerate implementation of the declaration agreed in 1995, leaders are likely to lament the lack of progress and growing attacks on women's rights. At the Beijing conference 189 nations signed a document calling for the "full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life." Sudan. The 2-1/2-year-old war in Sudan is likely to be discussed among some leaders next week. The war between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army has created what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with widening pockets of famine across the country including in al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state. The United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a permanent ceasefire. The so-called "Quad" countries are seen as having the most influence with the warring parties. US-Venezuela tensions. As the United States built up its naval force in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters late last month, Venezuela complained to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. Since then the US military has carried out two deadly strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug cartel vessels in international waters. Advertisement The increased tensions are likely to be raised by Venezuela's foreign minister Yvan Gil, who is expected to address the General Assembly on Saturday. Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged the US is hoping to drive him from power. New UN secetary-general. Next year the United Nations will choose a new secretary-general. Guterres will finish his second five-year term on December 31st, 2026. There is likely to be chatter on the sidelines of the General Assembly next week about who could be a candidate to replace him. The 15-member UN Security Council has to agree on a candidate to recommend to the 193-member General Assembly for election, which means the five council veto powers Britain, China, France, Russia and the US have to agree. A woman who was at Dublin Airport when Terminal 2 was evacuated due to a security alert caused by suspicious baggage on Saturday has described the experience as "a nightmare." Donna, who spoke to BreakingNews.ie from Dublin Airport on Saturday night, was supposed to be flying back to the US after holidaying in Europe for the past two weeks, and was on a layover in Dublin when the terminal was evacuated. "We were escorted out, and the whole day there's been no announcements, no direction to us other than some yelling," she said. "We were told to evacuate, to which we all complied, but thousands of people in one line after the other, after the other... we're here now, thousands of people, still wandering around. "There's no hotels, nothing," she said on Saturday night, and the next flight she will be able to get is on Monday. Advertisement The airport and airline failed to offer any accommodation, Donna added, "and we're just left here to fend for ourselves." Terminal 2 is still "full of people," according to Donna, who spoke to BreakingNews.ie after 9.30pm on Saturday. "Everybody's like, 'Where are we going?', 'What are we doing?', 'What's happening?', and then it took, all of us got notifications on our phones to say our flight was cancelled and there would be no compensation, and we were basically left on our own." Airport employees were not aware of Donna's flight being cancelled, she said, they "didn't even know what was going on". "We all feel kind of left here, and there's so many people who can't afford accommodations for three days," Donna added. She was keen to stress, however, that she and those she has spoken to at the airport are aware that "what happened was beyond anybody's control whatsoever." Regardless, though, she said, "there's a mass of people here... to get an email that says you're not going to be accommodated at all, and there's no assistance whatsoever for people who can't afford to get their own accommodations, it was, to me, pretty insensitive". A spokesperson for the operator of Dublin airport, Daa, said: "We are continuing to work closely with airlines this evening (Saturday) to get passengers on their way following the earlier evacuation of Terminal 2 and as airlines continue to deal with the ongoing disruption caused by a Europe-wide technical issue that is impacting on their check-in and boarding systems. Advertisement "This has been a challenging day and we thank passengers for their patience and understanding." "Some further disruption to flights is possible as the day goes on and passengers are advised to contact their airline directly for updates on their flight." Gardai said members at Dublin Airport responded to a report of an item of airline luggage of concern on Saturday morning. As a precaution, Terminal 2 Dublin Airport was evacuated and traffic entering Dublin Airport was restricted, the force said. An Garda Siochana requested the assistance of the Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. Following a preliminary examination on scene, the piece of luggage was contained and deemed safe for removal from T2 to an alternate location which would not impact on airport operations. The Garda spokesperson said the luggage at the centre of the situation was subject to further examination by the EOD team and declared safe. They said inquiries were continuing and added: Based on the information available to An Garda Siochana and other relevant stakeholders, this was an appropriate and responsible approach to the situation which was presented. In a statement at 1.30pm, airport operator DAA said that flight operations were expected to resume within the next 30 minutes. World Cyberattack disrupts operations at major airports including Heathrow and Brussels Read more "Earlier, Terminal 2 was evacuated as a precaution. The safety and security of passengers and staff remain our top priority," it said. DAA advised that temporary disruption to flights may occur, so passengers have been advised to check with their airline for the latest updates. The evacuation is not thought to be connected to a separate software issue affecting some airlines' check-in systems. However, the suspected cyberattack is having a minor impact in Dublin and Cork. Some airlines have implemented manual processes there. Sinn Fein will set out its position for participation in the presidential election later. The republican party has so far refused to clarify whether it will run its own candidate in the contest or support independent Catherine Connolly. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the issue of Irish unity should be at the heart of the presidential race. Speculation had previously surrounded whether Ms McDonald herself, Northern First Minister Michelle ONeill or the partys deputy leader in the Dail, Pearse Doherty, might run. There has been speculation that Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill could be the Sinn Fein candidate (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms McDonald firmly ruled herself out of contention earlier this month, adding that it was her priority to lead from the front in holding the current Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition to account in the Dail and offer an alternative government. She also said this week that her preferred candidate has a lot of Irish language, which appears to also rule Ms ONeill out. Advertisement Ms Connolly who already claims the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and large parts of the Labour Party has said she would welcome the support of Sinn Fein. Ms McDonald will announce her partys position in Dublin on Saturday afternoon following a meeting of their ard chomhairle (executive committee). You won't be surprised to know that for us the process of reunification, Ireland's future, that is at the heart of this campaign Mary Lou McDonald Speaking in Belfast on Friday, the Sinn Fein leader said members had a very good, very thorough deliberation across the party nationally. She added: We will set out in great detail our logic and our rationale. This is a very important campaign. It is a moment where we have a chance to have a national conversation about the here and now, but more importantly about the future. You wont be surprised to know that for us the process of reunification, Irelands future, that is at the heart of this campaign. We need a national conversation about Irelands young people, where they are now, how they are being failed and how we can help them succeed and prosper. Ms McDonald also described it as absolutely scandalous that people in Northern Ireland are not permitted to vote in the election. Heather Humphreys is the Fine Gael candidate (Fergal Phillips/PA) Ireland Michael Healy-Rae nominates Maria Steen for presidential election Read more Former GAA manager Jim Gavin will contest the election for Fianna Fail while former government minister Heather Humphreys is standing for Fine Gael. Nominations close on September 24th and the presidential election will take place on October 24th. Outgoing president Michael D Higgins has been in the role since 2011, having served the maximum two terms. US comedian and TV host Conan OBrien has said the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! should disturb everyone on the right, left, and centre. US network ABC pulled the show from schedules on Wednesday after Kimmels comments about the fatal shooting of conservative activist and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk. The president suggested on Friday that if any TV networks only give him bad press maybe their licence should be taken away. OBrien (62) who hosted his eponymous talk show Conan from 2010 to 2021, said in an Instagram post: The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and the promise to silence other Late Night hosts for criticising the administration should disturb everyone on the right, left, and centre. Its wrong and anyone with a conscience knows its wrong. In an address to the audience during his show, Kimmel said the Maga gang are desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them. Advertisement British satirist Jonathan Pie said Kimmel had implied the killer was Republican, and added: I would pull him up on that, because we dont know. Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Doug Peters/PA) He also told the Sky News Daily podcast: Were in an odd time when a late-night comedian is held to a higher standard than the president of the United States and his vice-president. On his own podcast, US senator Ted Cruz said he was thrilled about the suspension but also said that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carrs threat to ABC over Kimmels comments was dangerous as hell. Carr told Fox News on Thursday the FCC was going to continue to hold these broadcasters accountable to the public interest and added: If broadcasters dont like that simple solution, they can turn their licence in to the FCC. US comedian Jon Stewart hosted a special edition of The Daily Show on Thursday, portraying what he described as a patriotically obedient host and satirically admonishing his studio audience for booing clips of Mr Trump. I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he is a decent, funny and loving guy. And I hope he comes back Jimmy Fallon Late Night With Seth Meyers followed a similar track on NBC, with the host telling his audience: The (Trump) administration is pursuing a crackdown on free speech completely unrelated, I just want to say before we get started here that Ive always admired and respected Mr Trump. Stephen Colbert was more direct in his criticism as he hosted Thursdays episode of The Late Show, which was preceded by a social media post from the shows official Instagram account which stated: The Late Show stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his staff. Advertisement Meanwhile, The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon said: To be honest with you all, I dont know whats going on no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he is a decent, funny and loving guy. And I hope he comes back. His monologue also took a comedic angle, with an announcer censoring several of the punchlines to his jokes about Mr Trump. Former president Barack Obama suggested the issue was precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent. Mr Kirk, who was a prominent political commentator in the US and ally of the president, was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event on September 10th. Tyler Robinson (22) was charged on Tuesday and could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Mr Kirk. Three people have been arrested after four others were injured in a shooting at a nightclub in Birmingham in the UK. West Midlands Police said one man remained in hospital in a critical condition, while the other three two men and a woman were being treated for less serious injuries after the incident at Mango nightclub in Bristol Street at around 3am on Saturday. Three people in their 20s and 30s were arrested from a car on the M6 in Warwickshire a short time later, the force said. If you were in the club at the time and saw what happened, or recorded any footage from inside the venue, we need to hear from you urgently Acting Chief Inspector Michael Clarke They remain in custody on suspicion of violent disorder as the investigation continues. Acting Chief Inspector Michael Clarke said: This happened in a busy nightclub, on one of the main roads out of Birmingham city centre, so its vital that we hear from anybody who saw what happened or who may have captured it on dashcam as they went past. Our investigation is moving rapidly, and urgent inquiries have led to the arrests of three people, but we continue to investigate as we identify everyone involved. If you were in the club at the time and saw what happened, or recorded any footage from inside the venue, we need to hear from you urgently. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesOptus Timeline: What happened in the 32 hours after a customer told Optus Triple Zero wasnt working Anthony Segaert September 20, 2025 6:54pm 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 It took Optus more than 32 hours to notify the public after it was first warned of a catastrophic failure of its network that dropped at least 600 Triple Zero calls, during which four people died. The companys chief executive officer Stephen Rue provided more details about the timing of the companys crisis at a press conference on Saturday afternoon. Heres how the crisis unfolded. Loading Thursday, 12.30am Optus conducts a routine network upgrade of a firewall, which is a network security system. Initial testing and monitoring do not indicate any problems with calls connecting. There are no red flags in terms of call levels at a national level, Rue said, but the company does not have any alarms to alert that emergency calls are not connecting. Advertisement But virtually immediately after the upgrade begins, a technical failure cuts calls to emergency services in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Thursday, 9am The first member of the public contacts Optus via its contact centre and complains that the Triple Zero service [is] not working. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman later receives complaints about two calls made to the contact centre at this time, and passes them onto Optus. Optus chief executive Stephen Rue fronts the media on Saturday. Nine News Advertisement This information was not serviced with the relevant escalation at that time, Rue said of Optus failure to act that morning. Thursday, 1.30pm A customer contacts the company directly to complain that Triple Zero calls are not working. It is at this point that Optus becomes aware of the severity of the incident, Rue said. Early reviews suggest Optus had not handled these calls as would be expected, and the information is not escalated quickly enough. Rue finds out about the problem shortly after this call. Advertisement Thursday, 1.50pm South Australia Police contact the company and report Triple Zero calls are not working. It is at this point that Optus stops the upgrade and works to restore Triple Zero services. Related Article Updated Telecommunications Optus chief confirms cause of Triple Zero network outage as fourth death confirmed It begins to confirm with relevant stakeholders such as police and other regulatory and government agencies and departments that we had experienced an outage, Rue said. Thursday evening Advertisement Optus commences welfare checks on callers who attempted to contact emergency services during the outage. The gap between the calls occurring and the welfare checks is due to the complexity of pulling records from the network, Rue said. Welfare checks see Optus contact everyone who attempted to call the line. If they cant contact them, Optus refers the information to relevant police in the state. During the welfare checks, Optus is informed of deaths in three households, either the people who had attempted to call Triple Zero or someone in their acquaintance. Optus begins to notify government agencies and departments but only about the outage, not about any fatalities. Checks continue into Friday morning. Friday, time unclear At an unknown time, Optus informs its board, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the federal government and other bodies about the fatalities. Advertisement South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas calls Rue to ask about the incident. In a statement on Saturday, the premier said Optus provided the government only with suburbs, not contact details. Friday, 5.30pm Optus calls a press conference with short notice and apologises for the deaths 28 hours after its management found out about the problem, more than 32 hours after its contact centre received its first call about the problem and about 41 hours after the firewall upgrade began. Some government agencies, including senior South Australian government officials, hear about problems with the network for the first time via the press conference. Rue said the late notification to the South Australian and Western Australian premiers and the Northern Territory chief minister occurred at roughly the same time as the conference. Rue defended the delay on Saturday by saying the company spent the day confirming the facts, and I wanted to make sure the facts [were accurate] before we informed relevant agencies. Advertisement Saturday, 1pm Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells says Optus cannot get these basics right. Optus have let Australians down when they needed them most, she says. Australians have every right to be livid that Optus cannot get these basics right. Saturday, 3.20pm At a second press conference, Rue says he will provide daily updates on the saga. In response to a question, he says he does not believe there are any further deaths. Advertisement Saturday, 4pm Western Australia Premier Roger Cook says a fourth person has died as a result of the call failures: a 49-year-old from Perth. The death is discovered following welfare checks conducted by WA Police. Optus does not immediately respond to questions about the fourth death. Cook says he feels cynical about the timeline provided by Optus. I hope that timeline is the subject of further investigation by ACMA. Saturday, 5.45pm In a new statement, Rue confirms the news that a fourth person has died as a result. Advertisement I am deeply saddened by this further news and extend my heartfelt condolences to the persons family and friends. Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert. Advertisement LifestyleHealth & wellnessMental health Youre always late and lose focus easily. Is it ADHD or something else? Emily Craig September 18, 2025 3:00pm 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 It used to be that talking about ADHD would conjure images of a hyperactive child bouncing off the walls. But since the rise in ADHD diagnoses, thats changing. The neurodevelopmental condition affects around one in 25 adults, among whom symptoms can be more subtle. And while 4 per cent of adults are thought to have it, only 0.3 per cent of adults have received a formal diagnosis. While a string of celebrities being diagnosed has reduced the stigma surrounding ADHD, the endless stream of social media videos covering supposed ADHD symptoms including having a clean home and being overly apologetic have caused confusion around what the condition is. Actor and comedian Celeste Barber is among several prominent Australians who has shared her ADHD diagnosis. Paul Harris Theres a lot of misunderstanding a lot of misuse of language, says Dr Blandine French, a senior research fellow at the University of Nottinghams School of Psychology. She specialises in ADHD and has the condition herself, receiving a diagnosis at 29. The danger with social media is someone saying, Well, my ADHD is like that, and this is what I do and people thinking, Thats ADHD. Its not. Thats your individual experience of ADHD. On its own, this doesnt validate a diagnosis. Advertisement A correct understanding of ADHD is when a person has difficulty regulating their attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, says Dr Ulrich Mueller-Sedgwick, a consultant psychiatrist who has been diagnosing ADHD in adults for more than two decades. These symptoms are thought to be caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain a neurotransmitter essential for focus, he explains. Related Video Video icon 1:27 ADHD researchers study how condition affects kids long-term health But its not these symptoms alone, Muller-Sedgwick notes. For an ADHD diagnosis, there must be a record of these behaviours being present from the age of 12 either in school reports or testimonies from friends and family, he says. The symptoms must also make daily life difficult hindering work, caring responsibilities or relationships and cannot be explained by anything else, whether thats another medical condition, such as anxiety or a brain injury, or life circumstance. For example, you could be going through a divorce and be really forgetful, but theres a reason for that, French says. Advertisement Here are some of the most talked-about ADHD symptoms, and how you might be able to tell if its a sign of ADHD, or whether youre simply easily distracted. The symptom: I keep forgetting where I left my keys If you are looking for your keys just once a week, thats not an ADHD symptom, says Muller-Sedgwick, who is also the ADHD champion at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. It really has to be more frequent than this. It has to cause problems. For example, patients with ADHD may waste a lot of time searching for their keys, to the detriment of their day-to-day life their partner or family may become irritated and it may get in the way of their work. They often also have a long history of losing credit cards and have had to renew them a couple of times, or they have lost mobile phones and had to get new sim-cards, he says. Advertisement Some people are just extremely forgetful but it doesnt have a strong impairment on their life they manage at school and work and their relationships are healthy, Mueller-Sedgwick notes. For it to be ADHD, it needs to create some impairment in your life, he says. This symptom alone is not enough to diagnose ADHD, nor is any other single symptom, French says. Everybody loses their keys at one point or another, she says. It doesnt mean you have ADHD. In combination with distraction and forgetfulness, it can be part of the ADHD diagnosis. Just because you lose your keys occasionally, it doesnt mean you have ADHD. Getty Images/iStockphoto The symptom: I tend to procrastinate Most of us, especially if you have to do things like admin, tend to procrastinate, which means it takes us a while to get started, says Mueller-Sedgwick. Advertisement For example, every student at some point has put off starting an essay, but will ultimately get it done because theres a deadline and missing it could mean failing a course, he says. Similarly, at work, people will generally complete their tasks on time to avoid it becoming an issue or being brought up in their appraisal, he says. However, people with ADHD tend to have a long history of struggling with deadlines, he says. Related Article Women's health My brain has 50 tabs open: Being diagnosed with ADHD at 48 put Sarah in a fast-growing group They had to ask for extensions all the time, and its not because they were partying but because they couldnt get started or couldnt finish the work they had to do, even though they really tried hard, he says. As a result, they may have lost a series of jobs, or moved from one to another jumping before they get pushed, he explains. French says that this is because of differences in how the ADHD brain is wired. It responds very well to quick rewards things that happen instantly, she says. Advertisement When you have a big test to do, or a task thats really hard or boring, you dont see the reward straight away. Conversely, people with ADHD can become hyper-focused and get a task done efficiently if it is something they are interested in, she adds. We all procrastinate at times but if meeting deadlines is a constant problem, it could be a sign of ADHD. Getty Images/iStockphoto The symptom: I cant stop scrolling on social media Social media is engineered so that it keeps everyones attention and increases your dopamine, Muller-Sedgwick says. They work through the reward mechanisms in the brain. Advertisement People with ADHD are especially prone to being sucked in to spending a lot of time on these apps. Its very rewarding, its like gambling, French says. Scrolling gives quick responses, and your attention is constantly shifted and rewarded. It becomes a problem if people spend so much time on their phone that they cant do the tasks that they need to, or that it interferes with relationships, Mueller-Sedgwick says. These are common behaviours. Social media is meant to increase dopamine in all of our brains, but people with ADHD will do it more persistently and will get themselves into more problems from spending time on their phone, he says. The symptom: My mind races when I try to sleep All of us, after a very busy day, can have a racing mind, Mueller-Sedgwick says. Its psychologically healthy to do a kind of mental debriefing at the end of the day. Advertisement But in ADHD patients, this is going on all the time and it causes problems like not being able to fall asleep, not being able to lie down at the end of the day, he says. The thoughts swirling around their heads can be both positive and negative and about things that have happened that day, in the past or events coming up, he says. Those with ADHD often report they have difficulty getting to sleep on almost a nightly basis. iStock While this behaviour often referred to as mind wandering is not a formal ADHD symptom, it is very common among ADHD patients, he adds. Sleep issues affect 50 to 60 per cent of people with ADHD, French confirms. The hyperactivity part of ADHD is often thought about as someone being very active and jumping off the walls but it can also be constant thoughts that cant be switched off, she says. This is not one bad nights sleep because you have a presentation the next day and youre anxious and it keeps you awake. It can happen every night in ADHD. Advertisement The symptom: I always turn up late to appointments and events Being late is an ADHD symptom, Muller-Sedgwick says. But its not just once a week; its over and over, and theres a constant pattern of lateness. Related Article Opinion Mental health Ive always worked too hard. It took an ADHD diagnosis and a breakdown to change that Sally Spicer Journalist Some people with ADHD have learnt to be on time for certain things, such as work, because they know it is important and have realised that there would be negative consequences if they werent on time, he says. Research has shown that this occurs because ADHD patients underestimate the time that it takes to do activities, such as leaving the house, commuting to an appointment or getting work done, Dr Mueller-Sedgwick notes. Advertisement Theyre very optimistic that they can cram a lot into an already-too-busy schedule and then they are not able to keep up with all the promises that they make, he says. For this to be a symptom of ADHD, it has to cause problems in daily life, he adds. If these symptoms are interfering with daily life, patients can make an appointment with the GP, who can make a referral for an ADHD assessment, if they also suspect it. For French, a diagnosis explained her behaviours and gave her the confidence to pursue her PhD. It gave an explanation behind the way I think, she says. It allowed me to go back to university because I realised that I wasnt stupid, I just learn differently. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Mental health Sleep Health Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life In a world of toxic masculinity, this is how Im raising my sons to be good men Robyn Doreian September 21, 2025 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 This story is part of the September 21 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories . Mental-health advocate Blake Johnston is known for holding the world record for the longest continuous surf, which he did in 2023 to raise awareness and money for charity. Here, the 43-year-old talks about how he and wife Lauren are raising their two boys, and how his fathers battle with mental illness has informed his life. Blake Johnston: Im a lot like Mum in that Im sensitive and empathetic. My maternal grandmother, Bessie, loved her cigarettes. She was sweet and very good to my grandfather, Ian. She adored him and that was special to see. My mum, Sandy, was pretty close to her. My dad, Wayne, was a builder who renovated houses, so we moved around a lot. When I was a baby, we lived with my grandparents for a while in Cronulla [Sydney], where I grew up. Nan was always cooking and provided a comforting home for us. Im a lot like Mum in that Im sensitive and empathetic. Shes very loving and selfless. We didnt have a lot when I was growing up, but Mum always made my four brothers and me feel so loved and special. Advertisement I was 31 when Dad committed suicide. He had a medical condition that severely affected his mental health. Mums gone through every emotion since, such as anger, then feeling lonely and isolated. Family is everything to her. After Dads death, my older brother, Ben, and I drifted apart. Mums grief will never disappear, but she knows all five of her sons love her. I had a few relationships in school, but I wasnt that interested for the first two decades of my life I was dedicated to surfing. I first went on a surfboard with Dad when I was four. Then, when I was around 13, Layne Beachley [later a seven-time world champion] and I crossed paths on a Quiksilver training camp. The camp was physically demanding, but Layne was killing it. She was one of only two girls present but had this determination and focus which obviously paid off. My first celebrity crush was Cameron Diaz. I remember seeing her in the [1998 movie] Theres Something About Mary. Her smile lit up a room. Advertisement I had a few relationships in school, but I wasnt that interested for the first two decades of my life I was dedicated to surfing. I went to the year 10 formal with Chantelle, a girl I had a crush on. She never liked me back; rather, it was convenient for her. My first serious relationship was at 17, when I met Laura at the beach. She was finishing high school and was so easy-going. I spoiled her with gifts and took her to Hawaii. She wanted to go to London after graduating and our break-up was tough. I was 19 when I met Ash. Her family was involved in the local surf scene. Ash had just finished year 12, and we spent a year together. She wanted to focus on her career and again my heart was broken. From that point on, I spent more time with my mates. I wasnt looking for a relationship when Lauren, whos now my wife, showed up. She was finishing a marketing degree and preparing for a corporate career. Lauren was petite, blonde and full of positive energy: my dream girl. We got along so well and respected each other. I fell in love pretty quickly. I constantly do things that show Lauren I love her. I buy flowers and make sure she knows how appreciated and awesome she is. Lauren is an outstanding mum to our boys, Bobby, 13, and Duke, 10. Advertisement With social media and the rise of toxic masculinity, its a difficult time for boys and young men in terms of how to treat women. The way were going to teach our sons is via the way I treat their mum. Its not a sit-down lesson; its how I consistently treat Lauren. Related Article Sunday Life I married my ex at 25, but we shouldnt have made a vow. Were still friends In 2023, I set the world record for the longest continuous surf and raised $500,000 for mental health charities. Being in the water for 40 hours, I felt both elated and frustrated. But there were dark times, too, as I reflected on my whole life what happened with my dad, not making it as a pro surfer. Lauren was with me the whole way. She continued to run our surf school, so she hardly slept. It was the hardest thing Ive ever done, but upon exiting the water, my beautiful wife was the first person I saw. To see her there was so powerful. Without Lauren, I wouldnt be the person I am today. Swellbeing (Hachette Australia) by Blake Johnston is out September 30. Advertisement Lifeline: 13 11 14. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter. Advertisement NationalQueenslandCity life Bec Mac wants to wake up the worlds earliest-rising city Felicity Caldwell September 21, 2025 9:00am 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 7 View all comments How do you keep the worlds earliest rising city awake past 9pm? Artist and policy consultant Rebecca McIntosh, aka Bec Mac, says theres an answer in creating a nighttime economy that goes beyond drunk teenagers stumbling through Fortitude Valley. And for her vision to come to life, she argues, women must be at the heart of designing safer public spaces. Bec Mac at Creative Time, an arts organisation in New York. You might remember Mac as Labors candidate for the Gabba in 2024. Since then, the vivacious creative has been on a research tour through Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin and Avignon. Advertisement As part of her Churchill Fellowship, shes been investigating the nighttime economy, arts and culture, and impacts on safety and accessibility for women and marginalised communities. Brisbanes famously early waking time means we go to bed early too. There are ways to reinvigorate Brisbanes nightlife beyond bars and booze, argues Bec Mac. Nic Walker But Mac said introducing daylight saving would help so people could go out at night when it wasnt dark as well as invigorating Brisbanes nightlife beyond alcohol. Thirty per cent of the working population are nighttime workers, they dont have anywhere to go, the supermarket after 9, have a meal catch public transport thats safe, childcare, she said. Advertisement I think if you get more art and culture out on the streets a vibrant city thats not just based on bars and booze, there are some really strong ways of activating the streets beyond a bar thats going to bring different types of people out. Youll bring out older generations, and younger, and families, and that makes a safer place, that makes a more inviting place. Beyond bars, Brisbane could consider more types of 24-hour businesses, like bakeries or bubble tea stores that are open at 2am. But she said that would mean thinking beyond our very Western idea of what could be open at night. Its just a fresh lens we need to approach this with, in multiple ways, she added. Advertisement At night, suburban train stations and dark corners of the city can be pretty creepy. DemosAU found 84 per cent of Queensland women feel unsafe walking or running alone at night, compared with 47 per cent of men. But better urban design can be more than just extra lights and CCTV. Flying Fox Woman - The Womens Safety Project will open at Logan Art Gallery in 2026. Instead, art can shine a light into the darkness, says Mac, and invigorate areas viewed as unsafe, like suburban railway stations, by making them feel more welcoming and inclusive. Cities are made by men for men, and we have to shift that, Mac said, adding that women, people with a disability, women of colour and LGBTIQ+ community members had different experiences in the public realm. Advertisement Related Article Perspective Queensland government Queensland has its first night-life tsar. Has he been set up to sink or swim? If we centre that as the starting point, to start designing how we do our cities and how we make our cities better for everyone, thats the shift. We need to start looking at our cities through a different lens, and we need to start centring other peoples experiences, other than the hundreds of years of male domination in city planning and design and governance. Mac is working with Logan City Council on a participatory art project at Logan Art Gallery next year. The idea is to improve urban safety through storytelling workshops and a nighttime safety mapping walk, asking people to identify which areas feel unsafe and why, with community members as co-creators, rather than subjects. Advertisement The project is called Flying Fox Woman, named after a character Mac created 20 years ago, which she described as like a handmade vigilante. Mac said participants would be invited to discuss safety issues, create masked and costumed characters as their own nighttime vigilantes, and then be photographed in beautiful portraits that would be projected into areas identified as unsafe or uncertain to reclaim the space. Theres not a correlation between what feels safe and what the crime record is in that place, so its a perception of safety thats going to be challenged, she said. And what actually makes a place feel safer is a sense of belonging, a sense of being welcome. Its such a serious topic, but if we can crack it open with art and empowering ourselves to have fun with it, and then being part of solving the problem, thats empowerment in so many ways. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Advertisement NationalQueenslandArt Brisbane muralist wins big with small portrait of fellow street artist Courtney Kruk September 20, 2025 1:37pm 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 3 View all comments Brisbane-based artist Gus Eagleton is used to working with blank canvases that stretch hundreds of metres wide and up to six storeys high. But on Friday, a painting about one metre high earned the muralist $50,000 and one of the citys top art accolades. It was unbelievable, Eagleton said after his portrait of fellow street artist Fintan Magee was awarded this years Brisbane Portrait Prize. Brisbane-based artist Gus Eagleton with his winning piece, In the Studio with Fintan Magee. Brisbane Portrait Prize I knew I had a strong piece but with the prize, you never know whos going to win. Advertisement Eagleton met Magee in 2010, about a year after moving from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane to study fine art at the Queensland College of Art and Design. Fintan is kind of one generation above me, he explained. We connected through painting, street art and graffiti. Eagleton remembers a pivotal moment in their friendship, when the pair went to paint an abandoned building in Brisbane. I asked him what he did for a living, and he was like, What do you mean? I do this for a living. I was like, wow, you can actually make money out of this. Advertisement Related Article Arts The mulleted mentor who won over the mayor with his vision for Brisbane The pair have now been friends and collaborators for many years. To have Magee sit for his first entry in the Brisbane Portrait Prize, and to then win, was a full-circle moment for Eagleton. Ive been meaning to enter [BPP] nearly every year, but painting murals and large-scale works actually takes up quite a lot of time, he said. But I felt like this year was a good year to enter. Advertisement In the Studio with Fintan Magee (acrylic and aerosol on canvas) depicts Eagletons subject twice. This, he said, was in homage to his friends street-art roots with graffiti artists historically keeping their identities hidden and his acclaim as a global muralist, with celebrated works in London, Vienna, Miami, Rome and Moscow. In the Studio with Fintan Magee secured $50,000 for artist Gus Eagleton. Brisbane Portrait Prize I wanted to play with the two sides of Fintan. One where hes a bit unsure and anonymous, and the other more proud and determined, Eagleton said. The head judge of this years prize, Jason Smith, described Eagletons entry as exceptionally accomplished conceptually and technically. Advertisement Related Article City life Why 28 gigantic whale bones are floating off Queens Wharf The composition is testing it pushes its subject to the very edge of the canvas; indeed, beyond the picture plane yet it is beautifully balanced, Smith says. It is an unusual double portrait of the same subject, and its literal merging of the body to suggest only three legs instead of four is a captivating and intriguing anchor to the picture. Other winners announced during Friday nights ceremony at the State Library of Queensland included Marion Rodgers, David Bongiorno, Rebecca Davis and Connor Bashar. These artworks highlight the rich depth of talent and ingenuity of Brisbane artists, and also give us special insight into the lives of the sitters and the times in which we live, said Brisbane Portrait Prize chair Anna Reynolds. Advertisement In addition to the well-known faces, there is space for showcasing the richness of humanity and revealing the nobility inherent in the everyday. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane City Council, a key contributor to the $50,000 prize, said it was incredibly proud to support one of the citys cultural highlights, adding that every entry contributed something powerful to Brisbanes story. The Brisbane Portrait Prize Finalists Exhibition runs from September 20 to November 9 at the State Library of Queenslands Level 2 gallery. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. An infant boy was killed early on Sunday after the vehicle he was in was struck by a Toyota Hilux while parked alongside the M1 on the Gold Coast. A police spokesperson said the grey Hilux struck the silver Jeep Cherokee about 2.50am on the side of the northbound carriageway, near the Smith Street on-ramp. A male infant who was in the Jeep was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital, however he died a short time later, the spokesperson said. Loading The driver of the Jeep, a 24-year-old Ormeau Hills woman, was also taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition. Advertisement Perspective TechnologySocial media From memes to murder: How the terminally online are radicalised David Swan September 20, 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 41 View all comments Tyler Robinson was 22 when he allegedly walked into a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, and shot Charlie Kirk dead. His case is now emerging as an example of how, when offline structures unravel and online life fills the gap, radicalisation can hide in plain sight. Robinson, according to US officials, dropped out of college, withdrew from stable social anchors and spent increasing amounts of time in online spaces. Discord, Reddit, gaming forums and meme chats served as virtual fuel for the alleged real-world violence that later followed. Tyler Robinson was 22 when he allegedly walked into a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, and shot Charlie Kirk dead. AP Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson came from a conservative family but held opposing beliefs and that online communities had shaped him over several years. Cox said social media played a direct role in what he described as a political assassination. Robinson is now facing seven charges, including capital murder, aggravated firearm discharge, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, and Utah prosecutors have announced their intent to seek the death penalty. Advertisement The motive behind Robinsons alleged act remains complex, but evidence uncovered from the shooting referenced his online life, a physical reflection of the virtual. He was what Gen Z refers to as terminally online, a term for someone who spends so much time on the internet that their online reality becomes detached from, and more important than, their real-world life. Bullet casings from Robinsons gun were found to be engraved with an assortment of messages, from anti-fascist slogans to game-culture references and meme subculture phrases. Investigators also allege Robinson sent messages on Discord shortly before his apprehension: It was me at UVU yesterday. Im sorry for all of this, he allegedly told a group chat of more than 20 people. From left; Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, X CEO Linda Yaccarino and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington. AP For people unfamiliar with the digital world Robinson inhabited, Discord can seem opaque. Launched in 2015, it began innocently enough as a free voice-and-text chat service for gamers. It skyrocketed in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic into a sprawling social platform used by more than 200 million people each month. It is built around servers private or public chat rooms that can be organised around anything from video games to chess clubs, music fandoms and extremist politics. Many servers are small, invite-only groups where outsiders have no visibility. That structure makes Discord popular with young people who want semi-private spaces online, but it is also attractive to communities that push disinformation or extremist content out of sight of traditional moderation. Discord has denied that it has evidence Robinson used the platform to plan the assassination. But despite the denials, an examination of Robinsons online life points to a broader pattern of radicalisation through memes and online forums that researchers have long warned about. Advertisement Pepe the Frog was plucked more than a decade ago from the relative obscurity of the Myspace-sprung slacker-life comic Boys Club. Its now a right-wing internet meme. The company did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Kirks death has spurred a US House committee to summon the chief executives of Discord, Steam, Twitch and Reddit to testify about the role their platforms may play in radicalising their users. Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence, committee chair James Comer said in announcing the October hearing. Discord said it welcomed the opportunity to testify and that it was committed to engaging with policymakers. This online-to-offline pipeline is not hypothetical. Advertisement The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, perhaps the worlds leading think tank on fighting online extremism, recently released a report Young Guns: Understanding a New Generation of Extremist Radicalisation. It paints a picture of a shifting landscape: young people increasingly come to extremism not through ideological pamphlets or formal recruitment, but through meme culture, humour, gaming communities, small private chat rooms and algorithmically mediated echo chambers. Related Article Investigation Racism Dont mention Hitler and youre sweet: The great March for Australia deception The report found that exposure to extremist content, when delivered in glossy memeified packages, combined with real or perceived social isolation, identity uncertainty, or offline disruption, can gradually normalise extremist rhetoric and symbols. Most never do more than post or comment. But a tiny minority escalate. And Robinson appears to have been one of them. In 2021, Discord reported banning more than 2000 extremist communities in a six-month period, including those associated with the Boogaloo movement and QAnon conspiracy, after detecting rises in violent activity in the US. Many forums were also removed after direct involvement in incidents such as the US Capitol riot, in which rioters communicated extensively on Discord servers before and during the attack. Advertisement In Australia, recent high-profile operations show extremist recruiters targeting young gamers, crafting digital recreations of terrorist events and seeding far-right content in games such as Fortnite and Minecraft, then propelling those ideologies across Discord and wider social media. The Five Eyes intelligence community published a joint report in December 2024 warning that youth radicalisation via online platforms was growing at an alarming pace. The problem is stark: every Australian counterterror case in 2024 involved a minor or a young adult, according to ASIO. Neo-Nazi groups such as the National Socialist Network have also used Telegram and encrypted chats to recruit in Melbourne and Sydney. ASIO chief Mike Burgess has repeatedly said extreme right-wing groups are using online platforms to recruit teenagers. Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell at the March for Australia rally. The Age The Christchurch shooter an Australian was radicalised online and streamed his massacre on Facebook. Advertisement That livestreamed mass killing led to the Christchurch Call, a collaboration between governments and the tech industry designed to remove extremist content in a co-ordinated fashion. Six years later, its clear those efforts have not worked. The video of Charlie Kirks assassination generated millions of views on YouTube, X, Instagram and other platforms, while Tyler Robinson appears to be the latest alleged murderer to emerge from the terminally online world. Related Article Analysis US politics Make no mistake, this is a purge of political opponents and the end of free speech Matt Quinn knows this world from the inside: he was once a white supremacist gang leader in western Sydney. As a teenager, he carried crowbars, led gangs and began to embrace extremist ideology, before eventually pulling away. He now leads Exit, a deradicalisation program helping young people leave far-right networks. He says far-right recruiters are exploiting whatever platforms are most popular with youth TikTok, Reddit, Discord and that a pattern of humour, memes and inside jokes can lead to small acts of participation before gradual escalation. Advertisement Teenagers become useful amplifiers because theyre digitally savvy, socially fluent and able to blend into youth culture in a way older organisers cannot. Andre Oboler, chief executive of the Melbourne-based Online Hate Prevention Institute, describes online radicalisation as a mix of human and technological forces: People are getting into communities, echo chambers where claims may or may not be true, and theyre being used to rile up emotions. People find belonging, and it bounces off each other, getting more and more extreme. Andre Oboler, chief executive of the Melbourne-based Online Hate Prevention Institute. He points to the example of Charlie Kirks alleged murderer: one side claims he was a radical leftist, the other side claims he was on the far right, and each group has its own narrative leading to further polarisation. Algorithms feed this cycle by pushing users towards content that confirms their worldview, while filtering out dissenting views. Advertisement Theres a growing lack of faith in governments, in the system, and in laws, that people feel like they can just take the law into their own hands. I think that starts as a feeling online of I can do what I like, and then some of that gets carried into the real world, where it turns into violence, Oboler says. Oboler says Australias eSafety Commissioner is doing positive work in this space but that it needs more resourcing. There needs to be a deputy commissioner or someone who is specifically dealing with these issues of extremism and hate speech online, he says. Charlotte Mortlock, founder of Hilmas Network in Australia, a group that focuses on grassroots recruitment of women into the Liberal Party, says many young Australians are realising that people dont hate each other intrinsically, but that they have been led down this extreme, radical and combative path for the sake of tech bros profits. Hilmas Network has conducted polling with Resolve showing that most young people now want out of social media algorithms. They can feel themselves being manipulated and they want more transparency. Charlotte Mortlock from Hilmas Network. Edwina Pickles Algorithms are an assault on freedom of speech. They censor, silo and polarise, she says. Advertisement The polling is clear in favour of algorithmic transparency: for platforms to be upfront about why a certain piece of content is being recommended, and for researchers and regulators to gain access to test how algorithms actually behave in the wild. Its clear that despite the best intentions, parents, governments, regulators and the platforms themselves are playing catch-up. Solutions exist, but none are simple. Quinn says deradicalisation works best when it avoids direct confrontation. Not challenging peoples ideas until theyre starting to challenge them themselves, he says, is key. Only then can psychologists and counsellors help uncover the personal traumas or identity crises that drew people in. Is it just belonging? Is it purpose? Is it childhood trauma? You have to understand the why before you can pull them out. Offline supports matter, Quinn says. Research consistently shows radicalisation feeds on loneliness and disconnection as much as ideology. Greater transparency from tech platforms is another solution: researchers and regulators still lack meaningful access to the data behind algorithms, leaving independent audits almost impossible. Advocates say Australias coming under-16 social media ban is likely to be a step towards protecting young people. Advertisement Australia has one distinct real-world advantage over the US, according to Oboler: gun laws. The main difference between us and the US really is about access to guns, he says. After Port Arthur, the gun buyback and restrictions reduced firearms in the community. That is the deciding factor that makes Australia safer than the US. Robinsons case is still under investigation and many details remain murky. There is already the inevitable debate over whether Robinson was radicalised by Discord, or whether ideology, mental health or grievance drove him. But less debatable is the infrastructure algorithms, meme culture and private online spaces that enabled radicalisation to be both possible and potent. Related Article Opinion Workplace culture US workers are getting fired for social media posts. Is that allowed here? Jonathan Rivett Careers contributor For Mortlock, Quinn and others, the killing of Charlie Kirk is not just a tragedy of one mans death it is another warning shot that regulation of platforms and algorithms is needed, as well as more investment in digital literacy, youth wellbeing and real community more broadly. Only then might the invisible pathways of radicalisation begin to be illuminated and weakened. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement WorldEuropeParis Agreement Europe splits on climate in major embarrassment before UN summit David Crowe September 21, 2025 5:18am 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 London: A damaging split over climate change has stymied a European bid to set new targets on carbon emissions on the eve of a United Nations summit, as leaders drag out a decision over concerns at the economic costs. French President Emmanuel Macron is being blamed for stalling a formal pledge to cut emissions by 2035, while leaders from Italy and Poland have also argued against deeper cuts when Europe confronts low growth and the war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron is being blamed for stalling a formal pledge to cut emissions by 2035. AP The impasse means the European Union will not set a formal target for 2035 in time for the UN General Assembly in New York this week and is struggling to reach an agreement in time for the UN climate summit in Brazil in November. The outcome prompted warnings from environmental groups about a setback for the stated global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius under the Paris agreement reached a decade ago. Advertisement EU ministers could not agree on a formal pledge and instead released a statement of intent that has no binding status in the UN negotiations, saying they would aim to cut emissions by 66.25 per cent to 72.5 per cent by 2035. Related Article Updated Paris Agreement Three times faster: Climate target means emissions need drastic fall over next decade Building consensus is something that takes time, EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said. The EU goal appears close to the formal Australian target revealed on Thursday when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would go to the UN summit with a pledge to cut emissions by 62 per cent to 70 per cent. The targets cannot be directly compared, however, because the European goal seeks to reduce emissions from the levels of 1990, while the Australian pledge has a baseline of 2005. The Australian target is a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the UN climate summit, while the EU goal is not a binding commitment. Advertisement Climate Analytics founder Bill Hare, a climate scientist who works in Europe and Australia, said the EU statement was a major embarrassment when a target of more than 77 per cent was needed to meet the Paris goal. It is of profound concern that the EU is unable to maintain its leadership at this critical time, he said in a statement to this masthead. The difference between the proposal on the table and whats needed for 1.5 degrees Celsius is not just a numerical gap; its a crucial test of the EUs political will and its climate credibility. Hare linked the EU outcome to the Australian announcement by noting that Albanese had pointed to the European range to justify his targets, which Climate Analytics also labelled too weak. Hare was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change fourth report, which led to the IPCC receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned against trying to cut emissions in a way that would damage industry, a key factor for other leaders when they are spending heavily on defence and want to boost manufacturing. Advertisement I have often said that in a desert there is nothing green, Meloni said in May. Before anything else, we must fight the desertification of European industry. Related Article Climate policy Australia needs to quadruple its number of wind farms. This year, none have been funded Behind the 2035 delay is a broader argument about an EU proposal to cut emissions by 90 per cent by 2040, a step towards achieving net zero emissions. EU ministers will seek to agree on a formal NDC at another meeting in October, in time for the summit in Brazil in November. China is expected to announce its new NDC next week. Macron warned in June that the 2040 target would have to be compatible with our competitiveness and that this meant EU members should take the time needed to reach an agreement. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has expressed concern this year at the speed of the EU plans on carbon emissions and the environment. Advertisement If we go bankrupt, no one will care about the worlds environment any more, he said in January. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised the EUs mandate for electric vehicles in a speech to a Munich motor show earlier this month, opposing the plan to halt the sale of internal combustion engines using fossil fuels by 2035. We need more flexibility in regulation, he said. Spain and Denmark are said to support stronger climate action, but they are being countered by the Czech Republic and the biggest economies in the union. The World Wildlife Fund said the heat waves in Europe over the past northern summer had caused 16,500 deaths and cost the economy 43 billion ($77 billion), citing this as proof of the need for greater ambition on emissions. Advertisement With so many countries looking to Europe to decide on their own NDCs, this was a missed opportunity for the EU to raise the bar and inspire others to follow, Shirley Matheson of the WWF said. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Advertisement WorldEuropeEurovision Eurovision host tries to head off boycott over Israels inclusion David Crowe September 21, 2025 6:44am 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 London: The host nation for next years Eurovision Song Contest has moved to save the event from a widening boycott over the inclusion of a singer from Israel, as the war in Gaza brings political heat to the worlds biggest song competition. Austria, which is due to host the event in Vienna in May, implored European ministers to counter the boycott and keep politics out of the competition so it could remain a symbol of peace and unity through the arts. But the appeal is unlikely to halt the protests from Eurovision fans and former contestants given the long history of political conflict matching the emotion and drama of the performances onstage. Israels 2024 entrant Eden Golan had to change some of the lyrics to her song Hurricane after the original version referenced the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. AP In a step that highlighted the top-level fears for the event, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger revealed she had written to her European colleagues with an appeal to them to counter the calls for a boycott. Advertisement The Eurovision Song Contest is a symbol of peace, unity, and cultural exchange not an instrument for sanctions, she said on social media. Eurovision reached 163 million people last year and was expected to bring a broadcasting and tourism boost to Vienna next year after Austrian singer JJ won this years contest in Switzerland. Protests have marred Eurovision since Israels assault on Gaza started in the aftermath of Hamas October 7, 2023 cross-border attack. AP But the Austrian singer said in May that he thought the contest should be held in Vienna without Israel because of the war in Gaza, while 70 former contestants signed a letter that month urging all member broadcasters to exclude Israel from the event. Australian singer Jessica Alyssa Cerro, who is known as Montaigne and competed in 2021, was a signatory to the letter. Spain became the latest country to call for a boycott when its state broadcaster said it would not compete next year if Israel took part the same stance taken by the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Ireland. Advertisement Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had called for Israels exclusion in May, although the formal step was only taken in recent days by state broadcaster RTVE. Related Article Eurovision Montaigne, other artists push to ban Israel from Eurovision Australia remains committed to the event, however, with SBS saying it would continue its tradition of broadcasting the show. Australian performers at Eurovision have included Dami Im, Jessica Mauboy, Kate Miller-Heidke and Guy Sebastian. Russia was banned from the show after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Eurovision expert Dr Barbara Barreiro Leon said there were differences with the question over Israel. A key point often overlooked is that it is not countries or governments that compete in Eurovision, but rather their national broadcasters, said Leon, a lecturer in visual culture at the University of Aberdeen. Advertisement Related Article Australian TV How SBS evolved from clogs and cooking into our most innovative broadcaster In Israels case, it is KAN (Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation) that participates, not the state itself. For comparison, Russia was expelled from the competition when its broadcaster breached Eurovisions rules and was found to have used its platform for propagandistic purposes, something KAN has not been formally accused of. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which has co-ordinated the event on behalf of its members since 1955, is due to decide on participation in the contest at a meeting in December. Leon said that the criticism of Israel had increased since 2023 in the Eurovision communities and was led by younger fans because of the devastation in Gaza. Advertisement Given these pressures, the EBU may eventually need to re-examine the issue, she said. In their letter, the 70 former contestants drew a direct comparison with Russia when they called on the EBU to ban Israel. Yuval Raphael representing Israel performs on stage during the 2025 grand final. Getty Images By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes, they said. The EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We dont accept this double standard regarding Israel. Advertisement France has confirmed its support for the event and the BBCs director-general, Tim Davie, told a parliamentary committee last week that Israels inclusion was up to the EBU. Eurovision has never been about politics it should be a celebration of music and culture that brings people together, he said. We need to see what the broadcast union decides. Duncan Laurence of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the 2019 Eurovision in Tel Aviv, Israel, with Israeli Netta Barzilai, the winner in 2018. AP German culture minister Wolfram Weimer backed Austria on the weekend by warning against cancel culture disrupting an event that sought to unify Europe after the conflict of World War Two. Eurovision was founded to bring nations together through music. Excluding Israel today goes against this fundamental idea and turns a celebration of understanding between peoples into a tribunal, he said. Advertisement Its precisely because Eurovision was born on the ruins of war that it should not become a scene of exclusion. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaPress freedom Opinion Under Trump, Americas descent into authoritarianism may be unstoppable Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist September 21, 2025 5:00am September 21, 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 718 View all comments In Ernest Hemingways debut novel, The Sun Also Rises, the author has one character (Bill) ask another (Mike) how he went bankrupt. Two ways, Mike responds. Gradually, then suddenly. Who knows what Hemingway, the great American writer and anti-fascist, would make of Donald Trumps America, which this week seemed to segue from the gradual part of its march to authoritarianism, to the suddenly phase of that journey. US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of revoking the broadcast licences of networks airing evening shows that criticise him. AP One of the reasons Hemingway fled America for Paris, where he became a leading light of the so-called Lost Generation, was because he felt artistic freedom was being stifled in his homeland. Advertisement In 1920, James Joyces Ulysses was banned in the United States under obscenity laws, because of its sexually explicit sections. In contemporary America, nothing is too obscene to be published or broadcast, and thats before you even get to the unregulated sewers of the internet. This week, long-serving Fox News host Brian Kilmeade proposed, during an on-air discussion, that mentally ill homeless people be killed by involuntary lethal injection. Just kill em, he said. Kilmeade later apologised for his extremely callous remark. He had endorsed a redux of an actual Nazi policy, but he wasnt taken off the air. It was obscene, but that is no longer a reason to censor something in the United States. Censorship is now confined to media outlets which criticise MAGA in general, or Trump in particular. This week, the late-night talk-show host, Jimmy Kimmel, had his show taken off-air after critical commentary about the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Advertisement Jimmy Kimmels popular show was taken off the air after his remarks about Charlie Kirks alleged killer. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP In his opening monologue, Kimmel said that many in MAGA-land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk a statement which is firmly under the rubric of fair opinion and which is self-evidently true. Trump proved Kimmels point when, on Thursday, he raised the prospect of revoking the broadcast licences of networks airing evening shows that hit Trump. They give me only bad press. Theyre getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away, Trump told reporters. Kimmel also said that the MAGA-gang were trying to characterise this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it. This was an odd comment because it doesnt seem factual Kirks alleged killer appears to have been motivated by his opposition to the right-wing Christian conservative-nationalism Kirk advocated. Advertisement Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr, who was handpicked by Trump as the new head of the US industry regulator, seized on the error. He appeared on a right-wing podcast and said Kimmels show was a concerted effort to lie to the American people. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, he said, sounding like a mafia boss. Media companies could either change conduct or theres going to be additional work for the FCC ahead. CBS says The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been cancelled for financial reasons. Not everyone is convinced. Getty Soon after, the ABC network which is owned by Disney cravenly announced its decision to suspend Kimmels show. Carr and his MAGA cronies seem unaware of the irony of censoring someone for speaking freely about a man they are eulogising for his dedication to free speech. In the same monologue, Kimmel mentioned Trumps yelling at a reporter from Australia who dared to ask about the billions of dollars hes been raking in since the election. Advertisement This, of course, was the ABCs John Lyons, who angered Trump on Tuesday when he asked the president about his self-enrichment in office. Trump also implied that Lyons was hurting his countrys interests with the US, before a planned meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week. Trump has made a career out of normalising the outrageous, but it is worth pausing to note how extraordinary it is that the leader of the free world would openly intimidate a journalist from the public broadcaster of a close ally. And thats just one weeks worth of free-speech violations in the land of the free. Related Article Analysis Talk shows Jimmy Kimmel may have crossed a line, but America has crossed a bigger one Since Trump came to office, he has ramped up his personal denigration of journalists, he has stacked the White House press pool with sycophantic pro-MAGA influencers, and he has brought defamation proceedings against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times for journalism which shows him in a critical light. Late-night talk-show host Stephen Colbert a long-time Trump mocker and critic has had his show cancelled. CBS, which broadcasts Colberts show, settled a lawsuit brought by Trump over journalism that was perfectly defensible. Its parent company, Paramount, needed federal regulatory approval for a multibillion-dollar merger. Advertisement Free speech (and a free media) is not a fun side benefit of a democracy it is a key element of it. The first task of an authoritarian leader is suppression of free speech. The American creed of freedom is the reason why it is the most innovative and creatively brilliant culture in the world. From Hemingway to hip-hop, Americas cultural output over the past century has been extraordinary. But that is now threatened by the creep of an authoritarianism being pre-emptively acceded to by media companies, business leaders, and the pathetically compromised Republican Party. As Venezuelan-born journalist Gisela Salim-Peyer wrote in The Atlantic, the disintegration of democracy is a deceptively quiet affair. Each authoritarian milestone the first political prisoner, the first closure of an opposition media outlet is anticipated with fear. Then the milestone goes by, and after a brief period of outrage, life continues as before. Advertisement Advertisement In February this year, the two scholars published an article in Foreign Affairs magazine entitled The Path to American Authoritarianism, in which they wrote that democracy is in greater peril today than at any time in modern US history. They predicted that US democracy will likely break down during the second Trump administration, as the protection of civil liberties, free and fair elections, and full adult suffrage are all swept away. In March, Levitsky told New York Magazine that he and Lucan used to have dark fantasies about their theory applying to their homeland. Would we ever have to write a piece saying that the United States is becoming competitive authoritarian? he said. Wed talked about it, but we always came to the conclusion that no, it would never really happen. Now, Levitsky has changed his mind. Were pretty screwed, he said. Advertisement Are we there yet? Suddenly, it seems, we are. Jacqueline Maley is a columnist and author. Gordon Deean Former independent Clare TD, Violet Anne Wynne told a court today she has been paying off a residual debt of 6,500 to an ex-employee with whatever little income that I had to hand. At Ennis District Court on Friday, mother of six, Ms Wynne told Judge Alec Gabbett: It is not a case I was making payments whenever I felt like it. I was doing so with whatever little income that I had to hand. Ms Wynne told Judge Gabbett that now that she receives a weekly payment herself where she can pay the 50 per week owed to Fiona Smyth. Asked what weekly payment she now receives, Ms Wynne said that it is 565 per week. In court in July, Judge Gabbett directed that Ms Wynne pay 50 per week to Ms Smyth to pay off a residual 6,500 debt to her former constituency office worker from a 11,500 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) award made against Ms Wynne. In court today, solicitor for Ms Smyth, Daragh Hassett, said that since Jul,y Ms Wynne has paid out 300 up to September 11th but not all the payments were in line with the court order of 50 each week. Mr Hassett said there were two payments made two weeks apar,t which was not in line with the instalment order made by Judge Gabbett on July 11th. Mr Hassett said that Ms Wynne must make the payments not when it suits her and not fortnightly. Mr Hassett said that Ms Smyth is relatively happy with the amount paid to date by Ms Wynne. He said: She has been put through various legal processes by Ms Wynne, and she wants this matter to be put to an end and she is happy with the matter to go back to January to monitor payments. Mr Hassett said that he had concerns about the statement of means previously provided to the court by Ms Wynne. Mr Hassett said that the Oireachtas has confirmed to him that the termination payment that would have been available to Ms Wynne on losing her seat would have been 18,946.50. Mr Hassett said that he didnt recall that figure featuring in Ms Wynnes statement of means and I have concerns about that. He said: The 18,946 payment was received long before Ms Wynne took the stand in July and gave evidence to the court." Judge Gabbett said: What are you are saying is that Ms Wynne has not been as forthcoming as she should be. In reply, Mr Hassett said: Surely as a member of the Dail previously, she should have been able to provide that figure and despite numerous attempts by me to get it out of her and we got that figure from the Oireachtas. In court today, Ms Wynne confirmed that she did receive the 18,946 termination payment and paid out 5,000 of that to Ms Smyth earlier this year. Asked by Judge Gabbett did she had disclosed the 18,846 payment previously, Ms Wynne said: I gave it to the court office during the week. Asked by Judge Gabbett what happened to the remaining 13,000 or so, Ms Wynne said: "This was the only income I had from the time the general election was called last November until a tax back payment I have received. Ms Wynne said that a further payment of 50 was made yesterday. Judge Gabbett told Ms Wynne: I assessed a weekly payment of 50 and this has to happen weekly. I will adjourn it to January 9th for monitoring but I expect the 50 to be paid weekly. In response, Ms Wynne said: I understand. In August 2024, the WRC ordered Ms Wynne to pay the 11,500 after finding that Ms Smyth was unfairly dismissed by Ms Wynne. Ms Wynne - who received a TDs annual salary of 113,679 - lost her seat in the November General Election in Clare receiving only 310 first preference votes, where she stood as an independent candidate in a vote collapse from her 2020 General Election vote when she topped the poll as a Sinn Fein candidate. Mr Hassett said that it is his hope that the matter can be struck out in January. Breaking News Would you like to receive our breaking news news? Signup today! e-Edition Subscribers e-Edition Only - $39.00 Year This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Great for searching archives! General Interest Imported List: General Interest A student who mocked kickers shanked a $120,000 field goal attempt in Pat McAfees Kicking Contest Saturday. Photo Credit: College GameDay Twice already this season, students at universities hosting ESPNs College GameDay pregame show have nailed kicks through the uprights to win the Pat McAfee Kicking Contest. Because of the enormous pricetag and the shocking regularity with which students hit the kick, many viewers have become skeptical that McAfee is actually paying out the prize. However, according to co-host Kirk Herbstreit, the money is absolutely coming from McAfees pocket. Twice already this season, students at Ohio State and Oklahoma, respectively, have gone home with McAfees money. Herbstreit is equal parts astounded and inspired that McAfee continues funding the competition, which has become a centerpiece of GameDay each weekend. Hes given over $500,000, Herbstreit said Friday on the Stugotz and Company podcast. People are like, ESPN does that, right? Im like, I know he makes a lot of money, but hes writing checks to these guys. Its cool. If Herbstreit, the veteran presence on GameDay, believes McAfee is paying the prize money, you have to think its true. Perhaps McAfee or ESPN could ensure the weekly prize money in case it becomes too big a hit to their accounts. Even if there is some protection for McAfee or his company, it is a remarkable commitment from the star host. When the contest first began, McAfees business partner revealed that McAfee typically doubles the payouts with donations to charity. And last week, while in Knoxville, McAfee worked with The Pat Summitt Foundation to put a monstrous $600,000 on the line. The student missed their kick, however. As recently as last year, McAfee helped stave off budget cuts and layoffs on GameDay by offering to foot the bill himself. Management ultimately chose not to cut any jobs. Throughout his career, McAfee has donated a substantial amount of money, both to foster a community within his fan base and to give back to organizations that supported him during his rise. Herbstreit believes its all merely another sign of McAfees positive energy on GameDay and the way he strives to hype sports. Hes an uplifting presence, Herbstreit said. People sometimes see him, he takes his shirt off, he yells, youre really missing what his spirit. He is an uplifter. He celebrates sports. Hes been a great addition; were lucky to have him. Virginia Lee Ginger Guilbert, 56, joined her parents in heaven on Sunday, September 14, 2025. The youngest child of Marcia Huff Guilbert and Gordon M. Tom Guilbert, Jr., of Lookout Mountain, she is survived by her sisters, Julie Guilbert (Sandy Needham) of Whidbey Island, Wa., and Catherine Guilbert Lawrence (Rob) of Lookout Mountain, and brother, Gordon M. Trip Guilbert III, of Atlanta, beloved nephews, Michael Guilbert (Grace) of Charlotte, and Christopher Guilbert of Atlanta, and cousin, Rebecca Becky Wilson Ewton (Tad) of Ringgold. Ginger was very involved in Orange Grove and attended many excellent Orange Grove programs throughout her life, then later graduated from Central High School. Ginger lived with her loving parents most of her life, then in residential care at Orange Grove and more recently Life Bridges in Cleveland. A hard worker, she worked in food service at McDonalds, Unum, the Chattanooga School System and the Brass Register. Ginger loved music, karaoke, birthdays, making toasts, spending time with her family, and any and all celebrations! The family would like to especially thank Life Bridges in Cleveland, for the excellent care and love Ginger received at the end of her life. Ginger was a gift from God to our family, dearest friends, and the community of Lookout Mountain, who have joyfully embraced her. Gingers purpose on earth was to share love. Her zest for life was contagious and brought happiness to all who met her. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to Orange Grove or Life Bridges of Cleveland. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral & Cremation Center at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 423 821-7551. Share your memories at wannfuneralhome.com. This year, Spectrum is transforming into something extraordinary: a Roaring '20s inspired pair of evenings and spirited auctions showcasing exceptional American art.Organizers said, "Presented for over 20 years by First Horizon and chaired this year by Julie and Patrick Stowe, Spectrum invites art supporters to flaunt their finest for two events where acquiring fabulous art meets the intoxicating spirit of an era that redefined creativity and culture"Every bid placed and dollar raised directly fuels the Hunter's vital mission of connecting people from all backgrounds to the transformative power of creativity, knowledge and ideas."This years celebration features two events, both anchored by expertly-selected art auctions: a prohibition-style silent auction "Speakeasy" on Thursday, Nov.6 at 7 p.m., and an elegant "Gatsby Glamour Gala" with live auction on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. New this year, gala guests will celebrate a night of roaring paddle raises by dancing the night away with a live band at the after-party.Both auctions will feature a wide variety of artworks. Committee members Kelly Arnold, Justin Arnold, Terri Holley, Carter Kay, Laura Kay, Ashley McCaul, Robert Morris, Jeff Nixon, Laura Probasco, Sujata Singh, Julie Stowe, Patrick Stowe, Lea Anne Wiles and Dakasha Winton have carefully chosen pieces from galleries across the country, with artworks appealing to seasoned collectors and newcomers alike.The artwork available in both the silent auction and the live auction will be available to preview online in October, and beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, anyone may visit the museum during open hours, free of charge, to view the auction items in person. Bidding for silent auction items opens Monday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m., and anyone (even if you arent able to attend the event) may participate in the online bidding (or even purchase an item on line in advance of the cocktail party at the buy it now price), with all bidding on the silent items closing at two staggered times, at 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6.Individuals not attending the gala may bid on artwork in the live auction by placing a sealed bid with Elizabeth Le via email at ele@huntermuseum.org by Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.To purchase tickets and learn more, visit huntermuseum.org/spectrum "The proceeds from Spectrum directly support the Hunter's commitment to growing and maintaining the museums world-class permanent collection, connecting the local community to American art through special exhibitions and community events and utilizing art as a teaching tool through diverse educational programs," organizers said. "Stay tuned for more details by signing up for Hunter emails on the museum's website, or by following the Hunter on Facebook and Instagram." Jim Taylor is a native of California. He joined the Army in 1956 and, notably, he is a Mustang, having served his first 10 years working his way up through the enlisted ranks to Staff Sergeant before he was commissioned as an Army officer in 1965. Deployed to Vietnam in November 1967, he was serving as a First Lieutenant in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Americal Division (yes, Ameri-Cal being a contraction of American New Caledonian Division).Other Medal of Honor recipients who served with the Americal Division in Vietnam include PFC James Doc McCloughan, BG Joseph Stringham, and LtCol Charles Kettles. On 8 November, alerted that his commander was wounded in action and evacuated, Jim was ordered to fly out to the combat zone and take command and stand up a search-and-destroy mission. Once there, he consolidated his troops, evaluated the situation, and prepared to attack the enemy positions at first light. Prior to launching the attack the next day, another troop commander was appointed and Jim resumed his role as executive officer, responsible for coordinating the evacuation of wounded, calling in air and ground support, and backfilling supplies. In the fierce combat the next day, he would distinguish himself as a courageous leader. A year after his actions, Jim received a letter from his wife indicating he was being recommended for the Medal of Honor, but he did not consider that to be correct. However, he knew that recommendation was in motion when he was pulled back from the front lines, and he protested the reassignment from his position as commander of Headquarters Company, 123rd Aviation Battalion at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. On 19 November 1968, he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon Johnson. His Medal of Honor citation notes: "His troop was engaged in an attack on a fortified position west of Que Son when it came under intense enemy recoilless-rifle, mortar, and automatic-weapons fire from an enemy strong point located immediately to its front. One armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit immediately by recoilless-rifle fire and all five crewmembers were wounded. Aware that the stricken vehicle was in grave danger of exploding, Taylor rushed forward and personally extracted the wounded to safety despite the hail of enemy fire and exploding ammunition. Within minutes a second armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit by multiple recoilless-rifle rounds. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire, Taylor moved forward on foot to rescue the wounded men from the burning vehicle and personally removed all the crewmen to the safety of a nearby dike. Moments later the vehicle exploded." It details his actions further: "As he was returning to his vehicle, a bursting mortar round painfully wounded Taylor, yet he valiantly returned to his vehicle to relocate the medical evacuation zone to an area closer to the front lines. As he was moving his vehicle, it came under machine-gun fire from an enemy position not 50 yards away. Taylor engaged the position with his machine gun, killing the three-man crew. Upon arrival at the new evacuation site, still another vehicle was struck. Once again Taylor rushed forward and pulled the wounded from the vehicle, loaded them aboard his vehicle, and returned them safely to the evacuation site." Taylors citation concludes: His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire troop, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army. In retrospect, Jim says: Vietnam is something I dont like to talk about. Everything that happened it was a tough time. He reached the rank of Major before retiring in 1980. In a recent interview, he spoke of what the Medal of Honor has meant to him: Once you receive the medal, youre not Jim Taylor anymore. Youre Maj. James Taylor, the Medal of Honor recipient. Sometimes I wish I could be incognito for just a little bit. Id like to be able to walk into a room and have people just say, Hey Jim, how you doing? Once you receive the medal, youre always in the spotlight, but that is something you have to accept. The biggest challenge upon receiving the medal is to live up to the medal. As a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (for membership, you only need a Medal of Honor), beyond his oath to support and defend, Jim proudly abides by the Society oath: To form a bond of friendship and comradeship among all holders of the Congressional Medal of Honor. To protect, uphold and preserve the dignity and honor of the medal at all times and on all occasions. To protect the name of the medal and individual recipients of the Medal from exploitation. To provide appropriate aid to all recipients of the medal, their widows or their children. To serve our country in peace as we did in war. To inspire and stimulate our youth to become worthy citizens of our country. To foster and perpetuate Americanism. As with many recipients, he continues to devote the bulk of his time and energy to inspiring the next generation of American Patriots: The values of the medal are courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment. Now its my mission to promote these, to encourage our countrymen, especially our youth, to understand the cost of freedom and to strive to live those values and become worthy citizens. Indeed, Freedom Isnt Free is much more than a patriotic slogan for those who have fought for American Liberty and the freedoms too many take for granted today. Aging with the rest of his generation of Vietnam Vets, Jim says: These days, the first thing I do when I get out of bed is thank God for letting me wake up. When you get to my age, you do that. In October 2024, Jim joined other Medal of Honor recipients with a rare public presidential endorsement for Donald Trump. CPT James Allen Taylor: An ordinary man faced with extraordinary circumstances, he summoned the greatest measure of courage to place his life in imminent peril to save others. Your example of valor a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty is eternal. "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13) Live your life worthy of his sacrifice. Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis Pro Deo et Libertate -- 1776 Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform -- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harm's way in defense of American Liberty, honoring their oath "to support and defend" our Constitution, and for the families awaiting their safe return. Pray also for our Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our historic hometown National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Make a check payable to National MoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Generosity Trust, The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team opened the weekend with a heartbreaking 3-2 (18-25, 27-25, 25-14, 24-26, 15-13) defeat to Indiana State on Friday afternoon during non-conference action within the Tiger Invitational in Nashville. Chattanooga finished the match -13 in the total kills category (68-55); out-hit .269 - .228 while taking eight less attacks. ISU concluded the fifth set on a 5-1 scoring run after UTC held a 12-10 lead. Both teams recorded 11 service aces in the match while combing for 15 service errors (UTC 8, ISU 7). Sydney Jackwin and Kynli Kirkendoll each recorded 12 kills during the defeat; Caiti Barthel posted a match-high 23 digs.Indiana State 3, Chattanooga 2Set 1 UTC 25, ISU 18 (UTC 1-0)Set 2 ISU 27, UTC 25 (Tied 1-1)Set 3 ISU 25, UTC 14 (ISU 2-1)Set 4 UTC 26, ISU 24 (Tied 2-2)Set 5 ISU 15, UTC 13 (ISU wins 3-2)Chattanooga closes out play at the Tiger Invitational in Nashville with a pair of Saturday matches, first facing Idaho at Noon ET before closing out with host Tennessee State at 4 p.m. ET. Live stats are available with links located on the schedule page. Ban can ang nhap e thuc hien chuc nang nay! All active and retired UMC bishops in Africa posed for a photo at the September 2025 meeting in Luanda, Angola. | Photo Credit: UMC Website (umc.org)/ Geraldo Martins, West Angola Conference Bishops of the United Methodist Church in Africa have reaffirmed their position that marriage should be exclusively defined as a union between one man and one woman. The UMC Africa College of Bishops convened their official meeting in Luanda, Angola, earlier this month, during which they issued a statement addressing several issues. Under the section titled Biblical Understanding of Marriage, they confirmed their support for traditional marriage, despite the previous year's decision at the UMC General Conference to lift the ban on blessing same-sex unions. We uphold our long-standing theological and cultural understanding that marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman, in accordance with Scripture (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5), the bishops stated. They added, This view is consistent with our biblical convictions, African traditions, and the laws of our respective nations. We remain committed to practicing and teaching a holistic Christian sexual ethic rooted in Scripture and discipleship. The bishops also expressed support for the UMCs regionalization plan, which would allow different regional bodies to establish their own rules concerning marriage and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals. We believe that regionalization is a faithful and strategic path forward allowing each region to carry out ministry in ways that reflect its cultural, social, and theological context, they stated. The official statement, which also celebrated the election of nine new UMC episcopal leaders in Africa, was signed by 14 active bishops and three retired bishops. The gathering was named the African Colleges of Bishops, reflecting that each African conference East Africa, Mid Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa has its own college of bishops, reported UM News. For decades, the UMC debated whether to amend its Book of Discipline to permit same-sex marriage, the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals, and the funding of LGBT advocacy groups. However, last year, after over 7,000 mostly conservative churches left the UMC, delegates voted to remove the bans on marriage and ordination, as well as to delete a statement from the Book of Discipline describing homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching. Despite many African leaders publicly reaffirming their commitment to biblical standards, numerous congregations in Africa have left the denomination following the General Conference votes. Home News Attempted Kavanaugh assassin identifies as trans; DOJ seeking 30 years to life in prison Nicholas Roske, who admitted to attempting to assassinate Brett Kavanaugh, a sitting U.S. Supreme Court justice, now identifies as transgender and faces a potential life sentence in federal prison. Prosecutors are asking the court to impose a punishment of at least 30 years, citing the nature of the crime as an attack on the core of the U.S. government. Roske, who pleaded guilty in April to attempting to assassinate Kavanaugh in 2022, admitted he traveled from California to the suburbs of Washington, D.C., with weapons and had plans to break into the justices home. Roske had initially planned to take his own life after carrying out the killing, but ultimately called 911 and surrendered without violence. Federal prosecutors on Friday filed a sentencing recommendation stating that Roskes actions amounted to domestic terrorism and required a severe sentence, The Hill reported. They said Roske, who was carrying a handgun, ammunition, zip ties, a crowbar, duct tape and other tools, posed a very real threat to life and intended to alter an entire branch of the United States government through violence. On Friday, Roskes defense attorneys submitted their sentencing memo, disclosing that their client now identifies as transgender and uses the name Sophie, according to Politico. The Justice Department said Roske had researched four justices and intended to kill as many as three, although only Kavanaugh was named in the filings. In online messages, Roske allegedly expressed anger about abortion and same-sex marriage rulings, and used a Discord account under the handle Sophie42#6535 to share frustrations after the draft Dobbs v. Jackson opinion was leaked in May 2022. Roske was arrested early on the morning of June 8, 2022, outside Kavanaughs home. He had been spotted by U.S. marshals stationed outside the residence but walked away before making the emergency call. Authorities said he had texted his sister, who persuaded him to contact police. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department took him into custody nearby. In the hours after the arrest, Roske told a special agent he had been suicidal for a long time and that the leaked abortion opinion pushed him toward action. I was under the delusion that I could make the world a better place by killing him, he said, according to a transcript of his interview that was released in January. Prosecutors stated that Roskes planning began months before the Dobbs opinion surfaced. They said he had studied serial killers and murder techniques online and was preparing to commit violence before focusing on the Supreme Court. A post-arrest search of his digital history revealed a pattern of preparation and intent. The Justice Department argued that Roskes mental illness, while documented, did not cause or excuse the attempt. They added that Roskes crime sparked a wave of threats toward judges and justices, including a letter sent to Kavanaugh referencing Roskes name and stating the justice should Die. On Friday, Roskes defense attorneys requested an eight-year sentence, citing long-standing struggles with gender identity and mental health. Roske remains charged under his legal name and has not asked the court to officially change the case caption. However, the public defenders said they would refer to their client as Sophie and use female pronouns out of respect. They also said he was taking medication at the time of the incident that had affected his behavior and judgment. In a handwritten letter filed with the court Friday, Roske expressed remorse. I put them through a harrowing experience and for that I am truly sorry, he wrote of Kavanaugh and his family. I am very glad I did not continue. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement on the case, calling Roskes actions an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, who is based in Greenbelt, Maryland, is scheduled to sentence Roske on Oct. 3. Prosecutors said a victim impact statement may be submitted ahead of the hearing. Home News Texas A&M president steps down after defending LGBT course content in video Texas A&M University has parted ways with President Mark A. Welsh III nearly a month after a video surfaced of a professor's classroom discussion on trans ideology regarding gender identity in violation of state law. Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Texas A&M University (TAMU) System Board of Regents made the announcement Thursday, in which Heger thanked Gen. Welsh for his service to the university and the nation. Welsh, a retired four-star general with the U.S Air Force and former member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, had served as Texas A&Ms president since 2023. President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication, said Hegar. We are grateful for his service and contributions. At the same time, we agree that now is the right moment to make a change and to position Texas A&M for continued excellence in the years ahead. Board of Regents Chairman Robert Albritton added, General Welshs legacy of leadership and service is one that the Aggie family will always remember. The Board of Regents is united in ensuring that this transition strengthens the universitys future and keeps Texas A&M true to its mission and values. The Board of Regents is expected to launch a national search to replace Welsh and will appoint an interim president in the interest of a seamless transition, the university said in a statement. Last week, Welsh, 71, was at the center of controversy over a viral video in which he spoke to a student who voiced her objections to TAMU coursework involving steps on how to teach LGBT-related content to children as young as 3 years old. In the video, Welsh was heard defending the course curriculum, telling the student who complained that two LGBT-related courses are currently at TAMU and have been for a long time. It all began after GOP state Rep. Brian Harrison shared a hidden-camera video on Sept. 8 showing English lecturer Melissa McCoul dismissing the female student who objected to the lesson, which was discussed as part of a childrens literature course. In one of the undated videos, the unidentified female student is engaged in a discussion with McCoul over content related to gender identity. This also very much goes against not only myself but a lot of peoples religious beliefs. And so, I am not going to participate in this because its not legal and I dont want to promote something that is against our presidents laws as well as against my religious beliefs, the student says in the video. If you are uncomfortable in this class, you do have the right to leave. What we are doing is not illegal, McCoul responds. After the video went viral, Welsh initially removed the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department on Sept. 8, citing deviations from the course's published description. In a follow-up statement Sept. 9, Welsh announced he had ordered the professor to be fired effective immediately. He also said he was previously made aware of the LGBT curriculum. This summer, a childrens literature course contained content that did not align with any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum for the course, he said. After this issue was raised, college and department leadership worked with students to offer alternative opportunities for students to complete the course, and made changes to ensure this course content does not continue in future semesters. Back in January, Welsh faced backlash from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after he learned TAMU funds were used for a business program that excluded white and Asian students. Welsh, who ultimately backed down after the governor called for him to be fired over the program, had a history of pushing DEI initiatives. As dean of the Bush School of Governance and Public Service in 2016, Welsh delivered a speech in which he encouraged students to focus on creating diverse job slates and if there is a "tie" among candidates, to choose the individual who brings racial or gender diversity. Home Opinion God help us: The cruelty against Charlie Kirk has been staggering Like so many of you, I am still trying to process the horrific reality of Charlie Kirks assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10. Words escape me as I wrestle with both the loss of a generational voice and the seeming death of our cultural conscience. Only time will tell if this tragedy is the beginning of Americas needed renewal or its impending ruin. While I recognize that political violence stems from both the right and left, the tragedy surrounding Charlie Kirk is almost as predictable as it is painful. We should welcome calls to turn down the rhetoric, but doing so without recognizing the patterns that preceded this tragedy is futile. For years, opponents who disagreed with Kirk repeatedly labeled him as part of the dreaded fringe, a right-wing activist who was divisive, extreme, and incendiary. Fearing his persuasive arguments, many on the left painted Charlie as a xenophobic and homophobic white supremacist unworthy of debate. In other words, they hurled ad hominem insults because they could not counter his ideas. Think I am overstating it? The sheer glee of some online is the very definition of bigotry. The number of videos with individuals laughing hysterically, shouting enthusiastically, and clapping uncontrollably in celebration is breathtaking. Insensitive one-liners and obnoxious memes littered the feeds of most users on every social media platform. And why? Because a loving husband and father of two is somehow less than human simply because he saw the world differently than his critics. God help us. The breadth of the cruelty has been staggering. The conversation turned so vile that teachers, college professors, authors, firefighters, journalists, healthcare workers, pilots and Secret Service members necessarily lost their jobs for their calloused, disrespectful remarks. Then, just as predictably, these same mockers are now playing the martyr card in defense of their hateful behavior. Imagine, after grotesquely suggesting that a 31-year-old family man in his prime deserved an assassins bullet simply for exercising his First Amendment right, emotionally pleading your victimhood because you lost your job for speaking freely. The disconnect is remarkable. Though laws vary slightly from state to state, generally, employers have every right to terminate employees due to online or social media comments deemed inappropriate. While the First Amendment guarantees our freedom to say what we want, when we want, where we want, it does not prevent businesses from parting ways with workers who violate company values (a phrase repeated a lot recently). Conduct seen as damaging to the reputation or profitability of a corporation is grounds for dismissal according to the law. Rightly so. Among the most visible offenders was Matthew Dowd, a political analyst at MSNBC who had the gall to imply that Kirk deserved to die because he was so divisive. Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, he contended, which then lead to hateful actions. As an aside, if your rhetoric is too extreme for MSNBC, you really need to tone it down. But what exactly was so malicious about Kirks going to college campuses and listening to skeptics and critics alike in order to engage in debate and dialogue? Herein, we stumble upon the great offense of Charlie Kirk. He dared to speak the truth. And not just greeting card pleasantries. His audacity to share openly biblical positions on gender, marriage, homosexuality, abortion, the role of government, judicial activism, etc., quickly drew the ire of critics anxious to label him a Christian nationalist. Unfortunately, we live in a generation that not only resists the truth but also sees it as hateful and cruel. With pinpoint accuracy, Scripture anticipated our current climate. For the time will come, wrote the Apostle Paul, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Though I did not agree with every position Charlie Kirk took, his consistent effort to demonstrate the veracity of Scripture in everyday life was inspiring. Far too many Christians hide their faith in public spaces, fearing the backlash of political correctness and secular priorities. Even after his death, the name-calling is wickedly cringeworthy. Likewise, if you dare to hold and voice a biblical worldview that informs your politics, many will just as rapidly label you a threat to democracy, a domestic terrorist, or even worse, a fascist. The names change, but the playbook remains the same. How do I know? Because Charlie Kirk is not the first Christian to die for boldly proclaiming what Gods Word says. Both the apostles Paul and Peter also lost their lives for telling the truth. If each were alive today, many of the same dissenters would anxiously mark them as political extremists on the far-right fringe for addressing many of the same issues Charlie Kirk spoke so passionately about. For instance, both apostles promoted a limited government that exists primarily for the punishment of evildoers (Rom. 13:1-6, 1 Peter 2:13-14). While appearing before the Sanhedrin, Paul admonished that the council judges rule according to settled, external law outside of themselves (Acts 23:3). Judicial activism of any kind runs contrary to the established standards of written legalities. Notions of government handouts or wealth redistribution were also foreign to Paul and Peter. Though they advocated for helping the poor (Gal. 2:10), they also insisted that those who refuse to work should not eat because rewarding laziness is foolish (2 Thess. 3:10-11). Being sensitive to real needs was hardly an endorsement of equity outcomes for all. Regarding race, what fundamentally mattered to these leaders of the early church was not the color of a persons skin but their identity in Christ (Gal. 3:28). For them, creating winners and losers, victims and oppressors, contradicted the unity found in the family of God. Paul sought to preach the Gospel to all people without discrimination (Rom. 1:14-16). The Apostle Peter likewise maintained that what makes us distinct is not our skin color but who we are in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:10). Fellowship came across socioeconomic and cultural lines, not through obliterating them. In other words, the Gospel is more powerful than what the world says should divide us. When speaking about gender and marriage, Paul and Peter acknowledged that only a man and woman can become one flesh through holy matrimony and that both, as a picture of the gospel, have unique assignments in the home (Eph. 5:22-31; Col. 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7). Echoing the words of Jesus, Paul taught that divorce was never permissible except for reasons of adultery and desertion (Matt. 5:31-32; Matt. 19:1-12; 1 Cor. 7:10-16). Additionally, Paul declared homosexuality in all its forms to be unnatural and idolatrous (Rom. 1:26-27), incompatible with sound teaching and Christianity itself (1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:9-10). Peter grimaced over the prospect of such reckless sensuality and the consequences it is sure to bring (1 Peter 2:4-11). According to both men, the freedom promised by the sexual revolution is a deceptive fabrication that only leads to bondage and shame (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Peter 2:18-9). When it was all over, Paul lost his head and Peter suffered upside down on a cross for their views. The world was not worthy of these early martyrs for the faith, nor the thousands who have come after them (Heb. 11:35-38). Outcomes like these should not surprise us, though. Jesus Himself contended that the world would insult, persecute, and say every kind of evil against His people (Matt. 5:10-12). But how was He so sure? Because the light of creation experienced the same rejection and hate when He came into the world (John 1:9-10). He, too, spoke boldly about two genders (Matt. 19:4), the permanence of marriage (Matt. 5:31-31; 19:1-12), the reality of Hell (Matt. 7:21-23, 8:12, 18:9; Mark 9:43-48), and loving our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48). Perhaps most offensive of all, He claimed to be the promised Messiah who is the only way to God (John 14:6). Disagreement is part of life. Robust debate and engagement, though, are not threats worthy of violence. Quite the contrary, contending with others is an expression of their value as Gods image bearers (Gen. 1:26). Denouncing bad ideas is not an act of hatred, but an effort to promote human flourishing for those with whom we disagree. So, even as some voices continue to suggest that Charlie Kirk was a stain on our society, lets do better. In fact, I encourage you to listen and decide for yourselves. His videos are everywhere. Judge for yourself if you believe he was unkind or harsh. Refuse to listen to partisan voices desperate to spike the ball in this historical moment. Home Opinion Jimmy Kimmel's suspension: Capitalism, not censorship In the shadow of Charlie Kirk's assassination on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University where 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly gunned him down during a speaking event America now grapples with grief, rage, and a dangerous erosion of free speech principles. Just days later, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel ignited a firestorm with his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! when he suggested, without irony or punchline, that Robinson was a MAGA supporter: this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them. ABC swiftly suspended the show indefinitely amid advertiser pullouts and FCC scrutiny, sparking cries of First Amendment foul from the left. But this isnt government censorship or Trumpian strong-arming its the raw mechanics of capitalism at work. Broadcasters cant intentionally distort the news under FCC guidelines, and when Kimmel blurred fact into fiction during a moment of national mourning, ABC faced a choice: correct course or risk its license. Kimmels comments werent satire. No wink, no laugh track, no comedic cushion. Robinson, in fact, had turned sharply leftward embracing pro-LGBT views and expressing hatred for Kirks ideology. Yet in front of millions, Kimmel told a knowing lie. Broadcasters arent private podcasters or comics on a Vegas stage; they are public trustees. What Kimmel delivered wasnt comedy. It was a falsehood with consequences. Some progressives are now crying free speech while conveniently forgetting their own cheers when conservatives were de-platformed from Twitter, birthing Truth Social in response. Others tolerated, even celebrated, fringe voices rejoicing at Kirks death. But when market forces punish one of their own, suddenly the First Amendment becomes sacred Scripture. Even some conservatives misread this as Trump attacking free speech. He didnt. No executive order shuttered Kimmels show. This was economics, not politics stations hemorrhaging ad dollars and affiliates protecting profits. Thats America: toxicity punished by the marketplace, not Big Brother. But heres the deeper danger: the slow normalization of anti-First Amendment rhetoric. Too many now excuse violence by shifting blame to tone. If only Kirk had said it differently, they murmur, as though blunt words justify bullets. This is not only hypocrisy its heresy against the very Christian values Kirk himself championed. Jesus warned, They hated me without a cause. Yet we now toy with the notion that Kirks martyrdom was somehow self-inflicted, that speaking truth too plainly is provocation. Scripture offers a sobering parallel. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira lied about their offering and dropped dead in a sovereign moment where God demanded alignment with His purposes. As Kris Vallotton has taught, these Kairos moments are rare but pivotal seasons when truth is non-negotiable. Kimmels falsehood, broadcast in the raw grief of a nation, was more than bad taste. It was a defiance of truth in a moment that demanded sobriety. Unlike Ananias and Sapphira, Kimmel wont fall dead for his deception. His punishment is lighter but fitting: the market turning its back. Hell survive in comedy clubs, in arenas, maybe even online. But in the public square where trust matters most, he sunk his own ship. America stands at a turning point. Kirk gave students hard truths; Kimmel peddled easy lies. One spoke to conviction, the other to convenience. The choice before us is whether we will honor courage or keep laughing our way into collapse. Because if we keep rewarding lies and ridiculing truth, it wont just poison our politics it will unravel the very culture holding this republic together. California will not backfill a $7,500 federal tax credit for buyers of electric vehicles that is set to expire this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Friday, reversing an earlier pledge to restart the states own EV subsidies. We cant make up for federal vandalism of those tax credits, Newsom said during a press conference in San Francisco. The state will support expanding EV infrastructure, but not the direct subsidies that we cannot make up for, the Democrat said. President Donald Trump campaigned on rolling back many of former President Joe Bidens EV-friendly policies. Congress followed through in the major tax-and-spending bill, which placed a Sept. 30 expiration on the tax credit, ending years of federal support for EV buyers. Newsoms declaration all but dashes near-term hope among EV makers such as Rivian Automotive Inc., Hyundai Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG that the countrys largest auto market would fill that void. Those automakers and others had urged the governor and state leaders to create a $5,000 EV incentive. Newsom last year vowed that California would step in if the Trump administration followed through with campaign threats to eliminate the federal $7,500 EV tax credit. But the governors plan hit difficulties as California faced a budget deficit. Newsom on Friday also took aim at Detroits mainstream automakers, saying General Motors Co. and Mary Barra, its chief executive officer, sold us out. Newsoms comments on Barra come after Congress voted earlier this year to block Californias ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles set to take effect in 2035. The governor argued that GM led the effort to stop that rule, which the state said in 2020 would have cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35%. GM declined to comment. The governors office said California could still revive an EV credit some time next year, as state leaders look to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars from a carbon-trading program that boosts environmental programs. Californias previous EV tax credit program ended in 2023, leaving it currently outside of a group of 17 states that currently offer some form of EV purchase tax credit, according to an August report from the nonprofit Tax Foundation. Still, California accounted for about 27% of all EV sales in the country, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which lobbies for most major automakers. That market heft positioned the state as the best alternative for EV incentives. Renewing the incentive also has support from the California Air Resources Board, which joined five other state agencies in August to recommend that the state backfill the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs with whatever resources are available. Top photo: Tesla electric vehicles at a recharging station in Albany, California, on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Cleveland native Agnes Gund, a nationally respected art collector and philanthropist based in New York, visited the Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression in April. She viewed artworks by students who participated in Studio Institute Cleveland, an outgrowth of Studio in a School, which she launched in 1977. John Kuntz, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, OhioAgnes Gund, the influential philanthropist, art collector and social-justice advocate who helped shape institutions from the Museum of Modern Art to the Cleveland Museum of Art, died Sept. 18 at her home in Manhattan according to The New York Times. She was 87. Born Aug. 13, 1938, in Cleveland, Gund known to friends as Aggie was the daughter of banker and philanthropist George Gund II. She often recalled that she first fell in love with art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where she and her siblings attended morning drawing classes with their mother. Gund graduated from Miss Porters School in Connecticut and earned a bachelors degree in history from Connecticut College. She later received a masters degree in art history from Harvard. She joined MoMAs International Council in 1967, became a trustee in 1976 and served as the museums president from 1991 to 2002, a tenure that paved the way for a major expansion and for the institutions formal affiliation with the edgier MoMA PS1 art center. In 1977, when budget cuts threatened arts programs in New York City schools, Gund founded Studio in a School, which continues to place professional artists in classrooms. Four decades later, she sold Roy Lichtensteins Masterpiece and committed $100 million of the proceeds to establish the Art for Justice Fund, supporting national efforts to reduce mass incarceration. Her personal collection included works by Rothko, Johns, Kelly and Hesse, alongside many artists whose work had been overlooked. She donated hundreds of pieces to museums across the country, believing art should be widely accessible. Agnes Gund was a tireless advocate for art and artists, and she was a cherished friend throughout my years at the Getty, the Morgan Library, and the Cleveland Museum of Art, said William M. Griswold, CMAs director and president, in a written statement. As a proud Cleveland native and a CMA Trustee, she helped transform the museum and had a profound impact on our contemporary-art collection. Her legacy will inspire generations to come. Among her many honors was the National Medal of Arts in 1997. She is survived by her four children Catherine, David, Anna and Jessica and her grandchildren, as well as a deep legacy of institutions and initiatives that put art to public use. China, BiH celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties with fusion of Erhu, violin Xinhua) 10:47, September 20, 2025 SARAJEVO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- From the theme of "Walter Defends Sarajevo" to the Chinese classic "Blossoms and Full Moon," violin and erhu melodies filled Sarajevo City Hall on Thursday evening at a concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Invited by the Chinese Embassy in BiH, the China Film Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble performed alongside renowned Bosnian violinist Melika Hadzic, presenting a program that blended Chinese, Balkan, and European traditions. Solos including "Moon Reflected on Erquan Spring," "Galloping Horses," and "Deep into the Night" performed by Erhu and Jinghu, traditional Chinese two-stringed bowed instruments, captivated the audience. Hadzic said that China's vast cultural and historical heritage "covers nearly all aspects of human civilization," expressing confidence that China could play a vital role in supporting BiH's development in culture, education, and technology. "We have been rehearing after arriving in Sarajevo, hoping to bring Bosnian audiences a high-level performance and convey greetings and blessings from China through music," said Zhang Bingbing, conductor of the ensemble. More than 100 guests, including government officials, diplomats, artists, academics, and business representatives, attended the event. "This was more than a concert. It was a vivid example of cultural fusion between East and West," said Doroteja Klacar, a Chinese language teacher at the East Sarajevo University. "By drawing on the classics of both sides, we build deeper connections and move together toward the future." Edin Hadzihafizbegovic, adviser to BiH's foreign minister, called the performance "unforgettable," adding that such cultural exchanges bring people's hearts closer. "The series of events marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties brings not only new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, but also concrete actions and plans," he said. Chinese Ambassador to BiH Li Fan highlighted the shared cultural richness of the two multi-ethnic nations. "We hope tonight's concert will serve as a bridge of friendship between China and BiH, a new beginning for China and the world to compose a harmonious symphony together, and a cherished memory as we move forward hand in hand," Li said. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) With Jimmy Kimmel out of the picture, at least for now, some fans are calling on Michael Che to continue the battle in the Great Culture War of 2025. We need you more than ever, a fan shouted in Ches DM box. F*ck em up. But hold up a second, replied Che in his Instagram Story. He might not be the guy for the job. Don't Miss nahhh son, you aint getting me fired.., Che responded, referring to Charlie Kirk as a guy hed barely heard of until his murder in Utah this month. You want jokes or commentary about that firestorm? Go somewhere else. With both Kimmel and Stephen Colbert removed from the airwaves since Saturday Night Live concluded its 50th season in May, another fan speculated that Ches trademark, in-your-face punchlines on Weekend Update could make SNL next in line for cancellation. Dont think that hasnt occurred to Che. its definitely crossed my mind.., he confessed, punctuated by a laughing/crying emoji (and two periods, his trademark concluding punctuation). Another fan implored Che to throw satirical punches, but the SNL star dumped a cold bucket of reality onto the conversation. listen, im black, he wrote. we have a different understanding of freedom of speech .. ive always been more of a right to remain silent kinda guy, personally.. Its easy to demand that Che taunt people in power, but he offers other realities to consider: Still, Che knows what everybody slipping into his DMs knows the guy was born with that tell me not to say it, and Ill have to say it comedy gene. While SNLs political sketches have been relatively toothless for years, its Che and Colin Jost whom comedy fans could count on to kick the status quo in the crotch. Che says he doesnt want to risk it, but as recently as May, he was firing off shots like this one: President Trump says he was interested in reopening Alcatraz because it represents something horrible and beautiful and strong and miserable and weak. Which are also his nicknames for his five children. Advertisement Bam! Its the eternal push and pull everyone wants to do the right thing, but at what cost? Ches grandma would prefer someone else to be the hero. So is Che going to watch his tongue when Weekend Update returns in two weeks? If FanDuel were taking bets, Id still put my money down on Che saying something baaad on the first show back. But its hard to argue with his reasoning if he chooses to do otherwise. Pointing out the hypocrisy of people who have no integrity has gotten incredibly tiresome. Oh, the Republican Party pushes Christian values but has repeatedly chosen a cruel, greedy, thrice-married adulterer as their leader? That same Republican Party claims to be the party for everyday Americans but regularly passes policies that rob the working class and enrich billionaires and corporations? Highlighting these discrepancies hasnt mattered or slowed down President Trumps authoritarian takeover. But it cant be ignored, even if it feels repetitive. This brings me to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr. He has been the face of the Trump administrations removal of Jimmy Kimmel from ABC. As a guest on a right-wing podcast, Carr publicly threatened the network hours before Kimmel was removed from the airwaves on September 17th. In the days since, hes taken victory laps, promising that the administration wasnt done yet. Don't Miss Carrs enthusiasm to gut the First Amendment and take Trumps critics off air is shocker directly in opposition to his own statements in recent years. In 2022, Carr wrote on X, President Biden is right. Political satire is one of the oldest and most important forms of free speech. It challenges those in power while using humor to draw more people into the discussion. Thats why people in influential positions have always targeted it for censorship. Naturally, that wasnt the only time Carr spoke out against censorship. In fact, other people have been helpfully compiling old posts from Carr where he advocated for the First Amendment and free speech. My favorite? Advertisement Free speech is the counterweight it is the check on government control. That is why censorship is the authoritarians dream, Carr wrote in 2023. Advertisement True! Even as recently as March, Carr was promising a new era of free speech. In America we are returning to our free speech tradition and across the government, we are encouraging our technology companies to stop the censorship, Carr said during a conference speech. Advertisement A CNBC host confronted Carr with his old statements. How do you square what youre saying with those old posts? Squawk Box co-anchor Carl Quintanilla asked Carr. Ive been very, very consistent when it comes to the internet, Carr responded. We want wide open, robust debate. And theres no public interest standard there. Theres no licensing obligation there. But again, broadcast TV is simply different. Carrs definition of consistency seems as flimsy as his definition of authoritarianism. I wouldnt want to be Bob Iger this week. Maybe Id want to be Bob Iger the week he screens the live action version of Tangled (it will be bad), but I dont want to be the Disney CEO this week, when hes tanked his legacy by capitulating to the Trump administrations bullying almost instantly. Jimmy Kimmel has been yanked off the air indefinitely, and Iger is the face of that decision as CEO of ABCs parent company, Disney. This has pissed off a lot of people, from other late-night hosts to a former Disney CEO. Michael Eisner, who was the CEO of Disney from 1981 through 2005, decried the cowardice defining corporate leadership under Donald Trumps second presidency on X. Where has all the leadership gone? Eisner tweeted. If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment? Don't Miss The people will, hopefully. But its still so embarrassing to have the most powerful individuals on the planet cower to the whims of a man with a French fry addiction and a bad spray tan. The suspending indefinitely of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC's aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation, Eisner continued. Maybe the Constitution should have said, Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in ones political or financial self-interest. By-the-way, for the record, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny. Advertisement Its unlikely that Eisners public comments will sway Igers decision-making. Theres still no clarity on when or if Kimmel will come back to air, and the FCC hasnt indicated that the agency will back down from its mission to remove late-night hosts from television for criticizing Trump. It must be incredibly embarrassing for Iger, though to not only be dragged around by the neck by Trump but to also be shamed by his predecessor about his astounding lack of leadership and courage. Two weeks ago Keir Starmer expressed his full confidence in his Deputy Prime Minister. She was gone the next day. Last week the Prime Minister expressed his full confidence in Our Man in Washington. He was also gone the next day. If only Starmer would express his full support for Energy Secretary Ed Miliband: perhaps he too would speedily go the way of Angela Rayner and Peter Mandelson. Such subversive thoughts are prompted by the remarks of Jensen Huang, head of microchip giant Nvidia (the worlds most valuable company, worth 3trillion) and one of several US technology masters of the universe President Trump brought with him on his second state visit to Britain. Huang is something of a fan of Britain. The UK is going to be an AI [artificial intelligence] superpower, he said. And hes putting his money where his mouth is with the promise of 2billion to fund British high-tech start ups, including 500million to give us the largest cluster of AI computing power in Europe. But he had an important caveat. The infrastructures AI requires, such as massive computer data farms, are voracious consumers of electricity. Huang pointedly said these would require consistent supplies of electricity generated by reliable natural gas and (at a later stage) nuclear power. He even suggested the biggest AI operators might become power generators in their own right, with on-site gas-fired electricity stations to guarantee supply. But Net Zero zealot Miliband is hell-bent on generating more electricity with renewables, especially wind farms, which are neither consistent nor reliable nor cheap. The dash for Net Zero has already lumbered British heavy industry with some of the most expensive energy costs in the world, speeding up our de-industrialisation as big energy users in metal-making and chemicals either close down or flee abroad. The ever-diplomatic Huang observed this week that high UK electricity prices were a challenge for AI businesses too. There is a real risk of history repeating itself here. Milibands Net Zero obsession has speeded up the decline in our industrial base. What hes doing to smoke-stack industries he now risks doing to the digital industries of the 21st century before they even get off the ground. Energy secretary Ed Miliband is hell-bent on generating more electricity with renewables Miliband is the single biggest roadblock to Britain taking full advantage of the enormous potential of AI. That alone is reason enough for getting rid of him. There were reports swirling around the time of the recent Cabinet reshuffle that Starmer wanted to move Miliband to housing (where there was a vacancy thanks to Rayners defenestration). But the Energy Secretary dug his heels in: Net Zero is his passion. A weak PM capitulated, perhaps fearing the threat soft-Left Miliband might become if he flounced off to the backbenches. Starmer will rue the day he gave in. Nothing, least of all Miliband, should be allowed to get in the way of the prospects that now beckon for Britain in the wake of Trumps visit. The coverage has naturally concentrated on the pomp and circumstance, which clearly captivated the US President. This was British soft power at its formidable best. At a time when we are pretty down on ourselves, it took a US President to remind us not just of the enduring strength of the special relationship but of Britains contribution to the world over the years, including to America. You can imagine how they must have felt in Paris and Berlin as Trump waxed lyrical about Britain and its unique association with the richest, most powerful country on the planet. And he came bearing gifts a record-breaking 150billion investment from cutting-edge US firms in AI, nuclear energy, life sciences and advanced manufacturing areas of 21st century endeavour in which Britain is already in the global premier division and in which it now has the opportunity to soar. The significance of this has not been fully appreciated. The bosses of the worlds greatest companies Microsoft, Apple, OpenAI, Blackstone, Prologis, BlackRock, Google, Citibank and, of course, Nvidia came with their chequebooks open to back Britain as prime territory for overseas investment in everything from the latest in AI to small nuclear reactors. And they did so with the full backing of the Trump administration. Again, pity those looking on from Paris and Berlin. This was Project 25, the blueprint for a second Trump administration compiled during the Biden years, in action. We might have forgotten on this side of the Atlantic that one of its tenets was that Brexit Britain must not be allowed to slip back into the orbit of the European Union. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Keir Starmer at Chequers earlier this week But Trump has not. The billions on offer this week will make Britain more inclined to look across the Atlantic than the Channel. But therein lies a problem for Starmer. For he and his Government are committed to the re-alignment of Britain with the EU and have already started the process. But Britain cannot hope to be a pioneer in AI by falling back under the regulatory framework of Brussels, which has already turned the EU into an AI backwater with its prudential (i.e. overly cautious) regulation. The leaders of some of Europes biggest high-tech companies are already pleading with Brussels for a two-year pause on AI regulation because of unclear, overlapping and increasingly complex EU regulations. Why Starmer wants to force us back into such a regime is a mystery, except that, along with so many in the Labour Party, he has an outdated, rosy view of Europe no longer justified by the facts. He thinks its still the future, whereas the reality is that it is in relentless, long-term decline. Dont take my word for it. Just listen to Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank and the quintessential EU bureaucrat. The EU, he says is trapped in the mid-tech world of the 20th century. Even a Europhile Brit like Mandelson has rumbled whats happening. Brexit has freed us to pursue closer US ties, he said in his last major speech as our American ambassador. Britain now has the opportunity to use its regulatory freedom and independence from European law to take advantage of all that lies ahead in AI, data centres, supercomputing and advanced nuclear technology. Of course, American largesse will come at a price. But that is a matter for negotiation. The tech bros so keen to invest their billions in the UK will doubtless want London to scrap its flat-rate 2 per cent digital tax, which hits US giants like Alphabet, Meta and Amazon. But I wouldnt go to the wall over that. Its largely a performative tax designed to show British politicians are standing up to Big Tech. It brings in less than 1billion a year. The US investments unveiled this week will garner far more in tax in the years to come. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has promised 2billion to fund British high-tech start ups, including 500million to give us the largest cluster of AI computing power in Europe More significantly, however, Americas AI giants also want the freedom to scrape content from wherever they choose, all the better to improve the efficacy of their machines. But that involves infringing UK copyright, under which our creativity flourishes. Since the creative economy is one of our 21st century superpowers, this predation by US tech needs to be resisted. That said, the prize for grasping the opportunities of this weeks state visit is enormous. If the UK becomes one of the worlds leading adopters of AI it will transform our prospects, increasing economic growth, which will cut debt and deficit, and boosting productivity after years of stagnation, which will allow for huge improvements in public and private services. But it will require from Starmer rather more guts and foresight than hes shown with his Energy Secretary. Keeping Miliband in place is bad enough. But if the PM remains determined to drag us back into the EUs regulatory orbit then he will condemn us to the stagnation that already infects so much of Europe and the promise of Trumps second state visit will be squandered. Scan the new Joint Framework signed by the British and Irish governments to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and one word is not in it at all: veterans. Amid all the talk of new inquests, new inquisitorial mechanisms and the momentous precedent of giving a foreign government a say in what shall or shall not constitute reconciliation, there is no attempt to address a fundamental flaw in this great quest for justice. As things stand, former servicemen and women, who were bravely following orders 30 or 40 years ago, are now open to prosecution for actions - which were thoroughly investigated at the time - under laws which did not exist back then. And no group is more alarmed about this than former members of the UKs Special Forces. They were at the sharp end of the fight against IRA terrorism and are now prime targets for the flood of legal actions which will follow yesterdays announcement. As one SAS veteran from those days put it last night: The IRA lost the war so they are trying to win the peace. And this is going to make it easier for them to try to do that, funded by the UK taxpayer and the legal aid gravy train. SAS veterans are now steeling themselves for more inquests like the one held into the 1992 killing of four IRA terrorists at a car park in Clonoe, writes Robert Hardman A British soldier drags a Catholic protester during the 'Bloody Sunday' killings in 1972 The IRA could also expect investigations into their own activities, especially since the Irish government is duty bound to open its own files on terrorist activity in the South. However, the veterans are not holding their breath. What sort of records did the IRA keep? None at all. And the IRA wont talk anyway, says a senior SAS veteran. As for the Gardai [Irish police], they didnt have a clue most of the time and didnt want to know. As soon as a terrorist had planted their bomb in the North, they could be over the border and in the pub within the hour, no questions asked. SAS veterans are now steeling themselves for more inquests like the one held (prior to the Legacy Act) into the 1992 killing of four IRA terrorists at a car park in Clonoe. The gang were caught with a huge anti-aircraft gun still warm from blasting a police station. The judges verdict that the killings were unlawful prompted the Mails ongoing Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign and is now the subject of two judicial reviews. Yet we can now expect more of the same. As for the six new protections for veterans promised by the Ministry of Defence, including a right to seek anonymity, the old soldiers are unimpressed. Theyre not new and they wont protect us, said one last night. Anyone can seek anonymity. What if its not granted? It's disappointing and not a little worrying that after the very informative July veterans debate in Westminster about the Legacy Act, ex-soldiers hear nothing from the government until a Friday afternoon press conference with a foreign government launching renewed proposals. It is hard to understand how it is in the UK's national interest to keep hauling over the coals of the Troubles, which the previous Labour government gave so much to try to draw a line under over 20 years ago. Releasing convicted murderers and terrorists, letters of immunity, decommissioning of weapons (which were also potential evidence) and all the rest that came with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Why are we deferring to the Irish government are they an honest broker in these matters and is their national interest aligned with our own? We shall have to wait to see more of the detail, but it is highly suspicious when most of the 'investigations' and inquests which our own and the Irish governments seem so keen to keep alive focus almost exclusively on the British Army, which was responsible for a tiny fraction of deaths compared to those caused by terrorists. There are quite a lot of people in the political mix here who have never been fans of the British Army and inherently never will be. The same British Army paraded only this week to great fanfare and pride in front of US President Donald Trump. The same Army our Prime Minister hails as so central to the US-UK special relationship and seems very keen to offer up for a Ukraine peacekeeping force. File image: The Daily Mail set up its Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign to expose mistreatment of veterans by courts, including SAS soldiers who fought the IRA but could now face murder charges after a ruling by a coroner in Northern Ireland The same Army particularly Special Forces that was at the heart of vital international relationships throughout the challenges of the post 9/11 era. Being cross-examined by video link from home rather than in a court in Northern Ireland, being granted anonymity and the other 'bones' thrown to veterans today seem cold comfort at first glance. Our Armed Forces willingly and selflessly put themselves in mortal danger for their government, their country and all of us. The least they deserve is some genuine loyalty in return. And the millions of pounds spent on never-ending enquiries and litigation most of which ends up in lawyers' pockets would be far better spent on things more productive for our nation. The Daily Mail set up its Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign to expose mistreatment of veterans by courts, including SAS soldiers who fought the IRA but could now face murder charges after a ruling by a coroner in Northern Ireland. I am sorry to say that Tommy Robinson, that grim and worrying man, is far more likely to dominate the years to come than the new Robert Redford of Reform, Danny Kruger. Ill explain Mr Krugers drawbacks later. But I talked to some of Robinsons supporters and saw the size of his march. And I think its very worrying that so many perfectly decent people can put themselves under such a crude, cynical leader. Nothing I could say would persuade them he was not like them. How big will this movement get? I fear it. Mr Kruger, on the other hand, neatly symbolises the uselessness of official political conservatism, always half a mile behind reality. What was he saying when the Tory Party was being taken over by liberals? Why, he was helping out. He was a senior hanger-on of the Heir to Blair, David Cameron. He wrote his woeful hug-a-hoodie speech. He then became a senior hanger-on of another liberal, Alexander Johnson. Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage smiles alongside newly appointed MP Danny Kruger Tommy Robinson attends his Unite the Kingdom rally in London And while he enjoyed these activities, I spent many long and lonely years trying to warn that it was desperately necessary to ensure Camerons defeat at the polls and the Tory Partys replacement with something better. Four years ago Mr Kruger who was then already on the path to office as a Parliamentary Private Secretary turned up at a Manchester debate on the Tory Party, in which I was taking part. He sneered at me for sticking to my guns over so many years. And he proclaimed that the Tory Party was the vehicle of the people and was different in this generation. Well for some reason (what can it be?) he obviously doesnt think that any more. Now Nigel Farage is his vehicle of choice. I looked up this debate and find I said, What I fear and have always feared is some sort of British Trumpism, a loud, raucous, yelling substitute for conservatism which might come stamping over the fields once everybodys lights have gone out and their wages have shrivelled or they lose their jobs. There is, as things get worse, always a danger of fake populist politics which lead nowhere but misery. Well, at the time, the most worrying populist force I could see in Britain was the movement led by the shallow, liberal crowd-pleaser Nigel Farage. I did not like the look of him. And I also knew from history that these movements get worse as things get worse. Nigel Farage might seem worrying enough to begin with, but then along comes Tommy Robinson, an alias of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. And beside Tommy/Stephen, Nigel looks like a pussycat. Have things become so bad that Tommy might become a serious political force and elbow Nigel aside? It now seems possible. Or is there someone still worse, who we will meet in the next few years, heading an even larger crowd of perfectly decent people, who want action much more than they want the rule of law or freedom? And if so, should we all be chasing these people downwards to wherever they will take us? It may well happen anyway, especially when the eye-watering bills start to come in for the current bout of economic lunacy. And many in our political class who for decades refused to listen to the concerns of the people will be to blame. Can I hear the sound of breaking glass? Is that the smell of smoke? Ailing Trident and the cost of power HMS Vengeance departs its base in Faslane, Scotland Some time in the next seven years or so, the First Sea Lord will hurry to No 10 to demand a meeting with the Premier. He will reveal that Britains only functioning Trident submarine has run out of food and its crew have been submerged for 250 days, nearly three times as long as they were ever intended to do. They cannot be expected to endure any more. The boat must come home, though there is no other sub to take its place. If it surfaces to take on supplies, our enemies will see it and be able to track it. Its planned replacement is so worn out it cannot be readied for active service for months. The other two are even worse. I base this prediction on the following facts I reported here in March when a Vanguard-class sub returned to its Faslane base in Scotland crusted with barnacles. She had been at sea for a record 204 days. Her ships company of 135 had last seen natural daylight in August 2024. She was relieved by another boat whose refit had taken far longer than planned. All four Trident boats which entered service in the era of John Major, including HMS Vengeance, should have retired by last year. They only keep going thanks to a great deal of money, time and hard work. If we are to keep one of them at sea, at all times, then the patrols will just get longer until a new generation of missile boats arrives around 2032 (probably later), at colossal expense. I reported this six months ago. Last week the former head of the Navy, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, publicly confirmed these fears, admitting our sailors are having to put to sea for extraordinarily long patrols. If he is openly saying so, things must be really bad. But heres the harsh truth. Britain cant afford to be a superpower anymore. If we want to continue to be any kind of power at all, we must think very hard about the planned replacement of Trident. HMS Vengeance departs its base in Faslane Beware fatbikes An e-bike rider tries to steal a phone. The Dutch have a word for the plague of riders who defy the speed limits - the Fatbike There is something even worse than the horrible e-scooters and e-bikes which are fast turning major British cities into a drearier version of Saigon (roads jammed with cars and pavements full of lunatics on heavy, powered two-wheelers). That something is the souped-up e-bike, usually driven by a masked rider in defiance of speed limits. Now the Dutch, who also suffer this plague, have a name for it. They call it the Fatbike. I hope it catches on here, though Deathbike would be just as good. You have to hand it to her, Melania Trump knows how to give great hair. Burnished bronze, her mermaid curls tumbled beautifully over her shoulders throughout last weeks State visit. And it was this, rather than the jewels and the Dior clothes and the possible tweakments, that made her appear far younger than her 55 years. Imagine for one moment Mrs Trump with the same style but grey. She wouldnt look her age, she would appear decades older. I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about grey hair. At 67, I am fortunate in having healthy, thick hair the only downside being the fact it grows faster than tumbleweed. I have to hightail it to Mel, my trusty colourist at Haris hairdresser, every four weeks. And thats pushing it. By then, theres close to an inch of visible grey for her to banish. During my last visit I discovered it wasnt just the area around my front hairline thats affected, but also the back. And I saw a frightful picture of me from above where it looked as if there was a wide patch of snow at the parting. Every now and again Mel and I have the same conversation about whether to let my hair revert to its natural colour. Instead of dying it with a montage of chocolates and caramels, she would gently convert me to a range of silvers. And every time we or at least I swiftly conclude there is no way that is happening. Im not giving in. Imagine for one moment Mrs Trump with the same style but grey. She wouldnt look her age, she would appear decades older, writes Alexandra Shulman While I have never had any interventions such as Botox or fillers, and I am steering well clear of any fat jabs, I am not prepared to go au natural when it comes to my hair colour. My dark hair is who I am. To turn into a grey-haired person would be a dramatic and psychologically disturbing decision for me. But I am surrounded by friends who have made that decision. Many had lovely dark hair in their youth and well-maintained highlights in their 40s, and have now, in their late 50s and 60s, gone grey with very mixed results. Some look great. They have the right skin tone to deal with the grey without looking washed out. Or they are lucky enough to have sparkling blue eyes, which helps. Others look drab versions of their former selves. And it is the drabness that is the danger. You can (and many do) look old with dyed black hair, especially if you go the full Morticia Addams and keep it long. Badly dyed black is not only ageing, its spooky. But you dont look drab. Of course this all leads back to the thorny question of why I mind looking old. I know we should be able to accept ageing with grace and, to a large degree, I do. But not when it comes to my hair. Its worth paying the 3,000 a year it costs to keep me looking me not young, but at least not dreary. Why women at war make such good TV Robin Wright, Laurie Davidson and Olivia Cooke star in Amazon Primes psychological thriller about a doting mother and her son's girlfriend Ive just binged the hit Amazon drama The Girlfriend, an enjoyable tale of rivalry between a doting mother and her sons predatory girlfriend. Theres nothing like a good catfight women scrapping and plotting against each other. Think of the interest in the supposed animosity between the Princess of Wales and Meghan, before Meghan took her prince over the water. Or the sad breakdown of relations between Victoria Beckham and her son Brooklyn, which has been blamed on his wife Nicola Peltz. And then theres the accusations of toxic behaviour by female bosses such as Gwyneth Paltrow which are nearly always levelled by other women. Although there are many examples of tensions between men brothers William and Harry, or Lachlan and James Murdoch, the warring sons of publishing mogul Rupert they dont seize the public imagination in the same way. There is something particularly chilling about women scheming against each other. Could this be because we cant let go of the old-fashioned idea that its against a womans nature to be aggressive? We are allowed to be powerful and successful, but the idealised maternal figure is someone who nurtures, who enables rather than destroys. Society is far more accepting of men at war. Indeed, there is a tacit understanding that to be an alpha male you have to trample over your fellow men. When a father is suspicious of his daughters new boyfriend, its regarded as protective. A mother who feels similarly about her sons partner is overly clingy. Whatever the reason, The Girlfriend, even with its sometimes incredulous plot, is a jolly good watch. Poshs documentary is sure to be a hoot Victoria Beckham with her son Brooklyn and her daughter-in-law Nicola, whom she doesn't see eye-to-eye with Her daughter-in-law might not see eye-to-eye with her, but Im a big fan of Victoria Beckham and cant wait to see her new Netflix documentary. Among her many gifts, Victoria is very funny and knows the power of poking fun at herself. One of my favourite pictures from my time at Vogue is a fashion shot of her in a fake kitchen stacked with dirty dishes. On her T-shirt are the words: Too Posh To Wash. Quite right, she said in the interview, I dont ever do the washing up. Lady Starmers touching gesture My favourite moment of the Trump visit came during the military parade. Sir Keir and Lady Starmer were seated front row and, as the King and Queen arrived, Sir Keir was deep in thought, possibly wondering how to negotiate the Mandelson issue with the President. Seeing him not entirely focused on proceedings, his wife Victoria patted him firmly on his thigh at which point he leapt to his feet with the rest of the audience. Such a familiar, wifely action. My bistro corkscrew has pulled its weight A word about corkscrews, surely a vital part of any household. Over the years Ive owned extravagant French steel-levered contraptions, bog standard turn-and-screw ones, elaborate American rocket-shaped gadgets and many others, but none works as well or has lasted as long as my trusty wooden bistro style. Ive had it at least 40 years and counting. Why does anyone use anything else? A furious mother pulled her son out of school for the day after his teacher reportedly refused to let him eat cheese on crackers as his morning snack. Rachael Elizabeth, from the UK, took to TikTok to express her outrage after her son, George, was allegedly banned from eating his snack, yet according to her, the school is 'absolutely fine' with children eating cheese in sandwiches. She acknowledged the importance of promoting healthy eating in schools and insisted she would never send her son in with chocolate but maintained that George's lunchbox is 'relatively good' and well-balanced. In a clip, which racked up over 560,000 views, the mother-of-one showed off her son's lunch, which included salted crisps, a flapjack, cucumber, hummus, and a pot of natural Greek yogurt mixed with honey. Rachael added that she also gave her son a jam sandwich but noted he had been having chicken sandwiches all week, and they had since run out of the meat. However, she reiterated that her son, a self-confessed fussy eater, has always favoured three plain crackers topped with a little cheese and butter as his go-to snack. In the video posted on her TikTok, @rachaelelizaabethh, Rachel explained she is 'actually fuming' and, in her rage, removed her son from school for the day. She explained: 'School won't let him have crackers with cheese on for his snack. We've got a new head teacher, and she's brought in lots of new rules, which is absolutely fine. Rachael Elizabeth (pictured), from the UK, pulled her son out of school for the day after his teacher reportedly refused to let him eat cheese on crackers as his morning snack 'I mean, I'm with her on a lot of it when kids are coming in with packs of Lunchables and stuff like that. I get it. I wouldn't send George in with that. 'However, George is a fussy eater. So this is his snack. He's had this snack for forever. Three crackers with a little bit of cheese on and butter, and they won't let him eat his snack because it's got cheese on. 'He's allowed to have cheese on his sandwich in the afternoon, but he can't have cheese on his cracker for his snack.' Rachael added that she was so angry that she put George in the car and told him she would homeschool him. She said: 'I'm actually fuming. I am fuming. Why do schools think they can just control everything? Why do they get so much control over that? I just think it's got out of control. Schools have gone crazy.' The mother wondered if she had overreacted to the situation by removing him from school. She concluded: 'I would like to know everyone's opinions on it, because I just think that schools have got too much control now.' Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on the topic, with some siding with the mother. Rachael took to social media to express her outrage after her son George was banned from eating his snack, yet according to her, the school is 'absolutely fine' with children eating cheese in sandwiches One person wrote: 'Can we go in the staff room and check what teachers are bringing for lunch to make sure its acceptable.' Another said: 'Ex deputy head here. Parents need to start standing up to these ridiculous 'rules'. It's parents who should decide what their children eat, not schools.' Someone else added: 'It's your child you feed him what you want. These schools are getting away with way too much now. It's ridiculous. Thank god mine are adults now.' A fourth added: 'If they are allowed cheese at lunch then why not snack time, that I don't understand. If there were nuts in there then I could understand it, but not cheese'. Another added: 'Cheese is high in calcium and protein. Perhaps the teachers need lessons in nutrition before they stop kids eating nutritious food.' However, others believed they knew the reason why the school was being extra strict on cheese for snack time. One person said: 'It's because of allergies, at snack time children move around the yard so snacks have to be controlled but at lunchtime children sit down to eat their lunch and it's easier to manage the children with allergies!' Another added: 'The rule is probably the same as mine. Fruit or veg only for snack. If it didn't grow, then it's not for snack time. Keep it for lunch instead. About time parents supported us staff. People took to the comment section to share their thoughts - and opinions on the matter were divided 'It's not on a bad list, the rule is just fruit or veg. We joined a healthy eating schools scheme so i'm guessing this lady's child attends a school doing the same.' Someone else explained: 'I'm a teacher and mum . All the schools I've worked in and sent my kids to ask for only fruit at break. 'Because it's healthy and readily available to everyone. It's the way in many schools and nurseries, it's normally a council wide policy.' According to Gov.uk, healthy school lunches in England must meet mandatory school food standards, which require daily portions of fruit, vegetables, and starchy food, along with a dairy portion. The Princess of Wales was described as an 'anxious-looking guest' after her first state banquet in 2015 - but no one could accuse Kate of lacking confidence at her most recent one. Prince William's wife, 43, was deployed by the King on Wednesday night to charm US President Donald Trump and his wife First Lady Melania Trump in an act of expert soft diplomacy. Kate was strategically placed at Mr Trump's right-hand side at the lavish Windsor Castle state banquet, laughing and clinking glasses with him and repeatedly bestowing dazzling smiles upon him during the meal. Her confident demeanour looked world's away from the mild-mannered display she put on as the Duchess of Cambridge at her first of these occasions, over a decade ago. Speaking at the time of the royal reception held in 2015 in honour of China's president Xi Jinping, body language expert Judi James told how Kate looked like an 'anxious' guest who 'lacked confidence'. The mother-of-three, who wed William on April 29, 2011, was visibly shy in photographs taken during the Buckingham Palace banquet - and wore a simple red dress with her hair placed in a neat up-do. But on Wednesday, Kate was no wallflower and instead used the 'soft power of fashion' and her natural charm to make a strong statement, with delighted royal fans saying Kate was the epitome of a Queen-in-waiting. Rather than blending into the background, Kate was radiant in a stunning golden gown and claimed the spotlight as she 'reduced Mr Trump to a man rather in awe', Ms James said. Kate's confident demeanour looked world's away from the mild-mannered display she put on as the Duchess of Cambridge at her first of these occasions, over a decade ago (pictured) Her impressive performance was a far cry from Kate's state banquet debut in 2015, four years after she married Prince William. Ms James noted at the time that the royal's 'straighter brow line and slightly downcast eyes made her look sad and a little isolated' as she smiled politely at Mr Jinping while letting the late Queen Elizabeth II command the room. If she was nervous, it was understandably so; all eyes were on Kate - 33 at the time - as she toasted and dined beside Mr Xi at her first state banquet since marrying into the Royal Family. For the occasion, she picked a custom-made Jenny Packham dress - with cap sleeves - in the colour of China's flag. She accessorised with the delicate Papyrus tiara but seemed worried it would slip, according to Ms James. 'At her first banquet her solo forward lean and the way she kept her upper arms held close to her torso hint at a lack of confidence and, although she looked stunning in her tiara, her careful posture suggested she was being very cautious about keeping it in place,' Ms James told the Daily Mail. The next time Kate attended a state banquet was in 2017 when Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia travelled to the UK. The occasion also marked the first time Prince Harry, then 32, participated in a State Visit. The Duchess, 35 at the time, donned the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara - which she also wore for Wednesday night's reception - that was beloved by Princess Diana, as she picked a dusky Marchesa pink lace dress for the evening's look. Donald Trump 's second state visit to the UK was unprecedented for a number of reasons - including the Princess of Wales's diplomatic triumphs as she stepped confidently into the role of Britain's future Queen Prince William 's wife, 43, was deployed by the King on Wednesday night to charm US President Donald Trump and his wife First Lady Melania Trump in an act of expert soft diplomacy Kate was strategically placed at Mr Trump's right-hand side at the lavish Windsor Castle state banquet, laughing and clinking glasses with him and repeatedly bestowing dazzling smiles upon him during the meal Impeccably dressed though she was, Kate was photographed looking nervously around the room at one point during the reception for the visiting Spanish royals - as she seemed to still be finding her footing within the royal fold. She appeared more relaxed at her third banquet for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in 2018 and during Trump's first official UK visit in 2019. By 2022, she was a seasoned pro, with Kate smiling graciously as she clinked champagne glasses with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa during the banquet's toast. Following the late Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022, it saw William and Kate playing their most prominent role at such an engagement - which are undertaken at the request of the Government. Kate, then 40, also put her best fashion foot forward in a gem embellished white gown from her favoured Jenny Packham as she joined Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the lavish occasion at Buckingham Palace - the first of its kind in three years. She once again reached for her favourite tiara, the Cambridge Lover's Knot - which was a wedding gift to Princess Diana - and paired it with diamond and pearl drop earrings that also once belonged to her late mother-in-law. As she raised her glass to Buckingham Palace's VIP guest at the time, Kate was a vision in white - smiling frequently and making animated gestures while carrying herself with the grace expected from members of the Royal Family. The following year, at a dinner honouring Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, Kate - who had previously always worn her dark tresses in neat, slicked-back updos - experimented with a new look. The then-Duchess of Cambridge attended her second state banquet in 2017, appearing to look around the room anxiously She chose to let her long locks fall loose as she opted for a half-up, half-down style for the banquet, before figuratively letting her hair down during the welcome reception. In a rare display of affection, William was seen placing his hand on his wife's lower back and Kate reciprocated the sweet gesture by placing her hand on her husband's back before holding his hand. Since the 2023 state banquet for the South Korean president, Kate has donned a similar hairdo at each subsequent banquet, including Wednesday night's affair, where she captured Trump's attention. 'Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy and so beautiful,' the President said in his speech addressing attendees. Ms James noted how the Princess of Wales had blossomed into her most authentic, confident self during the glittering state reception for Mr Trump and wife, First Lady Melania Trump. 'The moment caught between Kate and Trump at the banquet is iconic. There's a hint of soft-skill flirting here that seems to have reduced the President to a man rather in awe and actually put in his place a little by the playful smile on Kate's face. She continued: 'Trump is leaning in with his bashful smile and upward glance, making him look like a naughty schoolboy in the throes of a small crush. Kate appeared more relaxed at her third banquet for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in 2018 (pictured) and during Trump's first official UK visit in 2019 By 2022, she was a seasoned state banquet pro, smiling as she clinked champagne glasses with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa during the banquet's toast In 2023, at a dinner honouring Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kate let her hair down. She chose to let her long locks fall loose rather than pin them up like she had at each previous state banquet Kate has donned a similar hairdo at each subsequent banquet (Pictured with the Prince of Wales in July, 2025 at a state banquet at Windsor Castle) 'It's a wonderfully complimentary pose with Trump looking happily compliant while Kate playfully suggests she quietly has the measure of him'. Compared to her more stoic, reserved personality at the 2015 banquet for Mr Jinping, Kate actively engaged Mr Trump in conversation as he 'spent most of the night speaking with Kate, according to Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy. The American businessman, who is the president's friend and attended the banquet, adding: 'The President spent most of the night speaking with Kate. So I think we should find out what she heard. They were very deep in discussion, and I could tell he was really fascinated. He was really engaged with her'. In a sure sign Kate is fast becoming as influential as the King and her husband, she 'dazzled' the President and melted his 'icy-cool' First Lady on the first day of their state visit to Britain. Mr Trump gushed that Kate looked 'so beautiful' after she joined Prince William in greeting the couple as they touched down at Windsor Castle. 'The King can see what an asset Kate is to the Royal Family and the country', a palace insider told the Daily Mail. 'The Trumps are both captivated by her'. Kate also enjoyed a good relationship with Mrs Trump. 'It was clear from Kate's high-energy, enthusiastic approach to Melania as she zoomed in to chat to the First Lady using an expression of keenness and excitement as well as some animated gesticulation that she and the FLOTUS will be bonding on their excursion today', Judi said. 'Kate seems to have captured the art of gently pushing through barriers to create authentic bonds. Melania can appear quite icy-cool, but it was Kate's immediate signals of assumed friendship that brought a wide grin and some complimentary mirroring from the First Lady'. Charlotte Tilbury has described how she believes she got royal protocol 'all wrong' when she met the late Queen Elizabeth II. The makeup mogul received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, for her significant contributions to the beauty and cosmetics industry, in 2018 - five years after first launching her cosmetic business. The beauty guru, who adored the late Queen, claimed she made a few protocol errors when receiving her honour at Buckingham Palace at the investiture ceremony. Speaking to The Telegraph, she explained: 'All I remember is her incredibly blue eyes and how they sparkled when I said how much I loved corgis.' Discussing the protocol issue, she continued: 'My entire family is SO patriotic. I do know I got all the protocol wrong. Couldn't walk backwards, turned my back on Her Majesty. 'Afterwards, my mother asked me if the Queen managed to get a word in.' It is thought that when meeting a royal, the traditional protocol involves a bow for men or a curtsy for women, using formal address like 'Your Majesty' or 'Sir/Ma'am,' and never turning your back on the royal. However, The Royal Family website states there are 'no obligatory codes', with courtesy being the main requirement, and shaking hands is acceptable, meaning the rules may have relaxed over the years. Charlotte Tilbury revealed how she got royal protocol 'all wrong' when meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2018 Describing the experience at the time, the 52-year-old told Elle: 'I felt full of pride, excitement and a little nervous to meet Her Majesty the Queen.' Charlotte felt particularly honoured to have had the Queen present her MBE and admitted she would love to give her a makeover. She continued: 'I felt especially honoured to have received my MBE from her as she is such an inspiring, incredible, graceful, courageous woman. 'I would love to do her make-up one day, as she is also my dream beauty icon!' Charlotte wore a chic black dress accessorised with a hat from couture milliner Victoria Grant for the occasion, calling the accolade a 'dream come true'. Her frock was by Alice Temperley, it was the 'Parachute' cocktail dress, which Charlotte paired with with a Lara Bohinc belt and Jimmy Choo shoes. She was accompanied by her husband, George Waud, and her parents, Patsy and Lance, for the ceremony. Charlotte expressed her admiration for the monarch by launching a lipstick shade named The Queen: the pink shade was part of a broader collection to honour Her Majesty's 70-year reign during the Platinum Jubilee. The makeup mogul received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, for her significant contributions to the beauty and cosmetics industry, in 2018- five years after first launching her cosmetic business Speaking to The Telegraph, she explained that she 'turned her back on the late monarch after receiving the honour The beauty guru, who adored the late Queen, claimed she made a few protocol errors when receiving her honour at Buckingham Palace at the investiture ceremony Speaking of her creation she said: 'I wanted to create a lipstick that honoured the Queen and her enduring style she is such an inspirational woman, and makes me incredibly proud to be British, and even prouder to have founded a very British brand. 'This lipstick commemorates the beauty and the brilliance of our magical Queen, and Britain.' With 26 years' industry experience, well-connected Tilbury, 45, counts Kate Moss among her inner circle and is close friends with the likes of Edward Enninful and Cara Delevingne. Her makeup range has been worn by everyone from Amal Clooney to Lady Kitty Spencer, while the Duchess of Sussex is rumoured to be among her fans. It comes after Charlotte Tilbury topped a list of the top 30 richest beauty entrepreneurs in the UK for 2025. The entries on the Sunday Times' inaugural Beauty Rich List have built their wealth from a range of products and services, including skincare; haircare; make-up; bath bombs; and tanning shops. Charlotte Tilbury, who has worked with supermodels including Bella Hadid, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, dominated the list with an estimated fortune of 350million. The 52-year-old founded her own brand in 2013 after working as a celebrity make-up artist for over 20 years. Charlotte Tilbury with supermodel Kate Moss in London, 2013. After working on some 100 Vogue covers, in 2013 she launched her beauty and skincare range in Selfridges, with the collection becoming the retailer's biggest-ever beauty launch for turnover The list includes 19 women and 14 men and the entrepreneurs boast a combined estimated wealth of 2.174billion. Other magnates on the list include John Frieda, known for his Frizz-Ease hair range, and Trinny Woodall, from BBC TV series What Not to Wear, who launched her own make-up and skin care brand Trinny London in 2017. Robert Watts, who compiled the list, said: 'There are so many inspiring people with rags to riches stories here. 'Our Beauty List includes someone who came to the UK as a child refugee, another who was homeless and camping in woodland during his teens. 'There are others who left school with few or no qualifications to their name, one who was expelled. We have entries who suffered hair loss and very serious skin conditions that led them to create their own treatments which they later started to sell. 'All these people went on to build successful beauty brands making products people love, creating jobs, contributing decent sums to the public finances and of course making many of us look and feel a lot better along the way.' Phoebe McDowell, beauty and interiors director of the Sunday Times, added: 'Beauty is big business, and this inaugural list demonstrates the power of creativity and innovation in the sector. 'These entrepreneurs have not only built brands but changed the way we think about hair, make-up, and skincare.' The list excludes individuals and families where a company accounts for less than 25 per cent of their estimated wealth. There was a time, it was said, when no society party was complete without the presence of Tim Jefferies - the dashing Mayfair gallery owner who famously romanced a string of the world's most glamorous women. Known for his old-school charm and matinee-idol looks, Jefferies first came to public attention as the Green Shield Stamps heir who married Koo Stark - the American actress who had previously dated Prince Andrew for 18 months. After they split, Britain's 'consummate man about town', went on to win the hearts of supermodels Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Sophie Dahl as well as pop star Kylie Minogue. Jefferies, 63, was the envy of many as his escapades and life of glamorous gatherings regularly featured in gossip columns and glossy society magazines. But it would appear the party may be finally over for the man who seemed to have it all after the taxman launched a legal battle over mounting debts. Jefferies' troubles could leave his world-famous Hamiltons Gallery facing an uncertain future. The gallery, which was founded in 1977, specialises in works of the 'modern masters' of photography and boasts A-list celebrities including Sir Elton John, Tom Cruise, Mariah Carey and Pierce Brosnan among the clientele who have attended glittering events there. The art dealer's troubles began after HM Revenue & Customs filed a bankruptcy application against Jefferies at his home in west London last December. Tim Jefferies, the dashing Mayfair gallery owner, is facing a legal battle over mounting debts (seen at the 2000 Golden Globe party with Claudia Schiffer) Jefferies and his legal team have since faced a series of hearings at London's High Court, the latest of which took place earlier this month. HMRC insists it takes the 'serious step' of launching bankruptcy petitions as 'a last resort' after exhausting all other options of collecting unpaid tax. Company records reveal one business connected to the gallery - Hamilton's Fine Art - was worth 270,468 in 2020. Its latest accounts show the company, now dormant, has assets of just 120. Accounts for another firm, Hamiltons Galleries, showed 565,000 had been wiped from the value of the company with reserves slumping from 745,349 to 179,866. While the company had total assets of almost 5.8 million, including 4.34 million in stock, creditors were owed almost 5.5 million. Although single photographs can sell for up to 600,000, like many businesses, the gallery, whose lease expires next year, was hit hard by Covid lockdown and a government-backed loan of 550,000 is still being repaid. The crisis couldn't have come at a worse time for Jefferies who teamed up last year with renowned chef Larry Jayasekara to launch a new exclusive restaurant - The Cocochine - set over four floors tucked away off nearby Berkeley Square. The pair set up a business together in February 2022 but Jefferies resigned as a director last March and was replaced by three wealthy financiers. Pictured: Malin Jefferies, Tim Jefferies and Elle Macpherson at a private dinner at The River Cafe, London, 2016 Tim was previously linked to Australian model Elle Macpherson (seen together at a London party in 1993) Pictured: Kylie Minogue, Andre Balazs and Tim Jeffries at the opening of Maison Assouline in London, 2014 Jefferies' financial trials mark the latest chapter of the privileged but sometimes chaotic life of the former public schoolboy who grew up in an unconventional home. His mother Hilary, 82, is the daughter of Green Shield Stamps and Argos founder Richard Tompkins. The tycoon, who started life in the printing business, is said to have disapproved when she met artist Richard Jefferies. When she fell pregnant, he is said to have offered Richard 10,000 to pay for the abortion and get out of her life. But Tim was born in November 1961 and the couple went on to marry and had a daughter, Nicola, two years later. The marriage, however, didn't last and Richard walked out on the family when Jefferies was aged seven. Jefferies showed little promise as a youngster, managing only two O-levels before landing his first job - packing shelves in the stock room of a hi-fi shop in East Grinstead, East Sussex. His life changed and he was catapulted out of a life of obscurity after a 500,000 bequest from his grandfather on his 21st birthday. Jefferies wed Koo Stark (pictured in 2021), the American actress who had previously dated Prince Andrew for 18 months Jefferies bought a Ferrari with the fortune - which was said to be enough to buy 10 London houses at the time - and headed off into the bright lights of London. It was shortly afterwards that he met Stark - who at 28 was seven years his senior - at a photo shoot. Jefferies was reportedly disinherited by his grandfather while his mother also disapproved saying: 'If Koo wasn't acceptable for Prince Andrew, I don't see why she should be good enough for my boy.' Stark's father Wilbur was also against the union calling Jefferies 'a hell of a jerk trying to be something he wasn't.' Within three months the pair were married but it lasted barely a year. Jefferies' life is said to have become 'a succession of first nights and summers spent lounging on yachts on the French Riviera'. He was also linked to other leading international models including American Denice Lewis, Ingrid Seynhaeve from Belgium and Spain's Ines Sastre along with another pop star Lisa B. Jefferies said at the time: 'I adore luxury and travel. Pictured: Tim Jeffries and his former wife, Swedish model Malin Johansson, who is 15 years his junior in Paris, 2007 'For goodness sake, I'm a normal, healthy, red-blooded man attracted to beauty, and not just in women, whom I adore. I think I'm a great aesthete. I love beauty in all forms. In clothing, cars, houses and art.' Jefferies - who boasted of having a wardrobe of 120 Savile Row suits - is said to have met Schiffer, then the world's highest paid model, in 1999 aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean owned by the Italian designer Valentino. It was claimed Jefferies proposed to Schiffer on the Caribbean island of St Bart's but it was not long before the supermodel, now married to British filmmaker Sir Matthew Vaughn, brought the engagement to an abrupt end announcing: 'The relationship had simply run its course.' At last it appeared Jefferies had found true love after he met Swedish model Malin Johansson, who is 15 years his junior, on a blind date in 2006. The couple married in a lavish ceremony at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire two years later. Their guests included Simon and Yasmin Le Bon, Elizabeth Hurley, Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon who was accompanied by her then partner Hollywood star Christian Slater, Jemima Khan and Cindy Crawford. Three of Jefferies' exes including Macpherson were also among the guests. The couple settled into a life of married bliss at their 4.5 million home in Holland Park and had two children - daughter Coco, 16, and son Rex, 13. After finally settling down Jefferies said in 2013: 'I lived a life back then that most single thirty-something men dream of and it was terrific fun. 'But I have entered a new phase, I am embracing family life; I have two adorable children and it's utterly blissful, I couldn't be any happier.' Jefferies insisted he had never been 'a playboy' saying: 'It makes me cringe and it's a complete misnomer. 'I'm not a playboy: I can't fly a plane, I don't own a string of polo ponies, I've always worked for a living, yet my private life always overshadowed my professional one. I hope that's not the case any more.' He added of his new life: 'I would have settled down sooner but I couldn't find the right person - but boy, was it worth the wait. 'I'd been on a few blind dates, which were always disasters, but this was a humdinger. 'I've lived a lot of my life on what most people saw as the other side of the fence where the grass was greener. But I'm utterly contented to be where I am now.' When the marriage ended after 11 years in 2019 a friend said: 'It's very sad. They were such a lovely family and Tim seemed to be blissfully happy.' Shortly after they split, Tatler magazine described Malin, 49, as 'one of 'society's most eligible divorcees'. She's trying to make her own way in life as an entrepreneur after launching her own knitwear brand called Darlin London and has described herself as having 'a super busy lifestyle as a highly social single mother of two and a business woman'. Prince Andrew was photographed in Windsor on Saturday - just days after being criticised over his demeanour at the Duchess of Kent's funeral. The 65-year-old royal appeared to be grinning when he was snapped while out horse riding. It comes after he joined royals including the King, Princess Anne, and the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Duchess of Kent's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson was also in attendance. Queen Camilla was not present: just two hours before the private family service began, Buckingham Palace announced she had pulled out as she recovers from acute sinusitis. Saturday's sighting of the prince follows reports he had a 'jolly demeanour' during the sombre event earlier in the week, with the Telegraph reporting a source saying it created 'a distinct chill in the air'. Footage from the funeral shows Prince Andrew sharing a joke with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. He also broke into laughter while standing next to Prince William, who looked visibly uncomfortable and embarrassed. In addition, the disgraced Duke of York tried to engage in conversation with his nephew after service: he could be seen muttering a few words to William, who appeared to decline to engage and only gave a brief nod in response. A body language expert described this exchange between Andrew and his nephew, Prince William, as 'visibly frosty'. Prince Andrew (pictured) appeared to be grinning when he was photographed while horse riding in Windsor Great Park on Saturday It comes amid ongoing revelations linked to Andrews relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, six years after the scandal saw the Duke forced to stand down from public duties. Andrew stepped down as a working royal over the scandal involving his friendship with Epstein, but he still attends private family events. However, The Telegraph reported that some of the other mourners at the funeral were surprised by how public Andrew's arrival at the service was, noting that some of the members of the public who were outside the venue gasped as his car pulled up. 'If he truly wanted to pay homage to her at her funeral he should have had the common sense to drop in quietly,' it cited an anonymous mourner as saying. Speaking about Andrew's awkward interchange with Prince William, body language expert Judi James said the younger royal's 'non-verbal responses' suggest a degree of 'awkwardness' between the pair. She also described the expression on Prince Andrew's face as he tried to chat to his nephew as a 'smug-looking smile'. Ms James said: 'The Duke of York tries to engage his nephew in a good-humoured chat and all William's non-verbal responses suggest awkwardness and a subliminal desire to reject the overtures, making this look like a very frosty transaction. 'Andrew turns his head fully towards William to not only get his attention but seeming to want to coax a mirrored response that shows he has his attention, too. The 65-year-old royal (pictured in Windsor on Saturday) also received what was described as a 'frosty' response from Prince William at Tuesday's sombre event 'When he turns his face to the front he is wearing a smug-looking smile and he even turns back as though trying to gain a mirrored response from William.' Ms James explained that the Prince of Wales uses a series of body language signals to suggest a lack of desire to communicate with his uncle. 'Firstly, he barely inclines his head in Andrew's direction and then he seems to avoid eye contact, looking down or away,' she said. 'There is the very exaggerated and prolonged rubbing of his nose with his fist to form a barrier to his mouth with this 'act of distraction'. 'Lastly, there is a rising up then banging down onto his heels, which will often signal 'subject closed'. 'William is at some pains to appear polite despite potentially feeling compromised here, but he is clearly made uncomfortable and is perhaps relieved when he can return to the more solemn facial expression of mourning.' Speaking to the Daily Mail about the conversations that Andrew engaged in after the service on Tuesday, lip reader Jacqui Press claimed they included pleasantries, such as 'It was a beautiful service' and 'Aren't we lucky with the weather today'. The Waleses made a notably quick exit after the King had got into the State Bentley, but not before His Majesty appeared to offer a few warm words to his daughter-in-law, who smiled and walked over, before kissing him on each cheek and curtsying. Prince Andrew was seen grinning and engaging in light conversation at the end of the Requiem Mass, on the day of the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral in London on Tuesday Andrew, Charles and William at the funeral for the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral As the King drove off, the Duchess of York was seen waving somewhat over-enthusiastically at his car, before also dropping a neat bob. Prince Andrew, meanwhile, exchanged some words with his sister, Princess Anne, thanked staff, and headed off towards his car. According to the lip reader, the Princess Royal told her brother, 'Let's walk this way'. Andrew later turned to Anne and said, 'Shall [we] go that way and we can leave there?' He later questioned, 'Where is she? Oh, over there, is she coming?' Elsewhere, he thanked the priests and later turned to a different attendee before questioning whether they had been introduced before, Press said. He was forced to wait at the side of the building, fiddling with the tails of his morning coat, as his ex-wife continued to chat merrily on the steps. Saturday doesn't mark the Duke's first public sighting since the funeral: on Friday, he was seen in a Range Rover, again believed to be heading to Windsor Great Park to go horse riding. Experts are warning people against taking the little blue pill celebrities promise will calm nervous jitters in all sorts of stressful situations, from first dates to the Golden Globes. First approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat symptoms of cardiovascular disease, propranolol has become the go-to pill for reducing anxiety and steadying nerves. But experts say the miracle pill will do little for persistent anxiety and panic attacks, and could even raise the risk of death. Like other beta blockers, propranolol works by altering the way the body responds to nerve impulses, including in the heart. Medically known as beta adrenergic blocking agents, the pills work by blocking the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the body's beta receptors, which helps reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and diminish the force of heart muscle contractions. Licensed to be prescribed to treat irregular heartbeats, beta blockers act on the beta adrenergic system, thus temporarily blocking the body's response to stress so are very effective at reducing the symptoms of anxiety. This in turn can help alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety such as sweating, shaking and heart palpitations. 'They work by reducing the effects of adrenaline on the heart, so you don't get that heart-racing feeling, you may not get short of breath or sweaty, and they can reduce the symptoms of a full-blown panic attack,' said Dr Amir Khan, an NHS GP. Celebrities have been name dropping the pill as the answer to situational anxiety During his 2024 Golden Globes acceptance speech Robert Downey Jr. admitted to popping a pill before taking the stage saying: 'I took a beta blocker, so this is going to be a breeze.' However, a recent study found that whilst propranolol may help ease physical symptoms of anxiety, there is limited evidence that it outperforms other anti-anxiety drugs. At red carpet events this year, Kristen Bell, Rachel Sennott and Natasha Rothwell all credited beta-blockers for their relaxed demeanour, following in the footsteps of Robert Downey Jr. who allegedly popped a beta blocker before making his Golden Globes acceptance speech. And actress Rachel Sennott's advice to 'take that beta blocker, girl' has echoed as a battle cry for women struggling with anxiety disorders to take matters into their own hands. Compared to other anti-anxiety treatments like benzodiazepinessuch as Xanax or Valiumwhich are extremely addictive, propranolol is among the 'mildest variety of anti-anxiety medication,' according to Dr Nassir Ghaemi, an academic psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. But, it is not without risk he told The Wall Street Journal. Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications have skyrocketed in recent years, driven mainly by increases in women and young people who report experiencing anxiety disorders at higher ratesbut as when any drug crosses over into popular culture, prescriptions reliably rise. According to experts at the University of Bristol's medical school which looked as prescriptions issued for anxiety, patients perhaps concerningly did not consider beta blockers to be "mental health drugs", and therefore perceived them as less stigmatising. Despite the anecdotal evidence from a swathe of celebritieswith Khloe Kardashian admitting to borrowing her mother Kris Jenner's pills to calm her nervesexperts say there is no conclusive evidence for the effectiveness of beta blockers to treat anxiety. Actress Rachel Sennott is also a purporter of the trend, telling her fans to 'take that beta blocker. Girl, swallow it down and lock in.' They are also not included in guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Yet doctors are still prescribing them. According to Dr Khan, many GPs will prescribe beta blockers for situational anxietyfor when someone knows they are going to be in a situation that is a trigger for them. 'So if and when rather than long term,' he said. For patients with heart conditions, beta blockers can be lifesaving, but its primary effects can be a double-edged sword. Common side-effects include tiredness, dizziness and difficulty sleeping whilst more serious risks include heart failure, breathing difficulties and allergic reactions. Dr Khan also warned that whilst beta blockers are not addictive, taking more than a prescribed dose can be dangerous. He added: 'If you're taking them long her, you can't suddenly stop them. And, they have been linked to higher rates of depression, so I wouldn't prescribe them for anyone who has depression alongside their anxiety.' It comes as a landmark study has suggested that heart attack patients are needlessly taking beta blockers, and the drug could even raise the risk of death. It is estimated around 60,000 people are prescribed beta blockers every year in the UK and many will remain on the pills for life. But new research has found the medication was ineffective, and did not help reduce the risk of further heart attacks. In fact, women treated with beta blockers were found to have a higher risk of death, heart attacks or hospitalisation for heart failure compared to those not on the 'miracle pill'. Dr Ash Kapoor is nearly 60 but, by his reckoning, he has an awful lot more to look forward to. Another 63 years, to be precise. None of which will be spent lolling about in a care home waiting for lunch and praying for a peaceful departure in his sleep. No, the second half of Ashs life promises to be even better than the first. He is expecting to enjoy fantastically high energy levels and do an awful lot of barefoot walking in nature and immersing himself in ice baths. Hell be disappointed if hes not doing chin-ups well into his 80s and swimming in Alpine lakes for another half century. And sporting his fantastic head of thick and lustrous hair, for a long time yet. And if things go to plan, hell even and Im not sure if I should whisper this or shout it from the rooftops be both sexually enthusiastic and extremely active, well into his 100s. Because Dr Ash, a pioneer in regenerative medicine and founder of the Levitas Clinic, is not interested in just existing like those sad, grey people you see just sitting, on their screens, waiting to die. No, hes talking about living with what he calls, full independence, purpose and in pursuit of fulfilment really contributing to society, right up to the end. The eclectic mix of treatments, costing 3,000, included a facial massage Of course the idea of living to 123 is realistic. Totally realistic! he says, in his lovely soft voice with perfect cadence and diction. And so that is our target. Well, wow and how fantastic if quite a recalibration for those of us in our 50s to suddenly discover that there is far more life ahead, than behind. Even better, it turns out that the secret of living to 123 is surprisingly simple and straightforward. Because it involves no dictator-style organ transplants as discussed excitedly by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping when they met at a military parade in Beijing earlier this month, both hoping to live to 150. And no need to live like Bryan Johnson, the American longevity obsessive and tech millionaire, who spends $2million a year trying to reverse his biological age. He eats only green mush and is constantly hungry, never exposes his bluey green skin to sunlight, goes to bed at tea time and has forgotten how to have fun. Even better, there is no need to spend the billions that Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other Silicon Valley tech bros have been splurging into biochemical cell regenerative research in an attempt to extend their lives. No. Living longer the Levitas way involves a simple 90-day programme of cleaning out, repairing, renewing and resetting our bodies to their natural state as if we were living in the wilderness like Masai warriors free from modern day toxins that bombard us. After which, Dr Ash says, we could all be disease free. Now and in the future. Jane was given a state-of-the-art tooth clean to protect against periodontal gum disease Inflammation is the cause of every disease all 126,000 of them, he says, adding if we remove inflammation from the body, we remove illness. Genes are not your destiny, he says. You can change the outcome. So what about a predisposition to dementia? Dont worry about it, says Dr Ash. Rheumatoid arthritis. Colitis. High blood pressure. Alzheimers. Auto immune disease. Diabetes. Joint inflammation? Not a problem, says Dr Ash. Its like pressing Control, Alt, Delete on the body. We can reset everything. All of which sounds, well, almost too good to be true. As does the price. Because Dr Ash insists that it does not cost the millions lots of his patients would happily spend to extend their lives. But a few thousand pounds for the initial 90-day programme. (In extremis, I could apparently buy some herbs from Holland & Barratt and do a DIY version, though it would take longer.) Dr Ash has had success. You might remember the articles in this paper, written by TV journalist Donal MacIntyre, who lost more than three stone and kept it off during a 23-day fast under Dr Ashs supervision earlier this year. Afterwards, 58-year-old Donal said he felt like a man reborn. His blood pressure normalised, he stopped being pre-diabetic and no longer needed knee surgery. Of course, Donal was obese (17-and-a-half stone) and anyone who loses that much weight is likely to have a new spring in their step. Jane in a body balance suit to improve circulation and blood flow But many of Dr Ashs patients are not remotely fat. Some are high net worth individuals in their 60s experiencing burnout. Others have lost their vim and verve. Some just want to embrace a new way. To see what all the fuss is about, I visit the Levitas clinic in Mayfair, London, to try the specialist consultation, which is the starting point for all Dr Ashs new patients. It is an eclectic mix of treatments (costing 3,000), which includes light therapy, shockwave therapy like acupuncture on steroids, facial massage, body balance, in a big blue compression suit, and a state-of-the-art tooth clean to protect against periodontal gum disease, which has been linked to Alzheimers. There is also a strange hair rejuvenation session in which a serum made from trout sperm is injected into my follicles because, according to Dr Ash, hair loss is just a sign that your body is defeated. The serum helps nudge the follicles back into life. But it all starts with a body composition test we turn you inside out which involves standing on a monitor and holding two spindly paddles as it measures fat composition, muscle structure, sugar levels, etc. But most important is the bodys ketone count, which gauges our ability to metabolise internal fat larders into energy. This process of the body feeding off itself is called autophagy. It reduces inflammation and the likelihood of disease and is key to Dr Ashs programme. And here, my results make him very excitable indeed. Because, yes, I need to lose four kilos (9lbs) of fat and my organs are pretty much coddled in lard, but my muscle mass, or internal scaffolding, is excellent. Face therapist Pelin Saray gave Jane a number of different facial treatments Most importantly, my body is already ketonic busily raiding its own larders. This is a great start! You are very, very lucky, he says. Youd be a very quick fix. Which would involve seven weeks of taking a blend of premium Australian herbs (such as psyllium husk) to detox the hideous debris in my small intestine. Then a detox of my liver to fix my natural energy. Then a three-day fast (water only). Followed by seven days with one small meal a day. After which hed rebuild me with peptides (amino acids that do wonders for everything from skin care to hormone regulation) and get me going on breathwork and ice baths. A little bit of work and you could change everything. Youd cruise though. Everything will feel better, he says. Youll sleep like a baby, immediately add 20 years to your lifespan. And youll be nicer to be around. It turns out that all Dr Ashs patients are nicer after their reset. It shifts them from the materialistic side of their brain to the community side, he says. Releases them from their ego. As I mull over whether I could eke my pension out over another 20 years, we move to the next stage. An anti-inflammatory drip containing turmeric (a known anti-inflammatory), which goes into my right arm and makes me feel a bit sick and weird and worried Ill bleed yellow in the future. But kind Dr Ash takes my mind off it by gently massaging my arm and telling me how he believes the prevalence of ADHD is all about our failure to metabolise the stored sugar in our bodies. Dr Ash Kapoor and technician Manny put the turmeric drip into Jane's arm How, unlike Bryan Johnson who he says looks gaunt and is very arrogant he drinks alcohol. Though he does eat just one meal a day often a light vegetable curry in the evening and gets up at 4.30am. And, most surprisingly, how he has never taken a drug in his life not even paracetamol and has no truck with prostate screening tests, because its all just inflammation and hed be alert to any changes in his body. Dont let the doubt come into your head! he says. When the drip is finally empty, we move on to the next treatment, where he injects carbon dioxide into my eye sockets yes, really causing my eyes to swell up so much that I cant open them for the next five minutes. Apparently, this will make the bags under them look better for at least three weeks. And as I lie there in the dark, he tells me that, as an NHS GP in Hampshire, he became so depressed prescribing drugs to endless chronically ill oldies with hypertension and arthritis, that he felt there must be a better way. Which is why he started exploring how to live better and longer, the natural way. To that end, he attended courses on epigenetics, peptides, longevity and regeneratives in the US and Europe, and set up Levitas ten years ago and now has a top-of-the-range silver Bentley complete with personalised number plate and driver. Because his approach to health and longevity has taken off like a rocket. Partly because, he says, it works. And not just for the 90 days, but far beyond, like Donal, who went on losing weight after his fast. Because our brains are rebooted, too. People become addicted to feeling well, he says. They start reading up. They change their behaviour. They take up breathwork and ice baths and ditch gyms and start walking around parks in their bare feet, happily eat just one meal a day in return for being happier. And they will eulogise to anyone wholl listen about their personal transformation. Which means that most of his patients are word of mouth. Many are high net-worth individuals who run half the world. Well-known people. Others are just not getting any joy out of life, he says. But everyone is fixable. Some are also surprisingly young. Weve got 30-year-olds who are depleted internally through anxiety, stress and disease, he says. And Ive got an 80-year-old gentleman who does 20 chin-ups a day and swims in a lake and is busy opening up a new business and doing podcasts. He no longer sees his age. But, of course, he still looks it. Which is where all the bio regenerative aesthetic treatments come in such as hair rejuvenation with stem cell boosters. Because one of the problems is that how to put it delicately some parts down below stop working if theyre left unused for too long. Ive got lots of 80-year-old men coming in saying, I need to get sorted out! he says. Theyve let things lapse, theyve normalised decline. So through a process he calls sexual optimisation, he draws their blood and centrifuges it to extract the growth factor, the naturally-occurring active ingredient which can stimulate cell growth. Which is then injected into the blood vessel of the penis and, hey presto! back on the horse. And, just in case anyones wondering, he can do the same for the clitoral area, increasing the sensitivity by jump starting it with growth factor, should an 80, 90 or 100-year-old lady so require. Gosh, its a lot to take in and extremely tiring, what with Dr Ashs extraordinary energy levels and a day spent with all those needles stuck into my arms, eyes and hair follicles. But as we bid goodbye, as he gives me a big, strong, life-affirming hug and sends me on my way, I start to ponder. Could I ever justify the expense, or, for that matter, starve myself for three days? And perhaps more importantly, would I even want to live to 123, when most of my family and friends most certainly will not be around? Still, I wouldnt mind just another 20 years. Olivia Attwood opens up on divorce rumours as she admits she and Bradley Dack 'really weren't getting on very well' as she reflects on using partying to cope Donald Trump took aim at an NPR reporter who asked him about designating antifa a terrorist organization during a flight on Air Force One. The uncomfortable exchange occurred on Thursday as Trump took questions from reporters aboard the presidential jet as it returned from the UK. As the reporter began her question, Trump cut in to ask, 'Who are you with?' 'NPR, sir,' the reporter replied, before trying to get the question out. 'NPR? Heard they were gone. Are they still here?' Trump responded. 'We are,' the reporter said. 'Are they still here?' the president repeated. 'Oh, good. Congratulations.' The reporter then asked Trump how he would go about 'designating [antifa] a terrorist organization when they don't have defined leadership or membership.' Donald Trump took aim at an NPR reporter who asked him about designating antifa a terrorist organization during a flight on Air Force One The loosely affiliated left-wing network is receiving renewed attention due to claims suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson was radicalized on the internet. At least two apparent 'anti-fascist' messages were found on cartridges used in the killing 'Who is it?' Trump asked. 'Antifa,' the journalist clarified. 'We're gonna find out, right? We're gonna see. People have been talking about it for a long time. We're going to see,' the president said. 'Did they have anything to do with your network? Antifa?' 'No,' the reporter replied. 'Okay. But we're going to find out,' Trump said. In July, his administration cut $1.1billion in federal funding previously split between NPR and Public Broadcasting Service each year. Earlier this week, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was 'designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.' The loosely affiliated left-wing network is receiving renewed attention due to claims suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson was radicalized on the internet. At least two apparent 'anti-fascist' messages were found on cartridges used in the killing. Trump has said he would like to label a wide range of left-leaning groups as as domestic terrorists. The logo of the National Public Radio, now without federal funding after nearly six decades A New York Times report on Monday detailed White House plans to crack down on a nondescript left-wing network that Trump has suggested radicalized the suspect in the Kirk case. Trump has also promised to bring racketeering cases against people funding protests linked to these shadowy groups. The suspect in Kirk's killing, who was raised by a conservative family, is said to be not cooperating with authorities. On NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said that Robinson comes from a conservative family but that 'his ideology was very different than his family.' Comedian Bill Maher criticized Hollywoods elite for their silence on Charlie Kirks assassination, calling out their failure to honor him during the Emmy Awards. On Friday, 69-year-old Maher sharply condemned the A-list crowd during the latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. 'Would it have killed someone to get up there, since they all want to talk about their politics... just to say we had a political assassination this week and that's wrong,' the liberal comedian said. 'They would have been booed off the stage because he was on the wrong team,' he added. 'So you're not even allowed to say that.' 'Could you imagine if a left-wing person was assassinated that week? The whole show would have been about that.' The star-studded event in Los Angeles unfolded just four days after Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during a rally at Utah Valley University. MSNBCs Alex Wagner, who joined the broadcast, appeared to scoff at the remark as Maher pushed her to admit it - implying she knew, deep down, that he was right. It wasnt the only moment Maher addressed the cold-blooded murder of 31-year-old Kirk - he also weighed in on the recent cancellation of Jimmy Kimmels show. Maher sharply condemned the A-list crowd during the latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher The star-studded event in Los Angeles unfolded just four days after Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during a rally at Utah Valley University Kirk is seen here speaking at Utah Valley University were he was tragically shot in the neck During Fridays broadcast, Maher disagreed with Kimmels claim that Kirks assassin was part of the 'MAGA gang,' but defended the late-night host, arguing he shouldnt have been fired over the remark. The longtime host of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' was informed on Wednesday that his 22-year run in ABCs late-night slot was being temporarily canned following his on-air comment about Kirks murder. On national television in the days following the fatal shooting of the conservative activist, Kimmel said the 'MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.' 'Jimmy. Look, I don't think what he said was exactly right... He said the MAGA crowd was trying to characterize the assassin as anything but one of them because the guy's family was MAGA,' Maher said. 'Jimmy's wrong, I think, to put him in one team,' he added, arguing that the accused gunman 'doesn't belong in either party - he belongs in a straitjacket.' Nevertheless, Maher criticized the networks decision, stating firmly that Kimmel 'shouldnt lose his job over it.' But of course, it wouldnt be a Maher episode without a punchline - and true to form, a sharp joke quickly followed. On Sunday, the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California (pictured: Stephen Colbert and team at Emmy's) Maher disagreed with Kimmels (pictured) claim that Kirks assassin was part of the 'MAGA gang,' but defended the late-night host, arguing he shouldnt have been fired over the remark The longtime host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was informed in a Wednesday afternoon phone call that his 22-year run in ABCs late-night slot was being temporarily canned following his on-air comment about Kirk (pictured: Kimmel spotted first time in public) 'As if a 22-year-old with a trans girlfriend never rebelled against their family,' he quipped sarcastically, shrugging in disbelief that the fellow host hadnt picked up on what he saw as an obvious point. He also pointed out that Kimmels show was pulled '24 years to the day' after Maher himself was 'canceled from that network' over his own controversial remarks about the 9/11 hijackers. 'And Jimmy Kimmel took my slot!' he joked. 'I got canceled before cancel even had a culture.' Maher then took a pointed jab at his former network, stating: 'ABC stands for Always Be Caving.' Investigators have said that Robinson had become radicalized with far-left ideologies and was dating his transgender roommate. The false claim sparked outrage among conservatives, prompting Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to announce he was considering launching an investigation into both Kimmel and ABC over the remarks. The cancellation was swiftly praised by former President Trump, who called it 'great news for America' and commended ABC for 'finally having the courage to do what had to be done' CBSs Stephen Colbert (left) dedicated his monologue to free speech and showed support for Kimmels (right) team at ABC, calling the decision 'blatant censorship' Kimmel's broadcast prompted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to announce he was considering launching an investigation into both Kimmel and ABC over the remarks (pictured: Charlie Kirk and family) The cancellation was swiftly praised by former President Trump, who called it 'great news for America' and commended ABC for 'finally having the courage to do what had to be done.' He also urged NBC executives to follow suit by removing Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, whom he dismissed as 'two total losers.' However, many left-leaning prominent figures have slammed the presidents suggestion, calling it nothing short of outright censorship. On Thursday, CBSs Stephen Colbert - whose show is set to end in May following his own clashes with Trump - dedicated his monologue to free speech and showed support for Kimmels team at ABC. 'This is blatant censorship,' Colbert said of Kimmel's ouster at the taping for the show. He then blasted Trump as an 'autocrat' saying 'you cannot give him an inch.' 'Jimmy, I stand with you and your staff 100 percent,' Colbert declared. 'Tonight, we are all with Jimmy Kimmel.' Late-night host Jimmy Fallon also addressed the controversy during a taping of The Tonight Show on Thursday. Late-night host Jimmy Fallon (pictured) also addressed the controversy during a taping of The Tonight Show and called Kimmel 'a decent, funny and loving guy' On Friday afternoon - just one day after protesters rallied outside in opposition to the network's decision to pull Kimmel off the air (pictured) - an ABC TV station was struck by gunfire Police said the broadcasting station in Sacramento, California, was struck by at least three bullets in what they're calling a drive-by shooting (pictured) 'To be honest with you all, I don't know what's going on - no one does,' Fallon said during a taping of his show on Thursday, according to Late Nighter. 'But I do know Jimmy Kimmel and he is a decent, funny and loving guy,' he added. 'And I hope he comes back.' On Friday afternoon - just one day after protesters rallied outside in opposition to the network's decision to pull Kimmel off the air - an ABC TV station was struck by gunfire. Police said the broadcasting station in Sacramento, California, was struck by at least three bullets in what they're calling a drive-by shooting. No injuries were reported, but the shots hit a window that faces the street, and people were inside the building at the time, according to Sacramento Police. Disgraced late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has only hosted one conservative guest in the last four years, according to new research. The study noted that the only prominent conservative on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in recent years was MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell, according to research conducted by the conservative NewsBusters organization. The research comes after Disney and ABC decided to indefinitely suspend the show after Kimmel's monologue about Charlie Kirk's assassination. NewsBusters is a project under the Media Research Center, which uses TV news archives and databases to collect data. A separate study from the organization claimed that 92 percent of the jokes Kimmel made on his show since January 2023 were at the expense of conservatives, and 97 percent of his political guests were left-leaning. NewsBusters also found that out of 7,797 political jokes that Kimmel made over 369 episodes, 7,189 were about right-leaning people or topics. The study claimed that only 565 of his jokes targeted those on the left, which equates to about seven percent. NewsBusters cited Kimmel's top target as Donald Trump, with a whopping total of 3,584 jokes at the president's expense. A new study has claimed that Kimmel has only had a few conservative guests and targets Republicans in his monologues more than Democrats (Pictured: Barack Obama on Kimmel's show in 2016) Kimmel's show was suspended indefinitely after he trolled Donald Trump for the president's answer to a question about Charlie Kirk The study revealed that the only prominent conservative on Kimmel's show in the last four years was Mike Lindell His second most-joked-about political figure was former president Joe Biden, with about 386 jokes targeted at him. Exiled former Representative George Santos ranked third, followed by Elon Musk, Mike Lindell, Melania Trump, Donald Trump Jr., MAGA/Trump supporters, Eric Trump, and then Republicans as a political party. The study noted that Lindell has appeared on Kimmel twice in recent years, once in 2021 and again in 2023. However, his appearance in 2023 was a comedic skit where he sat inside a claw machine as Kimmel trolled him, asking questions like: 'Why do you think people don't take you seriously?' NewsBusters mentioned a recent interview Kimmel conducted with comedian Bill Burr, but noted that his politics aren't consistently conservative or liberal. Even though the study claimed Kimmel had only one conservative on his show in four years, former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on the show in July when comedian Fortune Feimster guest-hosted. Schwarzenegger has latterly abandoned his GOP roots and revealed he was voting for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year's election. George Conway, who was previously married to former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, also appeared on the show last September. Lindell has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! twice in recent years, but is typically made fun of on the show Kimmel has hosted conservatives on the show, including Senator Ted Cruz (pictured), but the study noted that there's been a lack of representation on the right in recent years Conway was a founding member of The Lincoln Project, a political action committee comprised of moderate and former Republicans heavily critical of Trump. Kimmel has hosted several conservatives on his show throughout its entirety, including Trump, who came on the show in 2015. Trump told Kimmel during his interview that he was willing to debate Bernie Sanders and defended the temporary ban on Muslims he had proposed at the time. During his first presidential campaign, Trump also sat down for interviews with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon. Other conservatives to appear on Kimmel's show include: Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in 2016, Senator Ted Cruz in 2016, and Senator Bill Cassidy in 2017. Kimmel's show has become a flashpoint of partisanship following its abrupt suspension after Kirk slammed the 'MAGA gang' for using Kirk's assassination 'to score political points' by mischaracterizing his alleged killer, Tyler Robinson. He then cut to a video of Donald Trump talking to reporters during his monologue, where the president answered a question about how he was handling Kirk's death. When asked how he was holding up, Trump responded: 'I think very good,' before directing the reporter's attention to construction on the White House ballroom. The NewsBusters study claimed that 92 percent of the jokes Kimmel made on his show since January 2023 were at the expense of conservatives Kimmel has hosted former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger multiple times on his show, although the actor has since disavowed his GOP roots 'He's at the fourth stage of grief: construction,' Kimmel joked. The suspension has resulted in an outpouring of support from those who believe Kimmel's free speech was infringed upon following pressure from the Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr. However, those on the right have defended the federal government, claiming the move was due to Kimmel's unpopularity. Daily Mail has reached out to Kimmel's representatives and Disney for comment on the recent study. Jimmy Kimmel is working with ABC's parent company Disney to bring his late-night show back after it was indefinitely suspended due to his monologue about Charlie Kirk, according to insiders. Three sources with knowledge of the conversations told Variety that compromises are in the works for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to return to television. Sinclair, the media corporation that owns multiple ABC affiliate stations, previously called on the host to apologize and donate to Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA. Another major station owner, Nexstar, also announced it would pull the show from their stations following comments from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, which alluded to action against ABC. 'We can do this the easy way or the hard way,' Carr said during a podcast interview following backlash to Kimmel's comments. 'These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or theres going to be additional work for the FCC ahead'. Disney then announced that the show would be suspended 'indefinitely,' sparking widespread backlash and debate over free speech concerns. Sources familiar with the conversations told Variety that it's unclear what conditions Kimmel would return under, and whether he has decided to apologize or make the donation that Sinclair demanded. Disney and ABC are in talks to bring back Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the show was suspended indefinitely Disney and ABC were put under pressure by the FCC to suspend Kimmel's show following his comments about Charlie Kirk Kimmel slammed the 'MAGA gang' for trying to politicize Charlie Kirk's assassination, which prompted backlash from the FCC and President Trump The outlet also reported that insiders revealed Kimmel was 'mindful' of how the suspension could impact his staff, which includes around 200 people. Sources told CNN that the crew would continue to be paid through next week, but their futures remain in limbo beyond that timeline. Another source from Disney told the outlet that the company was 'hopeful' a resolution would be met to get Kimmel back on air. Pressure from Nexstar and Sinclair has complicated Kimmel's return, with a source telling CNN that Disney is facing a 'real, serious, threat' of losing broadcast licenses. The source also revealed that Kimmel had prepared a monologue for Wednesday explosive night's show, reportedly targeting Fox News and MAGA. Executives at ABC and Disney reportedly asked him to tone down his comments in the wake of the backlash, and Kimmel is said to have declined the request, eventually leading to the suspension. 'Everyone deeply values him and wants him to come back. But he has to take down the temperature,' the anonymous source revealed to CNN. Kimmel has yet to publicly address the controversy. Kimmel has yet to publicly address the controversy and it remains unclear what the fate of the show is Daily Mail has reached out to Kimmel's reprsentativess and Disney for comment on Variety's reporting. The controversy began on Monday night after Kimmel addressed Kirk's assassination in his opening monologue and made comments about the suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson. 'The MAGA gang are desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,' Kimmel said. 'In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.' He then cut to a video of Donald Trump talking to reporters, where he answered a question about how he was handling Kirk's death. When asked how he was holding up, Trump responded: 'I think very good,' before directing the reporter's attention to construction on the White House ballroom. 'He's at the fourth stage of grief: construction,' Kimmel joked. 'This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish'. Two days later, Carr threatened repercussions for Kimmel's comments, and Sinclair and Nexstar pulled programming. Commissioner of the FCC Brendan Carr slammed Kimmel's comments and his show was subsequently suspended The decision to pull Kimmel's show has sparked mass protests and backlash over free speech concerns ABC and Disney announced they would be suspending the show indefinitely, prompting swift backlash from Hollywood and free speech defenders. Kimmel's late-night colleagues were chief among those defending him, with Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers presenting a united front during their monologues after the news broke. However, conservatives celebrated the suspension, with the president congratulating ABC on Truth Social for suspending Kimmel. 'Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if thats possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!' he wrote. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. I.M. writes: My partner and I booked return business class flights with KLM from Glasgow to Amsterdam, paying 764. On the return trip, KLM changed the plane to one without business class, and sat us six rows apart. I put in a claim to KLM on the day we returned, June 17, but I am being completely ignored. Going nowhere: On the return trip from Amsterdam to Glasgow, KLM changed the plane to one without business class Tony Hetherington replies: Although its major owner is now the French state, it is still fair to say that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a major operator with a worldwide reputation. You are a regular passenger, regarded by KLM as a 'Flying Blue' member, which should come with privileges. Yet in dealing with you it behaved no better than an unreliable bucket-shop business. For the return flight from Amsterdam you had booked adjacent seats, but when you checked in you were told you were sitting apart. Staff eventually explained KLM had failed to provide its own aircraft. Instead, it switched the flight to Transavia, a Dutch low-cost airline which KLM owns, with no business class. At the airport you were refused entry to the KLM Business Class lounge because, of course, you were now booked on a Transavia flight. And when you reached the tarmac to board your flight, you found the aircraft was neither KLM nor Transavia, but an Eastern Airways plane a small firm based near Grimsby. Back home, you completed an online complaint form and refund claim. KLM acknowledged this. But when you logged on to check progress, the reference flashed up as 'Invalid'. You spoke to a customer service member who promised to chase this up, but you heard no more. You then contacted me. KLM began to treat me in the same way. My first approach was ignored. My second earned a reply that showed KLM's staff were struggling to explain what had happened. I told KLM if it failed to explain, I would advise you to sue. And this seemed to bring a breakthrough. An email from Joe Miller in KLM Customer Care apologised for downgrading you, and added: 'I confirm that a refund request for the applicable fare difference has been passed to our refunds department.' But days later the same Joe Miller wrote: 'There is nothing further I can add... nor can I offer any compensatory or commercial gesture.' On the same day, KLM sent you a separate message, saying: 'Let's celebrate you! All of us at KLM wish you a happy birthday. Thank you for being a trusted Flying Blue Explorer member.' You were awarded 40 off a future flight, should you ever be willing to take one. Talk about rubbing salt into a wound! KLM has offered no explanation, but last weekend you received 78. You assume this is meant to be the difference between cabin class tickets and business class. There was no note, but the message is clear: don't rely on KLM to provide what you pay for, don't rely on KLM to offer a refund, but do expect to have to fight KLM if it lets you down. WE'RE WATCHING YOU: 'Reckless' solicitor fined A solicitor at the centre of a mystery over a missing 500,000 has been fined 40,000 after shoddy work forced a council to move a pensioner into emergency accommodation for their own safety. Ajaz Ali is the head of Kenneth Jones Solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent, which handled a property sale on a house over 100 miles away without ever meeting the elderly couple who were selling up. The house was sold to the son of a neighbour for 52,000 about one fifth of its open market value. There was said to have been an agreement that would allow the couple known as Client A and Client B to continue living there. However, Client A was already seriously ill and died soon after. According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA): 'The purchaser started to make changes to the property. Client B ended up having to sleep downstairs with no hot water at times.' That was when the local authority stepped in. A disciplinary tribunal has now ruled that Ajaz Ali was guilty of reckless misconduct by failing to enquire into the deal, or to advise the vendors of risks. In addition to the 40,000 fine, Ali must pay costs of 28,000. In May, I reported an elderly investor had been tricked by bogus brokers into handing over 500,000, which went into the bank account of Kenneth Jones Solicitors. Ajaz Ali has refused to say what happened to it. The SRA and police are now investigating. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Most equity income investment funds are built around a portfolio of dividend-friendly companies. But not investment trust Invesco Global Equity Income. The managers of this 250 million fund do things rather differently, and it seems to be working rather well. The stock market-listed trust, formed last year from the restructuring of another Invesco fund, Select, has enjoyed a strong 12 months, generating overall returns in excess of 27 per cent. To put this into perspective, it compares with a 10.4 per cent gain by the average global equity income trust and a 16 per cent increase in the FTSE World Index. The trust is managed from Invesco's offices in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, by Stephen Anness (head of global equities) and Joe Dowling. Although the pursuit of income is crucial to how they run the portfolio it currently provides an annual dividend of about 3.4 per cent Anness says the overriding mission is to provide a trust to investors which can deliver performance in all market conditions. 'As managers, we're not wedded to one particular investment style,' says Anness. 'We're very much open-minded. We want a portfolio robust and flexible enough to extract returns from different parts of the market, according to where we see value.' It's a point also articulated by Dowling. He says: 'What the 42 companies we hold in the trust have in common is that they are really good businesses which will be bigger in five, ten and 20 years and which, in our eyes, are attractively valued.' The result is a portfolio which accommodates fast-growing companies such as US tech giant Broadcom which pay little or no dividends. These provide the impetus behind the trust's capital gains. Alongside these are dividend-friendly companies such as drinks giant Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and private equity giant 3i. These stocks represent a majority of the trust's assets. The final part of the fund's portfolio comprises companies which are in dividend recovery mode. Among this category is engineering giant Rolls-Royce Holdings. 'The company has undergone an unbelievable transformation,' says Anness. 'Whether it's nuclear power, defence or data centres, it's powering ahead and winning more business. From an investor's perspective, it's all rather exciting.' Over the past year, Rolls-Royce shares have jumped 128 per cent. Anness and Dowling have a list of 140 stocks to pick from, plus another 100 companies under review. This, says Dowling, allows them to rotate the portfolio's stocks when new areas of investment value present themselves. Geographically, the trust's assets are skewed towards North America, although more than 20 per cent of the portfolio comprises UK companies. The fund's dividend strategy, directed by its board, is based on delivering an annual income equivalent to four per cent of net assets (the trust's assets minus borrowings). In general terms, this means that if the assets grow the dividend will too. In the last financial year to the end of May, dividends which are paid quarterly totalled 12.52p a share. So far this year it has paid an initial dividend of 3.375p, up on last year's equivalent payment of 3.13p. The shares currently trade at a small premium and are priced just above 3.70. Ongoing charges are reasonable at 0.8 per cent, the fund's stock market ticker is IGET and the identification code is B1DQ647. The World Nuclear Symposium has just celebrated its 50th anniversary in London. Once a niche event, it enjoyed record attendance this year, with more than 1,000 delegates flying in from around the globe to see how they could profit from rising interest in nuclear energy. Nuclear used to be a dirty word, associated with devastation or disaster. No longer. Its cleaner than coal and gas, and more reliable than wind and solar. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last week declared a golden age of nuclear as he and US President Donald Trump agreed multi-billion-dollar deals to boost capacity both here and in America. Promises, promises but if all goes according to plan, this should deliver a meaningful boost to UK plc. Rolls-Royce and Centrica have been named as contributors to a new generation of reactors, but with demand for nuclear energy due to triple over the next 15 years, there should be opportunities for rich rewards across the UK stock market. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump last week agreed multi-billion-dollar deals to boost capacity Avingtrans Avingtrans is a case in point. Based near Cambridge, it has been supplying pumps and motors to the nuclear industry for decades, building a reputation for efficiency, expertise and top service. A trading statement in the summer was upbeat, and results this week should underscore its prospects as growth accelerates. The UK derives 15 per cent of its energy from nuclear, the US just under 20 per cent. Both are keen to take that higher using so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) Traditional power stations take years to build, cost billions and often run into delays and budget over-runs. But SMRs are much more compact, and can be built off-site which makes construction faster and cheaper. Dozens are planned for Britain, and firms such as Microsoft and Google are putting billions into the industry to supply huge data centres, whose energy needs are set to soar as use of artificial intelligence takes off. Avingtrans is already working with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who set up TerraPower, whose new era reactors need pumps that can withstand corrosive materials and temperatures above 600C. Avingtrans is one of the few firms that can make these pumps, and boss Steve McQuillan is talking to every other tech giant too. This month it won a 12.5 million deal to supply pumps in South Korea. Midas recommended Avingtrans three years ago, when the shares were 4. They have since risen to 4.60, but with profit of 8.1 million forecast for this year, rising to 10.7 million in 2026, brokers say the stock should reach 5.80 within 12 months. Longer term, there is even more potential. Buy and hold. Traded on: AIM Ticker: AVG Contact: avingtrans.plc.uk Goodwin Goodwin is on a roll. A sixth-generation family business specialising in advanced engineering, it is known for its nuclear expertise. From a growing site in Stoke-on-Trent, Goodwin makes containers to hold nuclear waste, works closely with Rolls-Royce and is one of a handful of companies endorsed by the US Department of Defense to supply nuclear submarine components. The groups experience and expertise mean it is well placed to benefit from nuclear reactor projects on both sides of the Atlantic. Chairman Tim Goodwin is optimistic about the future and he enjoys widespread City support. Goodwin shares have doubled from 50.40 to 107 since Midas tipped the stock two years ago. That is a lot to shell out, but this is a quality business, run by a family determined to generate sustained growth. Existing holders may be tempted to sell a few shares at this level, but for long-term investors this is an attractive stock. Traded on: Main market Ticker: GDWN Contact: goodwin.co.uk Geiger Counter Geiger Counter is a fund set up in 2006 to invest in firms involved in the development and production of uranium, the key ingredient in nuclear power. Uranium prices have see-sawed over the past two decades, topping $130 in 2007, slumping to below $30 ten years later and now hovering at between $70 and $80 a pound. That is expected to rise, lifting Geiger Counter shares from 54.2p, as demand already outstrips supply and it takes years for new mines to come on stream. Uranium mines are still few and far between, as investment in new supply has been minimal since the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Nuclear power: Geiger Counter is a fund set up in 2006 to invest in firms involved in the development and production of uranium The sentiment is different today. Research shows nuclear plants are safer than other power sources and bolster energy security by cutting dependence on Russian gas. Geiger owns stock in about 40 firms, with its top investments including Cameco, one of the worlds largest uranium producers, and NexGen Energy, also based in Canada and developing a major mine in the country. The group has exposure to US and Namibian producers as well as firms involved in building nuclear reactors. Yet its shares are trading at a discount to the value of its assets, an anomaly that should reverse, offering investors a way to ride the nuclear wave. Traded on: Main market Ticker: GCL Contact: ncim.co.uk/geiger-counter-ltd Yellow Cake Yellow Cake is also likely to benefit from nuclears popularity. Floated on the stock market at 2 in 2018, the business owns 21.7 million pounds of uranium oxide, acquired over the years via an agreement with Kazakhstan-based Kazatomprom, the worlds largest uranium producer. Uranium which has been converted to uranium oxide known as yellow cake is then turned into the fuel used in nuclear reactors. Yellow Cakes stockpile is sizeable and boss Andre Lieberman can increase it under the long-standing agreement with Kazatomprom. Yellow Cake shares are 5.31 but its stockpile is valued at 5.70 a share, making it an interesting option for investors as demand intensifies. While Starmer and Trump have bold plans to build reactors, China is already on the case. Ten years ago it had 17 plants, today it has 58, with 30 in construction, all requiring uranium. Traded on: Main market Ticker: YCA Contact: yellowcakeplc.com Casually strolling across a car park with his shirt hanging out and a lanyard tucked into his breast pocket, this is the first picture of Kevin Rountree, the publicity-shy boss of the company behind Warhammer miniatures which he has grown into a 5 billion blue-chip firm. Rountree, who joined Games Workshop in 1998 and took the helm a decade ago, surfaced last week at the firm's Nottingham HQ where he was up for re-election at its annual meeting. The unassuming accountant, 56, blended in with staff and games enthusiasts who made up the bulk of shareholders attending wearing a white striped shirt and jeans. The only nod to his earnings, which trebled to 4.4 million last year, was a pair of designer glasses. After the formal part of the meeting, he and other board members chatted freely with shareholders for more than an hour. Rountree was then seen walking with a member of design staff to Warhammer World, the firm's visitor centre a museum, exhibition, gaming area, shop and cafe-bar which is a mecca for legions of fans. Dedicated: Kevin Rountree, who joined Games Workshop in 1998, took the helm a decade ago One insider said: 'It's typical of how the company is. Kevin isn't a flashy businessman. He doesn't want Games Workshop to be all about him but about everyone who works there. 'He isn't interested in publicity and is not on social media preferring to let the company's results do the talking.' The source added: 'He says he doesn't have time to be an enthusiast even if he wanted to. All his time is taken up running the company, making it a success.' Rountree may shun publicity for himself, but his personal approach to shareholder engagement is in stark contrast to that of other FTSE 100 companies who have moved their annual meetings to online-only formats, effectively barring share owners from attending in person. Critics say this violates the principle of shareholder democracy, making it harder for investors to hold boards to account. The Mail on Sunday is campaigning for all top firms to hold in-person annual meetings in the UK and make it easier for shareholders to vote via a platform or nominee. They could take their cue from Games Workshop. Once the preserve of hobbyists, its Warhammer miniatures have soared in popularity, especially in the pandemic, and now sell the world over. They may become hotter property still with an Amazon Prime TV series in development starring British-born Superman actor Henry Cavill. Rountree has carried on working quietly behind the scenes avoiding the spotlight even after Games Workshop joined the FTSE 100. It recently posted profits of 263 million, up from 203 million the previous year, after sales rose by nearly a fifth to 618 million. Staff shared a 20 million bonus worth 6,000 each, while Rountree was awarded a one-off payment of 2.2 million for his ten years at the helm. The award common among big firms is payable in shares in three years if Rountree is still in the job and hits his targets. But he seemed unsure about his windfall. In the firm's annual report, he wrote of the bonus: 'The new policy is a big change. Time will tell whether it improves Games Workshop's performance and whether it is the right change.' Games Workshop, which has 134 UK stores, plans to open 35 outlets by next summer in countries with 'significant growth' including its first in South Korea. Haleon has lived in the shadows since it was spun off from drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline in 2022. But now the consumer healthcare firm, whose brands include Sensodyne, is on the lookout for acquisitions, with the obvious target Kenvue. The US firm is most famous for its Tylenol pain-killing range, Band-Aid plasters and Listerine mouthwash and was spun out of pharma group Johnson & Johnson in 2023. Despite shaking off activist investors Kenvue is under pressure to offload underperforming brands as its shares continue to lag. Dealmaker: GSK boss Emma Walmsley spun off Haleon in July 2022 A deal between the British and US firms, mooted by City analysts, would create a global powerhouse. But there are obstacles, with any tie-up likely to attract the attention of competition authorities. But over-the-counter products such as painkillers are often local so Tylenol doesn't directly compete with Haleon's Panadol or Voltarol. Smaller bolt-on deals are also in the pipeline, all of which marks a remarkable turnaround for Haleon, which after its spin-off was saddled with debt of four times earnings. Its subsequent flotation on the London Stock Exchange, led by GSK boss Emma Walmsley, was meant to release value for shareholders and allow GSK to focus on its ground-breaking vaccines and new medicines. Haleon's medicines, such as Panadol and Tums, may be less high-tech than respiratory and shingles vaccines, but they are the first thing that consumers reach for when feeling queasy. At first Haleon's share price languished in the FTSE 100 index of leading firms. But now valued at 30 billion it has slashed its borrowings to 7 billion, and GSK and Pfizer are off the share register after running down their stakes. US-born chief executive and GSK veteran Brian McNamara has lifted growth from 4 per cent to 6 per cent a year, and organic growth, particularly in underexploited markets such as India and Latin America, is his priority. The group has set itself a target of reaching one billion consumers by 2030. Haleon's greatest strength is oral health. Sensodyne is popular in emerging markets, notably India, due to its pain soothing qualities in countries where professional dentistry can be scarce. It is now looking at vitamin supplements based on its Centrum range to help users of trendy weight loss drugs keep bone and muscle. A takeover or merger with Kenvue could take it to a new level. But such deals are laced with risk, as Reckitt Benckiser's ill-fated 12 billion takeover of US baby formula group Mead Johnson showed. The Trent Valley was once a heartland of Britain's coal-fired power industry. Now it could become the UK's answer to Silicon Valley under 11 billion plans to build Britain's first nuclear-powered data centre. Small modular reactors (SMRs) would power the unit at Cottam, Nottinghamshire, which could open in seven years. The move, announced last week, is separate from the SMRs planned by Rolls-Royce for the National Grid, which are set to start operating in the mid-2030s. Data centres are vital to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution but need a lot of energy to power them and usually huge quantities of cooling water too. Both are in short supply in the UK. On energy, experts have questioned whether the National Grid will be able to cope with the forecast leap in demand. One data centre training AI models can use 1.5 gigawatts of electricity enough to power 750,000 homes, or a city the size of Birmingham. It is also nearly equal to the 1.6GW used by the 500 or so data centres already up and running in Britain. And that figure could more than double under schemes already in development. Hungry: One data centre training AI models can use 1.5 gigawatts of electricity enough to power 750,000 homes, or a city the size of Birmingham The Government is pinning its hopes on nuclear to fill the yawning gap. But it was warned last week that its Net Zero goals to wean Britain off fossil fuels could harm efforts to turn Britain into an AI 'superpower'. Jensen Huang, boss of chip giant Nvidia, said the huge amounts of energy needed for new AI infrastructure in the UK would be likely to require gas-fired power stations. However, the Government aims to be self-sufficient via SMRs. What's unique in the taxpayer-backed Cottam plan which was among a raft of UK-US technology deals totalling 131 billion announced during President Trump's state visit is that it doesn't need a big supply of water. A source said it 'would use a closed loop cooling system that recirculates water'. Until 2019, Cottam was home to one of several coal-fired power stations on the River Trent and has been chosen for its National Grid connection. US firm Holtec, with EDF and real estate partner Tritax Management which will find a tenant for the data centre aims to have reactors 'operational' by 2032. Dr Rick Springman, head of Holtec's clean energy unit, said: 'We will help the UK seize a leadership position in advanced nuclear deployment and the AI race.' Gareth Thomas, a UK-based director of Holtec, revealed 'a number of SMRs' may be built at Cottam with a 'target' completion date of 2032. Cottam's SMRs, based on a design being developed for a site in Michigan, aim to produce 1.5GW, with unused electricity sold to the National Grid. Thomas said the back-up grid connection was necessary to provide 'resilience' in case a 'significant event' disrupts the reactors. He says the timescale is 'dependent on the Office for Nuclear Regulation reaching agreement with America's NRC regulator to streamline the regulatory process' for new projects. This would 'enable the UK regulator to grant permission to start major construction work in 2029, two years after the US regulator is expected to reach an equivalent conclusion for our project in Michigan'. But Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan, author of a recent report on big tech's climate impact, called SMRs 'unproven technology'. He said: 'Nuclear energy is notorious for going beyond the money they think they'll spend and taking more time. The data centre may be built before reactors are ready. 'I'm unconvinced it's not going to affect an already congested grid.' Prof Gina Neff, deputy head of campaign group Responsible AI, said: 'The maths needs to be right before these facilities get built. We don't have enough power and we don't have enough water.' She warned of 'difficult trade-offs between expanding AI capacity and meeting climate goals', adding: 'We need to ask what the benefits are rather than taking the companies at their word.' She said few long-term roles are created, while data centres 'are big, ugly, noisy' and contribute to climate change. Concern over water consumption was highlighted in July when Anglian Water objected to a data centre in Lincolnshire in 'the driest part of the country'. Developer Greystoke said the site had a 'highly water-efficient design'. Many data centres are in the Thames Valley one of the most water-stressed regions in the country and under hosepipe bans. In February, the Royal Academy of Engineering warned of 'irreparable damage' to the environment, urging the Government to ensure firms accurately report how much energy and water data centres use, and stop them using drinking water. The Government said it recognised data centres 'face sustainability challenges such as energy demands and water use'. Donald Trump and the former boss of Unilever have formed an unlikely alliance in calling for an end to the 'sugar hit' of quarterly reporting. The practice which is mandatory in the US but ever more rare in the UK has been blamed for encouraging short-term thinking in the boardroom at the expense of long-term investment by listed companies. The President last week called for it to be scrapped, saying the rule was 'not good'. Axing it would 'save money and allow managers to focus properly on running their companies', he added. It would bring New York into line with London and other stock exchanges, where half-yearly trading updates are the norm. Trump's demand was backed by Paul Polman, who pioneered the move from quarterly reporting at consumer goods giant Unilever. Polman said the practice 'promotes the sugar hit over the steady meal, the easy cut over the lasting investment'. The alliance is raising eyebrows as the two men's views on the environment are polar opposites. And Trump's clampdown on 'woke' or 'stakeholder' capitalism, which Polman had championed, prompted Unilever's new bosses to scale back its corporate social responsibility campaigns. Demand: Donald Trump and the former boss of Unilever have formed an unlikely alliance in calling for an end to the 'sugar hit' of quarterly reporting Only eight of Britain's biggest companies still report results every three months, new analysis shows. In the FTSE 100 index, just AstraZeneca, GSK, Shell, Barclays, BP, HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds do so, according to stockbroker AJ Bell, and all have secondary listings in New York where quarterly reporting is mandatory. Critics say twice-yearly updates mean less disclosure when shareholders want more transparency. But Andrew Ninian of The Investment Association lobby group said UK rules meant any 'material price sensitive information' was published promptly, allowing for 'informed investment decisions'. Firms such as betting giant Flutter and Tarmac-owner CRH have moved their main listing from London to New York in search of higher stock market valuations. However others are put off by the prospect of getting tied up in an endless reporting cycle. Broadcasting legend Michael Aspel, 92, joined the BBC in 1957 and never looked back. The former King's Royal Rifle Corps conscript enjoyed a career at the Beeb and ITV that spanned more than five decades, writes Dan Moore. He presented shows such as Aspel & Company, This Is Your Life and the Antiques Roadshow, and retired from the last of these in 2008. In 2025 he appeared in an introductory feature for a BBC4 screening of The War Game. Aspel, who has fathered seven children, lives in Weybridge, Surrey, with his partner Irene. What did your parents teach you about money? The only lesson I learned from my father was to leave school as soon as possible and earn money. He wasn't interested in anything else. My parents, Vi and Ted, never had a car, and they only ever rented accommodation. That was their philosophy. Broadcasting legend: Michael joined the BBC in 1957 and never looked back, spending five decades on TV What was your first job? I did a paper round and contributed to the family coffers during the war. I returned to London from evacuation in Somerset with 12, 6 shillings and 4 pence in a Post Office account aged 11. A short while later, I showed my business acumen when the shops stopped delivering papers and I charged each customer tuppence a week to deliver them. Did you ever struggle to make ends meet? No. My father's attitude was get a job or get out, so I got a job as an office boy with William Collins, the publishers, on 7 a week. This was in 1949, when I was 16. It was good money. National Service came to the rescue, and I stayed in the army until I was 18. That gave me time to think about what I wanted to do. I decided I wanted to be an actor, writer or cartoonist, and I cast around for work. Needless to say, there was none, so I took a job at Myers, 'makers of soft, comfortable beds', which sent me to Cardiff to be a salesman. There I joined an amateur theatre, which led to a BBC audition, and leaving Myers. This was in 1954, and I was being paid 10 a week to work for the Welsh Repertory Drama Company. Why did you stop acting? The producer asked if I'd like to apply for a job as a television announcer in London, as I wasn't Welsh and they wanted Welsh speakers for the drama company. I passed that audition and found myself in the communal dinner jacket that swamped me, presenting serious programmes. In 1960, BBC news presenter Richard Baker was ill and I stepped in. That resulted in me reading the news for eight years and taking the money, which improved with age. Have you ever been paid silly money? Along with many news readers and announcers, I worked on the side, providing commentaries for films, medical training videos, and industrial films, as well as introducing awards ceremonies on television. The best paid, though, was a lunchtime gig that was not for telly. It was 40 or 50 years ago, and I can't recollect who or what the ceremony was for. What I do recall is the 11,000 fee, just for introducing the winners. Question time: Michael on one of his many shows, ITV's Child's Play Were there interviews where you felt you'd really earned your money? There was one occasion when [American actor]Tony Curtis came on Aspel & Company. He was always agreeable and gave you what you wanted, so we were toddling along and got on to his painting, which he did when not acting. I said a silly thing: 'So this is what's made you the happy man you are today.' He replied: 'Who told you I was happy?' I didn't quite know what to say, but rather than respond with a line about him always seeming content, I said: 'So, this is what's made you the miserable man you are today.' He walked off a few minutes later. What was the best year of your career? The busiest period, and therefore the most rewarding financially, would have been in the early 2000s when, for a spell, I was doing radio, Antiques Roadshow, and This Is Your Life. I remember on one of my very first programmes, someone arrived with an Aviator watch and a repair bill made out to the owner, one TE Shaw of Clouds Hill, Dorset also known as Lawrence of Arabia. The man was stunned, not least as he thought Lawrence was a fictional character. He'd bought it 20 years before for about 70 and went on to sell it for thousands. What's the most expensive thing you bought for fun? When I moved near the River Wey, I thought it would be fun to buy a boat. So I picked up a cabin cruiser for 25,000. It was a total disaster because the sum of my experience had been hiring boats on vast and tranquil Italian lakes during holidays, and here I was on a busy, major river. It was a nightmare, so I sold the boat, Graziella, and gave the money to my son for university. What was your biggest money mistake? I was once approached by someone wanting to develop a new mathematics teaching aid, and I was asked to lend my voice to it. I thought it seemed like a nice, straightforward business, so I decided to invest some money. The problem was that no schools showed any interest, and it ultimately failed. Coincidentally, I had just purchased a holiday cottage in Herefordshire, and I renovated it over 18 months. I ended up selling the cottage to cover the debt I had accumulated. What's been your best money decision? My financial adviser in the 1990s recommended that I look at my annual income for the last two years and use that to decide what kind of income I'd need to achieve in retirement. I followed this advice, and it has served me well, especially since I am hopeless with money and tend to overspend. Do you own any property? Irene and I own a lovely flat in Weybridge with a view of the water, as well as another flat in Brighton, along with other property interests for family members. What is your number one financial priority? I'm in the process of organising my finances to secure the future of my children, in particular, my disabled son, Patrick, who lives in a hospice. Detective Troy A Hillman took a step backward and stumbled into a pile of old magazines and newspapers. A family of cockroaches scurried to an adjacent pile. He pushed himself upright, and stepped into a half-empty McDonalds carton, complete with crusted ketchup and moldy fries. Hillman cursed at the disgusting mess - home to suspected serial killer Bryan Patrick Miller. But much, much worse was to come. As he looked around the kitchen, his eyes were drawn to the refrigerator in the corner - and the vile image that covered it. In the 20 years that had passed since Angela Brosso had been snatched from a bike path along the Arizona Canal in Phoenix - before being stabbed, sexually assaulted, and decapitated - the public had largely forgotten about her, while her killer roamed free. It was only when Hillman, and his elite team of cold case detectives, began reexamining her murder - along with that of teen Melanie Bernas in 1993 - that one key, very surprising suspect emerged. Miller was an outlandish character who called himself the Zombie Hunter - dressing in a steam punk-style trench coat and menacing mask, and brandishing a fake Gatling gun. His pride and joy was an old, customized police car that he drove around Comic Con conventions. The 'bloodied' car was a cynical clue to his true identity. After he was arrested in early 2015 - following new leads based on genetic genealogy - the painstaking task began to collect enough evidence that would put him behind bars for good. Miller was an outlandish character who called himself the Zombie Hunter - dressing in a steam punk-style trench coat and menacing mask He drove around town in an old, customized police car that he also took to Comic Con conventions His 'bloodied' Zombie Hunter car was a cynical clue to his true identity In this exclusive extract from Hillmans new book, Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter, he describes in chilling detail the moment he set foot in the sadistic serial killers house from hell. Shocked was an understatement. My full and undivided attention was locked on the full-size shrink wrap over the refrigerator door. The shrink wrap art depicted the inside of a fridge with a womans head in the freezer, her hands and fingers on a shelf, and eyeballs in a jar. The original detectives theory held true. Without words, he just told us. This is, for the most part, what Miller had done to his victim Angela Brosso in 1992. I shuddered as I tried to comprehend it. Every time Bryan walked into his kitchen for the past 20 years and looked at that fridge, he ignited his fantasy of the kill and aftermath. And he displayed it in plain sight. I walked past the crime scene tape and toward the yard - which was just a bloated junkyard. Angela Brosso (left) was stabbed, sexually assaulted, and decapitated in November 1992; the following year, 17-year-old Melanie Bernas was murdered while riding her bike through Phoenix The bloodied body suit Melanie was found wearing - Miller had changed her into it after his attack Miller (left) walked free for 20 years before his crimes caught up with him A detective dressed in a protective suit offered me one, but I declined. I planned to merely show my support, get an update, and leave. I stepped over a rusty kids bike and slid past a collection of opened Tidy Cats cat litter containers. However, my pant leg caught on a metal bookshelf and ripped. I cursed again. The cat pee stench overwhelmed me to the point of nausea. I leaped over a large, dusty ceiling fan and hurdled an engine block. Damn it! I yelled. My gray dress pants were now covered in grease. Should have put on that special suit, boss, said the detective. Back in the house, I held my elbow to my nose but should have grabbed a gas mask. The stench of cat urine outside shifted to an aroma of rotting food and mice feces inside. Miller's alter ego image also included a a fake Gatling gun Inside the compulsive hoarder's house, the fridge was covered in a sick shrink wrap art (right) Swelled flies clung to the upper panes of the windows. I couldnt see the full view out of the window. Pile after pile of stuff blocked the windows to the four-foot-high mark. I couldnt tell what the floor covering was. Was it carpet or tile? I continued to forge deeper into the house, stepping on countless pizza boxes and newspapers. Cockroaches scampered with every step. I pushed against moving boxes and piles to keep my balance. Foul though it was, we had to plow through this serial killers belongings and try to locate the tools of his trade and the treasures he took from his victims along the way. However, the conditions of this house from hell had, for the most part, stomped out our hopes of finding a great piece of evidence. The team had acquired two massive steel moving pods from a local vendor as well as at least a hundred large plastic storage bins. The pods would be used as temporary, securable storage lockers to be later transported to our crime laboratory. A centralized station in the rear yard was created to sort, number, photograph, and package evidence. Admittedly, I was glad to leave the horrid house. I couldnt believe that anyone could live there and was appalled that Bryan had made his teenage daughter endure those conditions. Bryan Patrick Miller - aka the Zombie Hunter - pictured in the early 1990s Cold case detective Troy A Hillman finally brought Miller to justice I needed to organize the team who would handle incoming tips from citizens and law enforcement agencies on other crimes. We would also coordinate the local and out-of-state interviews to be conducted and ensure the county attorneys team had what they needed to begin the adjudication phase. I also needed to change my filthy clothes. Impressively, in less than a week, the dog-tired search warrant team had wrapped up their deep-dive search at the house from hell and had seized more than 6,000 pieces of evidence, which were itemized, photographed, and sorted into more than 761 packages. Over two decades had passed since our murders. It was a long shot, but we searched for items taken from the victims scenes. Their bikes, their Walkmans, and the knife were at the top of the list. We also hoped to locate evidence from other unknown victims. As with the refrigerator shrink wrap, we found items that painted a more complete picture of the monster we now knew, Bryan Miller. A sample of items seized included: Womens necklaces and jewelry boxes with womens jewelry. A plastic doll of a woman inside a box labeled the Visible Woman. A person could in effect dissect the parts from the doll. Within the box, there were a heart, a liver, and intestines made of molded plastic. A Post-it Note with a drawing. The drawing, titled Murder Scene, depicted a person standing with a large head wound. Photos of women in swimsuits with bottoms on but no tops. A newspaper article that described unsolved murders in the late 1980s in the Phoenix metropolitan area. An article titled On Finding a Model, which described how an artist wanting a nude body model recruits, with a model release form attached. Photograph of a zombie creature cutting off a breast of a woman. Three developed human teeth in a jar. A book about Jack the Ripper. Multiple Barbie dolls (all missing their feet). A large number of violent porn videos depicting torture and bondage of women: One had a woman tied to a large stick, impaled as if she were a pig ready for a roast, others showed women with body parts cut off and lots of blood. Rope, gloves, binoculars, and other tools suitable for hunting. Numerous references to the 1982 slasher movie The New York Ripper. Unlike his home, Miller's car had been well taken care of - it was his baby and his fantasy It wasn't until June 2023 that Miller was found guilty of the murders of Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas. Now in his 50s, he remains on death row I walked over to the crime lab and saw Bryans now infamous Zombie Hunter car parked in an examination bay. Unlike his home, the car had been well taken care of. It was Bryans baby and his fantasy. I asked the crime scene specialist if she had found anything. She took a pair of handcuffs, brass knuckles, a white towel with what appeared to be fake bloodstains, XL gloves, and a zombie mannequin from the trunk. All props for his elaborate zombie hunter fantasy, I thought. Our next job was to go over the items seized from Bryans house, carefully examining items we believed might have our victims or other victims DNA: blades, knives, a Sony cassette recorder, headphones, a wad of brown hair, electrical cord also with brown hair attached, the three teeth. Unfortunately, nothing yielded a trace of our victims DNA or that of any unknown victim. But this investigation was far from over. In fact, it would be picked apart in the years to come. It wasn't until June 2023 that Miller was found guilty of the murders of Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas. Now in his 50s, he remains on death row. Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter: The True Story of a Small-Town Accountant, an Elite Group of Detectives, and Arizona's Most Terrifying Cold Case by Troy A. Hillman is published Oct 7, Pegasus Crime Gruesome death videos, neo-Nazi slogans, and tributes to the Columbine killers - this was the online world that 16-year-old Desmond Holly inhabited before opening fire on his classmates in Colorado last week. Holly critically wounded two students at Evergreen High School before turning the gun on himself during the lunch recess on Wednesday, September 10. He was the only fatality, but it marked the 47th school shooting recorded in the US this year. In the aftermath, officials with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said Holly appeared to have been 'radicalized' by an unspecified online group of 'extremists' but declined to elaborate. A forensic review of Holly's digital footprint by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) revealed his involvement in extremist spaces - including a gore-sharing forum and a social media subculture known as the True Crime Community (TCC), which deifies school shooters and fetishizes mass murder. According to the ADL, Holly's morbid interests are not unique. The same forums and circles have been linked to at least three other school shootings in the past 10 months, exposing a disturbing online underground that is radicalizing teenagers and providing a blueprint for bloodshed. 'We can't know for certain what exactly motivated each of these individuals, but there is a through-line between these shootings that is incredibly concerning,' an expert from the ADL Center on Extremism told the Daily Mail. 'These shooters seem to be feeding off one another and influencing one another They're emulating their predecessors and getting egged on by the promise of glorification in these spaces.' Desmond Holly, 16, wounded two students at Evergreen High School before turning the gun on himself during the lunch recess on Wednesday, September 10 Holly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An investigation into his digital footprint revealed his involvement in extremist spaces - including a gore-sharing forum and a disturbing social media group Social media accounts believed to be linked to Holly were littered with references to other mass shootings and anti-Semitic views. He also appeared to be a frequent visitor to the controversial gore-sharing website WatchPeopleDie, where users exchange graphic images and videos of shootings, suicides, and mass killings. Before his death, Holly interacted with posts about the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida, the 2022 Tops supermarket massacre in Buffalo, and the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack. According to the ADL, Holly joined WatchPeopleDie on December 26, 2024 - just days after the mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where 15-year-old Natalie 'Samantha' Rupnow killed two people and injured six others. Rupnow herself was active on the site, regularly commenting on suicide videos and referencing the Columbine massacre. In one Facebook post, Rupnow posed in a T-shirt featuring a band favored by Columbine gunman Eric Harris, fueling speculation her attack was directly inspired by the 1999 shooting. The ADL's findings suggest Holly may have drawn inspiration from both Rupnow and Columbine, which unfolded just 20 miles from his hometown of Evergreen. Days before the attack, Holly posted a TikTok image wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Wrath' - nearly identical to one worn by Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold. In the same post, he mimicked a pose adopted by Rupnow and included her photo alongside his own. The website WatchPeopleDie was linked to another tragedy in January of this year - the Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, in which 17-year-old Solomon Henderson opened fire inside the cafeteria, killing one student and injuring another before taking his own life. Henderson was a frequent visitor to the site and, like Holly and Rupnow, increasingly engaged with extremist ideologies. The gore-sharing forum first emerged on Reddit, where users would post graphic videos and GIFs of real deaths - suicides, kill-shots, accidents, execution-style killings. By 2018, the page had garnered over 400,000 subscribers. It was banned by Reddit the following year under a chorus of outrage after a series of graphic videos depicting a massacre at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, were repeatedly shared on the site. WatchPeopleDie first emerged on Reddit, where users would post graphic videos and GIFs of real deaths - suicides, kill-shots, accidents, execution-style killings Users can browse specific genres of death videos, including beheadings and burnings WatchPeopleDie now operates on its own server and can easily be accessed by anyone after completing two steps: promising you're over 18, and consenting to the site's terms and conditions. In addition to graphic videos and photos, users can also access other mass shooters' unredacted manifestos. Criminal profiler John Kelly, of STALK Inc., told the Daily Mail that exposure to such violent content, in addition to extremist views and glorification of killers' actions, can have a profound effect on young, impressionable teens. While there is no singular effect, Kelly said the primary concern is how these online spaces can create echo chambers that gradually normalize violence and potentially inspire copycat behaviors. The most dangerous scenario is when vulnerable individuals are repeatedly exposed to such content without critical guidance or real-world social interactions to provide perspective, he said. The ADL agrees, stressing that the overlap of gore and extremist glorification is what makes these spaces uniquely dangerous - numbing young users to violence while presenting mass shooters as icons. 'This Gore part seems to be overlapping every single time,' the ADL spokesperson told Daily Mail. 'It softens how they view violence, and layered on top of that is the glorification of the perpetrators. 'There's a social currency in these groups that rewards and gives some of these users what they're seeking. For instance, if you upload a pretty picture of a sunset, you want your friends to comment, 'Wow, that is pretty!' to reaffirm your view. 'But when you're measuring who you are based on those interactions, and seeking that validation in extremist spaces that's what we're worried about, that kind of influence - and that's what's happening online now.' Holly's TikTok accounts were 'filled with white supremacist symbolism,' the ADL said Holly liked a post encouraging him to 'make a move', and another telling him he needed to buy a GoPro for a 'cool' point of view for whatever it was he had planned That search for validation was evident in Holly's own TikTok activity. According to ADL, Holly was also active within the 'True Crime Community', or TCC, a sprawling network of forums and social media groups where mass murderers and serial killers are idolized - particularly Columbine gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Columbine remains at the heart of TCC due to the mythology that sprang up in the immediate aftermath of the 1999 attack. Early news reports falsely cast Harris and Klebold as bullied loners who snapped and sought revenge on their tormentors. As author Dave Cullen wrote in The Atlantic in 2022, the truth - that Harris was a sadistic psychopath and Klebold was suicidally depressed - was far more complex. But the simpler legend of two outcasts striking back at bullies stuck, and it has proved enduring. That myth turned Harris and Klebold into folk heroes for alienated teens, and it continues to fuel the TCC decades later. Memes describe the killers as martyrs, posts fawn over their looks, and tributes mourn them as the real victims. Like Holly, Rupnow and Solomon were both active members of TCC, according to ADL. Last month's shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minnesota, carried out by shooter Robin Westman, also bears the hallmarks of TCC, the ADL said. Westman killed two children and wounded 18 others on August 27 when she opened fire on worshippers during morning mass in Minneapolis. She scrawled dozens of slogans across the weapons used in the attack, one of which included Rupnow's name. Another read 'Rip & Tear', a reference to the '90s video game Doom, which was repeatedly referenced by Harris and Klebold before Columbine. According to ADL, Holly was also active within the 'True Crime Community', a sprawling network where mass murderers are idolized - particularly Columbine gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (seen above are posts shared within TCC) Columbine remains at the heart of TCC due to the mythology that sprang up in the immediate aftermath of the 1999 attack, falsely casting Harris and Klebold as bullied outsiders Holly's own TikTok posts echoed that same Columbine iconography, with his post showing him in a recreation of Klebold's 'Wrath' shirt and his explicit reference to Rupnow. Other posts included nods to other high-profile mass shooters and Neo-Nazi ideology. Holly's most recent profile photo on TikTok was of Elliot Rodger, an incel who killed six people in California in 2014 and had a history of spewing misogynistic content online. In numerous posts, Holly showed off his collection of tactical gear, which was decorated with extremist symbols and inspired by equipment used by previous mass shooters. Holly's TikTok accounts were 'filled with white supremacist symbolism,' the ADL said, noting that his most recent account's username included a reference to a popular white supremacist slogan. Another TikTok post shared by the ADL showed that in June of this year, Holly had liked a comment from another user who asked him about becoming a 'hero,' a term used by some white supremacists to refer to successful ideologically motivated attackers. He also liked a post encouraging him to 'make a move', and another telling him he needed to buy a GoPro for a 'cool' point of view for whatever he had planned. Some of Holly's anonymous social media accounts were flagged by the FBI in July due to the concerning nature of his posts. However, a spokesperson said the agency was still working to identify him at the time of last week's shooting. 'We continued to work this assessment investigation to identify the name and location of the user up until September 10, 2025,' a statement from the bureau read. 'During the assessment investigation, the identity of the account user remained unknown, and thus there was no probable cause for arrest or additional law enforcement action at the federal level.' Wisconsin shooter Natalie Rupnow was seen wearing a KMFDM band t-shirt before her December 2024 rampage. She was active on WatchPeopleDie and in TCC Eric Harris is pictured wearing a KMFDM branded black T-shirt. He and Klebold were avid fans of the German band Nashville school shooter Solomon Henderson swam in the same digital circles as Holly and Rupnow For the ADL, Holly's digital trail shows how these morbid online communities are doing more than glorifying past killers - they are actively shaping and influencing the next generation of school shooters. By numbing teenagers to gore and offering validation through likes, shares, and comments, the result, the ADL warns, is a dark corner of the internet where each new shooting becomes both inspiration and instruction for the next. The threat posed by the social groups and forums visited by Holly to other vulnerable teens is profound, the ADL says. Even more troubling is how difficult it is to prevent teens from accessing such violent and extremist content. 'I think it's extremely difficult to stop. We know this kind of violence is glorified in online spaces that kids frequent, and kids know better than anyone else how to find it because they're tech savvy,' said the spokesperson. 'We want to help understand this crisis, and there is a responsibility for everyone to come together here - from the social media platforms to the school leaders to our policy makers to law enforcement - and work on this to try to push back on what we're seeing happening.' Failure to turn the tide on the growing trend will be catastrophic, the ADL warned. 'If we don't act, there will be another one in a few days, and then again in a few weeks. 'There's nothing we have right now to stop what's happening. It's too vast and there are too many issues that are adding to the crisis we need to act now.' Last month's shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minnesota, carried out by shooter Robin Westman, also bears the hallmarks of TCC, the ADL said Evergreen High School is just 20 miles from Columbine The shooting at Evergreen High unfolded the same day that political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated during a university event in Utah. Holly opened fire on his classmates inside Evergreen High's cafeteria on Sept. 10. The teen, who was armed with a revolver, wounded two of his classmates before turning the gun on himself in the school yard. In a news conference the next day, officials said Holly brought a cache of ammo with him and continuously fired at his schoolmates. 'He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire and reload. This went on and on. And as he did that, he tried to find new targets,' said Jacki Kelley, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Authorities have not released a possible motive in the shooting, saying that the investigation remains ongoing. A woman who claims her love-rat ex lied about everything, including seven secret children, has revealed a chilling new twist. Cassandra Taulaki, from the Gold Coast, was left heartbroken and homeless after her partner, who used the fake name Marcus Bennet, allegedly tricked her into believing he was a wealthy businessman. Convinced she had met the man of her dreams, she sold everything she owned and moved to Dubai - only to discover she had been conned. The mother-of-two shared her jaw-dropping account on social media, where it quickly racked up millions of views and even landed her a TV deal. But in a shocking turn of events, Ms Taulaki has now discovered that her ex is back on Bumble and is warning women not to fall for his lies. 'Marcus is back on the dating apps in Dubai,' she posted to Instagram alongside his profile photo. 'Have had the following sent to me in the last two days from women in Dubai wanting me to post these to warn other women about him.' She also uploaded more photos, including one with a cute puppy she claims is part of his long-running scam. Cassandra Taulaki, from the Gold Coast , was left heartbroken and homeless after her partner 'Marcus Bennet' allegedly tricked her Marcus allegedly told Cassandra (pictured together above) that he was a wealthy businessman Cassandra has now discovered that Marcus is back on Bumble 'Pics of another woman's dog are something he is notoriously known for on the dating apps for many years,' she said. 'Posing with women's dogs is one of his tactics.' Ms Taulaki thought all her dreams were coming true when she started dating Marcus at the end of 2023. The single mum was looking for love and the so-called successful jet-setter appeared to tick every box. Tall, dark and handsome, he told her he was an engineer in Australia for Christmas before heading back to his lucrative job in the Middle East. 'His name obviously is not Marcus,' Ms Taulaki revealed in social media posts lifting the lid on the alleged deception. 'He has many names actually - Paul, Pauly, Dartanian, Sam, Ryan, Dox, Antonio... 'He said he was 32 years old and was a civil engineer in Dubai and was returning to Dubai in Feb 2024.' Cassandra thought all her dreams were coming true when she started dating Marcus Marcus told Cassandra he was an engineer in Australia for Christmas before heading back to his lucrative job in the Middle East Ms Taulaki said the lies kept coming, from a fictional family to life events that simply never happened. 'He told me he had four brothers, all of which are not real people,' she said. 'He told me he was in the Australian Defence Force. It was believable, he had photos in his military uniform.' She has since found out the convincing snaps were taken in costumes he hired. In March 2024, Marcus delayed his return to Dubai so they could spend more time together, and Ms Taulaki says she was footing the bill for everything. 'He had money when I met him, that's why I wasn't suspicious,' Ms Taulaki said. 'Then he must have run out of money and that's when he spun a story about the ATO and his money being tied up in Dubai. 'That made sense to me because that's what would usually happen if he was in the situation he was telling me he was in.' Cassandra said the lies kept coming, from a fictional family to life events that simply never happened Marcus pretended he had a twin brother By May the pair were expecting a baby, and Ms Taulaki said that's when his alleged con became even more complex. She received messages on Facebook from a man she believed was his twin brother, offering congratulations. The twin later got back in touch with her to ask for money towards a surprise birthday gift for 'Marcus'. Ms Taulaki later found out there was no brother - and the fake account had been set up by her boyfriend using edited pictures of himself to look like they were twins. 'He photoshopped himself in,' she said. 'He is so delusional.' In March this year Ms Taulaki took to social media, posting a series of videos of her now ex-boyfriend, vowing to 'expose' him for what he had done. Within hours, she was flooded with messages from a string of women who knew 'Marcus' and had similar stories to tell - including seven who were mothers to his children. Within hours of sharing her story she was flooded with messages from a string of women who knew Marcus and had similar stories to tell 'You see this kind of thing in movies and documentaries and I couldn't believe this has happened to me,' Ms Taulaki told Daily Mail Australia. 'I fell for a man who wasn't even real - he lied about everything, his name, his age, his job, his family, his entire life. 'We had made plans for our future and our life together, but it was a future that was built on the foundation of all his lies and I had no idea who I was really dealing with. 'He was creating a world of fake accounts and fake people - and doing this for years to other women. 'Who pretends they have a twin brother and photoshops themselves into photos to look legit and sends to girls?' Believing they had a future together, Ms Taulaki sold everything she owned in October to head to Dubai to start a new life. 'I sold everything, I closed my business and my plan was to go to New Zealand and see my family and let them know I am pregnant and that I have met a really great guy, and we are building a life together and they will meet him at Christmas,' she explained. 'Marcus' parents had [supposedly] bought us an apartment on the Gold Coast and the plan was to go to Dubai for a few months and then come back to Australia and move into this apartment that his parents have bought for us and have the baby.' Believing they had a future together, Cassandra sold everything she owned to start a new life with Marcus (pictured together above) in Dubai But Ms Taulaki said when she arrived in New Zealand things started to unravel. 'There were a few red flags and I'm starting to think, "that's strange",' she admitted. In Dubai, Ms Taulaki became more suspicious after his story about a five-year work contract and flash apartment 'didn't add up'. After some detective work online, she finally realised his whole story had allegedly been fake. While Ms Taulaki has recently remained tight-lipped about the situation due to her contact with an unnamed production company, who have purchased the rights to the story, she couldn't keep quiet any longer. 'Why am I sharing this? Because he needs to be stopped and quit doing this s*** to women,' she said. This is the 15th-century manor house where Jeffrey Epstein began his journey toward the heart of the British establishment, thanks to a wealthy arms dealer. South Wraxall Manor House, not far from Shakespeare country, is rumoured to be the place where Sir Walter Raleigh smoked the first ever tobacco in England. But it has now emerged that the country pile in Bradford-On-Avon played a formative role in Jeffrey Epstein's introduction to the British establishment. The country house belonged to international arms dealer Douglas Leese, who invited Jeffrey to stay for long weekends. It's claimed that Epstein's friendship with the Leese family and his introduction to the Bullingdon Club social scene helped explain how he met socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Now the so-called birthday book, released by a US congressional committee last week, has revealed the historic links between the Leese family and the now notorious sex offender during his rise to power. The book also featured messages from Labour grandee Lord Mandelson, who was sacked last week as US ambassador after emails from him to the sex offender emerged. This is the 15th-century manor house where Jeffrey Epstein began his journey toward the heart of the British establishment, thanks to a wealthy arms dealer It has emerged that the country pile in Bradford-On-Avon played a formative role in Jeffrey Epstein's introduction to the British establishment It's claimed that Epstein's friendship with the Leese family and his introduction to the Bullingdon Club social scene helped explain how he met socialite Ghislaine Maxwell In the birthday book from 2003, Douglas's son Nick Leese penned a rather lurid tribute to Epstein for his 50th, when he referenced his stays at the country pile. Mr Leese, who was a member of the notorious Bullingdon Club during his time at Oxford, even mentioned 'massage classes at Wraxall.' The note also described in vivid detail a wild night out when a woman was sexually assaulted in a car on the way to Tramps. In the note, Mr Leese recounts an incident when his father and a man named as Toto both put their hands up the woman's skirt while travelling to the famous club. The note reads: 'There was one evening which I recall always had you howling in laughter. We were in Harrys Bar in London you, me, the old man, Toto and the usual extraordinary group of camp followers. The holiday snap that triggered his downfall: Lord Mandelson in a fluffy white dressing gown enjoying a chat with 'best pal' Epstein Mandelson's message in the 'birthday book' compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, said Epstein was 'my best pal!' Labour grandee Lord Mandelson was sacked last week as US ambassador after emails from him to the sex offender emerged Mandelson with his now husband enjoying a boat ride together as guests of Epstein at his private island in 2002 Your browser does not support iframes. 'Somehow Toto got it into his head that [name redacted] was a call girl that Doggie had fixed up for him. 'After dinner, we all went off to Tramps [sic] and Toto and Doggie got into the back of Doggies car with [name redacted] sitting between them.' Speaking to the Sunday Times, Mr Leese told how the woman in question was his father's mistress and framed it as a 'drunken mistake.' The paper reveals how it was Nick's father, Douglas, who was impressed by the young American's potential. Julian Leese, speaking before his death last year, said: 'Dad was enamoured with Jeffrey and Jeffrey was enamoured with Dad as a sort of mentor. 'You have to remember something about Jeffrey: in those days, he was 27, he was amazingly charismatic and great fun 'The whole family liked him and he would come down on many occasions to our family home in Wiltshire.' Debt mogul and covicted fraudster Steven Hoffenberg, a one-time associate of Epstein, claimed he was introduced to him by Douglas Leese. Hoffenberg claimed that Epstein was involved in the Towers Financial Corporation Ponzi scheme for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. If true, Hoffenberg's claims might explain where Epstein's fortune came from. The convicted fraudster began warning the world about Epstein after his release from prison. Steven Hoffenberg (pictured in 1993), said to be Epstein's mentor, claimed he was introduced to him by Douglas Leese Hoffenberg, who predated Madoff as America's Ponzi king, said of Epstein: 'Hes very easy to interact with, very social, very easy to bond with, an unusually nice person. And hes pretty dynamic on financial savvy. He could move money in different areas to get the stock prices to go up and down.' Epstein went on to work for Douglas, although the two men later fell out after it emerged the American had charged transatlantic flights on Concorde to his boss's account. During a House of Commons debate in 1996, George Galloway MP suggested that Douglas Leese profited from an arms deal between British Aerospace and the Saudi government. He said: 'Some of those secret commissions on the Al Yamamah deal have been handled by British Aerospace through a British businessman, Douglas Leese, who has close connections with an offshore bank, the Bank of NT Butterfield in Bermuda. 'As you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, a report by Sir John Bourn of the National Audit Office, which reveals some of those commissions, has been suppressed by the Select Committee on Public Accounts for more than three years. Public opinion is increasingly asking why.' Founded by the Long family in the 1420s, the estate passed to the Longs of Rood Ashton following the death of Walter Long in 1807. Douglas Sims Leese bought the house in the 1960s and the manor became his family home. John Taylor of Duran Duran fame and his partner Gela Nash, who founded designer label Juicy Couture, snapped up the dreamy property around 20 years ago. The Leese family's friendship with Epstein took place decades before allegations about him emerged. He died aged 66 as he was awaiting trial for multiple sex offences. A wealthy area in California has become the latest hotspot for teenagers carrying out a terrifying viral prank. A brutal version of the classic ding dong ditch where teens kick in doors has hit Aliso Viejo, an Orange County city south of Los Angeles, where house prices are an average of $980,000, according to Redfin. A terrified resident of the enclave, that has a population of 50,000, shared a video this week with KTLA that showed a balaclava-clad teenager kicking the door down of her second-floor apartment before running down the stairs. 'At least five of my neighbors experienced the same thing that night, and one neighbor actually had her door broken in,' she told the local outlet. 'These incidents are extremely dangerous because they can easily be mistaken for attempted robberies or home invasions,' she said The woman was out when the incident happened and she was thankful that her pets didn't escape in her absence. Her door was completely broken. She added: 'Its a highly dangerous situation for residents, for these kids and for our pets that were left with the door standing open. I am disgusted by this behavior. 'This is jail time, and can and will ruin chances at collegethe kids all hang out at our shopping center. This kid will be spotted and reported.' A brutal version of the classic ding dong ditch has hit Aliso Viejo in Orange County. A file photo shows an aerial view of downtown A young teenager is seen kicking doors in at homes in Aliso Viejo, an Orange County city south of Los Angeles, California One resident's door was completely broken, seen here with pieces of wood from it on the floor The woman alerted the Orange County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the incident. The warning about this trend has not just come from citizens, it has come from police departments around the country. In May, the Fort Worth Police Department in Texas wrote a lengthy post on social media alerting residents to 'door kicking challenge'. 'This viral TikTok trend involves individuals - often teenagers - kicking or banging on doors, usually late at night, while recording the act for TikTok or other social media apps,' the department wrote. 'It is imperative that individuals partaking in this trend understand that even if no burglary or theft occur, this behavior is illegal and considered vandalism and can lead to criminal charges,' the statement continued. 'More critically, it can be mistaken as an attempted break-in, potentially prompting dangerous or defensive responses from homeowners.' The Volusia County Sheriff's Office, led by the outspoken Mike Chitwood, was a lot more blunt with its public service announcement in July. Sheriff Chitwood posted to Facebook a police body camera video of two teenagers repeatedly kicking the door of a home in DeBary, near Orlando. A teen, who approached a home in Riverview, Florida with a group of other juveniles, ran up to the front door, kicked it, then shot an airsoft gun at it before running away The worst happened in Houston, Texas, where 11-year-old boy Julian Guzman was shot to death after he was playing ding dong ditch with his friends in late August Police identified them as Jeffery Merthie, 15, and Zahmarii Reddick, 13. They were caught shortly after the incident and were hit with felony burglary charges. 'The so-called door kicking challenge is a surefire way to get locked up with a felony or even worse, shot and killed by a homeowner,' Sheriff Chitwood said. 'Parents, use this as a reminder to TALK with your kids that this challenge is not harmless and is the dumbest way to end up with a felony charge or dead,' he added. Mere weeks later, a group of five Florida teens were seen marching through Riverview, which is about 20 minutes from Tampa. One of them was armed with an airsoft rifle. In a home security video, the teen was seen pointing the gun at the front door and firing it as several shots rang out. He then darted out onto the street with the rest of the group, laughing as they ran. 'The door kick challenge is a prank circulating on social media. Parents, please talk with your children about this dangerous trend, which could end in tragedy,' Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement at the time. The worst happened in Houston, Texas, where 11-year-old boy Julian Guzman was shot to death after he was playing ding dong ditch with his friends in late August. Gonzalo Leon Jr., a 42-year-old homeowner, was charged with murder after police accused him of shooting Guzman in the back while the boy was running away after ringing his doorbell. Gangs on Lime bikes are terrorising locals in some of London's poshest suburbs by smashing their windscreens and stealing parcel shelves in a bizarre new crime wave. In recent months, car owners in Primrose Hill, Kentish Town and Highgate have woken to find their vehicles vandalised, with rear windows shattered and parcel shelves gone. The stolen parts are believed to be resold online for as much as 150 far less than the cost of buying new replacements. Footage shared by one resident shows a thief circling a black Mercedes on a bike before smashing the rear window and making off with the shelf. Others have since posted pictures of their damaged cars to alert neighbours to the spree. One victim from Highgate, who did not wish to be named, said his Mercedes was targeted at around 5.30am on July 12. The 37-year-old, who has lived in the area for four years, said the break-ins are particularly common on North Hill, View Road and Church Road, often on Friday nights, with the stolen parts ending up on eBay. He said: 'I got a notification on my phone saying that my car had been broken into. They smashed the windscreen and only took the parcel shelf.' The thief was caught on CCTV looking into the boot of the black Mercedes before taking the shelf After grabbing the parcel shelf from the black Mercedes, the thief gets on the bike and flees the scene The thief approached the car as he searched for vehicles to target in the posh London suburb When he took his car to a garage, mechanics told him several others with the same model had been targeted. He said that people were selling parcel shelves on eBay, and they were going out on a steal-to-order basis. He added: 'They go and smash in the rear-view glass and steal the parcel shelves to sell them on. We believe they are using Lime bikes, smashing the windows and riding off.' Other vehicles hit include Hyundais, Minis, Jaguars and Vauxhalls. Replacements can cost hundreds of pounds, prompting some residents to remove their shelves overnight and store them indoors. The anonymous local added: 'It is always shocking to hear these things, but it doesn't surprise me. It is not only parcel shelves that people do these things with. 'Two weeks after my car was hit, two of the neighbours were hit. I now keep my parcel shelves in the house. We felt it was safer to bring them in. All the neighbours are keeping watch for them.' Other neighbours who were targeted also shared images of their smashed windows, urging others to be 'vigilant'. The Metropolitan Police posted about the thefts on MetEngage, an online service providing updates and information on local crime. Officers said on the page: 'Having personal items stolen from your vehicle is an upsetting experience and we are determined to find and arrest those who break the law. 'Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you do not have access to one, try to park in a well-lit open space. 'Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme.' After inspecting the boot, he smashes the back window, triggering the car alarm The user shared the picture of the back of his car left with a smashed windscreen Another vehicle targeted by thieves and left with a smashed window and no parcel shelf The Highgate Society, a locals' association 'established for the public benefit' said: 'There has been a spate of recent thefts in the North Hill area. 'Five times in three weeks thieves have smashed the back windows of cars, mainly in daylight, and taken the parcel shelves. Presumably, this is to sell them online where prices are considerably less than the manufacturers' price. 'It is sensible to park in sight of a camera, if available, and one possible way to beat the current spate could be to keep parcel shelves indoors for a few weeks and of course not to leave anything valuable in your car.' Boasting a wildflower meadow filled with common orchids, a gentle stream and an abundance of wildlife, Mowbray Fields nature reserve is usually an oasis of calm and tranquillity. The five-and-a-half acre spot, which separates the southern fringes of Didcot with the chocolate box village of East Hagbourne in Oxfordshire, is the perfect spot for dog-walkers, cyclists and ramblers out for a countryside stroll. That was until the middle of last week when a convoy of travellers broke onto the land and pitched up camp. Their intent was clear from the start, say locals, who reported how the interlopers wound down car windows as they arrived shouting 'Lock your doorsthe gypsies are here!' The nature reserve had not been targeted before and so their arrival caused something of a shockwave. Over the course of six days, the travellers have been accused of stealing two Pygmy goats so popular locally they have a TikTok account devoted to them, and threatening residents, including one with a pitchfork, as well as leaving the nature reserve strewn with human waste and litter. A wooden gate leading onto the beauty spot was forced open around teatime last Wednesday, the culprits using bolt cutters to slice through a security chain and padlock. Eight or so caravans and campervans set up home in the right-hand corner of the field, the constant hum of their generators piercing the night-time peace. Mowbray Fields nature reserve is a five-and-a-half acre spot perfect for dog-walkers, cyclists and ramblers - but last week a convoy of travellers broke onto the land and pitched up camp The caravans pitched up suddenly at beauty spot in the heart of Oxfordshire and travellers staying at the nature reserve left bags filled with rubbish, wood cuttings and human excrement Locals accused the travellers of stealing two 'celebrity' Pygmy goats Randall and Lawrence - who went missing after they arrived at Mowbray Fields nature reserve in Oxfordshire. Owner Tom Goodenough (pictured), 21, reported the thefts to police The picture postcard village of East Hagbourne, Didcot - where residents have accused a group of Travellers of 'shattering' their usually peaceful surroundings With locals too scared to venture into the nature reserve, the camp doubled in size on Sunday as more travellers arrived despite an eviction order from Oxfordshire County Council - attached to a wooden fence post - which had ordered them to vacate the area two days previously. They eventually left on Monday evening at dusk heading over the border into Berkshire, but not before casting a shadow of intimidation over what has always been a much-sought after part of Didcot. Perhaps most relieved about their departure is Justine Shepperson, 57, who had two four-month-old pygmy goats stolen. Distinctive-looking Randall, who has one white horn and one black horn, and Lawrence, who has one brown leg and three white ones, were taken from a farmers' field next to the nature reserve on Monday afternoon. A Facebook campaign was immediately set up by Ms Shepperson and her son Tom Goodenough, 21, who posts regular TikTok, Instagram and YouTube videos of the kids on his social media channel, some of which have gained hundreds of thousands of views. Assisted by amateur sleuths, police tracked down the travellers to a new site 20-miles away at Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire and found the goats tied to a tree two days later. The animals were released unharmed, placed in the back of a police van and taken to the local police station until they were reunited with their owners. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Shepperson of East Hagbourne said: 'We have got them back. It's an absolute miracle. I'm absolutely astonished. The caravans appeared at the meadow last Wednesday after someone used bolt cutters to slice through a security chain and padlock force open a wooden gate leading onto it Randall and Lawrence were taken from a farmers' field next to the nature reserve on Monday 'They disappeared some time on Monday. We keep them on farmland owned by a friend just a couple of miles up the road from where we live. 'My son Tom went down there at 10am and returned again at about 5.30pm and the two boys - Randall and Lawrence - had just gone. 'We had some travellers move into a site at Mowbray Fields Nature Reserve. Tom went over to see if they were there, but nothing. I phoned the police straight away and started a Facebook campaign. 'We literally just shared it everywhere and Thames Valley Police also put a couple of alerts up on Facebook. 'A couple of responses to that said that they had seen the baby goats at another site the travellers had gone to - Prospect Park in Reading. 'The police didn't find them immediately, but spotted them as they were leaving and went back and they got them. They had obviously been with the travellers. They were found tied up to a tree. 'The female officer said to me that they spoke to some children who told them: 'My dad bought them from some man.' Ms Shepperson, an events manager, added the goats were popular with dog walkers and locals alike and added: 'They are utterly delightful. They are divine. 'They are used to having children around them all the time - the children come from a local school to see them. They are very well-handed and very, very friendly.' Reform county councillor for Didcot South Hao Du visited the nature reserve over the weekend and spoke with local residents and dog-walkers. He said he had raised their complaints with the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber. Among the horror stories he was told was an Asian couple who were taking their dog for a walk when their pet was apparently attacked by a dog belonging to one of the travellers. During a heated row the couple were reportedly subjected to racist insults and threats and were forced to film the aggressors on a mobile phone fearing for their safety. Product manager Kate Brady, 40, who lives close to the nature reserve, had her own run-in last Thursday evening. More travellers arrived despite an eviction order from Oxfordshire County Council She said: 'I went to go and walk my dog Pippa as usual, but as we were heading towards the nature reserve, her ears pricked up and she shot off. 'She ran towards where the travellers had set up. She was obviously chasing something but I couldn't tell what it was. 'As I got closer I realised Pippa was chasing a scrawny chicken. She was running around after it and although I was calling her she wasn't listening. 'Two women came out of a caravan and one started running after Pippa and trying to kick her. 'She was shouting at me, 'your dog should be on a lead'. I wasn't having that, Mowbray Fields is a dog walking spot and plus they were the ones who shouldn't have been there. 'The same woman then went and picked up a pitchfork and jabbed it towards Pippa. 'I shouted at her and she turned round and pointed it at me. I just lost it at that point and started screaming and swearing at her. I went ballistic and told her 'trust me you don't want to do that'. 'She obviously realised I wasn't backing down and dropped the pitchfork, but while this was going on Pippa was still chasing after this chicken. 'Pippa eventually caught it in her mouth, but dropped it immediately and I grabbed her and put her on her lead. 'But as we were walking back home, one of them women went and got their dog from a caravan, which I think was called something like Holly, and set it on us. I heard the woman shout 'go on Holly, kill it.' 'The dog flew at us twice and each time I had to shoo it away. 'I walk Pippa there every day, but while the travellers were there I avoided the place and took her somewhere else. 'I've lived in this house for 12-years and grown up in the area and I've never seen travellers pitch up on that land. I've never known anything like it, they were so intimidating.' Ma Brady was far from being the only dog-walker to incur the wrath of the travellers. Thames Valley Police have confirmed officers are looking into allegations of a dog attack and racial abuse of an Asian couple. A spokesman said: 'An investigation is underway, and enquiries are ongoing.' Marika Gulbe, 41, a publisher, said she was called a 'b***h' by several children after she called her beagle Dora away from one of their dogs during a walk on Sunday. Meanwhile, a family who were having a Tesco home delivery on Saturday evening told how teens from the traveller camp hovered menacingly around the supermarket van. Asking to be kept anonymous for fear of retribution, the homeowner said: 'The Tesco van had driven down to the end of the road to turn round and come back to this house. 'The travellers must have seen him perform a U-turn and four or five young lads - teenagers - approached the driver just after he had parked up. 'They were stood at the foot of the drive criticising the driver and trying to intimidate him. 'They were saying 'look at the way he's handling your shopping'. The driver was trying to ignore the lads, but he was shaken a bit by it and didn't want to leave his van unattended in case they tried to take something from the back. 'My husband read the signals and rather than wait for the driver to come to the door, he went to him and collected the shopping. The nature reserve had not been targeted before and so their arrival caused something of a shockwave in the picturesque village Volunteers helping to clear the site after the Travellers left discovered wood cuttings dumped illegally by a tree surgery business and other rubbish 'The driver didn't hang around long afterwards, he was off quite quickly. 'We'd seen the travellers turn up in convoy on the Wednesday evening last week. 'They were as bold as brass when they turned up, they were shouting out of their windows 'lock your doorsthe gypsies are here'. 'My husband shouted over that he'd called the police and they just shrugged and didn't seem bothered in the slightest. 'This is a nice part of Didcot, a much sought-after place in town, we've not seen anything like this happen ever and don't want to again.' Mowbray Fields provides a haven for biodiversity with than 200 species of invertebrates as well as foxes, deer and hare and birds including red kites, blue tits and robins. It is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council and managed by environmental charity the Earth Trust, whose staff were faced with a mammoth clearing up operation on Tuesday. They found bin bags filled with rubbish discarded all over the site and wood cuttings dumped illegally by a tree surgery business. In a small wooded area in the middle of the reserve they found human excrement and used toilet roll. Kim Morgan, 62, said she saw men urinating against their vans on the site while her neighbour Graham Page, 70, a retired railway maintenance worker, said: 'They left the area a right mess. 'They had generators running all night and music blaring all day. 'Nobody would go near the place when they were there. It's usually full of people walking their dogs or kids playing but the travellers scared everyone away and basically took the place over. 'You daren't go out because things can escalate, just looking at them wrong can provoke trouble. Coming from farming background, I've always find it's best if you let sleeping dogs lie.' Kat Malek, 39, a customer service advisor and mum-of-one said: 'This was a shock to all of us. 'This area is always really quiet and peaceful but that was shattered last week when the travellers came. 'They were making so much noise and the kids were knocking on neighbours doors - even on elderly residents - late at night and running off. 'We would see youngsters on bikes and scooters riding around late at night with no lights on. 'A friend of mine was walking through the field and some young men were driving around and doing doughnut rings with their cars. 'The nature reserve has a footpath that leads to a local primary school. Some neighbours have children who go there and they were advised to be careful using the footpath. 'A lot of us here have emailed local councillors pleading with them to install a metal barrier or some sort of deterrent to make sure this doesn't happen again.' It is the so-called special relationship - but over the years US presidents and first ladies have struggled to navigate the delicate dance of royal etiquette. Donald Trump was the latest commander-in-chief to raise regal eyebrows on his state visit to Windsor Castle this week. Critics claimed the 79-year-old breached 'unofficial rules of personal diplomacy' by complimenting the Princess of Wales on her appearance. President Trump was recorded offering a handshake to Catherine, saying: 'You're beautiful. So beautiful'. Later, at a formal state banquet on Wednesday, he described her again as 'so radiant, and so healthy, and so beautiful.' Royal historian Justin Vovk was not impressed, calling the globally-televised comments 'very awkward, and adding: 'There are so many levels of cringe to this.' However, Mr Trump is not alone among US presidents to blunder before Britain's royals. Daily Mail looks back at some of the most memorable sovereign slip-ups by US leaders and their wives. Melania Trump, Donald Trump, King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle on Wednesday DONALD TRUMP President Trump first made a royal visit to the UK in July 2018, 18 months into his first term. He met Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in a trip that was pared-down to avoid large protests in London. It was claimed that President Trump first kept the late sovereign waiting for ten minutes in 27 degree heat before discourteously walking in front of her while inspecting the guard of honour. The unpredictable president also compounded matters by failing to bow upon greeting the Queen, while first lady Melania did not curtsy, instead simply shaking hands. Bowing and curtsying is not obligatory but is seen by the Palace as the general courtesy. A biography of the late Queen claimed she found President Trump to be 'very rude', and 'particularly disliked' the way he looked over her shoulder as if 'in search of others more interesting'. It was also suggested that she believed his relationship with his wife was 'some sort of arrangement'. Craig Brown wrote in his book, A Voyage Around The Queen: 'Over the course of her reign, Her Majesty entertained many controversial foreign leaders, including Bashar al-Assad, Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin, Donald Trump, Emperor Hirohito and Vladimir Putin. Pictured: Trump and Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace during his first state visit 'She may not have found their company convivial; upon their departure, she may even have voiced a discreet word of disapproval. 'A few weeks after President Trump's visit, for instance, she confided in one lunch guest that she found him 'very rude'. 'She particularly disliked the way he couldn't stop looking over her shoulder, as though in search of others more interesting. 'She also believed President Trump 'must have some sort of arrangement' with his wife Melania, or else why would she have remained married? 'For his part, Donald Trump was confident he had been her favourite guest ever.' The meeting was met with large-scale protests, with a giant inflatable blimp portraying Trump as a baby floating over Parliament Square. A year later President Trump enjoyed the pomp of a full state visit with his wife and four of his children. Although he avoided any major gaffes, he was accused of breaking royal protocol by placing his hand on the monarch's back, while toasting her as a 'great, great woman'. JIMMY CARTER Known for his easy Southern charm, President Carter brought with him a decidedly informal approach to royal etiquette during his first official trip abroad. At a Buckingham Palace banquet in May 1977, the 39th US president was said to have kissed the Queen Mother on the lips. Queen Elizabeth, then 76, was later quoted as saying: 'I took a sharp step backwards - not quite far enough.' The former American president, however, denied that he kissed her on the lips and said instead it was 'lightly on the cheek', while saying goodnight after the diplomatic dinner. He wrote in his 2016 autobiography: 'More than two years later, there were reports in the British papers that grossly distorted this event, stating that I had deeply embarrassed her with excessive familiarity. 'I was distressed by these reports, but couldn't change what had happened - nor did I regret it.' Pictured: President Jimmy Carter speaking with Her Majesties The Queen and the Queen Mother in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace during the visit in May 1977 GERALD FORD The late Queen made four state visits to the United States during her 70-year reign, but her 1976 trip proved to be a particularly memorable exercise in diplomatic awkwardness. During a gala to mark US bicentennial celebrations, President Gerald Ford shared a dance with the monarch. However, the accompanying band struck up the tune 'The Lady is a Tramp'. During the same visit, President Ford and his wife, Betty Ford, were taking the Queen up to the Yellow Oval Room. The lift door opened and there stood the Fords' middle son, Jack, 24, whose shirt was undone and was holding his dress shirt studs. Ms Ford recalled later to The Washington Post: 'The Queen said, 'Oh think nothing of it. I have one of those at home. 'And obviously she does. In fact a couple of them, from what I've read. 'I think probably Prince Andrew has caused her some similar experiences of looking for - well, maybe not dress studs.' Pictured: Gerald Ford dancing with Queen Elizabeth II at the White House, Washington, during the 1976 Bicentennial Celebrations of the Declaration of Independence BARACK OBAMA The 44th US president's visits to the UK were mostly smooth - but even Barack Obama was not immune to regal controversy. In 2009, Michelle Obama drew a wave of criticism after the First Lady placed an arm around the Queen's shoulders. Mrs Obama later responded to the faux pas by claiming the Queen had no issue with being touched and even moved closer as they bonded over their painful shoes. In her book, Becoming, Ms Obama wrote: 'The Queen glanced down at the pair of black Jimmy Choos I was wearing. She shook her head. ''These shoes are unpleasant, are they not?' 'Forget that she sometimes wore a diamond crown and that I'd flown to London on the presidential jet; we were just two tired ladies oppressed by our shoes. 'I then did what's instinctive to me anytime I feel connected to a new person, which is to express my feelings outwardly. I laid my hand affectionately across her shoulder. 'I couldn't have known it in the moment, but I was committing what would be deemed an epic faux pas. Pictured: Former US First Lady Michelle Obama with her arm around Queen Elizabeth ll at the reception at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain April 1, 2009 'I'd touched the Queen of England, which I'd soon learn was apparently not done.' She added: ''If I hadn't done the proper thing at Buckingham Palace, I had at least done the human thing. I daresay the Queen was OK with it too, because when I touched her, she pulled closer, resting a gloved hand lightly on the small of my back.' The late Queen's long-time dressmaker, Angela Kelly, wrote about the incident in her 2019 book, describing'instant, mutual warmth' between the pair. Meanwhile, at Buckingham Palace, in 2011, Presidenr Obama was proposing a toast when the orchestra began to play 'God Save The Queen'. Rather than pausing respectfully for the national anthem to play out, he ploughed on with his remarks, speaking over the music. The Queen then waited until the final notes faded before raising her glass. GEORGE W. BUSH On the 2007 royal visit to the United States, President Bush made a verbal slip-up which adding 200 years to her age. During a welcome ceremony on the White House lawn, the gaffe-prone president declared that the Queen had first toured the United States in 1776. He had meant to state how the Queen had helped celebrate the US bicentennial in 1976. President Bush said in his speech: 'The American people are proud to welcome Your Majesty back to the United States, a nation you've come to know very well. 'After all, you've dined with ten US presidents. 'You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17...in 1976.' He then compounded the error by winking at her before remarking to dignitaries: 'She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child.' The Queen, grinning, replied in her speech: 'I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, 'When I was here in 1776...' Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II with US President, George H W Bush during the Royal Tour of America in 1991 RONALD REAGAN The Queen personally invited Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy to stay at Windsor Castle in 1982. However, instead of leaping at the honour, the President of the United States kept Her Majesty waiting for weeks for a reply. According to documents later released from the National Archives, ambassador Nicholas Henderson, wrote in a memo to the Foreign Office: 'It is really for the President to respond to her invitation, which he has not done. 'As you know those surrounding the President are not deliberately rude: It is simply that they are not organised.' A former official later claimed the delayed response could have been down to Mrs Reagan. William Sittmann, special assistant to Mr Reagan, said: 'Mrs Reagan was very strict about his schedule, she would consult her astrologer to see if this was the right time to travel.' Eventually the matter was smoothed over and the Reagans did come to Windsor, where the president memorably joined the Queen for a horseback ride in the grounds. The papers show how Mr Reagan's staff asked what he needed to wear while riding and said he wanted a thoroughbred horse. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II with US President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy at Buckingham Palace in 1989 JOE BIDEN President Biden came to Glasgow to talk about cutting emissions - but produced a rather different kind of gas at the COP26 climate summit in 2021. The Mail on Sunday reported how Queen Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, was taken aback when the then president broke wind during a reception at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. 'It was long and loud and impossible to ignore,' the source said. 'Camilla hasn't stopped talking about it.' Mr Biden was also accused of a royal gaffe when seen wearing his trademark Ray-Ban sunglasses alongside the late Queen in June 2021. A former member of palace staff described the fashion faux-pas at Windsor Castle as a 'breach of protocol'. Grant Harrold, a former butler to Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said: 'If you're meeting the queen face-to-face there's no sunglasses or anything like that at all because eye contact is quite important with any introduction. 'It's fine for Biden to have had sunglasses on but he should have removed them when he actually met the queen. 'Everyone else has to, it doesn't matter who you are, even royals remove sunglasses when they meet royals.' The ex-husband of a woman who blames him for her life behind bars in Taiwan is living a life of luxury with his glamorous second wife. Debbie Voulgaris, 58, is serving a 15-year sentence for drug smuggling after being caught with $1.9million worth of Class A drugs at Taoyuan International Airport on December 10, 2023. The mother-of-five had never been in trouble with the law and initially 'vehemently denied' knowing the drugs were there, but later pleaded guilty in a desperate bid to avoid execution. Ms Voulgaris continues to insist she is innocent and believes she was set up by African scammers who had been communicating with her ex-husband, John. Now going by the name Kyriacou, Ms Voulgaris' ex-husband lives in Narre Warren, south-east of Melbourne, surrounded by million-dollar-plus homes. Neighbours told Daily Mail the wealthy home loans boss had lived there for years with his wife Poppy and what appears to be adult children. The couple have been together at least nine years, with images of their wedding posted online five years ago. On Thursday, Mr Kyriacou, dressed in a blue tracksuit, refused to talk to the Daily Mail about his ex-wife's comments made from behind bars. John and Poppy Kyriacou have been happily married for years 'I'm sorry,' he said before slamming the door shut. It is not being suggested that Mr Kyriacou was apologising for any of the allegations made by his ex-wife, or that he was involved in the importation of drugs to Taiwan. He previously told the Daily Mail in May 2024 that he and his ex-wife had been set up by long-term business associates while trying to make an overseas investment. But he ignored a subpoena ordering him to give evidence at Taoyuan District Court in August this year, and failed to appear as a defence witness at his ex-wife's hearing. During the hearing, Judge Chen Yen-Nien revealed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other authorities had confirmed Mr Kyriacou had received the documents, but he still did not turn up. Ms Voulgaris' lawyer at the time, Leon Huang, told the court it would be difficult to extradite him because he is an Australian citizen. Judge Yen-Nien said without Mr Voulgaris' testimony, which could help to clear his ex-wife, the court would have to rely on the evidence available to them. Neighbours told the Daily Mail Mr Kyriacou was rarely seen outside, choosing to remain locked away inside his luxury home. Debbie Voulgaris claims her ex-husband is the reason she continues to rot behind bars in Taiwan Meanwhile, his former wife is wasting away inside a prison cell a world away from her once ordinary life in Australia. Ms Voulgaris shares a cell with 10 other women and is allowed visitors on weekdays. They can only see her through a soundproof glass window, with conversations taking place on a phone. Each meeting lasts just 15 minutes. For the first eight months locked away, her children were not allowed to see her due to a non-communication order, but once the ban was lifted, they made a journey they could never never previously imagined. Ms Voulgaris' daughter Maria, 25, and her siblings now make regular trips to Taiwan to spend time with her after she narrowly avoided the death penalty. She had never been in trouble with the law and initially 'vehemently denied' knowing the drugs were there, later pleading guilty in a bid to avoid being executed. In a letter penned to her children from behind bars, Ms Voulgaris poured her heart out. 'To my beautiful amazing Angels!' the letter began. 'My mind never leaves you. I love you all and miss you so much! You're my life.' A letter penned by Ms Voulgaris in jail to her children Ms Voulgaris was arrested at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan on December 10, 2023 She continues to be caged behind the walls of one of Taiwan's toughest prisons Ms Voulgaris said she was doing 'fine and well' and thanked her family for a fundraiser that aims to help finance her eventual release. The doting mum appeared more concerned about the health of her children than her own dire predicament. 'All I want is for you to stay safe, eat well, look after each other and don't worry about me. I'm in good hands,' she wrote earlier this year. Since her arrest, her children have fought tirelessly to clear her name. Now, against all odds, they've been given what could be their mother's last chance of freedom. 'It's going to be amazing, she has finally got some positive news,' her daughter Maria said, admitting that reaching this stage was a milestone in itself. 'We didn't think we had any hope. It's once in a blue moon this happens and we truly thought it wasn't going to happen. 'It's a potential retrial and could mean a whole new verdict. I can't even eat, that's how excited I am.' According to facts tendered to the Taoyuan District Court, Ms Voulgaris landed in Malaysia on December 8, 2023, on a flight from Australia. John and Poppy Kyriacou live an ordinary life in plush surroundings in Melbourne's south-east John and Poppy Kyriacou have been together for years. His ex-wife claims she got caught carrying drugs trying to help him out John and Poppy Kyriacou during a Sydney adventure There, she met a group linked to an African drug syndicate who gave her the suitcase. She then travelled on to Taiwan, allegedly unaware that it was loaded with heroin and cocaine worth around US$1.25million (AU$1.88million). The drugs were detected by the airport's X-ray screening system. Ms Voulgaris has consistently maintained she took the trip as a favour to her ex-husband, who was unwittingly caught up in a scam. She said he believed she was collecting chemicals to clean 'marked money', and said she did not believe he would intentionally involve her in a crime. Despite her guilty plea, Ms Voulgaris was handed a 16-year sentence - one of the harshest drug-related penalties ever given to an Australian overseas in recent years. Her sentence was later reduced to 15 years by Taiwan's High Court. In July this year, Ms Voulgaris' appeal was denied, with her daughter claiming it was the direct result of her father's refusal to help. 'My mother's appeal was rejected by the Taiwanese court, simply because the man who caused this, my father, was not willing to provide any video evidence or take accountability,' she wrote in a Facebook post at the time. An Adelaide mother's desperate plea to track down her missing $700 stroller has gone viral after it was mistakenly sold at a Salvation Army store for just $12. The ordeal began when Emma Burchell left her Bugaboo Butterfly travel pram outside the Brighton Road Salvos while dropping off donations with her two young children earlier this week. Caught up in the chaos of the morning, she accidentally left the stroller behind. 'I just had mum brain, was dropping off donations, juggling two kids, left the pram,' Ms Burchell admitted. Staff, assuming it was part of the donations, put the high-end stroller up for sale. By the time Ms Burchell returned to collect the pricey pram, it was gone. 'And then they thought it was stock, so they sold it for $12,' she said. The bizarre mix-up was shared online by her cousin-in-law, comedian Josh Hawkins, better known to his 900,000 Facebook followers as HiJosh. 'This is my cousin-in-law, and she left her $700 stroller at an op shop,' Hawkins explained in a video that has since gone viral. 'They sold it to someone for $12. 'Please watch this and see if we can get it back for her.' Hawkins' light-hearted retelling struck a chord, with the video quickly going viral and sparking a wave of support for the Adelaide mum. 'I've been back twice today to speak to staff, and they're like, 'nah, sold it, sold it for $12',' Ms Burchell said in the clip. 'I know it's unlikely, but all things are possible. If someone's going, 'I got this awesome pram from the Salvos', yeah, it's mine. Sorry.' The mother-of-two told Kidspot she had been running on very little sleep because her husband was currently away working in the UK. 'I was on WhatsApp to my husband, crying, saying I'm so angry at myself these prams aren't cheap,' she told the publication. Her appeal caught the attention of pram maker Bugaboo, who stepped in to help. Josh Hawkins (left) made a video, appealing for the location of Ms Burchell's $700 pram The company offered Ms Burchell an upgraded Butterfly 2 model, while also pledging to donate other baby essentials through the Brighton Salvos. Bugaboo has also partnered with children's charity Big Group Hug to provide a pram to another family in need. But just as it seemed the case of the missing stroller had reached a dead end, another twist emerged. Late on Wednesday night, the mystery buyer of the pram came forward. The Bugaboo Butterfly stroller (pictured) purchased for $700, was sold for just $12 'I asked the cashier how much that's when they told me $10, so naturally I snagged it,' the buyer wrote to Ms Burchell on social media. 'Got to the counter and they somehow charged me $12 but I didn't care, I thought hell yeah this is amazing I've been looking for one for my daughter for so long.' It's understood the mystery shopper was able to keep the pram, as Ms Burchell had already the generous offer of a new stroller from Bugaboo. 'Social media actually worked. It got my pram back, and more than that, it sparked so many acts of generosity,' she said. Historic York has long been renowned for its cobbled streets, iconic Minster and ancient Roman walls. Now it has another claim to fame - as the most prosperous city in the country outside London. The ancient city has topped a national index of urban growth prospect, beating heavyweight rivals like Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol. With unemployment at just 1.6 per cent - less than half the national 3.8 per cent average - York was praised for its job opportunities, well-skilled workforce, strong transport links and thriving shopping streets. The accolade is backed up by impressive figures with average annual salaries in York now stand at 41,400, according to data mapped by Plumplot, noticeably higher than the UK average wage of 37,430. The city has also staged a strong post-Covid recovery thanks to its buoyant tourist trade and benefited from more than 2billion in tourism spending in 2024 - up 5% on the previous year. Yet, speak to the people who actually live there, and a mixed picture quickly emerges. Many say they are struggling with the soaring cost of housing - the average home now costs 324,940 - as well as soaring rents. Historic York has been crowned the most prosperous city in Britain after London But when the Daily Mail spoke to residents this week, a different picture soon emerged Despite his bubbly demeanor, lifelong York resident Shane Sayner, 47, told our reporter life in the city was as tough as the rest of the country Your browser does not support iframes. First-time buyers in York paid 270,000 on average in July 2025 - around 50,000 more than the British norm. Renting a detached home costs an average 1,467, according to ONS data. Asked if he felt prosperous, lifelong York resident Shane Sayner, 47, said: 'Don't make me laugh. 'My bills have gone through the roof and plenty of locals can't afford to buy or rent because the prices have gone through the roof. 'People with ordinary jobs like me don't have wages that can stretch that far. 'Many properties are Airbnbs or student homes because the council have put tourists and students before their own residents. 'Local families are having to move out of the city because there's no suitable or affordable housing for them.' Mr Sayner, a cleaner, was among several to accuse the council of prioritising tourists and students above the needs of residents. He said: 'I think if you're a tourist coming to York you'll have a great time. 'But I don't think the prosperity that their money brings really helps those who live here. ''The roads are riddled with potholes and the traffic jams are horrendous.' The number of overnight stays in the city reached 1.7m in 2024 - with 9.4m annual visitors But locals have long said the city's overreliance on tourism has led to their high street being 'consumed by tourist tat' York rose to the top of the study ranking Britain's 50 biggest cities outside London, conducted by Demos and PwC. Metrics including crime rates, house prices, earnings, quality of life and schooling were used to assemble the league table, in which York has been the most improved top-ten location since 2021. Visitors staying overnight in York reached 1.7m in 2024 - with 9.4m annual visitors. Last year, the council announced plans to monetise this with a European-style tourist tax that would see visitors pay a nightly extra fee on hotel rooms. Britain's top 10 most prosperous cities* 1. York 2. Edinburgh 3. Bristol 4. Exeter 5. Swindon 6. Plymouth 7. Southampton 8. Reading 9. Portsmouth 10. Norwich (*Rankings based on Demos and PwC survey judging Britain's 50 biggest towns and cities, excluding London, across key metrics) Advertisement The extra cash could be used by the Labour-run council towards maintaining the city and preserving its historic attractions. However, locals told Daily Mail that while they understood York's reliance on tourism, some felt that they were being priced out of doorstep attractions. Retired teacher Penny Forster said: 'It's all about tourist money. 'We feel a bit like second class citizens. It costs so much to visit the museums, the art galleries and so on. 'When you're a tourist you will spend more because you're on holiday. But when you live here, it's very expensive.' Ms Forster added: 'York is still a good place to live. We could do with more police and a bit more appreciation that we do live here, and it's not just tourists.' York has the biggest visitor economy in Britain relative to its size and was also praised for its transport links and job opportunities. Its two universities are major employers, as is the confectionary manufacturer Nestle. Meanwhile, a new government hub is set to be home to 2,000 civil servants. For Sally How, 59, who recently moved from nearby Harrogate, York offers the perfect blend of culture, history and convenience. Ms How, a jeweller of How Fine Designs, said: 'I decided on York because it gave me a mix of city life, restaurants, culture and arts, as well as easy access to nature. 'The traffic really bothers some people, but if youre not tied to getting places at rush hour Ive not found it to be such a problem. Its an easy place to walk around. 'Ive recently taken a few buses in and around York, and the trains to Harrogate, Edinburgh and London are pretty good. 'I think like any busy town or city the rents and rates are high, so some shops are empty, but it doesnt appear worse than anywhere else Ive visited recently. 'I love the history of York and theres always plenty going on. I feel very lucky to live here. Despite the doom mongering, some small business owners like jeweller Sally How are excited about the trajectory of the city Others, however, said the touted prosperity metrics were deceiving. Stock-taking at Millie's fruit and veg shop, Vicky Harris, 61, told how price hikes to parking had affected trade on Bishopthorpe Road, awarded Britain's Best High Street in 2015. In May, council officials raised an hour's stay from 80p to 4.85 before compromising at 3 after a public backlash reported on by Daily Mail. A three hour stay now costs 9. Mrs Harris said: 'It's definitely affected some businesses along here. The restaurants, the hairdressers, the nail bar - where you can't just pop in for an hour. 'There isn't really a bus route you can take to get here, either. There's a bus but it's once an hour, so the service is a bit sparse. 'But there's good and bad things to everywhere you go. I love living in York, I think it's just really nice.' City centre parking can now cost up to 21.50 for five hours, though there is a Park and Ride service and discounted rates for locals holding a Minster Badge. Tracey Hindmarch, 57, said: 'We get a lot of people here from London when the races are on who tell us the parking in York is more expensive here. Which you wouldn't expect.' Both women told of their joy of living in historic York but bemoaned surging property prices that had affected their adult children from being able to get on the housing ladder. Ms Hindmarch said: 'My son's 23 and he might have to leave York to get a place. 'A lot of younger people are having to move out towards Selby because they can't afford to live here . 'There just aren't the affordable places in York anymore.' Locals claim exorbitant charges brought on by the council have reduced visitors into the city centre (A car park in York pictured in May 2025) Sophia Cheng, 38, is moving with her partner and two-year-old into a housing co-operative where neighbours agree to share childcare. Homes at the Lowfield Green Housing Co-op are leased at around 70% of market value and can only be sold on at the same percentage rate. Ms Cheng, a small business owner, has secured a two-bed eco home for 196,000. She said: 'York feels prosperous and I love living here. 'It's got great schools, job opportunities and a lively cultural scene. 'That means that rental prices are really high as residents compete with a vast number of holiday lets and Airbnbs. 'There are at least four on our small street. 'There's a huge shortage of affordable homes so this is a great way of tackling the problems of housing supply. 'The homes are built to a really-high standard. We've signed up to share cars and childminding. 'We can't wait to move in.' Independent business owner Dawn Wood, 62, who runs Fabrication Crafts on Stonegate, was upbeat about the city. She said: 'York recovered much better from Covid, due to the tourist trade. 'There are lots of city wide events, some specifically for locals, such as the residents festival, and many attractions are cheaper or free if you live in the local area. 'Some complain that there is nothing for locals any more and we all cater for the tourists, but that is untrue for the most part. 'There are challenges around accessibility due to the age of the buildings too, with many having steps to get in. 'The Christmas market does affect the number of locals who do shop in the centre, in a detrimental way as it gets very busy and they just avoid coming in, or visiting streets they perceive as tourist ones, which impacts on the businesses who trade there all year round. 'But all in all we love being here.' Edinburgh and Bristol came second and third in the study, followed by Exeter and Swindon. Plymouth, Southampton, Reading, Portsmouth and Norwich completed the top 10. Andrew Carter, of the Centre for Cities, said: 'York is the city with the biggest visitor economy relative to its size and its the only place where total visitor spending in the city centre is higher than the total residential spending. 'Places like York where visitors make an outsized contribution to local economies are in the minority among the UKs towns and cities.' 'She has no more power over me or anyone else'. Thomas Gannon sent those chilling words to his ex-wife in the final text message he would ever send. Less than 24 hours earlier, he bludgeoned an aspiring young artist to death with a hammer in a luxury Hamptons resort. The 56-year-old turned the gun on himself after fleeing Unit 12 of the $1,500-a-night Shou Sugi Ban House, where the body of 33-year-old Sabina Rosas, aka Sabina Khorramdel, lay. Gannon got into an Uber outside the hotel in the town of Southampton and had the driver take him 220 miles to his cabin in Berlin Township, Pennsylvania. There, he fatally shot himself after confessing to the mother of his two children why he had committed the unspeakable crime. 'She was the real devil,' Gannon wrote. 'I was running out of money, she wouldn't stop taking it. 'I had no way to stop her, she was going to kill me. I stopped her yesterday, the only way was to kill her'. Gannon's confession is included in new police files obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, shedding light on the murder that ripped through the Hamptons. The document reveals Sabina's final hours and heinous new details of the slaying inside the hotel that has counted Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow as guests. Police also included a detailed timeline and witness statements that paint a truly horrifying picture of what really happened in Unit 12. Sabina Rosas, 33, was found dead in a guest room at the $1,500-a-night luxury resort Thomas Gannon, 56, murdered Rosas before killing himself at his home in Pennsylvania Gannon had checked into the wellness retreat with Sabina on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 8.51 pm. The following day, video surveillance captured the couple leaving the hotel dining room and walking towards Unit 12 at 9 pm. Detectives confirmed that would be the last time the victim would be seen. At 8am on Monday, October 28, 2024, the hotel host supervisor sent Gannon a text about check-out. She said he had requested a late check-out. Ten minutes later, the supervisor watched Gannon walk past the front desk towards the front of the hotel. Approximately four hours later, at 12.25 pm, one of the housekeepers knocked on the door looking to clean the room. When no one responded, she entered the room and saw the grisly scene: Sabina's naked, battered, and bloodied body on the bed. The curtains had been closed, and there were bloodstains on the bedsheets and floor. She told police that she was so disturbed, she closed the door and returned to the unit with two other co-workers. Through the sliding glass door, they saw Sabina lying motionless on the bed, covered in blood. The horrified employees then called 911. The death report indicated that Sabina had been beaten about her head numerous times with a blunt force object, causing her death. The head injuries she sustained were consistent with a hammer. Sabina had multiple defensive injuries, fingernail gouges on her arm, extensive cranial fractures, aspiration of blood in lungs, air embolism in the heart, and blunt force trauma to the head, as per the autopsy report. The crime scene photo of the bloodstained mattress and hammer that Gannon used to bludgeon Sabina to death was left under the bed in Unit 12 the room they stayed in The grisly photos of the crime scene of the blood that covered the floor and walls of their room The Shou Sugi ban House is located in Watermill in the town of Southampton, Long Island Twelve private guest studios are located on the main property that accommodates up to two guests that also includes a soaking tub, modern gas fireplace, and organic in-room amenities One of the hotel staff remembered Gannon as a returning guest since 2019 Gannon and Sabina checked into the hotel on Saturday, October 26 close to 9 pm One of the hotel employees remembered that Gannon had been a returning guest at the resort since 2019. She also told police that she remembered hosting the couple in May 2022. Sabina had an ex-husband, a husband - who was listed as one of the people who identified her body - and a close friend, Ryder Iwata, who referred to himself as Sabina's fiance. Iwata said he had been in a relationship with Sabina since they met as students at Purchase College in New York in 2016, and said they planned to get married as he described her as 'my person.' The exact nature of Sabina's relationship with Gannon is unclear. Iwata said Gannon helped support her art career and even paid for an apartment in her native Tajikistan, but said Gannon would use this to 'control' her. '(Gannon's) money suddenly became the control he would use to stay in her world and her orbit,' he told DailyMail.com. He added that he knew Sabina was in other relationships but they did not discuss it, and although he knew of Gannon's existence he did not think Gannon knew she was engaged. Sabina's former mentor and professor at Purchase College, Liz Phillips, told DailyMail.com that she understood Gannon 'supplied her with money' and 'seemed to worship her imagination and various quests', and described their relationship as 'romantic.' Sabina Rosas with her mentor Liz Phillips and Thomas Gannon at an art exhibit in Queens Sabina, was also the founder of the Ruyo Journal, an artist-run platform described as fostering critical discourse in the arts, film, and theory in Central Asia Ryder Iwata, a fashion designer and Sabina, a multimedia artist, met at SUNY Purchase in 2016 and shared a special relationship. Iwata said Gannon was 'head over heels' for her Iwata described Gannon as 'very odd' and 'socially inept', and said Sabina's entire demeanor would change around him. He said Gannon would fund Sabina's artistic efforts as a 'muse' of sorts, and said Gannon was 'head over heels' for her but was often 'very possessive.' Iwata said that he knew Gannon as an art benefactor to Sabina, and although they only met once he was left with a strange vibe from the alleged killer. He said Gannon helped move a piece of furniture into Iwata's Brooklyn apartment last year, and found his behavior to be 'weird.' 'Sabina didnt want me talking to him,' he continued. 'She wasnt acting like herself. She apologized for the weirdness and went back into the car... It felt bizarre to me.' Sabina's heartbroken family said in a statement upon hearing news of Gannon's death that they their family has been left 'with a mix of sorrow and frustration.' 'While we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life, we also feel a profound sense of injustice,' the family said. 'Sabina deserves justice, and we were seeking accountability for her death. The loss of the suspect means we will never hear the truth about what happened to her. This outcome has robbed us of the opportunity to find closure through the legal process. 'As we navigate this painful moment, we urge the world to remember Sabina for who she was as a person, her spirit, the important work she did and the art that she created and brought life for us. 'The fight for truth and justice continues in our hearts, and we will honor Sabina's memory as we seek to ensure that her story is never forgotten. 'Thank you for respecting our family's privacy as we cope with this profound loss.' Thomas Gannon's home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania where he shot himself October 29, 2024 Gannon fled in an Uber driven by Ozan Musullo to his home 212-miles away in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He recalled that Gannon was standing on the sidewalk outside the private gated resort and remembered he had been dressed in a dark long jacket and had fair skin and light eyes. He said he seemed 'miserable,' and recalled that after he settled in the back of the passenger seat, he stared out the window for a while before falling asleep over the course of the 3.5-hour drive. When Musullo got closer to the destination, Gannon helped him navigate. When he left his car, he remembered he had not given him a tip. Gannon's ex-wife contacted police to conduct a welfare check after she received a troubling text. The message sent on October 29, 2024 at approximately 8.09 pm was Gannon's confession In the note, he detailed his motivations alleging manipulation and financial ruin caused by the victim, as per the police report. 'She took everything from me. You and the kids, my family, my friends, two million dollars in forced trips, jewelry and the most expensive clothings, shoes, and bags money could buy, including 500K in cash.' 'She took our multi-million dollar businesses from us, she took our kids future from us. She took my life. 'I'm sorry there was nothing I could to stop her. She has an evil power that was not stoppable.' 'She took control of my mind and everything about me, I cannot live with all for this now.' After he apologized to his ex-wife and children and told them he loved them he killed himself with a .380 semi-automatic handgun. A group of young sailors have described how panic set in when a killer whale started smashing into their yacht - before they fought the huge beast off using vinegar. The 20-year-old women, from Norway, were on board the sail boat Nova Vida passing Lisbon, Portugal, on their way to the fishing town of Sines when the killer whale attacked on September 13. Shocking video shared with the Daily Mail shows the vessel jolting and its steering wheels spinning out of control as the orca repeatedly rammed the hull. Elise Wurschmidt, who was on a day trip with two friends and their captain, said: 'We turned on the engine and some minutes later, the wheel just starts to spin uncontrolled. 'We figured something might be wrong and then on the side of the boat we could just see a huge orca.' When the whale hit the rudder underneath the boat, the steering mechanism snapped completely in two. 'When that broke, the rudder was completely stuck,' Elise says. 'We couldn't use the emergency rudder and we couldn't use the steering wheel at all.' With the wheel locked into position, the young sailors could only go around in circles as the orcas continued to crash against the hull. It was not calm on board, Elise says. But in footage from the cockpit, the crew on board seem exceptionally disciplined in looking for a solution - turning to unconventional means to ward off the attacking six-metre whales. Elise and her friends tried to fend off the orcas attacking the boat without violence. They ran the boat's engine and poured vinegar into the water in the hope something might work One or two orcas attacked the Nova Vida while five or six apparently struck the Oceanview Elise (pictured) met her friends through a sailing course. They are planning to sail the world together and are documenting their journey on Instagram Elise Wurschmidt, Thelma Hvidsten Hem, Eva Hole Rdland, Amalie Sundnes Harjo and Lisa Strand Festervoll in their boat, the Fatuhiva, currently under repair in Germany Elise and her four friends, all 20, have read much about orcas in preparation to circumnavigate the world together. Over the last month, they have documented their trials and learnings with a dedicated audience on Instagram. They met through A+ World Academy, a student exchange on a sailboat 'where you travel around for a year and you have school at sea and you learn to sail'. But nothing could have prepared them for this. In the moment, they reasoned that running the engine and banging on the rudder might scare off the attacking whales. It was also the folk stories of old sailors that brought them comfort in their time of need. Elise had heard tales of crew fending off killer whales with sand and vinegar. It might not be backed up by science, she says, but it was anything not to feel helpless. Running the engine and pouring vinegar into the sea - 'the cheapest one from Carrefour', they say - they hoped for the whales to leave them alone. 'We really don't think that the vinegar did anything,' Elise stressed. 'But we just poured because it's better than to feel helpless in the situation. 'We do think that reversing the engine did have an effect because when you back up the rudder, the propeller sucks instead of blowing out, so maybe the whale doesn't like that.' The Oceanview sank after being struck by several killer whales on Saturday, September 13 The steering mechanism broke and the crew were unable to use either the wheel or the emergency wheel People have since said they should have shot the whales with flares or underwater guns. But the compassionate young crew cared for the animals' welfare. 'We don't want to hurt the orcas,' she insisted. It was the size of the whales that struck Elise. Earlier that week, in the Bay of Biscay, they had seen dolphins swimming nearby. 'And every time we saw dolphins, we were scared that it actually might be orcas,' she said. 'But when we saw the orca, we were quite surprised by the width and length of it. It was quite huge ... It's no wonder they actually sink boats, because they're huge animals.' The crew were witness to the sinking of the Oceanview tourist boat, some 500 metres away. As they tried to steady their sailboat against one, maybe two six-metre orcas, the Oceanview was being attacked by 'five or six'. 'I think that feels quite different with so many orcas attacking at once instead of just one or two,' Elise said. 'And I can't imagine losing your boat or the fact that your boat actually sinks.' The Oceanview sinks beneath the waves after being attacked by killer whales The vessel was sailing along off the coast of Fonte da Telha beach in Portugal last Saturday Your browser does not support iframes. The group could only watch as the Oceanview sank. The crew of five were rescued and fine, they say, but it was a shock to watch the boat nearby disappear beneath the waves. 'We called them on the emergency radio and we heard that the coast guard couldn't come to us because the other boat was taking in so much water that they need to be prioritised. 'So we were just paying attention to the other boat and trying to fix our steering mechanism. 'Shortly after, maybe around 10-15 minutes, the other boat, we were trying to find it, but we could only see the mast standing up from the water, so it had completely sunken.' The tourists on board the Oceanview were rescued. Elise says the captain spoke to the other boat and heard it was a few tourists who had rented the Oceanview, and that they were fine. The owner sounded okay. 'He didn't really have an emotional affection towards the boat,' she relayed. In the end, the crew of the Nova Vida were able to install their emergency rudder and pry it enough to get them the 10 nautical miles back to Cascais, to the north. It was two or three hours before they could start using the steering wheel normally again, or the emergency one. The group were off the coast of Lisbon when a pod of orcas attack A RIB from the coast guard followed along to offer support The Nova Vida will need a few weeks of repairs before it can sail again A RIB from the coast guard followed along to offer support. The Nova Vida will need a few weeks of repairs before it is ready to set sail again, but it has not deterred the crew from their quest to travel the world together. The group set off in August from Norway and were almost immediately buffeted when their boat, Fatuhiva, struck a sand dune near Kiel, Germany. It was while they awaited repairs that a thoughtful group of boys on the Nova Vida asked if they wanted to join them for a sail over the Bay of Biscay in the meantime. Soon enough, they hope, the boats will be up and running again, in time for their next adventure across the Atlantic. The footage is shaky and erratic, the terrified teenager capturing it on her camera phone doesn't want to look too obvious. There are shots of the gravel path ahead of her and then the field of view tilts upwards to reveal her friend, Abigail, who's walking a little way behind her on the old railway bridge, stepping carefully but as swiftly as she can over the wooden sleepers. The reason that Libby German started filming suddenly appears in shot: the man who is following behind Abigail. He is muffled up heavily against the chill of the misty, grey February day. He too is trying to look nonchalant, head down and hands in pockets, but it is clear the girls are his focus - and he's gaining ground on them. Libby, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, can be heard exchanging nervous whispers on the video. 'Is he right there?' asks Abigail, clearly too scared to look behind her. Libby steps off the rail tracks as the bridge ends and the camera once more pointing downwards - catches a glimpse of steeply sloping woodland. 'See, this is the path that we're on,' begins Libby. Heartbreakingly, you sense she's trying to sound calm, normal even. Abby suddenly rushes past her. Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) set off on a walk along the Monon High Bridge trail in Delphi, Indiana, on February 13, 2017 and never returned 'Um, there's no path going there so we have to go down here.' One of them is breathing hard, the other sniffling as their footsteps are heard on the gravel. Then comes a man's voice. 'Guys,' he says. 'Down the hill.' That is when the chilling tape ends 43 seconds after Libby began her desperate filming. The two best friends, who had set out for a walk on well-known trails in the woods outside the small Midwestern town of Delphi, Indiana in February 2017, never returned home. Police believe the girls' killer forced them down the slope at gunpoint. Their bodies were found in woodland half a mile from the trail the next day. Their throats had been cut. There was no sign of sexual interference, but Libby was naked while Abby had been dressed in Libby's clothes. A few thin branches had been strategically placed over their bodies lying close to each other under the trees. The double child murder horrified America as did what followed a litany of investigative blunders, despite the vital clue the girls had left. The best friends managed to capture their killer in a video on Libby's cellphone moments before they were killed Richard Allen, 52, leaves the Carroll County Courthouse after being sentenced to 130 years in prison for the murders Libby had captured that haunting phone video now a YouTube sensation - of the man following them over the derelict Monon High Bridge and recorded those four muffled words of his voice. And then Abby had somehow managed to conceal the phone under her body even as she lay dying. Within two days, investigators were circulating a grainy photograph taken from the video of a heavyset white male, wearing a bluecoat, walking quickly after the girls over the bridge. He was soon declared to be the prime suspect. There had been few hikers on the trail that day but several of them had seen a man. In July 2017, police released a composite sketch of a middle-aged, bearded individual wearing a cap. Police said that, as he appeared to be familiar with the local trails, he was likely to have been a local. Yet for the families of Libby and Abigail, over five agonising years, the hunt for 'Bridge Guy', as he became known, proved fruitless. Delphi population 3,000 - was left living in fear as shocking rumours claiming that the two girls were 'ritualistically sacrificed' by pagan worshippers of the Norse god Odin dominated headlines for a time. Now, a new book, Shadow of The Bridge: The Delphi Murders And The Dark Side Of The American Heartland, by Aine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, and - separately - an ABC News documentary series, have provided a 'definitive' account of the brutal murders and how a chance discovery by a volunteer clerk finally led to justice being done. The Delphi Murders were a classic case of a small and inexperienced police force being overwhelmed by the demands and national scrutiny - of a huge murder investigation. Firstly, the authorities managed to lose 70 days' worth of recorded interviews with local people, some of which would have proved crucial. Then, two years after releasing a sketch of the suspected killer, they released a new one which was wildly inaccurate. Libby and Abby (pictured together) helped lead cops to their killer with their cellphone video Far worse, the police had also missed an opportunity to find the killer in the first few days of the investigation. Under pressure from his wife, a local shop worker called Richard Allen had told police that he had been in the area at the time the girls were killed. But the 'tip sheet' that could have led investigators straight to him was misfiled. Investigators were struggling to deal with thousands of tips as an atmosphere of mutual suspicion enveloped the town. An early suspect was Ron Logan, on whose land the girls' bodies were found. On the night of their murder, CCTV footage captured him dumping large bags of rubbish at a local tip. He told police that he'd gone out with his cousin to a tropical fish shop, but - under questioning - the cousin admitted it was a lie. Logan not only had a history of drink-driving and violence against women but also a huge collection of knives and guns. However, it transpired Logan had been lying to police not to cover up a double murder but to conceal that he'd been driving while banned. Another man who featured prominently in the investigation was an obese sexual predator called Kegan Kline. While hiding behind an online persona of a Justin Bieber-lookalike calling himself Anthony Shots - Kline spent his time 'catfishing' or tricking underage girls into sending him revealing pictures of themselves. He had chatted to Libby German online the night before the murders and he didn't live far away. When police raided Kline's house, they discovered more than 100 phone videos of naked underaged girls. In 2020 he was convicted and jailed for 40 years on charges of child exploitation and child pornography but, due to a lack of any supporting evidence relating to the murder case, police ruled him out as a suspect. The book 'Shadow of the bridge: The Delphi murders and the dark side of the American heartland' reveals new details about the haunting case And then there were Brad Holder and Patrick Westfall, two former soldiers who'd served together in Afghanistan. They were members of the Delphi branch of a bizarre white supremacist pagan cult called the Odinists, who worshipped Odin and other ancient Norse gods. Might they, or other Odinists, have been responsible? Investigators had been struck by the 'oddness' of the branches positioned over the girls' bodies and how Libby's right arm was outstretched to touch a large tree on which it appeared that a symbol had been drawn in the victim's blood. Social media posts about their ceremonies showed the local Odinists taking offerings to a tree, which was sacred to them. Brad Holder was of particular interest to investigators as he had posted online memes referring to 'friends helping friends move bodies' along with runic symbols drawn from the ancient Norse alphabet made of branches. And Abby Williams had been friends with Holder's son. Even more intriguing, it was discovered in a social media post that Holder had the same runic marking on his hand that appeared to be recreated by the branches over Abby's body. When Holder turned out to have a solid alibi for the time of the murders, attention was concentrated on his partner in Odin worship - Patrick Westfall. But police said they couldn't find evidence that either man was in Delphi at the time of the killings, let alone was involved. Westfall dismisses the speculation about them in the ABC documentary and says their practices, although strongly tied to nature, have nothing to do with human sacrifices or killing. Months turned into years as police ran out of suspects and the murder investigation petered out. Then in September 2022, a volunteer police clerk named Kathy Shank, a sharp-eyed retiree who'd offered to help on the investigation, was going through the case files and noticed there was one name that had slipped through the cracks. This had happened because he was listed as 'Richard Allen Whiteman' and, as no such person existed, his 2017 conversation with an officer about being on the trails the day the girls died had fallen out of the system. Shank realised that 'Whiteman' referred to the road where he lived it was not part of his name. She also deduced from the details he'd provided about the other people he'd met on his two-hour hike, that he had to be 'Bridge Guy'. Finally, last November, husband and father Richard Allen - a chubby-faced, 5ft 5in tall man with large, pale eyes - was convicted of the killings. Richard and Kathy Allen on their wedding day. Kathy Allen spoke out after her husband's conviction for the Delphi murders He worked as a manager at the Delphi branch of pharmacy chain CVS, and the town had to contend with the unsettling knowledge that the killer had been hiding among them for years. After searching Allen's home and finding a large collection of knives and a handgun, forensics experts were able to match the gun with an unspent bullet that had been found lying in between the girls' bodies. Investigators believe that the bullet had been accidentally expelled from the gun when the killer cocked it, perhaps to intimidate his victims. Although the round was never fired, it still left faint markings that allowed experts to match it with the gun in which it was loaded. While Allen had spent the five years since the murders living quietly in Delphi, police were quick to uncover a sinister side to the personality of the quiet, unassuming shop worker. Online, he would search for morbid, disturbing films and he had a taste for especially perverse pornography. He was weak and needy, repeatedly failing to earn a permanent promotion at work because he couldn't cope with stress. He was also prone to sudden explosions of anger and violence. His wife, Kathy, said he suffered from depression which had got worse in the past seven or so years. She had once had to call police after he jammed a gun barrel in his mouth and threatened to kill himself. It also emerged that Allen had discouraged Kathy, and their adult daughter, Brittany, from getting involved in the hunt for the girls in the hours after they disappeared. And he'd only agreed to tell the police he'd been in the area at Kathy's urging. He insisted to investigators that he'd never encountered the girls but refused to take a polygraph test and, in October 2022, was charged with both murders, pleading not guilty. As Allen, now 50, languished in jail for over a year while awaiting trial, his behaviour became deranged (he took to smearing himself with his own faeces) but his guards believed he was faking it. Police tape blocks off the trails and creek around the Monon High Bridge in Delphi back on February 16, 2017 He also started confessing to anyone who'd listen - including his mother, his devoted wife Kathy and prison officials - that he'd killed the girls. However, Kathy, his high school sweetheart who worked as a receptionist at a vet's surgery, couldn't accept that the man she'd married was a child-killer, assuring him that the authorities 'are screwing with you' and that she didn't believe he had done it. Meanwhile, Allen's lawyers - desperate to produce an alternative suspect to their client - leapt again at the possibility of the Odinists even though police had ruled them out. They recruited Dawn Perlmutter, an expert on ritualistic crime who has helped federal agencies, including the FBI, to re-examine photos of the dead girls. However, the connection, while colourful, had never been convincing and the judge handling Allen's case refused to allow the defence to put the local Odinists up as the possible murderers. At his trial, which opened last October amid intense public and media interest, the credibility of his jail confessions - along with the bullet analysis and the exact timing of when Allen was on the walking trails - were the three main areas of contention. As an alleged child killer, Allen had been placed in solitary confinement for months for his own protection and the defence produced psychiatrists who argued that the intense mental pressure this put on him could easily have affected his judgment. Unfortunately for the defence, prosecutors had obtained a very detailed confession that Allen had given to a prison psychologist, Dr Monica Wala. It included details that only the killer would have known. He'd described to her how, on the day of the murders, after visiting his mother and sister in a nearby town, he bought a six-pack of beer, drank three of them at home, and then headed for the trails. He planned to lie in wait for a woman he could stalk and then rape. Instead, he saw Abby and Libby and, convinced they were older than they looked, followed them on to the bridge where he caught up with them and, at gunpoint, took them down the hill to a creek. He told Dr Wala he'd intended only to rape them but then saw a van passing by on a nearby access road which spooked him into murdering them with a box cutter he'd taken from work. He threw some sticks over the bodies to obscure them from view and made his escape. Prosecutors told the jury that the 'Bridge Guy' seen hazily in the girls' phone video was Allen, while a police officer who'd listened to 700 of Allen's prison phone calls testified that the voice that ordered them 'down the hill' was Allen's. Jurors spent 19 hours deliberating before finding him guilty on all counts last November. Allen was sentenced to the maximum 130 years in prison. Blindly loyal, his wife continues to insist he's innocent. She tells the new ABC News documentary series - now streaming on Hulu - that Allen is 'a wonderful, caring, compassionate father' and 'non-judgmental, very giving, he has good morals he's not the monster that people think he is.' There are few in Delphi who would agree. When Donald Trump arrived this week at Windsor Castle, by carriage no less, he was greeted by three different honor guards: the Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots. That had never been done before. Then King Charles unloaded more pomp - a Beating Retreat musical performance, complete with a flyover from the Red Arrows followed by a gilded state dinner in the exquisite St. George's Hall. For dessert, an after-dinner playlist that included some Trump rally favorites like Tiny Dancer and Nessun dorma. The next day, Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Trump at his Chequers estate - a much fancier version of Camp David - where he was treated to another flyover, this time with parachuters, zig-zagging down from the sky with massive American and British flags. When things got down to brass tacks at a bilateral press conference, Trump allowed his UK counterpart to twist in the wind like those jumpers. Britain rolled out the red carpet like never before for Trump this week and then watched helplessly as he tossed aside Starmer's wishes on some of his biggest issues. The lesson: No amount of pomp and praise can buy Trump's loyalty. A journalist for the UK's Sky News asked about the 'elephant in the room' - Starmer's decision to sack his US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, after more details came out about the diplomat's friendship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump (left) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) appeared at a bilateral press conference Thursday afternoon at Chequers, the more ornate British version of Camp David. All the pomp didn't move Trump on issues like Ukraine and a Palestinian state President Donald Trump and the American delegation were feted with a feast in St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle by King Charles on Wednesday When the reporter asked Trump if he had some 'sympathy' for Mandelson for losing his job over his 'historic links' to Epstein, instead of providing Starmer with a soft landing, he punted, tossing the question to the prime minister. 'I don't know him, actually,' Trump said of Mandelson - despite photographs of them together in the Oval Office in May. 'I think maybe the prime minister would be better speaking to that,' the president said. 'That was a choice that he made and I don't know, what is your answer to that?' said Trump, turning from ally to inquisitor. Starmer, visibly uncomfortable, simply said he made the decision based on new information available. On even more substantive global issues, no amount of pomp appeared to get Trump to budge. The prime minister insisted repeatedly that it was time to deploy a heavier hand against Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the wa in Ukraine. 'And it's only when the president has put pressure on Putin that he's actually shown any inclination to move,' Starmer noted, pointing to Russia's recent bombings of government buildings and a Russian drone incursion into Poland. Trump downplayed the threat. The royal family put on an elaborate welcome ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday for President Donald Trump (center left) and First Lady Melania Trump (left) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer treated President Donald Trump to a parachute display on the lawn of Chequers King Charles (right) delivers a toast to President Donald Trump (center) at a glitzy state banquet at Windsor Castle. Trump was seated next to Kate Middleton (left) The Red Arrows performed a flyover to conclude a musical performance outside Windsor Castle called a Beating Retreat. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined King Charles and Quen Camilla in the viewing stand 'It doesn't affect the United States and ... look, it doesn't so much affect you,' the president told Starmer. 'Of course, you are a lot closer to the scene than we are. We have a whole ocean separating us.' Trump also minimized the largest war in Europe since World War II since no one has designated it a 'world war.' 'That's a war that could have been a world war, and I don't think we're going to be there now,' he said. Aboard Air Force One, Trump described Starmer as a 'little bit embarrassed' that he caught European countries buying oil from Russia and dug in his heels. 'We're supposed to do all this stuff, and they're buying oil from Russia?' To be sure, Starmer didn't come up empty handed. He secured several wins, including less aggressive tariff rates than other countries. Trump also thinks Starmer 'holds his ground on positions without being critical,' a perspective he respects, the Wall Street Journal reported. But if Starmer thought pomp would be a useful tool for persuasion across the board, he should have looked toward the trio of Middle Eastern leaders who hosted Trump at three lavish state dinners in May. The president traveled to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - and was greeted by Arabian horses, camels and hair twirlers, respectively - visiting a series of ornate palaces. Camels lined the streets for President Donald Trump in the Qatari capital of Doha during the American leader's May visit. Earlier this month Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was furious that Israel launched an attack on Hamas on Doha's streets The president was delighted by children who performed the 'Al-Ayyala' hair flip as he was greeted by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi during his Middle East trip in May More pomp - in a way that only the Middle East can deliver. But this month, all three leaders were furious that the U.S. ally Israel struck the Palestinian terror group Hamas on the streets of Qatar's capital Doha. No amount of flattery can pry Trump away from Israel, who said at the Starmer press conference that 'one of our few disagreements' was over the war in Gaza and Palestinian statehood. Trump's allies have learned to roll out the red carpet for him a necessary tactic to manage this administration H.A. Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies told the Daily Mail. But, 'it doesn't change anything,' Hellyer said. 'What has become clear to allies of the US ... is that DC is not a reliable guarantor of regional security architecture that they once thought it was.' It is the afternoon of Monday, August 21, 2023 and Britains worst-ever serial child killer has just been sentenced to a record 14 whole life sentences. Lucy Letbys face a haunting police mugshot is on every television channel. In Chester, where she committed her dreadful crimes, one bewildered seven-year-old boy sees the image and asks his tearful parents: Is that the naughty nurse who tried to kill me? It wasnt just childish imagination running wild. The boy had been born at the Countess of Chester Hospital, in 2015, during the middle of the neo-natal nurses killing spree. Hed been delivered at full-term, following a healthy pregnancy, but soon after birth hed been whisked away to the special care baby unit for a little bit of help with his breathing. There, hed inexplicably collapsed and had to be resuscitated three times. Doctors could find no medical cause for his decline. An episode during this frightening time only compounded his parents distress. For as they nervously waited for news of his condition, a nurse came and presented them with a memory box, with their sons name band, a woolly hat and blanket inside. When they began to panic that it meant he had died, inexplicably the nurse began to laugh. I just saw the box and I burst into tears, I remember saying, Oh my God is he dead? and she just laughed, the boys mother recalls. Lucy Letby s face a haunting police mugshot was on every television channel when she was sentenced in 2023 to a record 14 whole life sentences Later, when the investigation into deaths at the hospital began to home in on one individual, they realised the nurse theyd encountered was Letby. The boys parents, filmed for a new Channel 4 documentary, say they now believe their son would have been murdered had he not been transferred to another hospital. Personally, I think if hed stayed at Chester he would have died, his father says, speaking for the first time about the ordeal. Unbeknown to them, concerns had already been raised about a spike in deaths on the unit and Dr Stephen Brearey, the lead clinician, had privately begun to air his suspicions about Letby, who seemed to be on duty every time a baby died. He suggested to the couple that their son should be moved to Liverpool Womens Hospital, in the city, and, as became the pattern with so many other children harmed by the 35-year-old nurse, there the baby boy quickly recovered. That decision is what saved him, the boys mother says, her voice steady and deliberate. He was full term, he was fine, thered been no problems. To go from that, to suddenly being at deaths door... I remember looking at the doctor and all the other people thinking, These are only human beings, they cant work magic, I dont know if they can help him. Especially when they were telling us they didnt know the reason or know what was wrong. The anonymous parents, filmed as part of a new Channel 4 documentary Yet, just a few days after being transferred out of the Countess, their baby was well enough to go home. Liverpool Womens didnt do anything that Chester couldnt have done, his mother adds. They treated him for jaundice. He was in an incubator and picked up really quickly. Id love to ask him [Dr Brearey], did you know or have a feeling something was going on with her [Letby]? We will forever be so grateful to him. These parents, who have never spoken publicly about their experience before, are among those interviewed in the documentary. Entitled Conviction, it is directed by three-time Emmy award winner Daniel Bogado and follows the main protagonists involved in Letbys long-running case. The film begins in the aftermath of her convictions for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more, over two trials, in 2023 and 2024, and follows the doubts that subsequently emerged about the juries verdicts. It also covers the noisy campaign launched by the new legal team Letby appointed to try to set her free. Mark McDonald, Letbys new barrister, and a series of medics who are now convinced she is innocent, feature heavily, but so does Dr Dewi Evans, the lead prosecution expert, who has been the subject of criticism but remains steadfast in his belief in her guilt. As a journalist who covered the former neo-natal nurses trials at Manchester Crown Court, I too was interviewed at length by Bogado about my knowledge of the case. But by far the most powerful contributors to the film are the couple, whose sons case was investigated by police but not taken forward to trial. A memory box given to the parents by Lucy Letby. They believe had their baby not been transferred to another hospital, he would have been murdered I understand there are up to 100 sets of parents across Cheshire and North Wales in the same boat as them. Parents whose children were born at the Countess, who also received that dreaded knock on the door from officers telling them experts had looked at their babys medical notes and decided something wasnt quite right only to be told later that there wasnt quite enough evidence to prosecute Letby in connection with their son or daughters care. Like all the parents of babies harmed by Letby, the couples identity is protected by the documentary makers. They are filmed from behind frosted glass, which somehow serves to make their story even more haunting. They corroborate the testimony of parents who gave evidence about Letbys strange and intrusive behaviour at her trial, describing their fleeting interaction with her on the ward as simply not normal. Recalling the memory box incident, the boys mother says: A nurse came in with the box, she came straight up to us. I just saw the box and I burst into tears, I remember saying to her, Oh my God is he dead? and she just laughed. She said No, we just give these boxes out to the parents of babies whove been really poorly. Three times hed been resuscitated, they couldnt explain why. I was very upset, I was frightened. It was only when we saw her face in the newspaper later on that we both recognised her. The nurse that gave us the box was Lucy Letby. The mother says she hates the blue-lidded memory box, which is decorated with stars, while her husband says looking at it gives him a horrible feeling in his stomach. Lucy Letby being interviewed by police. The boy's parents only realised the nurse who gave them the memory box was Letby when they saw her face in the news But they cant bring themselves to throw it away in case its needed in the future as evidence. They claim police told them theyd spoken to other parents who remembered Letby bringing a memory box to them in a similar way and that it was a pattern of her behaviour. So they keep the box shoved away in a cupboard, but it sits on a table in front of them for the duration of the film. The mother says that, after they saw the picture of Letby in the media after her first arrest, in July 2018, they almost rang the police to say: This is what happened to us. Is there a connection? But she adds: You dont really believe that something like thats going to happen, so we didnt. And then of course, when they knocked on the door, we were like: Okay, maybe we should have rung. She says they both cried tears of relief and felt overcome with emotion when the guilty verdicts came in following the first trial, in August 2023. The day she was given her sentence, obviously it was all over the news, she recalls. He [their son] saw our reactions and wanted to know why mummy and daddy were upset. [He said], Is that the naughty nurse that tried to kill me? They had been forced to explain what happened to him when he overheard them discussing the case with close relatives earlier during the trial. Determined to protect their son, they havent shared their experience widely but realised they could not lie and that he deserved to know the truth. I didnt want to upset him, but obviously I also didnt want to lie to him, his mother says. I really had to think about what I was saying, to try and put it in a way that wouldnt scare him too much. Because he deserves to know, when hes asking questions, that Im going to tell him the truth about things. The easiest way to explain it is, he is kind of like Harry Potter, and she is Voldemort, and he survived just like Harry did. Thats the way that I decided to explain it to him because he can understand, he knows the story. The couple sympathise with parents involved in the trial, who have been angered by Letbys new barrister Mark McDonald. The families are critical of him for calling press conferences and speaking about their children in public, instead of quietly following legal process. For his part, the lawyer insists he genuinely believes Letby is innocent and should not be allowed to die in jail. He claims to have compassion for the families of the babies but, by the same token, refuses to apologise for courting publicity for his clients case. Im not doing it to be on telly, he protests in the documentary. Its not about me. Despite this, in April, to much fanfare, he hand-delivered reports from his new panel of experts to the Birmingham offices of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the body which handles potential miscarriages of justice. Afterwards, he explained that the reports proved Letbys convictions were unsafe and that her case must be referred to the Court of Appeal without delay. But the film also casts doubt on the independence of those experts, who say Letby is not a killer and rather babies died or collapsed because of natural causes or poor hospital care. It reveals they were recruited by panel lead Dr Shoo Lee, a neonatologist from Canada, who wrote to them in an e-mail which said We might be her [Letbys] last hope, implying he had an agenda from the start. The couple also talk about how hard it has been to get on with their lives with Letbys case constantly in the news. Its bad enough for us but at least weve still got him [their son], the mother says. If it triggers such a visceral reaction in me, I cant even begin to imagine how they [the parents of the murdered children] must feel. I can understand maybe her family or close friends campaigning to help get her out, but most of these people are not going to have ever had any dealings with her or know anything more than whats been on the news. All these experts, they werent there. The doctors, like Dr Brearey, the nurses, they dealt with it on a day-to-day basis. They know whats not normal. Theyre used to dealing with that situation and they picked up on things and the hospital just didnt want to deal with it, which is very strange for such a serious accusation. They kind of brushed it under the carpet. Managers at the Countess were alerted to the spike in deaths and knew about the doctors suspicions about Letby. But they delayed calling police and have since been accused of deliberately ignoring the concerns to protect the hospitals reputation. Three of those former executives are now facing possible prosecution having been arrested, in July, on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter by officers from Cheshire Constabulary. While the couples little boys early years were largely healthy, behavioural problems emerged soon after he started school and, aged seven, he began suffering horrific seizures. Distressingly, they say, he sometimes asks if he is going to die when he has a fit. Now aged nine, he also attends a special school because he has learning difficulties. Inevitably, the couple wonder if his ongoing medical problems were caused by what happened after his birth. While the boys father says he is convinced of Letbys guilt, his mother says the conflicting voices around the case sometimes give her doubts. I definitely feel something went on at the hospital but... I like to see the best in people, and I find it so hard to believe that somebody would do something so horrible, and then gain satisfaction from that. Gain satisfaction from thinking that youve hurt somebody or upset somebody. I dont know how she [Letby] would sleep at night because I certainly wouldnt. Tucked away in one of South Africa's most affluent suburbs, the Goddess Cafe in Waterkloof is a shrine of femininity. Described by its owners as a 'pink paradise', even the burger buns and lattes are served in shades of that colour. Dishes are sprinkled with rose petals. Cerise-coloured parasols and blossom adorn the ceilings and walls. Here, in this somewhat incongruous setting, convicted killer Oscar Pistorius has been seen lunching with his girlfriend Rita Greyling. The former Paralympic athlete's appearance in an establishment frequented by wealthy young women and social media influencers is seen by some as a sure sign of just how serious he is about their romance. According to a source: 'You can't imagine a less likely place to see Oscar Pistorius but he and Rita hold hands and look lovingly across the table at each other. He is besotted with her. You can see they are deeply in love.' More, shortly, of this burgeoning relationship between Pistorius and Rita, 33, who looks uncannily like Reeva Steenkamp, the girlfriend he shot dead on Valentine's Day in 2013. More, too, of Pistorius's admission to a friend that having put his criminal past behind him he wants to marry and start a family. He is also relaunching his sporting career having taken part in an Ironman triathlon in June. But while the 38-year-old, who was freed from jail on parole in January 2024, is moving on with his life, the British mother of the woman he murdered is in hospital, critically ill after suffering a stroke nearly three weeks ago. Former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius (right) killed his former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (left) on Valentine's Day in 2013 Pistorius's new girlfriend Rita Greyling (above), who he has been seen romancing across South Africa, looks uncannily like Reeva Friends of June Steenkamp, 78, fear she may not even remember her beloved daughter. 'It's heart-breaking to think that she might not be able to remember what happened to Reeva,' a family friend told the Daily Mail. 'She is barely able to speak. It's impossible to follow what she is saying or have a conversation. She doesn't know her own name and doesn't recognise people. She is seriously ill and the doctors cannot tell us yet the full extent of the damage to her brain.' According to family lawyer Tania Coen, who was caring for June at her home when she suffered the stroke, the mask of grief she has worn since losing Reeva on Valentine's Day 2013 has slipped. 'It's as if she's gone back to the person she was before Reeva died,' says Tania, a close friend of June's for years. 'She was always a warm and loving person but now she smiles in a way she hasn't smiled for so many years.' June's stroke comes two years to the month that her heartbroken husband Barry, 80, died, two years after meeting Pistorius in prison. There, stable owner and horse trainer Barry asked Pistorius, a devout Christian, to swear on a Bible that he did not mean to kill Reeva, 29, when he shot her four times through a locked toilet door at his home in Pretoria. The double amputee athlete, who insists he mistook Reeva for an intruder, refused. It was proof, said Barry, that he was a cold-blooded killer and liar who had killed their daughter in a fit of rage. June's inability to say more than a few words is particularly heart-rending given that in the wake of Reeva's murder, she vowed to become her daughter's voice by raising awareness of violence and abuse against women and children through a foundation set up in her name. She carried on fundraising for victims even while privately facing financial hardship which forced her to put her home up for sale. 'It's a cruel twist of fate that while Pistorius has been able to turn over a new leaf and embark on a new life, his crime has had a lifelong impact on June,' says the family friend. Friends of June Steenkamp (above) fear she may not even remember her beloved daughter after she suffered a stroke and is now critically ill 'He's had a second chance but there was no starting again for June and Barry.' Even crueller, say those that know her, is that after Barry's death in 2023 and Pistorius's release in January 2024, June decided to move on with her life, living quietly with her dog, cat, horse, donkey and 40 chickens on her small-holding near Port Elizabeth. Tania says: 'June said she wanted to live the rest of her life in peace and she has been doing that. She had done everything she could to be Reeva's voice and wanted to close that chapter of the Oscar story.' Hoping to break even further from the tragic past, June had recently planned to move back to the UK where she was born and raised in Blackburn, Lancashire, and where her eldest daughter, Simone, lives. She had even organised a pet passport for her Ridgeback dog Taboo. But, says Tania, who is now trying to raise money for June's care: 'She can't leave now and it's not yet clear what the future will hold.' It's hard to imagine a more stark contrast, then, between the fates of Reeva's mother and the once-feted Paralympic gold medallist who murdered her daughter. While Pistorius is living in a luxury cottage in the grounds of his uncle's 2million property in Pretoria, June has, according to her lawyer, been 'living in poverty'. Surrounded by overgrown grass and weeds, the gates to her property have long been broken. Said to be worth no more than 50,000, the family friend who spoke to the Daily Mail this week said June had been forced to put it up for sale before her stroke because she could not afford repairs. Yet while June's health has become increasingly frail, Pistorius's appears to be going from strength to strength. Three months ago, the man once dubbed Blade Runner because of the speed at which he could sprint on his prosthetic limbs, returned to competitive sport after being given permission by his parole officer to compete in a triathlon in Durban. He came 555th overall and third in the 'physically challenged' category after spending the last 18 months focused on regaining his fitness and reversing the muscle decline he suffered in prison with the help of private doctors and trainers. But it is Pistorius's relationship with the daughter of one of South Africa's wealthiest farmers which could cement his rehabilitation. Management consultant Rita Greyling, who like Reeva has also worked as a model, is a devout Christian, listing 'God. Family. Fashion. Fitness,' on Twitter as among the things that 'excite me'. Pistorius known to friends and family as 'Ozzie' has also embraced religion. He volunteers at the NG Kerk Waterkloof, the church attended by his uncle Arnold, who largely raised him after his mother's death in 2002. As well as attending services, he performs light janitorial work. According to a source: 'He has said he wants to settle down and have kids. He sees it as the next step for them.' Such a marriage would see the union of two powerful Afrikaans clans who have been in South Africa for more than a century. Rita's father is Barend Petrus Greyling, known as BP, whose family fought in South Africa's Boer War. The family home is a 17,500-hectare farm in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga. Mr Greyling once said he hoped Rita and her younger sister would 'marry men who know how to farm'. The Pistorius wealth comes from a business empire founded by Oscar's grandfather Hendrik Pistorius in 1944 which first focused on the supply of agricultural limestone but now spans the property, mining and tourism industries. Pistorius (right) has insisted that he thought Reeva (left) was an intruder when he shot her June Steenkamp's family roots in the UK are far more humble. Her parents Harold and Irene worked in a factory. She left Shadsworth Secondary Modern aged 16 to train as a hairdresser and, a year later, married toolmaker Tony Cowburn. She was 18 when she gave birth to her eldest daughter, Simone. June emigrated to South Africa with her family in 1965. When her marriage broke down, she raised her daughter alone, working as a hairdresser, dental assistant and on a department store beauty counter. Her love of riding eventually saw her meet divorced stable owner and horse trainer Barry Steenkamp. They married in 1983 and June gave birth to Reeva. The loss of the daughter they doted on and lovingly referred to as their 'laat lammetjie' 'late lamb' left a scar of grief etched across both their lives. When asked what would give her closure, says Tania, June would say: 'If Reeva came back.' Their daughter's death also saw the couple's financial fortunes spiral. Barry had just been declared bankrupt after a debtor failed to pay him money he was owed. Reeva, who was working in Johannesburg as a paralegal and model, had been helping with her parents' bills. The publicity around her death saw the Steenkamps' landlady evict them after learning of their financial situation. It later emerged in court that Pistorius had paid the couple 340 a month for 18 months after Reeva's murder at the request of their lawyer. But the Steenkamps refused a lump sum of compensation from the athlete saying they didn't want his 'blood money'. Ill health saw the couple struggling further. Barry, who was diagnosed with diabetes, suffered a stroke two months after Reeva's death. Even worse than financial security, however, was the loss of the man June married just ten days after their first date. 'They shared the pain and their memories,' says Tania. 'June could speak openly with Barry. 'They understood each other and were a support structure for each other. After he passed, she became like a hermit.' June decided not to oppose Pistorius's release on parole from prison in 2024 although she submitted a victim impact statement which saw him ordered to participate in anger management and gender-based violence programmes. He will remain on parole under strict conditions until his sentence expires in 2029. A parole officer checks on him at random hours of the day or night. He is subject to drug and alcohol testing. Visits to the nightclubs he once frequented with his friends are also forbidden. Nor can he use social media, give interviews or write an autobiography. 'June has always said that the law must be allowed to take its course,' says Tania. For June Steenkamp the agony of Reeva's death is unending. Pistorius, meanwhile, appears to be seizing his second chance. Two tractor trailers collided on Route 80 in northwestern New Jersey, and drivers passing by were shocked at what spilled out of one of them. One of the trucks had been carrying thousands of bags of M&Ms, nearly all of which were sent cascading out onto the road in Warren County. The crash occurred at around 10:17pm on Monday near the two-mile marker on the westbound side, according to the Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Company. Officials said the truck carrying the full load of candy struck a similarly sized vehicle that was parked on the shoulder. The impact tore open both box trailers. Crews initially were called out to the scene with reports of a fire, but nothing was found. The New Jersey State Police was also on site and closed the westbound lanes while EMS teams could assess the condition of both truck drivers. Both drivers refused treatment and were not transported to the hospital by EMS, according to officials. 'I hope no one had a peanut allergy,' one person joked in a comment on the fire company's Facebook post. One of the trucks had been carrying thousands of bags of M&Ms, nearly all of which was sent cascading out onto the road in Warren County The precious cargo spilled on to the road leaving emergency services with a very sweet clean-up job The spillage was an M&M lover's dream as bags of the peanut candy were scattered across the highway The aftermath of the crash that happened on Monday is seen above 'Cleanup would have been much faster if they just let drivers park and pick,' another said. This isn't the first time precious cargo has been dumped all over the road after accidents. In early September, a semi-truck crashed on Highway 69 near Hillside, Colorado, and out came well over a 100 boxes of sweet corn. The Custer County Sheriff's Office, which certainly saw the levity in the situation, released a statement after the fact. 'An earful of morning news...members of the community can pick up sweet corn at the fire station on the northwest corner. Fir fighter volunteers and posse will be on scene to assist,' the Sheriff's Office said. All of the corn was snatched up by lucky locals with only scraps left later that same afternoon, according to the sheriff's office. Also in September, semi-truck crashed in Michigan and spilled grape juice all over I-94. In August, a truck and a passenger vehicle collided in Pennsylvania, leading to the more than 1,000 pounds of hot dogs the truck was carrying to be flung out onto the road. People jokingly referred to it as the 'wurst' accident. Donald Trump has suggested US TV networks that criticise him should have their broadcast licences 'taken away'. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One as he flew home from his state visit to the UK, the President said: 'I read someplace that the networks were 97 per cent against me. 'And if they're 97 per cent against and they give me only bad publicity, and they're getting a licence, I would think maybe their licence should be taken away.' It comes after late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was taken off air for comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the President's reaction to his death. Mr Trump said of US late-night talk shows: 'If you go back and you see they haven't had a conservative on in years, I think somebody said, when you go back take a look, all they do is hit Trump. 'They're licensed. They're not allowed to do that. They are an arm of the Democrat Party.' Critics said Mr Trump's threats marked a dangerous step towards eroding free speech. Television stations affiliated with US networks such as NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC which broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! must receive a licence from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) because their content is transmitted over the air and is free to view. Donald Trump has suggested US TV networks that criticise him should have their broadcast licences 'taken away' Mr Trump said the decision to revoke licences would ultimately have to be made by FCC chairman Brendan Carr, adding: 'He loves our country and he's a tough guy, so we'll have to see.' The row began when Kimmel, 57, falsely claimed on his Monday talk show that the man accused of shooting Charlie Kirk was a conservative. He said the 'Maga [Make America Great Again] gang' were 'desperately trying to characterise this kid... as anything other than one of them'. Police said the accused gunman Tyler Robinson had shown sympathy to far-Left ideologies. Kimmel also criticised the President's response to Mr Kirk's death in which he lamented the loss of a 'friend' before moving on to boast of the construction of a ballroom in the White House. Former president Barack Obama said: 'After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by threatening regulatory action against media companies'. And Kimmel's rival late-night TV hosts came together to condemn Washington's actions. Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show which CBS is axing next year, called the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! a 'blatant assault' on freedom of speech. On NBC's The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon said Kimmel promised to 'keep saying what we want to say'. Elsewhere, a Florida judge dismissed Mr Trump's $15billion (11billion) defamation lawsuit against The New York Times yesterday, centred around a book and article looking at his role on the US version of The Apprentice. Mr Trump claimed they 'maliciously peddled the fact-free narrative' that TV producer Mark Burnett turned him into a celebrity. But Judge Steven D Merryday dismissed the case, criticising the lawsuit for being too long. Veterans branded a new Troubles deal between Britain and Ireland a 'betrayal' after it emerged it could pave the way for more soldiers who served in Northern Ireland to be hauled through the courts. The new 'framework', announced at Hillsborough Castle, near Belfast, by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Irish Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris, follows on from Labour's commitment to repeal the Conservatives' 2023 Legacy Act. The Tories' legislation, introduced by then veterans' minister Johnny Mercer, halted scores of civil cases and inquests and offered conditional immunity for those accused of Troubles crimes in exchange for co-operation with a new truth recovery body. But it was declared unlawful by the High Court in Belfast, last November. Former Lance Corporal Soldier F, currently on trial for his involvement in the notorious 1972 Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry, was charged prior to the 2023 Act. The agreement with the Irish government, following nine months of negotiations, ends immunity for terrorists infamously offered by the Blair government to 187 pro-IRA figures and puts in place six 'protections and rights' for veterans. But it ends their immunity, too. Soldiers who are now in their 60s and 70s could face fresh inquiries leading to criminal charges decades after the events in question. Ex-SAS reservist and Tory backbencher Sir David Davis described the move as a path to 'victory for the IRA'. Meanwhile Paul Young, a former member of the Blues and Royals who works with the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, called the plans a 'betrayal of those who served with honour during the Troubles and a distortion of justice for victims of terrorism'. Pictured: A soldier and protester on Bloody Sunday. Former Lance Corporal Soldier F (not pictured), currently on trial for his involvement in the notorious 1972 Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry, was charged prior to the 2023 Act Former Tory MP and Army captain Mr Mercer told the Daily Mail it was 'hard to watch this Government steadily walk back every gain I made for veterans over the previous five years'. Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge said: 'Labour's announcement opens the floodgates to a new wave of vexatious legal action against our veterans, threatening the Army's morale just as we face the most profound military threats since the Cold War.' Yesterday's announcement came as a bitter blow to veterans who wanted an end to persecutions over operations against terrorists decades ago. A number of new inquests, which had been stopped under the previous legislation, will now go ahead and civil cases can also be reopened. Cases which could be examined include a daring SAS mission to prevent IRA troops targeting the Loughgall police station in 1987. Eight terrorists were killed by troops who stopped a digger truck carrying explosives in its bucket. Afterwards, republican groups complained the terrorists had not been given sufficient opportunity to surrender. Such cases are at the centre of the Daily Mail's Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign to improve human rights for soldiers. More than 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for veterans to be protected from persecution. David Davis said: 'One such inquest will likely concern the events at Loughgall. If that happens, it will be read as a victory for the IRA. At Loughgall the heavily armed IRA gang attempted to murder police officers. The SAS's actions were found to be entirely legal by the Director of Public Prosecutions.' Lt Col Richard Williams, a former SAS commanding officer and Ulster veteran, said: 'This is another hard punch in the face for the veterans and yet more sovereignty being lost. The only people happy with this will be Sinn Fein/IRA and the lawyers.' Disturbing surveillance footage captured the moment an elderly man stabbed a woman inside a senior housing complex in Florida. Footage showed John Gula, 83, lunging at Amelia Sola-Ortiz, an asset manager for the housing authority, on August 4 inside Rebecca Towers, Miami Beach. According to an arrest report, Sola-Ortiz had gone to Gula's unit to speak with him about a failed inspection and the filthy state of his apartment. Gula, Sola-Ortiz, and Gula's girlfriend can be seen on security footage, obtained by NBC6, engaged in a conversation outside the apartment for several minutes before the vicious attack. Without warning, Gula is seen placing an item down before reaching into his pocket and pulling out what appears to be a folding knife. He then lunged toward Sola-Ortiz and begins stabbing her repeatedly. Sola-Ortiz tried to back away but was struck several times in the chest and head. She then managed to grab the knife from the enraged elderly resident and proceeded to throw it down the hallway. Footage showed John Gula, 83, lunging at Amelia Sola-Ortiz, an asset manager for the housing authority, on August 4 inside Rebecca Towers Without warning, Gula reaches into his pocket and pulls out what appears to be a folding knife. He then lunges toward Sola-Ortiz and begins stabbing her repeatedly As she begins to stagger away, the grisly surveillance video shows blood gushing from her upper body. Gula was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond on an attempted second-degree murder charge Gula, covered in what appears to be Sola-Ortiz's blood, can be seen clinging to the manager as he continues to try to pull her back toward him. Gula's girlfriend can also be seen attempting to restrain her boyfriend as Sola-Ortiz fights to escape, this time making it partway down the hallway. As she tried to use a phone, Gula reached into his pocket, this time for a second weapon, and lunged towards her from behind. Gula's girlfriend intervenes once more, pulling Gula away. Eventually, Sola-Ortiz escaped into a neighboring apartment where the resident called 911 and allowed her to stay inside until cops arrived. Responding officers found Sola-Ortiz unresponsive and bleeding heavily from the chest and head. She was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery. Sola-Ortiz tries to back away but is struck several times in the chest and head Gula's girlfriend can also be seen attempting to restrain her savage boyfriend as Sola-Ortiz fights to escape The horrifying attack took place on the morning of August 4 at Rebecca Towers (pictured), a senior public housing complex at 150 Alton Road Court records indicate Gula is a military veteran originally from Washington state and has no prior criminal history in Miami-Dade County Gula was located by police minutes later in his girlfriend's apartment on the seventh floor. According to the report, he had changed pants and was still wearing a U.S. Navy shirt stained with blood. A search of the apartment uncovered Sola-Ortiz's bloodied glasses, blood droplets in the shower and sink, and Gula's original pants soaking in a bucket of pink-red liquid. Court records indicate Gula is a military veteran originally from Washington state and has no prior criminal history in Miami-Dade County. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond on an attempted second-degree murder charge. The investigation remains ongoing. The man accused of traveling thousands of miles to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh now identifies as a transgender woman. Nicholas John Roske, 29, of California, pleaded guilty in April to attempting to kill Kavanaugh in 2022. He had traveled from Simi Valley, California, to the justices Maryland home, where he was arrested outside carrying a gun, knife, and burglary tools. But Roske now goes by the name 'Sophie Roske,' according to new court documents obtained by The Daily Wire. On Friday, his attorney filed a motion seeking permission to submit an oversized sentencing document, citing the cases 'significant factual and legal matters.' Notably, the document refers to the defendant as Sophie Roske, a detail clarified in a footnote within the filing. The 29-year-olds legal team stated that while the case is captioned as United States v. Nicholas John Roske, which remains Roskes legal name, they will refrain from using the legal name 'out of respect' for the accused. 'That name remains Ms. Roske's legal name, and she has not asked to recaption the case,' lawyers wrote, per the report. 'Out of respect for Ms. Roske, the balance of this pleading and counsel's in-court argument will refer to her as Sophie and use female pronouns,' they added. Nicholas John Roske, pictured, of California , pleaded guilty in April to attempting to kill Kavanaugh in 2022 Roske, of California, pleaded guilty in April to attempting to kill Kavanaugh (pictured) in 2022. He traveled from Simi Valley to the justices Maryland home The newly obtained documents also described Roske as deeply mentally ill and suicidal at the time of the attempted assassination. A source familiar with the legal proceedings revealed that Roske used female identities online prior to the attempted assassination of Kavanaugh and now officially goes by the name reflected in the new court filing, as reported by The Daily Wire. Attorney General Pam Biondi described the 2022 attack as an act of political violence, carried out by what she called a disturbed individual. 'This attempt against the life of a Supreme Court Justice was an attack on the entire judicial system that cannot go unpunished,' Biondi told the outlet on Friday morning. 'This Department of Justice condemns political violence and our prosecutors will ensure that this disturbed individual faces severe consequences for his deranged actions,' she added. In the new filings, Justice Department attorneys argued that the courts sentence must send a strong message that violence and threats against government officials will be met with the harshest punishments. Specifically, the sentence must send the 'unequivocal, clear, and strong message that attempted violence and threats of violence against members of the judiciary - as well as other public and federal officials - cannot and will not be tolerated, and will be justly and severely condemned,' according to the docs. DOJ attorneys requested a 30-year prison sentence minimum for Roske, arguing that such a punishment appropriately reflects the seriousness of his attempt to harm and intimidate the judiciary. According to a court motion filed Friday, Roske now goes by the name Sophie Roske' (pictured),which lawyers say they will use when referring to the accused Attorney General Pam Biondi (pictured) described the 2022 attack as an act of political violence, carried out by what she called a disturbed individual' The newly obtained documents also described Roske (pictured) as deeply mentally ill and suicidal at the time of the attempted assassination A source familiar with the legal proceedings revealed that Roske (pictured) used female identities online prior to the attempted assassination of Kavanaugh They said that a strict sentence would send a clear message: 'the consequences for these acts - no fewer than 30 years to life in prison - are not worth the perceived ideological ends.' The 34-page sentencing memo also revealed that Roske had plans to assassinate not only Justice Kavanaugh, but potentially two other individuals, according to additional documents obtained by The Washington Times. Newly revealed details - described in court documents as 'bone-chilling' - outlined how Roske meticulously 'pre-planned' the 'cold-blooded murder' of the justice. The filings cite multiple online searches for the justices home address and several discussions on Discord - including what would happen if a Supreme Court justice were killed. The document cites Discord messages Roske posted in May 2022 referencing Roe v. Wade, following the leak of a draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court would overturn the landmark abortion ruling - which it ultimately did in June, according to docs obtained by CBS News. 'What do you think would happen if Kavanaugh died?' Roske wrote at the time, according to the sentencing memo. That same day, Roske also sent a message that said: 'Also the right have a 5-4 majority so if one conservative justice dies then it becomes a 5-4 for the left,' according to prosecutors. The memo revealed that Roske conducted chilling Google searches, including questions like 'how much force do you need to stab someone's neck,' 'most effective way to silently kill someone' and 'how to break a lock,' according to CBS. Police officers stand outside the home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in anticipation of an abortion-rights demonstration on May 18, 2022 in Chevy Chase, Maryland Prosecutors also explained that a map saved in Roskes Google account contained pins marking what are believed to be the homes of four sitting Supreme Court justices - identified only by numbers in the documents. Roske has been in custody since June 8, 2022, when he called police to report himself outside Justice Kavanaughs home. According to an FBI affidavit, Roske had flown from California to Washington and was spotted arriving at Kavanaugh's home in the middle of the night on June 8, as reported by CBS News. He was carrying a suitcase armed with a Glock-17 pistol, two magazine clips, a speed loader, a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch and a crowbar. Shortly after arriving on the scene, however, police said he called 911 saying he was having suicidal thoughts - telling the operator that he was going to kill Kavanaugh and then himself because he did not expect to get away with the crime. Roske was taken into custody after the call and allegedly confessed to investigators that he was motivated by anger over the leaked Supreme Court draft suggesting that Kavanaugh and other conservative justices were set to overturn Roe v. Wade and the federal right to abortion. At the time, Roske told police he planned to kill Justice Kavanaugh to give his own life a sense of purpose. Prosecutors have admitted that China is spying on Parliament despite dropping a case against suspected agents acting for Beijing. A senior figure in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told an MP the research group she led was 'targeted by China' as a means of 'obtaining information' on Government policies. Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson insisted that the CPS took espionage 'very seriously' as offences targeting MPs 'threaten the democratic process and public service'. But he told Tory security spokesman, Alicia Kearns MP, that he had concluded that the charges of spying had to be abandoned against former parliamentary aide Chris Cash, 30, and British teacher Chris Berry, 33. 'It has now been determined that the evidential standard for the offence indicted is no longer met,' Mr Ferguson wrote in a letter. But Ms Kearns said he had still not explained why the case was dropped, adding: 'The CPS needs to come clean... What witnesses or evidence was withdrawn, and by whom?' 'The CPS, it appears, has either been gagged or is refusing to be honest... on why this case is not proceeding. 'It beggars belief for the CPS to concede we were being targeted by the Chinese... then, in the same letter, state they will not even attempt a prosecution. Will this be another scandal where it takes decades for the evidence to ever see the light of day?' Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson told Tory security spokesman, Alicia Kearns MP, that he had concluded that the charges of spying had to be abandoned against former parliamentary aide Chris Cash, 30, (pictured in April arriving at Westminster Magistrates Court) and British teacher Chris Berry, 33 Pictured. right: Christopher Berry. Mr Cash and Mr Berry were arrested in 2023 and accused of collecting information 'for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state' Mr Cash and Mr Berry were arrested in 2023 and accused of collecting information 'for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state'. They denied breaching the Official Secrets Act and were to stand trial until the case was dropped on Monday. As the Daily Mail revealed, some suspect the Government did not want the deputy national security adviser to give evidence, as he would have had to brand China an enemy as ministers rebuild relations. MPs now fear the decision will embolden hostile states to target them. Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is even considering launching a private prosecution. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the Commons, has prompted fears Beijing spies have been given a 'licence to spy' after the espionage charges were dropped. The 68-year-old has debated whether to pursue private prosecution against Mr Cash and Mr Berry, who were accused of targeting MPs in the China Research Group. He has since written to home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, as the recent CPS decision sparked fear other countries could act with immunity. Hoyle told The Times: 'As Speaker I take the security of this house incredibly seriously. I believe this leaves the door open to foreign actors trying to spy on the House. 'This door must be closed hard. We must pursue all avenues to ensure the protection of members and people that work within the House of Commons. It will not be tolerated.' Elsewhere, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Home Secretary were also disheartened. A top lawyer says Optus could face 'huge' consequences after three people, including an eight-week-old baby, died after their calls to emergency services were interrupted during a network upgrade. The major outage affected Triple Zero calls in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia on Thursday. 'I have been advised that during the process of conducting welfare checks, three of the triple zero calls involved households where a person tragically passed away,' Optus chief executive Stephen Rue said on Friday. It sparked a scathing response from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. 'I have not witnessed such incompetence from an Australian corporation in respect to communications worse than this,' Malinauskas said. 'I cannot believe that anyone in the senior levels of Optus thought they should craft a media statement and conduct a press conference before advising the South Australian government that they had ascertained two deaths had occurred. 'I think quite frankly that is reprehensible conduct on behalf of Optus.' Sam Macedone, who has practised as a solicitor since 1970, said Optus could face claims for civil compensation and damages in the fallout of the outage. Lawyer Sam Macedone (pictured) said Optus could face claims for civil compensation and damages after three people died during an outage that affected three states on Thursday The major outage affected Triple Zero calls in South Australia , the Northern Territory and Western Australia on Thursday (pictured, an Optus store in Melbourne) He told Channel Nine's Weekend Today program that Optus had breached its duty of care to its customers during the outage on Thursday. 'You would have to prove that the deaths were as a direct result of the fact that you couldn't get onto triple zero and not for some other reason,' Mr Macedone said. 'If you could establish all those things, then I think Optus is going to face some huge claims for compensation.' SA Police on Thursday said an eight-week-old boy from Gawler West, 43km north of Adelaide, and a 68-year-old woman from Queenstown, in the north-west, had died. A third person, who is yet to be identified, died in Western Australia. Optus' chief executive on Friday confirmed the telco had conducted a network upgrade on Thursday and that a technical failure had impacted emergency calls. 'This resulted in the failure of a number of triple zero calls,' Mr Rue said. 'Our investigation is ongoing, but at this stage I can confirm that approximately 600 customers were potentially impacted, of which a proportion of their calls did not go through.' Optus CEO Stephen Rue (pictured) said about 600 Triple Zero calls was affected Mr Macedone suggested Optus hadn't learned its lesson after it suffered the biggest mobile network outage in Australia's history in November 2023. Optus was fined more than $12million in penalties for breaching emergency call rules during the outage. An investigation found the telco had failed to provide access to emergency services for 2,145 people and had subsequently failed to conduct welfare checks on 369 people who had tried to make an emergency call. Mr Rue said it was 'crucial' that Australians have access to emergency services. 'Before you do any upgrade, you should put in place plans that if something goes wrong you can immediately put things back in operation again, you just can't let the thing fall apart for hours and hours,' the lawyer said. 'There were 600 people that tried to get through and that is just not acceptable and I'm pretty sure that the statutory obligations have been breached all over the place. 'It is non-negotiable and we're talking about deaths here, and if those deaths were caused by the fact that you couldn't get onto triple zero, then huge consequences will follow.' There are still unanswered questions from the outage, including why only triple zero calls, rather than all calls, were affected. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the outage was an 'incredibly serious and completely unacceptable' incident. 'The impact of this failure has had tragic consequences and my personal thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one,' Ms Wells said. 'Optus and all telecommunication providers have obligations to ensure they carry emergency services calls.' Daily Mail has contacted Optus for comment. Federal agents had to deploy tear gas after anarchy erupted outside of an immigration facility in Chicago. Demonstrators, that included a Democratic mayor and congressional candidate, clashed with federal agents outside of the Broadview ICE facility on Friday. The confrontation saw agents firing chemical agents, dragging protesters from the roadway, and making arrests. Amid the mayhem, cameras caught masked officials and politicians, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh - who claimed she was body slammed by an agent. Biss also later accused ICE of trying to 'intimidate' peaceful demonstrators in a post made to his social media after the bout. 'They drove a van into us, then they tear gassed us,' Biss, who's running for Congress, said in a video posted to X. 'It was terrifying but we will not be intimidated.' The protest began around 5 am, part of a larger backlash to a federal immigration crackdown under 'Operation Midway Blitz' - a Trump-era enforcement effort recently revived by Homeland Security. According to DHS, the operation has led to nearly 550 arrests in the Chicago area alone in under two weeks. Federal agents clash with protesters outside of the Broadview ICE detention facility, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered increased federal law enforcement presence to assist in crime prevention, in Broadview, Illinois Protesters attempt to stop an unmarked car driven by federal agents outside of the Broadview ICE detention facility Amid the mayhem, cameras caught masked officials and politicians, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss (masked in center), who later accused ICE of trying to 'intimidate' peaceful demonstrators Mask wearing Illinois Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (D) just got BODIED by ICE after trying to f*** with them Immediate FAFO pic.twitter.com/0CR6Bsj8wK Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 19, 2025 By sunrise Friday, demonstrators had linked arms at the gates of the ICE facility in an attempt to block vehicles from entering or exiting. What followed was a violent standoff with federal officers, who deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets to clear the entrance. Video shows federal agents physically dragging protesters from the pavement, while others were hit with non-lethal rounds and chemical irritants. Protestors on the ground disagree, claiming the group 'remained peaceful' throughout the chaos. 'We had no weapons, just signs and songs,' Abughazaleh told The Associated Press, adding that she was thrown to the ground by agents. 'They almost ran someone over then they brought out the pepper balls and the tear gas.' ICE officials painted a different picture, calling the protesters 'rioters' and accusing them of slashing tires, assaulting agents, and trying to block federal operations. One protester was caught on camera throwing a tear gas canister back at officers - he was immediately tackled and taken into custody, CBS reported. Video shows federal agents physically dragging protesters from the pavement, while others were hit with non-lethal rounds and chemical irritants A demonstrator is taken into custody by federal law enforcement agents as tear gas fills the air during a protest outside of an immigration processing center in Broadview, Illinois The protest began around 5 a.m., part of a larger backlash to a federal immigration crackdown under 'Operation Midway Blitz.' Pictured: A federal agent clashes with a protester at the Broadview ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois on September 19 DHS confirmed three arrests earlier in the day, with a fourth confirmed later in the afternoon. As the scene escalated, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton - who is running for U.S. Senate - arrived to show support for the demonstrators. 'People are being snatched off the streets, stuffed into unmarked vans with no due process,' Stratton said. 'We're not going to let that happen.' Another masked figure at the protest was believed to be Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez, though he hasn't publicly confirmed his presence. Both Vasquez and Biss were spotted in the crowd during the peak of the unrest. Federal officials blamed Broadview Police for failing to respond to calls for help, but the department issued a statement pushing back, calling that claim 'false.' Police said they received just one call at 11:39 a.m. regarding objects on nearby train tracks and were not told that tear gas or pepper spray would be used - resulting in one local officer being exposed to the chemicals. A demonstrator is taken into custody following a clash with federal law enforcement agents outside of an immigration processing center on September 19 in Broadview, Illinois 'They drove a van into us, then they tear gassed us,' Biss, who's running for Congress , said in a video posted to X. 'It was terrifying but we will not be intimidated' ICE officials called the protesters 'rioters' and accusing them of slashing tires, assaulting agents, and trying to block federal operations. Pictured: Tear gas deployed at a protest in Broadview, Illinois The Broadview Fire Department said one protester was taken to the hospital, but did not release details on their condition. The scene outside the ICE facility - a two-story, window-boarded structure used for detaining immigrants prior to deportation - has become a regular protest site in recent weeks. Friday's crowd included local residents, activists, and clergy, including Catholic nuns who have led prayer vigils outside the building. DHS claimed there were more than 100 people at Friday's protest, but CBS News Chicago's SkyWatch helicopter footage showed a crowd closer to a few dozen. 'They want us to be afraid,' Stratton said. 'They want us to go into our little corners and not do anything We're not going to let that happen.' 'We. Will. Not. Be. Intimidated,' Biss echoed online. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has ignited a cultural reckoning - and chilling new figures reveal a deep and widening gap in how Americans think about political violence. According to new YouGov polling, almost one in four Americans identifying as 'very liberal', 24 percent, believe it's acceptable to celebrate a political opponent's death. Among those who call themselves 'very conservative', just three percent find it acceptable to feel happy about the death of a public figure they disagree with. The chasm widens in the younger generation. Among liberals aged 18 to 44, a whopping 22 percent think it's acceptable to celebrate political deaths. Just six percent of conservatives in the same age bracket believe it's permissible. The survey suggests conservatives overwhelmingly reject political violence and its celebration, while liberals, especially younger and more radical ones, show far more permissiveness. Kirk's murder shows just how dangerous that gulf has become. Historically, political violence in America skewed to the right. DOJ data show that since 1990, far-right extremists were responsible for more than 520 ideologically motivated murders, compared to 78 by far-left actors. But since 2020, that dynamic has changed. The Cato Institute reports that right-wing attackers now account for just over half of such murders, but left-wing violence has surged to 22 percent, and Islamist violence makes up the rest. Charlie and Erika Kirk with their two young children. The 31-year-old was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10 Charlie Kirk's alleged killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson - who the FBI believes feels so strongly about trans rights that he was prepared to kill for it According to new polling from YouGov, nearly one in four 'very liberal' Americans (24%) say it's acceptable to feel happy when a political opponent dies. Among conservatives , that number plummets to just 3% while a staggering 91% say it's always or usually unacceptable The shifting face of violence Recent attacks highlight the shift. Kirk's assassin Tyler Robinson held pro-trans, anti-fascist views and seethed with hatred at the TPUSA founder's brand of Christian conservatism. Last December, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Manhattan in a politically charged shooting, while earlier this year two Israeli Embassy staff were shot dead in Washington, D.C. Robert Pape, a University of Chicago professor and expert in domestic extremism, told the WSJ: 'Now we have substantial political violence from both the left and the right.' While the far right still poses danger, the growing threat from the left, paired with an increasing cultural tolerance for violence, is reshaping the landscape. The trans shooter trend Kirk was one of those who drew attention to rising violence being tied to identity movements, especially those who are transgender. His killer, Tyler Robinson, was in a romantic relationship with his transgender roommate. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away Luigi Mangione, allegedly shot dead UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December but the left has celebrated his alleged actions Supporters of Luigi Mangione gather outside of Manhattan Criminal Court earlier this week In the months before his death, Kirk warned of the ideological rage driving certain mass shootings - and the attacks have recently piled up. In August, transgender shooter Robin Westman opened fire at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, killing 2 and injuring 17. Two years earlier, in March 2023, Audrey Hale, a trans-identifying woman, murdered six people, three of them children, at a Christian school in Nashville. In 2019, trans teen Alec McKinney carried out a school shooting in Colorado. In 2018, Snochia Moseley, a transgender woman, killed four people at a Rite Aid distribution center. According to the Secret Service, 1.67 percent of mass attackers between 20162020 were transgender, despite trans people making up less than 1 percent of the US population. In August, transgender shooter Robin Westman opened fire at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, killing 2 and injuring 17. According to the Secret Service, 1.67% of mass attackers between 20162020 were transgender, despite trans people making up less than 1% of the US population . In March 2023, 28-year-old Audrey Hale (pictured) carried out a a mass shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, killing children and three adults In 2019, trans teen Alec McKinney carried out a school shooting in Colorado Earlier this year, the Lieutenant Governor of Alabama stated, 'The liberal media refuses to recognize the growing link between 'transgenders' and mass shootings - but facts are facts.' Earlier this year, the Lt. Governor of Alabama stated, 'The liberal media refuses to recognize the growing link between 'transgenders' and mass shootings - but facts are facts.' The hypocrisy of cancel culture The culture war around Kirk's assassination intensified after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel mocked the tragedy on air suggesting the killer was a member of the 'MAGA gang'. He was later suspended by ABC under pressure from conservative activists and federal regulators. Liberals say his suspension is tantamount to censorship but Kimmel's sneering commentary reflects a deeper sentiment that YouGov polling shows is alarmingly common among the very liberal. Kimmel's quip appears to align with a growing cultural current that trivializes conservative suffering and excuses ideological violence. Jimmy Kimmel's quip appears to align with a growing cultural current that trivializes conservative suffering and excuses ideological violence Antifa, short for 'anti-fascists,' is an umbrella term for left-leaning militant groups. Trump described the Antifa movement as 'sick and dangerous' While progressive public figures mock assassinations and face few consequences, conservatives continue to lose jobs and livelihoods for holding views well within the cultural mainstream. Among some of the most high-profile cases: Charlene Carter, a Southwest flight attendant, was fired for pro-life social media posts. Peter Vlaming, a Virginia teacher, was terminated for declining to use a student's preferred pronouns - a case that resulted in a $575,000 settlement. Steven Melton, a firefighter in Arkansas, was dismissed for a Facebook post opposing abortion. Robyn Polak, a Milwaukee dental assistant, lost her job over pro-Trump opinions shared online. Charlene Carter, a Southwest flight attendant, was fired for pro-life social media posts.. She later won a $5.3 million jury verdict against the airline and her union Peter Vlaming was fired in 2019 after he refused to use he/him pronouns for a pupil who had transitioned. He later received $575,000 in damages Liberals who celebrate actual violence, including assassination attempts on Donald Trump, often face far less backlash as their views are tolerated by the predominantly mainstream media. The gulf between conservatives and liberals Among the YouGov data collected 91 percent of conservatives say it's never or rarely acceptable to feel joy over a political death. Just 73 percent of liberals agree. Among the 'very liberal,' 24 percent openly condone such behavior. The survey suggests the left are more accepting of violence and more likely to silence opposing voices - all the while accusing conservatives of the very 'cancel culture' they've helped to mainstream. A Wisconsin couple are facing multiple neglect charges after their six children, including an infant, were found living in a locked, filthy storage unit. Authorities in Milwaukee made the shock discovery at a StorSafe facility on Tuesday after reports emerged of children trapped inside a small windowless unit, a criminal complaint seen by Daily Mail said. When officers arrived, they were met with a putrid smell and discovered six children inside, ages ranging from just two months to nine years old. Charles Dupriest, 33, and Azyia Zielinski, 26, were arrested and charged with six counts of child neglect each - four of which are felonies that include enhanced charges for neglect involving children under six. Dupriest, a registered sex offender, also faces an additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Officers first on the scene responded to the facility after concerns of a child crying from inside one of the units. One of the officers also heard a child coughing inside the unit upon arrival, but saw that a padlock on the garage-style door was preventing anyone from getting out, the complaint said. Firefighters were called to cut the padlock, revealing six children inside - the youngest just two months old. When officers arrived, they were met with a putrid smell and discovered six children inside, ages ranging from just two months to nine years old Authorities were called to a StorSafe facility in Milwaukee (pictured) on Tuesday after reports of a child crying inside a unit emerged Charles Dupriest (right), 33, and Azyia Zielinski (left), 26, were arrested and charged with six counts of child neglect each - four of which are felonies that include enhanced charges for neglect involving children under six Authorities also found an orange bucket of urine in the middle of the dark room and noted that the only light available to the children came from a narrow crack beneath the garage-style door. It was at this point that a five-year-old child quietly told a detective, 'Were not supposed to be loud.' Officers eventually woke the oldest child, a nine-year-old, who identified Dupriest and Zielinski as their parents. The child, who said he stayed at the storage unit about half the time, went on to describe the responsibilities he was given to care for the other five children while their parents were away. He explained that when the infant cried, it was his job to give a bottle or pacifier - but he was also hungry himself and had no phone or way to contact his parents in an emergency. In the complaint, detectives described the unit as 'in disarray,' containing only a sectional couch and a bare twin mattress - without bedsheets - where three of the children slept. Boxes of chips, milk, and a case of soda were found inside the unit, but there was no electricity, running water, or lighting - and the foul smell was so overwhelming that detectives couldnt stay inside. About an hour later, detectives found Dupriest and Zielinski sleeping inside their black Ford Expedition SUV in the parking lot. They also found a loaded gun in the center console of their car. Authorities found an orange bucket of urine in the middle of the dark room (pictured) and noted that the only light available to the children came from a narrow crack beneath the garage-style door Detectives described the unit (facility pictured) as 'in disarray,' containing only a sectional couch and a bare twin mattress - without bedsheets - where three of the children slept The oldest child told detectives that when the baby cried, it was his job to give a bottle or pacifier - but he was also hungry himself and had no phone or way to contact his parents in an emergency (pictured: Zielinski and one of her children) The pair admitted that they slept there with their dog while their children remained locked inside the unit, according to the complaint. However, authorities observed that the vehicle had three rows of seats, with the middle row entirely open. The couple claimed to be homeless but later admitted there was no real need for their children to live in the unit, as they could have stayed with family or friends. Detectives also spoke with a storage facility employee, who recalled hearing an adult male say 'Sit down and be quiet,' while cleaning outside the unit back in May, according to the docs. The employee provided authorities with surveillance footage showing Dupriest and Zielinski dropping off their children at the unit and noted that he had seen a twin-sized mattress inside. He explained that he reported the issue to management, who issued an eviction notice to the units owners, but he grew increasingly 'irritated' after discovering a burnt marijuana blunt on the keypad outside their unit. After the discovery, Dupriest and Zielinski were interviewed, during which the mother-of-six explained she had struggled to find stable housing for years and was recently evicted from a homeless shelter. Zielinski admitted that after giving birth in July, she was 'kicked out of Joy House,' a women and childrens shelter at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, though the documents dont specify the reason. She said her children had been living in the storage unit for about six weeks, relying on food from local organizations, food stamps, and $2,000 per month in Social Security benefits. Detectives found Dupriest and Zielinski sleeping inside their black Ford Expedition SUV in the parking lot. They also found a loaded gun in the center console of their car (pictured: scene) The mother-of-six (pictured) explained to police that she had struggled to find stable housing for years and was recently evicted from a homeless shelter Detectives also spoke with a storage facility employee, who recalled hearing an adult male say 'Sit down and be quiet,' while cleaning outside the unit back in May (pictured: storage unit) The mother confessed to giving her children the bucket and admitted to owning the firearm, but said Dupriest had handled the gun as well, so both of their DNA would be on it. Dupriest told investigators he had slept in the unit but stopped after their dog damaged the truck. He also denied handling the gun and refused to provide DNA samples, according to the complaint. The complaint also details interviews with several of the children, who described living in the unit and expressed fear and uncertainty about how - or if - they could ever get out. The five-year-old child shared feeling 'sad' and 'mad' about being locked in the unit and said the dog got to sleep in the car, which made her feel upset enough to make the unit dirty. She described her parents drinking and smoking inside the unit or their SUV and said her father - who she said carried a gun at his hip - told the children to keep quiet about it. The nine-year-old told detectives that Dupriest would give all the children - except the infant - 'whoopings.' According to the complaint, on one occasion, Dupriest hit the childs mouth so hard it caused his lip to bleed. After another beating, the child believed he needed hospital care and possibly surgery. He reported that his parents drank tequila and vodka, became intoxicated, and would 'slump over,' leaving him responsible for caring for his younger siblings. The nine-year-old child told detectives that Dupriest (pictured with one child) would give all the children - except the infant - 'whoopings' The five-year-old child described her parents drinking and smoking inside the unit (pictured) or their SUV and said her father - who she said carried a gun at his hip - told the children to keep quiet about it The nine-year-old boy said that on one occasion, Dupriest (pictured) hit his mouth so hard it caused his lip to bleed. After another beating, he believed he needed hospital care and possibly surgery During the interview, he also told police that his father had 'a bunch of guns,' which he kept either in the car or on his person. On Friday, Zielinski made her first court appearance, where the state requested a $1,000 PR bond - allowing her release without upfront payment, based on a promise to appear in court, according to Fox 6 News. While the defense agreed to the bond request, Court Commissioner Andrea Bolender emphasized that the seriousness of the charges warranted stronger consideration. 'You are supposed to protect them and these children are now supposed to have lifelong scars that will affect every aspect of their life and a PR bond?' Bolender said. 'This court has a duty to protect these children and protect others,' she added. 'This type of mentality to think this is okay, this cannot go on.' Ultimately, a $5,000 cash bond was set for Zielinski, with her preliminary hearing scheduled for September 25. Later that day, Dupriest made his initial court appearance, where the state recommended a higher cash bail of $10,000. The commissioner agreed with the recommendation but ultimately doubled the cash bail to $20,000. Dupriests preliminary hearing is also scheduled for September 25. Sir Keir Starmer will be 'rewarding terrorism' if the UK recognises a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has warned. The Conservative leader spoke out amid reports Britain could move forward with the policy as early as Sunday to try to pressure Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza. She wrote in the Telegraph: 'Most of us want to see a two-state solution to the crisis in the Middle East. 'But it is obvious, and the US has been clear on this, that recognition of a Palestinian state at this time and without the release of the hostages, would be a reward for terrorism. 'Yet Keir Starmer plans to do just that as President Trump leaves.' The American premier left the UK on Thursday after his historic second state visit, with two glamorous days across London, Chequers and Windsor Castle. Mrs Badenoch, accusing the PM of being 'nice' to hostile foreign nations, said she would 'never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism'. The opposition leader also lambasted Sir Keir for 'condemning' the UK's traditional ally Israel when it killed Hamas leaders in strikes earlier this year. Sir Keir Starmer will be 'rewarding terrorism' if the UK recognises a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch (pictured) has warned The Conservative leader also lambasted Sir Keir (pictured, at a bilateral meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas in London on September 8, 2025) for 'condemning' the UK's traditional ally Israel when it killed Hamas leaders in strikes earlier this year The Palestinian armed group said five of its members were killed in the attack in Doha, the capital of Qatar, earlier this month. The PM, ahead of a meeting with Israeli president Isaac Herzog, warned at the time it violated the country's sovereignty and risked 'further escalation across the region'. Mrs Badenoch said Labour's foreign policy was to 'condemn our allies, indulge our adversaries and hand away our sovereignty'. Her comments come as the Government is expected to formally recognise the Palestinian state, plans for which Sir Keir announced in July. He said he would do so during the UN General Assembly meeting in September if Israel did not take 'substantive steps' towards peace in Gaza. There has been no ceasefire and the situation in Gaza has deteriorated, with a declaration of a famine in Gaza City and the expansion of Israeli military operations. The PM also cited a series of other conditions Israel would need to meet to avoid the British move, including a lasting ceasefire and aid deliveries. The Times reported Sir Keir intends to recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, the day before the UN General Assembly's general debate begins in New York. Her comments come as the Government is expected to formally recognise the Palestinian state, plans for which Sir Keir announced in July. Pictured: Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in Gaza City on September 18, 2025 High-level meetings at the UN summit involving world leaders begin next week. The Prime Minister has found himself at odds with the US administration over the move, which is opposed to official recognition of Palestine. But other nations, including France, Australia and Canada, have said they plan to take the same step at the UN gathering. The move, which comes amid pressure from left-wing voters and Labour MPs amid the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and is supported by France, would spark a diplomatic row with Israel and the US. Detractors have said it will erase any negotiating power Britain has with Israel and Hamas by removing the incentive for the latter to release remaining hostages. During a visit to London last week, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said recognising Palestine 'won't help one Palestinian, one hostage' and could be 'adversely interpreted by Hamas'. The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, similarly said the move was a 'historic error' and 'will only impede the cause of peace'. He urged the Prime Minister to reconsider and echoed Mrs Badenoch's warning it would be a 'reward for terrorism'. At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Chequers on Thursday, Mr Trump (pictured) said he disagreed with recognising the Palestinian state At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Chequers on Thursday, Mr Trump said he disagreed with recognising the Palestinian state. He did not however repeat previous comments it would reward Hamas. At the same press conference, Sir Keir denied he was waiting for the US president to leave the UK before announcing recognition. He said he had 'made my position clear at the end of July, so the timing, it's got nothing to do with this state visit'. But the PM said Hamas could have 'no part in any future governance in Palestine'. The British premier added the group 'don't want a two-state solution': 'They don't want peace, they don't want a ceasefire.' Elsewhere in her essay, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir is not able to be the global leader Britain needs. She also dubbed the pursuit of net zero by 2050 'economic self-sabotage' and attack on Britain's 'economic competitiveness' amid an instable global order. The Conservative leader said it would hand economic power to China and other nations by forcing up energy prices at home and stopping British firms from being able to compete internationally. Her party plans to launch a new foreign policy plan at its annual conference this year, based around 'Conservative realism'. Mrs Badenoch said this would emphasise strength and sovereignty, particularly in a boost to defence manufacturing. It would reject what she called 'liberal internationalism' and 'neo-con adventurism'. She blasted Sir Keir for over-relying on international bodies and the courts to explain his actions, especially in handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius earlier this year. When approached by the Daily Mail, the Labour Party reiterated Sir Keir's comments given during a press conference with Donald Trump on Thursday. The Prime Minister said: 'Well, let me be really clear about Hamas. They're a terrorist organisation who can have no part in any future governance in Palestine, and what happened on October 7 was the worst attack since the Holocaust. 'We have extended family in Israel. I understand first-hand the psychological impact that that had across Israel. So I know exactly where I stand in relation to Hamas. Hamas, of course, don't want two-state solution. 'They don't want peace, they don't want a ceasefire. I'm very clear where I stand on Hamas.' A senior adviser to the federal government has been charged with rape just months after he was slapped with over a dozen alleged domestic violence offences. Daniel McCluskie, 44, was arrested by detectives in Sydney's inner west at 7.40pm on Friday and taken to Burwood Police Station, where he was charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent. Police received reports that a 27-year-old woman had allegedly been sexually assaulted by a man known to her in Glebe in February 2021. McCluskie was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He works as a senior adviser for the Australian Digital Health Agency, a Commonwealth entity which oversees the national e-health system. In July, McCluskie was charged with 15 domestic violence-related offences spanning a three-year period. The alleged offences included eight counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of choking without consent. Senior health advisor Daniel McCluskie, 44, was arrested by detectives on Friday night and charged with sexual intercourse without consent In July, McCluskie (pictured in grey tracksuit pants during his arrest) was arrested and charged with 15 domestic violence-related offences Police allege McCluskie carried out a slew of DV offences including kidnapping against a 35-year-old woman between 2021 and 2023. He also allegedly choked a 52-year-old woman he met on a dating app last March. The charges include two counts of stalking and intimidation, intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, and detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage. In July, prosecutor Rob Kury told the court: 'We have concerns this is coercive-controlling behaviour throughout the relationship (with the first woman)'. 'I have concerns that, if he is granted any form of bail, members of the community may be at risk from Mr McCluskie.' McCluskie's barrister, Rebecca Mitchell, said the alleged offences against the first woman occurred in Melbourne and Surfers Paradise, placing them outside the jurisdiction of NSW Police. Mitchell also said police had provided little evidence of McCluskie's alleged offences, with no medical evidence of the alleged sexual crimes and no digital files to support the charge of recording an intimate image without consent. McCluskie was forced to forfeit his passport and is banned from leaving New South Wales or entering any international port of departure from Australia. Daily Mail has contacted the Australian Digital Health Agency for comment. Millions of Aussies have been left in the lurch after planned maintenance by the Commonwealth Bank was delayed. Dozens of angry customers shared their frustration on Saturday morning after they were unable to access their online banking. CBA issued a statement saying planned maintenance was taking longer than expected and that lower purchase limits may apply on debit cards. 'I just lost my slot for my specialist appointment and may have to wait 6 to 8 months for another appointment,' one furious customer wrote on X. 'Literally trying to pay all last night and this morning, can't even transfer the funds to pay it. This is unacceptable,' another said. 'Seriously ridiculous. Do your maintenance at night. My cards won't work and it's a Saturday morning,' a third commented. Another urged the bank to do maintenance on Sundays 'like normal tech companies'. CBA said all services were available in an update at 10.25am on Saturday. Millions of Aussies have been left in the lurch after planned maintenance by the Commonwealth Bank took longer to restore than the major bank expected (stock) 'All CommBank banking services are now available following the planned maintenance this morning,' a statement on its website said. 'We apologise for the disruption and appreciate your patience.' In a statement, a spokesperson for the bank said customers were informed about the maintenance in the banking app several days beforehand. Services that were affected by the maintenance include payments and transfers on the CommBank app, NetBank, and over the phone banking. Travel Money cards can still be used to pay and withdraw money, but can't be topped up from a CommBank account. International money transfers are unavailable, but credit cards can be used. Business and Merchant customers were also impacted by the maintenance. 'Merchant EFTPOS terminals and online payments will be available; however, lower limits may apply to CommBank debit cards when using these platforms,' CBA said. 'Scheduled payments and merchant settlement payments may be processed after the maintenance window.' A Met Police officer who was barred from front line duty for five years amid a misconduct probe after he Tasered a runaway suspect and left him paralysed has been cleared. Jordan Walker-Brown, 27, broke his back after falling from a height after being Tasered by PC Imran Mahmood during a police chase through Harringay, north London, on May 4, 2020. The officer had feared Mr Walker-Brown - who was running away and unarmed at the time - had a knife and believed he needed to be 'contained'. Following the incident, PC Mahmood was placed on restricted duties, barring him from working on the front line. In May last year, the officer was cleared of GBH following a trial, and has since been cleared of misconduct allegations relating to use of force, orders and instructions. There are currently hundreds of police officers who have been suspended on full pay over alleged wrongdoing at a cost of 2.6million a month Allegations against the 750 officers ordered to stay away from work while they are being investigated range from sexual misconduct to brutality and corruption. The 2020 incident was referred to the the the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) from the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS). PC Mahmood pictured attending Southwark Crown Court last year before he was found not guilty of unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm on Jordan Walker-Brown Jordan Walker-Brown who was left paralysed when Metropolitan Police constable Imran Mahmood, 36, tasered him during Covid lockdown The police watchdog probed the matter further, where the incident was later passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In April 2022, they charged PC Mahmood with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, but he was later acquitted. However, the IOPC found the officer should face a gross misconduct hearing. Following an eight day hearing, the misconduct panel found the force used by PC Mahmood was proportionate. They accepted the officer believed he was facing an imminent threat from Mr Walker-Brown, who he believed was in possession of an offensive weapon. The panel, which is made up of a senior officer and two independent panel members, and also supported by a legally qualified advisor, also accepted PC Mahmood's belief was legitimately held. A second allegation relating to PC Mahmood's use of Taser when Mr Walker-Brown was at a height was also found not proven. PC Mahmood has been a qualified taser officer since July 2017, with records showing he was up to date with his taser training. Commander Hayley Sewart, responsible for local policing in north London, said: 'It is a matter of huge regret that Mr Walker-Brown suffered such serious and significant injuries as a result of this incident. 'His life has been changed forever and we do not underestimate the impact on both him and his family.' 'Officers are often required to make split-second decisions in the course of their duties. Mr Walker-Brown (pictured) was unarmed at the time he was shot with the Taser. He has now been forced to use a wheelchair following the incident in May 2020 'The panel accepted that PC Mahmood held the belief Mr Walker-Brown posed an immediate threat to his safety and that of his colleagues - and acted on that belief. 'Having considered the evidence in detail, the panel concluded that PC Mahmood was justified in his actions given the situation he faced. 'We know our use of Taser is seen by some as a controversial tactic, and incidents like this one raise very legitimate concerns. 'We have been carrying out significant work with our communities to ensure they are more involved in monitoring how we use it, which includes the introduction of a new scrutiny panel. 'Taser remains a vital tool, but we will continue to carry out reviews and regularly train our officers so they are using the tactic appropriately.' Public schools across the country have issued parental warnings as students have been filming themselves urinating as a part of an alarming new TikTok trend. Middle and high school students have hopped on board the bizarre 'pi**er' trend, which encourages teens to record themselves peeing on school property and upload the distasteful footage to social media. 'Not only is this unsafe and unsanitary, but it creates unnecessary work for our staff as they work to maintain clean school spaces,' the principal of Schoo Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska, Allysa Diehl, said in a letter to parents, according to WCAX. Officials from Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) said there have been several instances of this sickening behavior in boys' bathrooms across the district. The LPS has begged parents to sit down with their kids and discuss the importance of respecting public, shared spaces. 'No student will be denied the ability to use the restroom when they need to use it; however, we may need to temporarily make adjustments in our protocols if this trend continues,' Diehl warned. She said these changes may include shutting down bathrooms, limiting the number of kids allowed in them at a time and having staff closely monitor them. Tennessee school and law enforcement officials have also addressed the outlandish phenomenon. Public schools across the country have issued parental warnings as students have been filming themselves urinating as a part of an alarming new TikTok trend (pictured: Lincoln Public Schools main building) Middle and high school students have hopped on board the bizarre 'pi**er' trend, which encourages teens to record themselves peeing in public and upload the distasteful footage to social media (stock image) Washington County School leaders, for instance, had to warn families that anyone caught participating in this trend will face 'serious disciplinary consequences,' WCYB reported. In response to the unsettling trend, the district said it has upped its staff supervision. A slew of Pennsylvania schools have also made note of this trend, with many working with local police departments to tackle it. The Bristol Connecticut Police Department issued a public statement on Facebook, asking for the public's help in identifying people allegedly peeing across the city. 'Our department is aware of a nationwide social media trend of people claiming to be urinating in public places,' police officials wrote last week. Aside from middle and high schools, 'pi**ers' have been wreaking havoc on college campuses, with several TikTok accounts being made for the specific purpose of sharing this kind of content. One account called 'Syracuse Pi**ers' has a video that seemingly shows someone urinating against a stone wall on campus. The News House, Syracuse University's college newspaper, reported on the various accounts disseminating these activities, as well as the trend's impact on campus life. 'Not only is this unsafe and unsanitary, but it creates unnecessary work for our staff as they work to maintain clean school spaces,' the principal of Schoo Middle School in Lincoln, Nebraska , Allysa Diehl (pictured), said in a letter to parents The Bristol Connecticut Police Department issued a public statement on Facebook, asking for the public's help in identifying people allegedly peeing across the city (pictured) The State University of New York (SUNY) system has also been hit with the strange - and illegal - activities, with students posting themselves seemingly urinating with the hashtag '#SUNYpissers' under their posts (pictured) 'If it is real pee, they are very hydrated as its a shockingly clear stream,' freshman Lucy Leef said, skeptical of whether people are truly participating or faking it for views. A public relations professor at the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications explained: 'What gets attention online is often what breaks social norms.' The State University of New York (SUNY) system has also been hit with the strange - and illegal - activities, with students posting themselves seemingly urinating with the hashtag '#SUNYpissers' under their posts. Many of the videos, however, do appear to be spoofs on the trend, with posters likely using water to pretend they are truly peeing. But for those who are not joking - and truly relieving themselves on campus - they could find themselves in trouble, as it is unlawful in every state. Man was taken into police custody on Friday A man has been detained as part of the ongoing search for alleged double murderer Dezi Freeman after heavily-armed officers descended on a home in Myrtleford. Tactical officers with unmarked cars and an armoured vehicle stormed the home in Victoria's Alpine region about 4pm on Friday, the Herald Sun reports. The man, who wore a black hood over his face, was pictured being led from the home near the corner of Standish Street and Roberts Street in handcuffs. It's understood the man was detained as officers searched the home for illegal guns, as part of the wider investigation into an alleged double murder. Freeman, 56, has been on the run for over three weeks after allegedly gunning down two officers and fleeing into dense Australian bushland. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart lost their lives in the alleged shooting. The fugitive, who styled himself as a 'sovereign citizen', is an experienced bushman who may have pre-positioned supply caches to survive in the harsh terrain. On the morning of August 26, police attended Freeman's remote Porepunkah property in Victoria's alpine region to execute a search warrant related to alleged historical sex offences. The man (pictured second from left) was arrested by heavily-armed officers on Friday Freeman, 56, has been on the run for over three weeks after allegedly gunning down two officers and fleeing into dense Australian bushland A man has been detained as part of the ongoing search Dezi Freeman after heavily-armed officers descended on a home in Myrtleford (pictured, police in Porepunkah) Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart (left) and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson (right) were gunned down and killed on August 26 Freeman, who was living in a bus, is thought to be carrying multiple firearms including a homemade shotgun, rifle, and a police weapon taken after the deadly ambush. A $1million reward, a record for Victoria Police, has been announced for information that leads to Freeman's capture. He was last seen wearing dark green tracksuit pants, a matching rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses. As the search for Freeman has entered its fourth week, businesses in the town of Bright have been granted $5,000 grants for loss of income. Locals say the town and surrounding areas have become a 'ghost town' as hundreds of officers join the largest tactical operation in Australia's history. FBI Director Kash Patel has been mocked online after cameras captured him scribbling embarrassing pep-talk notes to himself. The notes were made during a heated congressional hearing over political violence and Jeffrey Epstein's case files. The notes, written in blue pen in Patel's own handwriting on personalized stationery labeled 'Director Patel', read like affirmations. 'Good fight with Swalwell. Hold the line. Brush off their attacks. Rise above next line of partisan attacks.' The reaction online was brutal. 'Lmfao he's writing words of affirmation to himself,' one user posted on X. 'This reads like the pep talk I give myself before every holiday with my family,' wrote another. 'What an absolute loser having to write himself motivational notes because no one loves him,' read a third. 'Lmao this is so sad. It's like he's hyping himself up in the mirror before the hearing,' added a fourth. FBI Director Kash Patel, already under fire for his handling of the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation, has been mocked online after cameras captured him scribbling embarrassing pep-talk notes to himself 'Good fight with Swalwell. Hold the line. Brush off their attacks. Rise above next line of partisan attacks,' the handwritten note appears to state The mockery went viral as critics zeroed in not just on the cringe factor, but on the vanity of having a personalized notepad with his own letterhead. The handwritten notes surfaced during a House Judiciary Committee hearing where Patel clashed repeatedly with Democrats, most notably California Rep. Eric Swalwell, over the handling of the Epstein files. Swalwell, grilling Patel over the Justice Department's reluctance to unseal certain grand jury documents tied to the late financier's case, asked whether any files mentioned President Donald Trump, who once socialized with Epstein. Patel balked at the question. 'Your fixation on this matter and baseless accusations that I'm hiding child pedophiles is disgusting,' Patel snapped. The exchange quickly spiraled into a shouting match as Swalwell mockingly began enunciating his syllables. 'Why don't you try spelling it out if you're going to mock me. Use the alphabet No? A B C, D E F.' The Democrat fired back again, calling Patel's evasiveness a 'consciousness of guilt' and accusing him of playing a 'cute shell game.' Swalwell, grilling Patel over the Justice Department's reluctance to unseal certain grand jury documents tied to the late financier's case, asked whether any files mentioned Donald Trump Patel appeared to be feeling the heat and tweeted how authorities were able to capture the alleged shooter within 33 hours of the incident with his 'bold strategy' praised Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody after his own father turned him in rather than any FBI manhunt 'The court calls bulls***,' Swalwell said, in reference to DOJ excuses about sealed material. 'I'm going to borrow your terminology and call bulls*** on your entire career in Congress. It has been a disgrace to the American people,' Patel retorted. Patel, who once served as a GOP staffer on the Intelligence Committee, had previously named Swalwell in his book Government Gangsters. In it, he accused him of being a 'corrupt actor' and labeling dozens of other political opponents as members of the so-called deep state. The prickly encounter came just days after Patel's judgment and leadership were already under scrutiny for what critics have called a chaotic, ego-driven response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. While the FBI and local law enforcement scrambled to identify and track down the suspect, Patel dined at Rao's, a notoriously exclusive restaurant in New York, the same night the investigation was unfolding. He later posted conflicting updates on social media, including a message claiming the suspect was in custody, followed just 90 minutes later by another saying the same individual had been released. Patel was also allegedly dining at Rao's in New York City just hours after the shooting Patel is facing a hail of criticism for his handling of the investigation 'He's got zero leadership experience and capabilities,' said Christopher O'Leary, a former FBI counterterrorism official to NBC News. Even senior members of the Trump administration reportedly urged Patel to stay silent and out of the spotlight while agents worked the case. Still, Patel flew to Utah, stood behind the podium at a news conference - and said nothing. 'No serious director would show up at this stage,' a former senior FBI official told the outlet. 'They can't help. They can only distract. Every agent needed to support the visit is an agent not available to work the case.' After Robinsons arrest, Patel tried to take credit claiming on X the FBI demanded security footage be released over the objections of local police, and that the suspects father turned him in as a result. But the Utah Department of Public Safety contradicted him, saying it had already attempted to identify the suspect using facial recognition before jointly deciding to release the video. Patel also reportedly blasted agents in Salt Lake City on a profanity-laced conference call, accusing them of failing to move fast enough and warning that the pressure from Trump and the public was immense. A school board meeting in Maine descended into chaos after a board member slapped a phone out of an attendee's hand during a heated exchange. Tensions flared during a Regional School Unit 67 meeting on Wednesday night when Tim Bodnar, a social media personality, targeted a teacher. The unknown teacher was placed on leave last week over comments they made about the killing of Charlie Kirk, with an investigation pending. Bodnar, known online as the 'Truth-slinger' and followed by tens of thousands on social media, repeatedly disrupted the otherwise orderly meeting. He condemned the teacher and accused the district of allowing 'communist propaganda' in schools. After opening with a prayer, Bodnar quickly escalated matters, loudly criticizing the teacher by name and challenging the board for not taking action. Board Chair Dianne Buck then repeatedly struck her gavel and called for order. 'You can bang that all you want, lady,' Bodnar replied, ignoring calls to follow board rules. A school board meeting in Maine descended into chaos after Andrew Funaro, a school board board member (right) slapped a phone out of attendee Tim Bodnar's (left) hand During the tense school board meeting Wednesday night, the disgruntled attendee targeted a teacher recently placed on leave for comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk (pictured) Buck then called a recess, but when the board reconvened, Bodnar resumed speaking and again raised his voice. 'I demand counseling for the kids who were hurt by Charlie Kirk's death that (the teacher) dissed,' he said. 'He can have free speech, he just can't have a job on taxpayer money!' he continued, as the comment drew applause from the audience. Bodnar only continued to escalate, this time accusing Buck of ignoring him. 'You're a foul, evil woman! You're a coward!' he shouted just as board member Andrew Funaro interjected in defense of the school board chair. 'Don't you insult that woman!' Funaro said. 'Why not?' Bodnar shot back. 'Because she's doing the best she can, and you don't know what we think,' Funaro said. 'We haven't made a decision yet.' 'You should have made a decision when you found out!' Bodnar yelled. Bodnar, known online as the 'Truth-slinger' and followed by tens of thousands on social media, repeatedly disrupted the meeting, accusing the district of allowing 'communist propaganda' in schools The situation only continued to unravel. At one point, Bodnar was in front of Funaro filming him, Funaro then slapped the phone from Bodnar's hand Bodnar has a history of confrontations at public meetings 'We found out on Friday,' Funaro replied. 'We're doing the best we can.' 'It's too slow,' Bodnar said. 'The world is moving on way too fast for you, old man!' The board abruptly recessed again and when they returned, they attempted to resume business, including reports from committees. But, seemingly fueling the already tense situation, another man began speaking out of turn, prompting police officers to flank him and ask him to leave. As this happened, Bodnar returned to the front of the room with his phone out, filming the interaction. As the board tried again to continue, this time with the student representative's report, Bodnar interrupted again. 'You know I'm right, sir,' he said to Funaro. 'I do not know you're right!' Funaro shot back. 'You should go back down south and get some more clicks on your little YouTube. Isn't that what this is about?' Police quickly intervened, stepping between the two men Bodnar has since taken to social media to share his perspective on the heated back-and-forth. 'PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE RIGHT THERE,' he wrote in a post accompanied by a video of the shouting match The situation continued to unravel. Board members stood from their seats, and the audio from the livestream cut out. When it eventually resumed, Bodnar was in front of Funaro filming him. Funaro then slapped the phone from Bodnar's hand, sparking a loud crowd reaction. Police quickly intervened, stepping between the two men. The board, visibly shaken, voted by a show of hands to adjourn the meeting. Bodnar has since taken to social media to share his perspective on the heated back-and-forth. 'PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE RIGHT THERE,' he wrote in a post accompanied by a video of the shouting match. 'The Holy Spirit of GOD indwelt me... I dropped my arms and let God fight my battle. Funaro withered in the presence of a REAL MAN,' the post continued. In another post, Bodnar took aim at the school and the local town. 'Lots of people afraid... not just me... ' he wrote, adding, 'RSU#67 is a JOKE. The Town of Lincoln isn't looking too good at the moment either. No replies to my FOAA requests for all communications between Brewer, Krause, the SB and Town Council.' The district's investigation into the teacher's comments remains ongoing. A former Trump administration lawyer compared ABC dropping Jimmy Kimmel following pressure from the FCC to media censorship in Nazi Germany. Ty Cobb, a former White House attorney who served on President Trump's legal team during his first term, made the jarring comparison while reflecting on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' being pulled from the air with NBC's Kristen Welker. 'It's evocative of what we've seen throughout history,' he said, offering his response to Kimmel being penalized for divisive remarks he made on conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death. 'I mean, in 1939, Dr [Joseph] Goebbels, at Hitler's instruction, removed five comedians, or witticists as they were called at the time, from the airwaves in Germany, for criticizing or making fun of the government in a satire way,' he said. Goebbels was the minister of propaganda for the German Third Reich under Adolf Hitler. Cobb, who was on Trump's legal team from July 2017 until May 2018, also drew a comparison to Vladimir Putin's takeover of Russia in the early 2000s, when he 'systematically silenced political media outlets' that did not align with his agenda. 'Trump is waging war on people who offend him,' Cobb bluntly asserted. 'He's all about vengeance. 'Sadly, his subordinates, like one of the Project 2025 authors, Brandon Carr of the FCC, are following in line. Ty Cobb, a former White House attorney who served on President Trump's legal team during his first term, made the jarring comparison while reflecting on ' Jimmy Kimmel Live!' being pulled from the air The former Trump administration lawyer compared ABC dropping Jimmy Kimmel (pictured) following pressure from the FCC to media censorship in Nazi Germany 'These people are abandoning our constitutional rights and our constitutional freedoms.' Cobb's concern comes as Kimmel's indefinite suspension from ABC and its affiliates has sparked a national uproar regarding free speech in the wake of Kirk's murder. Following the death of Kirk, Kimmel discussed the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and Trump's reaction to the assassination during his Monday night monologue. 'We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,' Kimmel said. Kimmel went on to criticize Trump's statement about Kirk's death. 'This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?' FCC Chairman Brendan Carr later threatened to investigate him and ABC while appearing on Benny Johnson's podcast. 'When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel, it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible,' Carr told Johnson. Goebbels, seen here, was the minister of propaganda for the German Third Reich under Adolf Hitler The death of Kirk (pictured with his wife Erika and two children) sparked a national debate on what constitutes free speech FCC Chairman Brendan Carr later threatened to investigate him and ABC while appearing on Benny Johnson's podcast. 'When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel, it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible,' Carr told Johnson. 'As you've indicated, there are avenues here for the FCC, so there... are some ways in which I need to be a little bit careful because we could be called ultimately to be a judge on some of these claims that come up,' Carr said. Murder suspect Tyler Robinson (pictured) is believed to have held left-wing ideologies Since FCC went after Kimmel and he was subsequently pulled from the air, Trump has been vocal about his intentions to penalize late-night hosts who speak negatively of him. 'They give me only bad press,' he said on Air Force One as he boarded a flight in the UK back to America after a state visit, claiming that 97 percent of this kind of programming bashes him. 'I would think maybe their licenses should be taken away,' Trump said. Days prior, Trump told reporters he may 'go after' journalists who challenge him. 'Because you treat me so unfairly...so maybe we'll have to go after you,' Trump told a reporter, while discussing who Attorney General Pam Bondi may target while tackling 'hate speech.' He also hinted at pulling the broadcast licenses from network affiliates that aired Kimmel's show. Cobb is not the only one with a drab outlook on America's political future, especially regarding free speech and the FCC's threats. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr (pictured) threatened to investigate Kimmel and ABC after he shared divisive sentiments regarding the September 10 political assassination Donald Trump (pictured) told reporters he may ' go after' journalists who challenge him Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told NBC he felt 'fear' upon learning Kimmel, an ABC veteran of 22 years, was pulled from the air. He said that seeing the principle of freedom of speech being 'undermined by the long arm of the federal government is extremely dangerous. 'Whether you agree with Jimmy Kimmel or not, whether you found him funny or not, to fire someone cause he told a joke about the president...that is dangerous.' Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz, the chairman of the Senate committee overseeing the FCC, has also denounced Kimmel's cancellation. 'I think it is unbelievably dangerous for the government to put itself in the position of saying, "We're going to decide what speech we like and what we don't, and we're going to threaten to take you off air if we don't like what you're saying,"' Cruz said during his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, on Friday. 'And it might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. 'I like Brendan Carr, but we should not be in this business...We shouldn't be threatening government power to force him off air. That's a real mistake.' The twin brother of a surfer killed by a shark on Sydney's Northern Beaches earlier this month has taken to the waves for the first time since the tragedy. Mike Psillakis surfed with a large group of mates at Dee Why Beach on Thursday, just metres away from where his twin Mercury was killed on September 7. Mercury was attacked by a large shark 100metres off the shore of Long Reef Beach and died almost instantly. Like many surfers, his brother Mike was not afraid to get back into the water and enjoy the waves. 'Was good to get the monkey off my back this morning with some of my close friends and a few other special friends from other beaches on the peninsula,' Mike shared on social media. 'My first wave was undoubtedly gifted to me from my brother Mercury. It was a freak wave in substandard conditions.' Mike talked about how painful and emotional the week had been as he farewelled his brother, who was a well-known personality on his local surf scene. 'Yesterday was hard. Laying my brother down for his last eternal wave, but in the midst of the pain, down at Dee Why Beach, I knew he was playing with the dolphins,' Mike wrote. The Psillakis twins (pictured) were inseparable before Mercury's death earlier this month A tent was set up at Dee Why Beach after Mercury was mauled on September 7 The twins had an inseparable bond, which Mike has showcased since his brother's death through various text messages exchanged between the pair. 'Just another telepathic message that my brother Mercury and I shared,' he wrote alongside a screenshot of an exchange about surfing conditions at a nearby beach. 'Drove past Curly. Looks like a wave,' Mike texted his brother. 'What's Curly like,' Mercury wrote a second later. 'Wow,' Mike replied. 'I sent your answer before you sent the question'. Mercury's friend and former pro-surfer Toby Martin said the shark gave his mate nearly no chance of surviving the attack. 'It came straight from behind and breached and dropped straight on him. It's the worst-case scenario,' Mr Martin said. 'They normally come from the side but this one came straight from behind, breached and dropped on him.' Mercury (right) is pictured with his wife Maria (left) and daughter Freedom (centre) Two lifeguards were able to carry his torso to shore but there was no attempt to resuscitate Mercury, as he had suffered gruesome fatal injuries in the attack. In response to Mike's first surf since his brother's death, the local community flooded his Facebook page with positive comments. 'That's amazing Michael, glad to see. Definitely your soul mate's spirit there,' one said. 'He was so there. He'll give you signs throughout your life, that bond is sacred,' another person wrote. Kamala Harris claimed Jill Biden confronted her husband over their loyalty to Biden's failed 2024 presidential bid just weeks before he pulled out of the election. The former vice president, 60, made the bombshell assertion in her political memoir, 107 Days, which will hit the shelves on Tuesday. She detailed the cold encounter Doug Emhoff, 60, had with the then-First Lady while celebrating the Fourth of July at the White House, just weeks before Biden, 82, dropped out of the race on July 21 of last year. Jill, 70, had pulled Emhoff aside to the White House's Blue Room to speak to him in private. She seemed 'tense, even angry,' Harris wrote. 'What's going on?' Jill allegedly asked. 'Are you supporting us?' In shock at the insinuation that he and Harris had been anything but loyal to the Bidens, he immediately said, 'Of course we are supporting you,' the memoir reads. 'Okay. That's really important. We need to know that,' Jill snapped back. When they returned from the awkward exchange, Harris noted that her husband seemed upset. He later told his wife he was frustrated that Jill doubted them. Kamala Harris (right) said her husband, Doug Emhoff (left), was harshly questioned by Jill Biden Jill (pictured) allegedly pulled Emhoff to the side and asked if he and Harris supported Biden just weeks before he dropped out of the race At the time, skepticism from the left had begun to arise about Biden's mental capabilities, following his disastrous June 27 debate against Donald Trump. Harris noted that she never doubted Biden's qualifications, but in his old age, 'Joe got tired,' she wrote. She said that during the entirety of her time serving alongside Biden, she had never 'witnessed anything remotely like the level of confusion, incoherence, and debility we saw on the debate stage.' But Harris said she never tried to interfere or put a stop to Biden's 'reckless' re-election campaign. Harris revealed that going into the 2024 campaign, she automatically followed the 'mantra' set by the White House, that Biden would decide with his family if he wanted to run again. 'Was it grace, or was it recklessness?' Harris asked. 'In retrospect, I think it was recklessness. The stakes were simply too high.' Jill allegedly issued Emhoff a warning after Biden officially dropped out of the race and Harris was instantly pushed to the forefront as the Democratic candidate. Harris explained that when she launched into her rushed campaign - at day 106 - Jill returned a call from Emhoff, whom he tried to reach to the day before. Joe Biden (pictured) dropped out of the 2024 election with just 107 days to go Jill (right) allegedly issued Emhoff a warning after Biden (left) officially dropped out of the race and Harris was instantly pushed to the forefront as the Democratic candidate 'Be careful what you wish for. You're about to see how horrible the world is,' she bluntly cautioned him, Harris wrote. Harris attributed Jill's hostility toward her to a years-old grudge from when Harris ran against Biden in the 2020 presidential election. 'I had always admired Jill for her fierce loyalty to her family and also her dedication to teaching,' the former vice president said. 'But I suspect Jill hadn't quite forgiven me for the 2019 primary debate, when I'd gone hard at Joe over his early opposition to busing. 'Although I had regular lunches with Joe, there wasn't a lot of family socializing.' Harris was referring to a July 2019 debate, during which an unflattering 1981 interview of Biden opposing efforts to desegregate schools came up. Harris attributed Jill's hostility toward her to a years-old grudge from when Harris ran against Biden in the 2020 presidential election (pictured from left to right: Jill, Biden, Harris and Emhoff) Former vice president Harris (pictured) made the bombshell assertion in her political memoir, 107 Days, which will hit the shelves on Tuesday A California senator at the time, Harris grilled Biden for his position, which he tried clarifying by saying he 'did not oppose to busing in America,' only to busing ordered by the Department of Education. This strained relationship between the Bidens and Harris seemingly appeared on August 3 when Harris said she was arranging for interviews to select who would run as her vice president. She called upon Bill and Hillary Clinton for advice - and she never mentioned consulting with the Bidens. In the book's acknowledgement section, Harris once again hinted at tension between her and Jill - thanking Biden for his support, but leaving out his wife's name. Under-fire Optus CEO Stephen Rue has admitted the telco still has no idea why customers were unable to make Triple Zero calls during a 13-hour period - as it's revealed a fourth person died as a result of the outage. A 74-year-old man from Western Australia and a 68-year-old woman and an eight-week-old baby from South Australia all died after their calls to emergency services were interrupted during the network upgrade. Western Australian Premier Roger Cook told a press conference on Saturday, that a fourth person, the second in his state, may have also died as a result of the outage. 'I am further advised that as a result of WA Police undertaking welfare checks, that there is potentially another case of a Western Australian that has been attempting to call triple zero and passed away, he said. 'We are awaiting confirmation of this latest incident. This is a dreadful tragedy and it's so disappointing that it has occurred and it is so disappointing about the way that the situation has been revealed, both to government, to the authorities and to the public.' Later on Saturday, Optus issued a statement confirming a new fatality in Western Australia which appeared to have occurred during the outage period. 'We have been advised by WA Police that they believe the individual likely attempted to contact triple zero for assistance,' the statement said. 'We will continue to work with WA Police and other agencies to understand more of what has occurred.' Optus CEO Stephen Rue (pictured) said the telco still didn't know why emergency calls failed during a 13-hour period while the telco was undergoing a network upgrade 'I am deeply saddened by this further news and extend my heartfelt condolences to the persons family and friends,' Mr Rue said. The Optus boss had been grilled by the media during his own press conference and was asked why customers were able to make regular calls to family and friends but not to emergency services. He said an internal investigation was still probing what triggered the technical error and why Optus had received no internal notification that triple-zero calls were failing. 'It was during an upgrade to a firewall upgrade,' Mr Rue told reporters. 'When we have the exact information, I will share that with you. That is part of our internal investigation at the moment.' Mr Rue said during a system upgrade at 12.30am on Thursday initial testing did not indicate there were any issues, and normal calls were connecting. He said there were two complaints made to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about triple zero calls not going through. The first complaint came about 9am on Thursday, but it did not receive the relevant escalation at the time and so Optus did not get that report. Optus wasn't aware that triple zero calls were failing for 13 hours (pictured, an Optus store) Optus only found out about the triple zero failure when they were contacted directly by a customer at about 1.30pm on Thursday a full 13 hours after the outage. The major outage affected calls to emergency services in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Mr Rue said there was a technical failure in the system but there were 'no alarms to alert us' that some emergency calls were not making it through to emergency services. 'The loss of the lives of three people, two in South Australia and one in Western Australia is absolutely tragic,' the CEO said on Saturday. 'I would like to extend my deepest condolences to their families and friends, and I promise that we will fully cooperate with any and all investigations in relation to this. 'In terms of our own investigation into the technical failures, I can confirm that this is ongoing and I will be fully transparent as we establish the facts of the matter.' Mr Rue was asked if Australians could still trust Optus, after it suffered the biggest mobile network outage in Australia's history in November 2023. 'I will always be transparent with them which is why I'm standing here today, which is why I'll stand here again tomorrow,' he replied. His press conference came after Minister for Communications Anika Wells (pictured) said she was staggered the triple zero outage occurred The Optus boss referred multiple questions to an upcoming external investigation, saying the results will give him a better picture of how events unfolded. When asked if the outage was the direct reason three people died, Mr Rue said: 'It's not for me to comment specifically on the families. And again, when we have all the information, we will share that with you'. Mr Rue said while he had not personally reached out to the families of the three people who died, he would do so at 'the right time'. His press conference came after Minister for Communications Anika Wells said she was staggered the triple zero outage occurred. 'There was a full review into what happened with the Optus outage in 2023. Those recommendations were accepted by government,' she said. 'Many of the things that happened in this outage are failures to implement some of those recommendations, including alerting the public or emergency services authorities. And that is what I find to be particularly disappointing.' South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has been scathing of Optus for its handling of the situation. 'I have not witnessed such incompetence from an Australian corporation in respect to communications worse than this,' Malinauskas said. 'I cannot believe that anyone in the senior levels of Optus thought they should craft a media statement and conduct a press conference before advising the South Australian government that they had ascertained two deaths had occurred. 'I think quite frankly that is reprehensible conduct on behalf of Optus.' Estonia have demanded urgent talks with Nato allies after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace in a 'reckless' and 'brazen' attempt to intimidate the Baltic state. Donald Trump warned of 'big trouble' after the powerful MiG-31 warplanes spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace on Friday as they conducted combat operations to test the country's defences. The move sparked an emergency response from Nato, which sent in F-35 fighters to intercept the Russian aggression. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper posted on social media that the UK 'stands with our Estonian allies'. Despite Trump's condemnation of the move, Vladimir Putin launched a devastating overnight strike on Ukraine, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more. Russia deny violating Estonian airspace, but tensions have continued to heighten, as in further provocation by Putin, two Russian jets also made a show of force over a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea, breaching its safety zone. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask Nato to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance. 'Such a violation is completely unacceptable. Nato's response to any provocation must be united and strong,' Michal said. 'We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps'. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask Nato to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace on September 19 Former RAF commander last night called on Nato to draw a 'red line' in the sand - and hinted at shooting down future Russian jets. When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, Trump said: 'I don't love it. I don't like it when that happens. It could be big trouble.' The US President went on to add that he would soon be briefed on reports, and made it clear he was not pleased with the situation. Zelensky said that Russia launched around 580 drones and 40 missiles targeting Ukraine's infrastructure, civilian production companies, and residential areas in different regions across the country. 'Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure,' Zelensky said in a statement on the Telegram app. With air alerts lasting about 11 hours in some regions during the night, the Russian attacks were carried out in two waves, Ukrainian military analysts said. Ukrainian air defence shot down 552 drones and 31 missiles, the air force added. One person was killed in Dnipro, while two people were killed in the Chernihiv region in the north and the Khmelnytskyi region in the west of the country, regional officials said. When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said: 'I don't love it The powerful Russian MiG-31 warplanes (pictured, file photo) spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace At least 30 people were injured in the attack in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, local governor Serhii Lysak said. In the Kyiv region, local authorities said there were strikes in the areas of Bucha, Boryspil and Obukhiv, with homes and cars damaged in the strikes. Footage appears to show Ukraine has struck back with combined attacks on two Russian oil refineries. Ukraine claims it has hit the refinery in Novokuibyshevsk and another target in the Samara region of Russia. The oil refineries are known to be regular targets for Ukrainian drones and both were said to be hit in the early hours of Saturday. Zelensky said he would hold 'a meeting with the President of the United States', adding he would discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia during the talks with Trump. A US-led push for a quick end to the war has stalled and Russia effectively ruled out a meeting between Putin and Zelensky - something that Kyiv says is the only way towards peace. 'We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire,' Zelensky said in comments released by the Ukrainian presidency on Saturday. Zelensky has also urged Kyiv's allies to provide more air defence systems and hit Moscow with extra sanctions. 'Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe, but for a reliable shield, we must act together,' he said. Ukrainian residents react as they stand near a residential building damaged during a Russian missile strike Emergency services carry an injured person from a residential house damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine With air alerts lasting about 11 hours in some regions during the night, the Russian attacks were carried out in two waves, Ukrainian military analysts said Footage appears to show Ukraine has struck back with combined attacks on two Russian oil refineries Ukraine claims it has hit the refinery in Novokuibyshevsk and another target in the Samara region of Russia Air Marshal Greg Bagwell wrote on social media platform X: 'NATO needs to make some clear and public statements as to what it considers a red line.' The veteran, who served in the force for 36 years and retired as its deputy commander, continued: 'When it is crossed, the promised response is given, which should be lethal force after a clear warning. 'NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated. 'Right now we don't know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? 'And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.' Following the airstrike on Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early on Saturday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the armed forces of the NATO-member country said. 'Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness, ' the operational command said in a post on X. Polish and allied air forces have since ended the operation as airstrikes against Ukraine were ceased, the operational command said. The Polish command added that the actions were 'preventative and aimed at securing airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened area'. Your browser does not support iframes. It comes as MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore blasted the Russian president, calling him a 'liar' who wants to 'impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal'. The breach of Estonian airspace was condemned by European leaders. A Nato spokesman said: 'This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato's ability to respond.' Estonian foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russia had already entered Estonian airspace four times this year. He added: 'That is unacceptable in itself, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen. 'Russia's ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.' The prime minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal, said his government had 'decided to request Nato Article 4 consultations'. Article 4 is a call to the 32-member Nato alliance, including the US, to come to consult on collective defence in response to specific threats. The RAF's Mr Bagwell called the Russian incursion into Estonia 'a deliberate provocation to sow doubt and confusion amongst Nato nations'. MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore (above) has labelled Vladimir Putin a 'liar' who wants to 'impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal' Your browser does not support iframes. 'Today these aircraft were only armed with air-to-air missiles but tomorrow it could be something more sinister,' he warned. 'Putin could have a few objectives here: one) to provoke a response in order to support his argument that Nato is the aggressor; two) to sow discord amongst Nato nations in formulating a response; three) to push the boundaries of the 'grey zone'. Of course he could be trying all three!' The air marshal, who oversaw operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, continued: 'The grey zone has become a convenient term to hide all manner of "ills". 'We need to turn that zone into a clear delineation of black and white - and act accordingly when that line is crossed. It's time to stop Putin calling the shots.' Russia denied its aircraft violated Estonia's airspace with an online statement published early Saturday, stressing its fighter jets had kept to neutral Baltic Sea waters more than 3 kilometers from Estonia's Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland. It comes a week after Kremlin drones flew more than 100 miles inside Poland on a reconnaissance mission. Both incidents have exposed holes in Nato defences. Estonia became the third member state to be 'invaded' by Russia in just a month after an incursion into Romanian aerial territory last weekend. The latest incident comes after US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin had 'really let him down' over Ukraine. While the incursions into Poland and Romania were by drones, this time Russia sent manned frontline jets bristling with weapons. Estonia has requested a NATO Article 4 consultation over Russia's incursion into its airspace (Pictured: A Russian jet flying above the Baltic Sea on September 19) Your browser does not support iframes. Italian F-35s were scrambled to intercept the MiG-31s which then returned to Kremlin airspace. They had encroached five miles inside Estonia. Afterwards, Estonia summoned Russian officials in Tallinn for an explanation. The Russian charge d'affaires was summoned and given a protest note, a ministry statement said. The Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace in the area of Vaindloo Island, located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The aircraft did not have flight plans and their transponders were turned off, according to Estonian officials. Separately, Russian planes flew parallel to the Estonian border from east to west and did not head toward the country's capital Tallinn. In another intimidating move, two Russian jets yesterday conducted a low pass over the Polish-owned Petrobaltic offshore production facility in the Baltic. Polish armed forces were alerted as the platform's safety zone was violated. Other alliance countries have reported similar incursions and drone crashes on their territory. The developments have increasingly rattled European governments as US-led efforts to stop the war in Ukraine have come to nothing. Estonia, along with other Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, are seen as being among the most likely targets if Russia one day decides to risk an attack on Nato. Neighbouring Poland, though much larger, also feels vulnerable. All four countries are staunch supporters of Ukraine. Russia's latest move comes a week after Kremlin drones (remnants of which are seen above on September 10) flew more than 100 miles inside Poland on a reconnaissance mission Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the 'reckless incursion' by Russia The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called Friday's incursion 'an extremely dangerous provocation' that 'further escalates tensions in the region'. Ms Kallas, who is Estonian, said the EU will 'continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources.' She added that Putin was 'testing the West's resolve' and said 'we must not show weakness'. Lithuanian defence minister Dovile Sakaliene said Nato's border in the north east of Europe was being tested 'for a reason'. She added: 'We need to mean business.' Former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also weighed in on the row. He said: 'Russia escalates, we do nothing, Russia escalates more, we do nothing, Russia escalates even more, we do nothing... I think I am starting to see a pattern here.' Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky described the menace as 'outrageous' and insisted it was 'not an accident'. He added: 'It requires a systemic response. Strong action must be taken both collectively and individually by each nation. Yvette Cooper condemned Russian's 'reckelss incursion', saying it was time to increase economic pressure on Putin. The Kremlin has not commented on the incident. Met Police detectives have secretly flown to Portugal to interview Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's old friends, it has been revealed. Investigators spent several hours quizzing a couple who housed the sex offender just three months before Madeleine vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. The 48-year-old is believed to be the prime suspect for the 'murder and abduction' of Madeleine and was released from jail earlier this year after serving six of a seven-year sentence for rape. Now, grandmother Elke Piro, 69, who was acquainted with Brueckner for a number years, has revealed her unequivocal belief that the toddler was hurt by the German suspect. Ms Piro, alongside her husband Bernhard, 72, were previously interviewed by both Portugese and German detectives, having first met Brueckner in 1995 and remaining in contact with him until 2018. Speaking to The Sun, Ms Piro said: 'The British police interviewed us a few days ago but I'm sad because I wasn't able to tell them anything I haven't said before. 'It's frustrating because I got to know Christian over many years and believe he did something bad to Maddie.' Reflecting on her time spent with Brueckner, Ms Piro described him as a 'classic sociopath' and a 'terrible alcoholic', adding how he would switch between being 'kind and gentle or crazy and raging about sex'. Met investigators have quizzed a couple who housed Christian Brueckner, 48, (pictured) three months before Madeleine vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. In 2020, he was declared the prime suspect by German authorities Grandmother Elke Piro, 69, who was acquainted with Brueckner for a number years, has revealed her belief that the toddler (pictured) was hurt by the German suspect. Reflecting on her time spent with Brueckner, Ms Piro described him as a 'classic sociopath' She said she never felt threatened by the sex offender, who stayed with them following his fuel theft in 2006, and again in 2016 for a month while he was on the run from German police. However, she was completely unaware of the heinous crimes he committed and has now said that she wished both her and her husband had never met Brueckner. The pair's sons, Flavio and Pablo, were also previously questioned about the sex offender, but were not on this occasion. Brueckner's last plea to be housed with the couple in 2018 was refuted. A source told the publication that detectives had travelled to convene with the Portuguese Judicial Police around three weeks ago. Later, they spoke to the Piros at a Faro police station, as witnesses not suspects. It comes as Met boss Sir Mark Rowley recently suggested that if new evidence came to light Brueckner could possibly be extradited. Sir Rowley also insisted that Brueckner 'remains a suspect' in the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. Regarding the likelihood of Brueckner's extradition, he said: 'One of the reasons we are involved is that murder is in many situations extra-territorial and potentially a murder of a British subject can in certain circumstances be charged in the UK. 'There's lots of maybes, so at the moment we are taking stock with the Germans and Portuguese.' Of the German inquiry, he added: 'They've got to the point where the prosecutor doesn't feel they're able to prosecute.' Brueckner's release is a blow to the German and British authorities who have been frantically trying to gather enough evidence to charge him since he was named as the likely suspect in June 2020. On Friday night, the paedophile declared himself homeless and is currently in emergency accommodation in Neumunster, 40 miles north of Hamburg. It emerged he was living in a hostel in Neumunster south of Kiel in area 'mainly where migrants live, who don't read German media and have no idea who he is', according to source close to Brueckner. The news was initially reported by the local paper which said it was revealing the fact because of 'over riding public interest and protection of the public'. A spokesman for the city council, Stephan Beitz, confirmed the report and said it had accommodated him as part of its 'emergency response' but refused to say where exactly. German media questioned why he had gone to Neumunster as he appeared to have no connections to the city and he had been released from a jail more than 200 miles away. Local paper Kiel Nachrichten echoed fears he may reoffend and added: 'The city is presumably concerned that protests or even riots will erupt if the location of the man with his criminal past becomes known.' Pictured: Kate and Gerry Mccann with a picture of Madeleine, who was just three years old when she was last seen. Brueckner has maintained that he was not involved in Madeleine's disappearance and no charges relating to the toddler have been lodged against him The Daily Mail can also reveal he is being watched by German BKA officers the equivalent of the FBI and has travelled on a train and 'gone shopping in Lidl without anyone recognising him'. Meanwhile, Brueckner's lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, has confirmed that the sex offender refused to take part in a rehabilitation programme because he felt he was 'unrightly convicted' of the horrific attack on a 72-year-old woman. The sickening assault on the American pensioner took place in 2005 in Praia da Luz on Portugal's Algarve coast just two years before then three-year-old Madeleine vanished from the same resort, and he has convictions for child abuse dating back to the 90s. When asked if he understood the public's fears about Brueckner's release, Mr Fulscher said: 'Certainly. Fear is often a very irrational feeling. But given Christian Brueckner's past one can certainly find rational reasons for such concern.' Mr Fulscher added that he had 'spoken with his client about the Madeleine case' but insisted that he 'had seen no evidence to make him think he was involved'. In a previous interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Fulscher said that 'Brueckner was not the sort of man you would like to look after your children'. Mr Fulscher added that he had 'spoken with his client about the Madeleine case' but said he 'had seen no evidence to make him think he was involved'. Your browser does not support iframes. He insisted that any evidence prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters has to suggest Brueckner was involved in the case was too weak to support charges. Mr Wolters has previously stated that Brueckner is the 'only suspect' in the case, adding: 'We have evidence against him but it's just not strong enough to bring a case also that's why we haven't charged him yet we hope we can at some stage.' However, the sex offender has maintained he was not involved in Madeleine's disappearance and no charges relating to the toddler have been lodged against him. He was known to be working in Praia da Luz when Madeleine vanished and mobile phone data puts him near the hotel complex the night that she was last seen. Several witnesses have come forward to name him as the suspect but in letters to the Daily Mail Brueckner has insisted that he had 'nothing to do with it' and he was being made a 'scapegoat'. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, Senior Investigating Officer for the Met's investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, said: 'We are aware of the pending release from prison of a 49 year old German man who has been the primary suspect in the German federal investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. 'We can confirm that this individual remains a suspect in the Metropolitan Police's own investigation. We have requested an interview with this German suspect but, for legal reasons, this can only be done via an International Letter of Request which has been submitted. 'It was subsequently refused by the suspect. In the absence of an interview, we will nevertheless continue to pursue any viable lines of enquiry. 'We can provide no further information while the investigation is ongoing. Any questions about the conditions around his release should be directed to the German authorities.' Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil plans to introduce digital identification cards for people living in the UK at the Labour Party conference this month. The PM has been 'exploring' the idea in recent weeks and, while finer details of the scheme are supposedly still being ironed out, an announcement could come as early as the annual meet, which begins on September 28. Starmer is determined to plough ahead with scheme, which is part of efforts to overhaul the country's asylum and immigration system, according to a report by the Financial Times. The Labour government is under pressure to curb record migrant arrivals crossing the Channel in small boats, while also addressing the strain of housing tens of thousands of asylum seekers. One option under consideration would give digital IDs to all people legally entitled to reside in Britain, whether citizens or those with legal immigration status, a source briefed on the matter told the newspaper. The digital ID could be used for employment verification and rental agreements, though the government may still narrow the scope or revisit the plan, they added. Earlier this month, the PM said that digital IDs could 'play an important part' in making Britain less attractive to illegal migrants. However critics of the scheme warned it could turn the country into a 'dystopian nightmare' if people are forced into ID checks 'to go about our everyday lives'. Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) is expected to unveil plans to introduce digital identification cards for people living in the UK at the Labour Party conference this month A mock up of a virtual ID, which could be given all people legally entitled to reside in Britain, whether citizens or those with legal immigration status Rebecca Vincent, of Big Brother Watch, said earlier this month: 'While Downing Street is scrambling to be seen as doing something about illegal immigration, we are sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare where the entire population will be forced through myriad digital checkpoints to go about our everyday lives. 'Mandatory digital ID will not stop small boat crossings, but it will create a burden on the already law-abiding population to prove our right to be here. 'It will turn Britain into a "Papers, please" society.' Meanwhile, Gracie Bradley of Liberty said a new scheme was 'likely to be even more intrusive, insecure and discriminatory' than the Labour government's failed 2006 plan to bring in ID cards. Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair's nascent card scheme was scrapped by the incoming Coalition government in 2010. Ms Bradley added that an 'expensive and unjustified ID scheme threatens our rights'. Conservative justice spokesman Robert Jenrick also criticised the proposal earlier this month. He said: 'Most employers who are employing individuals illegally are doing so knowingly. 'Asking them to check ID cards rather than the current checks that they are already obliged to do is not going to make a blind bit of difference to illegal migration.' A government spokesperson said Britain was committed to expanding the use of technology to make it easier for people to access services, pointing to existing systems such as e-visas and the NHS app. 'We will look at any serious proposals that would help people access public services, including digital ID,' the spokesperson said in a statement. British holidaymakers are facing travel chaos at Heathrow after a cyber attack disrupted check-in and boarding systems for several major European airports. Passengers at the UK's largest airport are experiencing three hour long queues this morning after hackers targeted Collins Aerospace, which provides services for multiple airlines globally, on Friday night. The company is 'experiencing a technical issue which may cause delays for departing passengers'. Although the attack 'is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations', it added. The timing of the attack coincides with recent Russian incursions into NATO territories, the latest taking place just hours ago when three fighter jets entered neighbouring Estonia in a 'reckless' and 'brazen' attempt to intimidate the Baltic state. Heathrow has warned of delays and advised customers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling, while a number of departures were also cancelled. Brussels and Berlin have also been affected by the cyber attack, with the former confirming that 10 flights had been cancelled and 17 flights were experiencing delays of more than one hour. It is currently unclear who is behind the incident, although Russian hackers have launched a number of devastating attacks against organisations both in the UK and the US in recent months. Marks & Spencer, Harrods and the Co-op were all targeted by the Russia-linked group cybercrime group DragonForce earlier this year, while Moscow is also believed to be behind an 'unprecedented' hack on the US Department of Justice. Collins Aerospace itself has also previously been the target of suspected Russian hackers after ransomware group BianLian caused a huge data breach in 2023. Heathrow has warned of delays for passengers after cyber hackers targeted a service provider for several major European airports. PIctured: Passengers queue at Heathrow on Saturday after a cyber attack on an airline service provider Passengers at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 queue to check in amid flight delays and cancellations caused by a cyber attack on Collins Aerospace Huge queues at Brussels airport this morning after a cyber attack disrupted check-in and boarding systems for several major European airports Aviation and travel expert Paul Charles said the attack was 'very clever' as it has 'affected a number of airlines and airports at the same time'. 'I am really surprised and shocked by this. Collins is owned by RTX, which is the world's biggest defence and aviation company. Collins supplies the UK government, it supplies other government's around the world,' he told Sky News. 'There will be deep concerns that their systems have been tampered with in such a way. We don't know the exact cause of the cyber attack but it's deeply worrying.' Disgruntled passengers have vented their frustration over the issue, with one person writing on X: 'Delays at LHR T4, so annoying. Charging 6 drop off, maybe they should improve their services. You just can't travel smoothly in the UK.' Another woman who arrived at Heathrow Airport this morning for a flight to Thailand was forced to wait three hours to drop her luggage off. 'The queues are terrible. It was an absolute skeleton staff. Out of six of the desks there were probably two people,' she told Sky News. 'We were queuing for three hours and literally snaking and shuffling with this skeleton staff on the desk, and nobody was telling us then (what was happening).' A third person told the Daily Mail they had been stuck in Brussels 'for hours' after leaving Africa at 4pm on Friday. 'We are on our 7th gate change, no announcements, no drinks offered. Terrible,' they added. Travellers wait near a check-in area at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, amid flight delays and cancellations following a cyber attack Travellers wait in queues at Brussels airport, after a cyber attack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations at several major European airports Tereza Pultarova, a freelance journalist from London, arrived at Heathrow Airport in the early hours of the morning to catch a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight to Amsterdam, where she was to hop on a connection flight to Cape Town in South Africa. 'We've been here since 4.30am we were supposed to be on a 6.30am flight to Amsterdam,' Ms Pultarova said. 'Most people on this flight have connecting flights to catch in Amsterdam from all over the world. 'We were kind of stranded here because the weird thing is, KLM wasn't able to issue us boarding passes digitally, and requested us to collect them at the check-in desk. 'And then they told us that there is some sort of global issue with the system they're using for check-in and boarding, and they have to do everything manually. "So then they were checking in people at the rate of, like, one person per 10 minutes. I'm not exaggerating. It was just insane, the queue wasn't moving. 'So they checked-in like 20 people, maybe like the business class, and then told the people from the 6.30 flight to just go away, that they need to start checking in for the 8.40 flight.' Ms Pultarova was to visit the Square Kilometre Array telescopes in the Karoo Desert for work, and added she had been looking forward to this trip for months. She said: 'I need to be there at 7am tomorrow, otherwise the party will leave for the Karoo Desert where the telescopes are. So yeah, you know, I need to have information, but nobody's giving me any information, so I don't know what to do.' Travellers wait in queues at Heathrow Airport after a cyber attack disrupted its check-in and boarding systems People stand in a line to check in after a cyber attack caused delays at Brussels International Airport A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers. 'While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight. 'Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience.' EasyJet said it does not expect the issue to impact its flight schedule for the rest of Saturday. 'We're aware of an IT system issue affecting a small number of airports. While we are currently operating as normal and do not expect this to impact our flying programme for the remainder of the day, we continue to monitor the situation closely,' a spokesperson for the London-listed airline said. Meanwhile, Brussels Airport said the cyber attack meant that 'at the moment only manual check-in and boarding is possible'. 'The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible,' it added in a statement. A message on the Berlin Brandenburg Airport adds: 'Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution.' A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace on September 19 Frankfurt and Hamburg airports are not affected by the attack, a spokesperson said. An official from the operations control centre at Zurich Airport also said it had not been impacted. Collins Aerospace's parent company, RTX, said in a statement: 'We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our MUSE software in select airports. 'We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. Collins Aerospace has previously been targeted by hackers known as The Everest Group, who may have sold their access to the firm's computers onto other actors on the dark web. Just this week Everest claimed another victim, saying it had successfully hacked BMW, which operates more than 30 production sites in 15 countries worldwide. Russia itself if no stranger to airport cyber attacks since the start of the Ukraine war. Just yesterday Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest air hub, said its website had been knocked offline by a cyber attack. One day earlier Siberian regional carrier KrasAvia's online services were hit, and national carrier Aeroflot suffered delays and cancellations in July after an intrusion claimed by a pro-Ukrainian hacker group. Cars on fire at the site of a residential building damaged during a Russian drone strike on Saturday In recent days Putin has been on the offensive against Ukraine. This morning Russia launched a devastating overnight strike across nine regions in the country, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more. It came hours after Trump's condemnation of Russia's 'reckless' and 'brazen' attempt to intimidate the Baltic state, as three MiG-31 warplanes spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace on Friday. The move sparked an emergency response from Nato, which sent in F-35 fighters to intercept the Russian aggression. In further provocation by Putin, two Russian jets also made a show of force over a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea, breaching its safety zone. A former RAF commander last night called on NATO to draw a 'red line' in the sand - and hinted at shooting down future Russian jets. When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, Trump said: 'I don't love it. I don't like it when that happens. It could be big trouble.' The US President went on to add that he would soon be briefed on reports, and made it clear he was not pleased with the situation. US leaders have urged Keir Starmer not to recognise a Palestinian state over fears the 'deeply troubling' move could reward Hamas. The prime minister announced plans to legitimise a state in July, saying he would do so during the UN General Assembly meeting in September if Israel did not take 'substantive steps' towards peace in Gaza. Congressional Republican officials have sent a letter to the UK, France, Canada, Australia and other key allies, calling on them to oppose Starmer's efforts, as he is expected to announce the UK's formal recognition as early as Sunday. 'This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace,' wrote chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Senator Rick Scott. 'It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims.' The letter was backed by US House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson, who said: 'It is baffling and deeply troubling to reward Hamas with statehood before they have returned every hostage.' The US's stance is echoed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused the Prime Minister of giving Hamas a 'reward for terrorism', writing in The Daily Telegraph she would 'never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism'. She added Labour's foreign policy was to 'condemn our allies, indulge our adversaries and hand away our sovereignty'. US leaders have urged Keir Starmer not to recognise a Palestinian state over fears the 'deeply troubling' move could reward Hamas There has been no ceasefire and the situation in Gaza has deteriorated, with a declaration of a famine in Gaza City and the expansion of Israeli military operations Sir Keir intends to recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, the day before the UN General Assembly's general debate begins in New York, according to the Times. There has been no ceasefire and the situation in Gaza has deteriorated, with a declaration of a famine in Gaza City and the expansion of Israeli military operations. During a visit to London last week, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said recognising Palestine 'won't help one Palestinian, one hostage' and could be 'adversely interpreted by Hamas'. Australia, France and Canada have all committed to recognising a Palestinian state at the UN. During a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Chequers on Thursday, Donald Trump said he disagreed with recognition. Starmer denied that he was waiting for the US president to leave the UK before announcing recognition, saying he had 'made my position clear at the end of July, so the timing, it's got nothing to do with this state visit'. But he said Hamas could have 'no part in any future governance in Palestine', adding the group 'don't want a two-state solution. They don't want peace, they don't want a ceasefire'. Interview: Global Governance Initiative reflects China's role as responsible stakeholder, says Indian expert Xinhua) 10:54, September 20, 2025 COLOMBO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Global Governance Initiative(GGI) reflects China's growing role as a responsible stakeholder in global governance, particularly at a time when the Global South is calling for greater representation, said an Indian expert. The GGI appeals to the Global South, as it stresses sovereignty, multilateralism and inclusivity, said B. R. Deepak, professor of Chinese and China Studies at the Centre of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, in a recent interview with Xinhua. According to Deepak, the contemporary value of the initiative is twofold: it addresses pressing governance deficits through a people-centered, action-oriented approach, and it broadens the agenda by providing alternative pathways that resonate with developing countries. He also linked the GGI with China's other major initiatives, saying: "GGI, along with the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, are indispensable pillars of building a community with a shared future for humanity." They link development, security, and cultural diversity as interdependent dimensions of global governance, he added. Deepak underscored international expectations for China's role in areas such as UN-centered reform, renewable energy, health security, conflict mediation and digital governance. The world increasingly expects China to help deliver cooperative solutions to shared global challenges, he said. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Kou Jie) Lord Mandelson allegedly failed to declare two flights paid for by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while he was an MP. The Labour peer did not disclose in the House of Commons register of interests two flights he took at the expense of the disgraced financier, which are worth around 5,555, in 2003. The flights appear in a cache of documents released earlier this month by the US House of Representatives oversight committee and seen by the Financial Times. One trip refers to two flights for 'MandelsonPeter', one on April 4, 2003, costing $3,844.90, and the other on April 11 2003, at $3,642.06. Lord Mandelson failed to declare the flights in the register of interests, which at the time required officials to disclose visits abroad costing more than 564. Sir Alistair Graham, chairman of the government's committee on standards in public life at the time, told the Financial Times there was a 'very strong case' Lord Mandelson should have declared the trip. 'I think if there was any hint that it had a connection with his political role, then there can be no doubt about it. He should have declared it,' he said. The receipt is believed to be the first piece of evidence to suggest Epstein paid for Lord Mandelson's travel. Lord Mandelson in a fluffy white dressing gown enjoying a chat with Jeffrey Epstein Lord Mandelson gazing out of a balcony window in what appears to be Epstein's house on his private island in the Caribbean Mandelson's message in the 'birthday book' compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell said Epstein was 'my best pal!' Mandelson did not respond to the FT's request for comment. The Labour peer's relationship with Epstein has come under extraordinary scrutiny after the release of a ten-page letter in which he described him as his 'best pal'. The note, written for Epstein's 50th birthday album in 2003, gushed: 'Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call 'mysterious' parachuted into my life.' On another page beside a picture of Epstein's private island, Mandelson wrote about him entertaining 'in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum)'. The message ended: 'But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal! Happy Birthday Jeffrey. We love you!!' The album, compiled by Epstein's former lover Ghislaine Maxwell now serving 20 years in a US jail for sex trafficking was published on Monday by the US House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein's sordid network of friends. He was then withdrawn as ambassador to the US last week after emails revealed the depth of his relationship with the paedophile financier. Lord Mandelson, who was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer as Britain's ambassador to the US, is pictured here with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in May 2025 Sir Keir Starmer, who picked the Labour grandee to be the UK's representative in Washington, made the decision after emails showed the peer sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences. The Foreign Office said the emails showed 'the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment'. Australians have blasted plans to close a popular swimming spot in the heart of Sydney right before summer begins. Marrinawi Cove, in Barangaroo Reserve near the CBD, opened in 2023 and was the first city beach west of the Harbour Bridge in more than 50 years. It quickly attracted large crowds as it offered the perfect place for a lunch break or after-work dip, along with spectacular views of the harbour. But as spring finally brings some warm weather, it was revealed this week that the state government will close the spot for three months while it undergoes a revamp. The plan, a result of feedback from 500 visitors, includes a new decking platform, an outdoor shower, and non-slip stairs in an attempt to address concerns that the rocks at the beach are unsafe, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Sandstone blocks around the water will be repositioned to allow for extra space for towels. There is also expected to be an expanded swimming area with a realigned shark net and a depth marker to help with safety. It is understood that the developers' contributions will solely fund the upgrades. Marrinawi Cove at Barangaroo (pictured) will shut for three months from September 22 The harbour swimming spot (pictured) will be fitted with new non-slip stairs and decking 'We couldn't have anticipated just how popular swimming at Marrinawi Cove would become,' Lands Minister Steve Kamper said. He confirmed that construction will begin on September 22, with the site due to re-open by mid-December. 'These upgrades are about responding to that popularity and making sure the space is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone,' he said. But locals on social media have questioned why nothing had been done during the winter months instead of waiting until spring when more people are likely to go for a dip. 'Perfect timing, couldn't have been done in the winter,' one person quipped. 'I swim there every day rain, hail or shine. Very weird decision given the time of year, had winter to close it,' another said. But others said they were eagerly awaiting the reopening: 'Although I am devastated to say goodbye to a friend for a few months, I am confident about the beauty of her return.' Another added: 'There are other beaches to go to, guys. Don't be too upset about it.' Locals have questioned the timing of the closure, with some asking why the work was not completed over winter (above, swimmers at the cove) It is understood the upgrade to Marrinawi Cove is part of a larger plan to improve accessibility on Sydney's foreshore. Kamper said the government was 'committed to ensuring Barangaroo remains a vibrant, accessible foreshore that reconnects people with the harbour'. The changes have also been welcomed by Millers Point Resident Action Group's Yasmina Bonnet. She told the Herald the community has previously called for an expanded swim area and improved accessibility for the elderly and less mobile visitors to the beach. 'Sydneysiders love a good harbour swim,' she said. 'If the larger Nawi Cove, just near Barangaroo metro station, was also swimmable in the future, that would be fabulous.' A former Labour minister has refused to step aside to allow Andy Burnham back into the Commons in a bid to challenge the Prime Minister. Andrew Gwynne, MP for Gorton & Denton, was previously believed to have been considering retiring from his position due to medical reasons, triggering a by-election that could have seen the Manchester mayor back in Downing Street. In February, Mr Gwynne was suspended from the Labour Party after the Mail on Sunday exposed offensive WhatsApp messages in a group called Trigger Me Timbers. In the group, the former Health Minister said he hoped a pensioner who didn't vote for Labour would die before the next election, while also making anti-Semitic slights and 'jokes' about a constituent being 'mown down' by a truck. He later apologised for his 'badly misjudged comments', adding: 'I entirely understand the decisions the PM and the party have taken.' While there had been previous speculation that Mr Gwynne was considering a possible medical retirement from the Commons, he has now insisted that he will be serving a 'full term'. Referencing the possibility that his absence could help grant Andy Burnham's re-entrance into Westminster, Mr Gwynne told The Times that the Manchester mayor's 'route to No 10 is not going to be through Gorton & Denton'. It comes after Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Middleton South, told Times Radio just last week that he would 'see a full term out' rather than allowing the mayor to take part in a by-election. Andrew Gwynne (pictured), MP for Gorton & Denton and former Health Minister, was previously believed to have been considering retiring from his position due to medical reasons, triggering a by-election that could have seen the Manchester mayor back in Downing Street Business Secretary Peter Kyle also suggested on Sunday that the Greater Manchester mayor should stick to local politics in the North West rather than returning to Parliament in time for a leadership contest to succeed Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Kyle told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that Mr Burnham, who has been dubbed 'the King In The North' was 'a real talent'. But he added: 'I think he is doing an incredible job in Manchester at the moment, I think Manchester really needs him. 'I love working with him in Manchester. It would be a shame for Manchester to lose him.' Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage questioned whether Mr Burnham could win a seat if it is contested. With Reform polling in second or first place in local seats, Mr Farage told The Mail on Sunday: 'It would be an epic battle that could leave Burnham humiliated. We would give it everything that we have.' On Thursday, Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester that he has 'never ruled out going back to Westminster'. A poll in August revealed that one in three people would rather have Mr Burnham as Prime Minister over Sir Keir, the only leading Labour politician preferred by the public to the party's current leader. Mr Gwynne has declared that the Manchester mayor's (pictured) 'route to No 10 is not going to be through Gorton & Denton'. Business Secretary Peter Kyle also suggested on Sunday that Mr Burnham should stick to local politics rather than returning to Parliament to succeed Sir Keir Asked by pollsters More in Common who would make a better PM, 32 per cent plumped for Mr Burnham while only 22 per cent went for Sir Keir. The remaining 46 per cent were unsure. Often dubbed the 'king of the north', the former Cabinet minister, who has made two previous unsuccessful bids to be leader, was backed by half of those questioned (49 per cent) in north west England and four in ten (40 per cent) of Scots. He had double the support of Sir Keir in Yorkshire (31 per cent to 16). Mr Burnham was also twice as popular as the PM among those who did not vote Labour at the last general election (31 per cent to 16), although the party faithful preferred the current leader (46 per cent to 37). Director of More in Common Luke Tryl told the Mail: 'Across Labour voters and the wider public, Burnham is the strongest alternative. His lead is largest in his home turf, with half of those in the North West of England saying he'd do a better job than the PM.' The findings echo research by Ipsos in July which showed that 35 per cent of Britons believe Mr Burnham would be a good Labour leader, while only 26 per cent said the same about Sir Keir. And one backbencher told the New Statesman: 'He's the only possible front-runner not tainted by being part of this government.' Another source claimed: 'There are many more than 80 MPs who would nominate him.' Neal Lawson, of campaign group Compass, said: 'Burnham is proving himself to be popular in the party and is seen to have the character and politics to win the country. I meet a lot of people in Labour increasingly willing this to happen.' Nigel Farage has criticised Keir Starmer's 'one in, one out' policy after more than a thousand people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Friday. The number of people making the crossing underlined the scale of the challenge facing Sir Keir Starmer's government as it battles to get a grip on the crisis. The latest Home Office figures showed 1,072 made the journey in 13 boats. Friday's arrivals take the number of people who have made the crossing so far in 2025 to 32,103 - a record for this point in a year. Reform leader Farage took to social media on Friday to criticise the Government's new move, lamenting that '[three] illegal migrants have now been returned to France but over 1,000 arrived today alone', adding that 'the invasion is getting bigger'. Ministers hope the 'one in, one out' deal with France will act as a deterrent, showing migrants they face being sent back if they travel across the Channel. But the scale of Friday's crossings suggested the policy was so far having little effect on those gathered on the beaches of northern France. The third person sent back was an Iranian man who was returned to France on Friday. More than a thousand people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Friday Migrants picked up at sea attempting to cross the English Channel from France, disembark from a Border Force vessel after it arrived at the Marina in Dover, south-east England, on September 15, 2025 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks to representatives of the Civil Nuclear industry during a reception at 10 Downing Street, London. Picture date: Monday September 15, 2025 This followed the removal of an Eritrean man earlier on Friday after he lost a High Court bid to halt his removal, and the deportation of an Indian national on Thursday. Starmer's government faces mounting pressure to stop small boats taking asylum seekers across the Channel from Europe, a route by which more than 30,000 people have come so far in 2025. The first flights carrying asylum seekers from France to the UK under the reciprocal aspect of the deal are expected to take place next week. Although they would not comment on numbers, a Home Office source said they were expected to be 'at or close to parity', given the 'one in, one out' nature of the deal. Ministers have praised the returns, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy saying they provided an 'immediate deterrent' to people seeking to cross the Channel. The Government intends to increase the number of people being sent back under the pilot deal over the coming months. The deal with France means people who arrive in the UK by small boat can be detained and returned across the Channel, in exchange for an equivalent number of people who applied through a safe and legal route. But shadow home secretary Chris Philp attacked the deal as providing 'no deterrent effect whatsoever', describing the numbers returned as 'pathetic' and saying 'boasting about it is absurd'. Home Office sources pointed to the fact these were forcible returns, and drew comparisons with the previous government's deal with Rwanda - scrapped by Labour - that saw four volunteers go to the east African nation over two years. Migrants wait as they try to board a small boat to reach Britain, in Gravelines, northern France, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 Migrants look on from a dinghy as they prepare to cross the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France. Migrant crossings by boat have caused much controversy in the UK, with far-right groups organising demonstrations throughout the summer Last week, 100,000 protesters marched through central London scuffled with police in one of the UK's biggest right-wing demonstrations of modern times. London's Metropolitan Police said the 'Unite the Kingdom' march, organised by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson, was attended by around 110,000 people, who were kept apart from a 'Stand Up to Racism' counter-protest attended by around 5,000. The march brought a culmination to a highly charged summer in Britain that included protests staged outside hotels housing migrants. It comes as US President Donald Trump urged Starmer to deploy the military to stop the Channel boats crisis breaking Britain during his state visit to the UK this week. At a tense joint press conference, the US President warned that illegal immigration 'destroys countries from within' - as he highlighted his own success in securing America's borders. Asked about the Channel boats crisis, Mr Trump cited his own policies on the Mexican border: 'What I saw happening, with millions of people pouring into our country, I couldn't stand to watch it, and we've done a great job.' He said 'the last three months we had zero from millions of people a year ago, we had zero people enter our country illegally'. Mr Trump added: 'I think your situation is very similar. You have people coming in and I told the Prime Minister I would stop it, and it doesn't matter if you call out the military, it doesn't matter what means you use. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. 'It destroys countries from within and we're actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.' Meanwhile, Starmer is expected to unveil plans to introduce digital identification cards for people living in the UK at the Labour conference this month. The PM has been 'exploring' the idea in recent weeks and, while finer details of the scheme are supposedly still being ironed out, an announcement could come as early as the annual meet, which begins on September 28. Starmer is determined to plough ahead with scheme, which is part of efforts to overhaul the country's asylum and immigration system, according to a report by the Financial Times. The Labour government is under pressure to curb record migrant arrivals crossing the Channel in small boats, while also addressing the strain of housing tens of thousands of asylum seekers. One option under consideration would give digital IDs to all people legally entitled to reside in Britain, whether citizens or those with legal immigration status, a source briefed on the matter told the newspaper. The digital ID could be used for employment verification and rental agreements, though the government may still narrow the scope or revisit the plan, they added. Earlier this month, the PM said that digital IDs could 'play an important part' in making Britain less attractive to illegal migrants. However critics of the scheme warned it could turn the country into a 'dystopian nightmare' if people are forced into ID checks 'to go about our everyday lives'. The Labour Government finally started its 'one in, one out' scheme of sending a small proportion of migrants arriving in dinghies back across the Channel this week. Keir Starmer who scrapped the Tories Rwanda asylum deal as one of his first acts in office previously claimed his agreement with French president Emmanuel Macron would see migrants returned to France in short order. However, more than a thousand people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Friday as the Government sent a third person back to France It takes the number of people who have made the crossing so far in 2025 to 32,103 - a record for this point in a year. Now, have your say in the Daily Mail's latest poll do you think Kier Starmer's 'one in, one out' migrants scheme should already be branded a failure? Yesterday's poll saw Mail readers asked: 'Should Britain use its military to stop illegal migrants, as Trump suggests?' Out of more than 58,000 votes, a huge majority said 'yes' with 97% of the vote - with just 3 per cent saying 'no'. Jeremy Corbyn has moved to defend one of his allies after Zarah Sultana revealed she has instructed lawyers over what she called 'baseless attacks' in an escalating row over the membership of their new hard-left party. The Coventry South MP said she had turned to 'specialist defamation lawyers' following the row over her push for members to sign up to Your Party, the political outfit she established with Mr Corbyn. The fallout centres on a message circulated to supporters on Thursday urging them to pay up to 55 a year to join the party, an email later disowned by Mr Corbyn. Ms Sultana insisted the system had been 'properly launched' in line with the party's roadmap. She also accused colleagues of running a 'sexist boys' club' and claimed Karie Murphy, a close Corbyn ally and former senior party official, was seeking 'sole financial control of members' money and sole constitutional control over our conference.' But at an event for his Peace and Justice Project today, Mr Corbyn backed Ms Murphy, saying she had come under intense fire during the bitter dispute. He said: 'I've known Karie Murphy for many, many years and I'm appalled when people attack an individual like her. She'd walk on burning coals for a cause that she believes in.' The message, which included a payment link, was swiftly disowned by Mr Corbyn as an 'unauthorised email.' Hours later, he issued an urgent statement telling supporters not to hand over money and to cancel any direct debits immediately. Jeremy Corbyn described the initial message on behalf of the party as an 'unauthorised email' Zarah Sultana said she had instructed lawyers after 'false and defamatory statements' were made about her role in launching the new party's membership portal Ms Sultana, however, insisted the membership portal was legitimate and for backers to 'sign up now'. She explained in a further statement: 'I want to clarify the situation regarding the membership system for Your Party. 'Neither of this week's emails had the dual authorisation of both myself and Jeremy - which was the agreement made at the start of this process.' Ms Sultana said she took the step because she had been 'sidelined' and 'effectively frozen out' by Mr Corbyn and fellow independent MPs Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohammed and Shockat Adam. She added: 'My sole motivation has been to safeguard the grassroots involvement that is essential to building this party. 'Unfortunately, I have been subjected to what can only be described as a sexist boys' club: I have been treated appallingly and excluded completely.' The row is the latest turmoil to hit the fledgling party. Addressing this, Mr Corbyn added: 'I am absolutely determined this party will be founded, this party will have its founding conference in November. 'This party will be open, democratic and grassroots-based, and will be a party that enthuses, excites and mobilises people in their community to achieve a better thing in their community.' On Thursday, the party said it had reported itself to the UK's data protection watchdog, adding the developments were a 'blow for everyone who has put their hope in a real alternative' and that Ms Sultana 'has not been excluded from any discussions'. There has been a series of disagreements between the two MPs over the direction of the party, which has yet to hold an annual conference or decide on an official name. Earlier this year, Ms Sultana announced she would be setting up the new left-wing political party with Mr Corbyn, before he appeared ready to confirm this was the case. Ms Sultana has also reportedly clashed with Independent MP for Blackburn Mr Hussain, over their different views on trans rights. The party had begun to build momentum with more than 750,000 supporters signed up since its launch earlier this year under the placeholder name of Your Party, according to Ms Sultana. But opponents on Thursday also highlighted a Companies House listing that showed Mr Corbyn ceased to be a person with significant control of Your Party UK Ltd on September 15. Jeremy Corbyn backed his ally, Karie Murphy, saying she had come under intense fire during the bitter dispute. It is understood that this is because the former Labour leader fell below the threshold as other Independent MPs became directors. Meanwhile, a group of left-wing activists calling themselves Our Party has urged the six MPs to step aside and hand the founding of the new party over to its members. In an open letter, the group called for the appointment of a 'handover committee' independent of the MPs to establish a membership system and oversee the election of a 'founding stewards committee' that will formally set up the new party. They said: '800,000 people had faith that something could be different. 'If these six MPs want to be worthy of that faith, it's time to hand over the reins of this founding process to the party's supporters. This isn't just about you. It's about all of us.' Ms Sultana said she supported Our Party's call, saying it was 'what I've been fighting for from the start'. Dublin Airport was forced to evacuate today after an individual onboard a flight to New York was believed to have been travelling with 'detonators' in their luggage. An 'extreme security alert' was raised after the suspected devices were discovered in the passenger's checked bag, senior security sources have told the Irish Independent. The suspect, who was travelling to JFK Airport on a flight from London Heathrow via Ireland, engaged with police, though no formal arrest was made. In a statement issued this afternoon, Garda said: 'Earlier this afternoon, Saturday 20th September 2025, An Garda Siochana responded to a report of an item of airline luggage of concern at Dublin Airport. 'As a precaution, Terminal 2, Dublin Airport was evacuated and traffic entering Dublin Airport was restricted. 'An Garda Siochana requested the assistance of the Defence Forces' Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team. 'Following a preliminary examination on scene, the piece of luggage was contained and deemed safe for removal from T2 to an alternate location which would not impact on airport operations.' Dublin Airport has since reopened, with the Terminal 2 building receiving the 'all clear'. Dublin Airport was forced to evacuate today after an individual onboard a flight to New York was believed to have been travelling with 'detonators' in their luggage. Pictured: passengers wait outside Dublin Airport earlier today after being evacuated from the Terminal 2 building While flights have since resumed, disruption is expected for the remainder of the day. Earlier today, huge crowds of people were pictured outside of the Terminal 2 building, with members of the Garda and airport police pictured on the scene, while parts of the road were cordoned off. At the time, Dublin airport said that the airport had been evacuated as a 'precautionary measure'. In a statement issued at the time, they said: 'Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport has been evacuated this morning as a safety precaution. 'Passenger and staff safety is our top priority. Anyone at the airport should follow staff to assembly points. 'Flight operations may be temporarily impacted. 'Please check with your airline for updates. Further info to follow. Thank you for your patience.' An 'extreme security alert' was raised after the suspected devices were discovered in the passenger's bag, senior security sources have claimed. The passenger was travelling to JFK Airport on a flight from London Heathrow via Ireland. Pictured: crowds outside of the airport The incident in Dublin comes just hours after a cyber attack disrupted check-in and boarding systems across several other major European airports. Concerns have been raised that the incident could have been a 'coordinated element' in the cyber attack. Passengers are experiencing delays at three airports after hackers targeted Collins Aerospace, which provides services for multiple airlines globally, on Friday night. Heathrow has warned of delays and advised customers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling, while a number of departures were also cancelled. Brussels and Berlin have also been affected by the cyber attack, with the former confirming that 10 flights had been cancelled and 17 flights were experiencing delays of more than one hour. Thousands of air passengers faced chaos yesterday after hundreds of flights were delayed at Heathrow as a suspected cyber-attack crippled its electronic check-in and boarding facilities. The same strike left Brussels airport paralysed yesterday, with half of all flights being cancelled. There were also disruptions at Berlin, Dublin and Cork and there are warnings the turmoil could continue for days. As the National Cyber Security Centre the public-facing arm of GCHQ launched an investigation last night, experts blamed groups linked to Russia. They pointed out the attack came hours after Russian jets breached Nato airspace by entering Estonia's skies and flying over its sovereign territory for 12 minutes. One former British military intelligence officer warned the cyberattack which has crippled Heathrow and other European airports has 'all the hallmarks' of being Russian-related. The target of the cyber offensive was software called MUSE, which is operated by Collins Aerospace. The technology is used by airlines globally for automated check-ins and boarding. Collins Aerospace, a US firm, could have been targeted by Russian hackers as it is a major supplier to the Ukrainian military. Thousands of air passengers faced chaos yesterday after hundreds of flights were delayed at Heathrow (pictured) as a suspected cyber-attack crippled its electronic check-in and boarding facilities The same strike left Brussels airport (pictured) paralysed yesterday, with half of all flights being cancelled There were also disruptions at Berlin (pictured), Dublin and Cork and there are warnings the turmoil could continue for days Collins, through its parent company RTX, supplies Patriot anti-aircraft missile defence parts, which are in turn donated to Kyiv. RTX said: 'We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our MUSE software in select airports. We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible.' On Friday night, hackers launched their 'very clever' assault on Collins, sparking major disruption, flight delays and cancellations at transport hubs across the continent. The company has been 'experiencing a technical issue which may cause delays for departing passengers' as a result of the attack, which hampered online check-in systems at Heathrow, Berlin and Brussels. Expert and former Colonel Philip Ingram, 60, has said while it is too early to speculate who may be behind the hacking due to a lack of available information, it could be linked to the Kremlin. He told The Daily Mail: 'It does have all the hallmarks of being something where the Russians would be behind it. 'We've just had them fly their aircraft through Eastern European airspace, and causing another NATO Article 4 to be called the second one in 10 days. 'Putin is quite clearly probing different NATO countries, both for their military reaction and their political reaction. As the National Cyber Security Centre the public-facing arm of GCHQ launched an investigation last night, experts blamed groups linked to Russia. Pictured: Heathrow delays They pointed out the attack came hours after Russian jets breached Nato airspace by entering Estonia's skies and flying over its sovereign territory for 12 minutes. Pictured: Heathrow 'For Russian linked cyber actors to probe into elements of of critical national infrastructure of which airports are a key part of critical national infrastructure, would fit perfectly with other activities that are going on.' At Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport, at least 12 flights were cancelled, and more than 400 were delayed, some for hours. A third of all flights were affected. Videos and photos emerged on social media of frustrated passengers queuing at check-in desks for hours. Some were forced to sit in their planes on the tarmac as delays hit. One passenger said staff were checking in one person every ten minutes as they completed the task manually. Helen Steel, 49, who was trying to fly home from Heathrow on a KLM flight to Oslo, said it had been an 'absolute nightmare'. Ms Steel said: 'I've been shouted at twice and I broke down in tears. None of us have had any information whatsoever.' Last night, Heathrow admitted thousands faced delays, but said its busiest terminal, T5, was unaffected as British Airways does not use the Collins software. Eurocontrol, which oversees airports on the Continent, said Brussels airport had been ordered to cancel half its estimated 163 daily flights until 3am today UK time. At Dublin, 32 departures were delayed, according to flight-monitoring website Flightradar24. At Heathrow (pictured), Britain's busiest airport, at least 12 flights were cancelled, and more than 400 were delayed, some for hours. A third of all flights were affected Videos and photos (pictured, Brussels Airport) emerged on social media of frustrated passengers queuing at check-in desks for hours Last night, the Lib Dems urged the Government to investigate if Russian hackers were to blame. Calum Miller, the party's foreign affairs spokesman, said: 'The Government needs to immediately make a statement on whether they think there was any Russian involvement in this cyber attack.' Rob Jardin, chief digital officer at cybersecurity experts NymVPN, said: 'Russia could well be behind this.' He added: 'The timing of this attack, coming just hours after reported Russian incursions into Nato airspace, will only fuel suspicion. Airports are high-profile, high-impact targets.' Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cyber expert at NordVPN, warned that airports could face disruption for days. He said: 'Even though airports are switching to manual check-ins, that's a slow and clunky process compared to automated systems. 'The backlog of delayed flights, stranded crews and missed connections will take time to clear.' Collins has also been condemned in the past for supplying weapons to the Israeli Defence Force, and has faced protests in front of its headquarters in Oregon in the US. HEATHROW: Passengers facing lengthy delays due to a cyber attack at Heathrow Terminal 4 BERLIN: Passengers queue for check-in at Terminal 1 of Berlin Brandenburg Airport after major European airports were impacted by a cyber attack on a third party operator HEATHROW: People at T4 London Heathrow Airport, after flights were delayed and cancelled at several European airports And if the Kremlin are behind the attack, given other activities they have carried out in recent weeks, it 'would suggest that there is a concerted effort by Vladimir to probe NATO and wider European countries,' Mr Ingram added. 'This is Vladimir Putin throwing a pebble into the NATO geopolitical pond and the military pond and watching the ripples of what the responses are going to be.' The ex-British intelligence officer also warned if the recent cyberattack is Putin and his cronies, they would turn to trying to impact other infrastructures such as water firms, power stations and electricity firms.' Russia if it was going to carry out any aggressive military activity would want to disable the country as much as it possibly could before that and it would do that using every means possible including cyber.' It comes as Keir Starmer's government has been urged to confirm whether Moscow is suspected to be involved in the attack, which took place just hours after three Russian fighter jets breached NATO airspace by entering neighbouring Estonia. Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said: 'After the flagrant violation of Estonian airspace, the Government needs to urgently establish if Vladimir Putin is now attacking our cyber systems. If the Kremlin is behind this attack, causing chaos at our busiest airport, we need to be firm in our response.' However, Mr Ingram insisted it is too early to tell who is behind the cyber attack chaos due to the current lack of information surrounding the incident. And while he believes it could be Putin behind the IT glitch, it also could be related to the hacking groups behind recent breaches at Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencers. 'With what's going on in the cyber world at the moment, we can't rule out it being the same group looking for other opportunities,' he added. Earlier today, Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point, said the incident was part of a wider trend of attacks on 'critical national infrastructure', including those against Marks and Spencer, Co-op, the NHS and even the Ministry of Defence. 'This is just part of a wider trend and the airlines have been on a war footing now since the attacks in March on the retail organisations,' he told Sky News While the nature or origin of the hack is unknown, Mr Stewart said it 'doesn't appear to be' carried out by a state-sponsored group, but admitted such a scenario was 'not beyond the realms of possibility'. Speaking to the Daily Mail about the likelihood Russia was behind Friday's attack, Rob Jardin, Chief Digital Officer at cybersecurity experts NymVPN, said that 'could well be' the case. 'Russia could well be behind this. Intelligence services across Europe have repeatedly reported evidence of Moscow's state-backed sabotage campaigns against energy and telecoms networks. 'Russia employs one of the largest hacker groups in the world, second only to China, and for the Kremlin, cyberspace has become the new frontline. 'The Cold War never truly ended - it has simply shifted into digital infrastructure that spans entire continents. 'The timing of this attack, coming just hours after reported Russian incursions into NATO airspace, will only fuel suspicion. Airports are high-profile, high-impact targets. 'Disrupting check-in and baggage systems doesn't just inconvenience passengers - it creates global headlines, undermines confidence in critical infrastructure, and exerts political pressure without a single shot being fired.' 'Whether or not this incident is ultimately attributed to Russia, the lesson is the same - geopolitics is increasingly playing out in cyberspace. 'Europe must strengthen its cyber defences, build decentralised systems with fewer single points of failure, and ensure resilience across critical supply chains to prevent hostile actors from bringing whole sectors to a standstill.' Aviation and travel expert Paul Charles said the attack was 'very clever' as it has 'affected a number of airlines and airports at the same time'. 'I am really surprised and shocked by this. Collins is owned by RTX, which is the world's biggest defence and aviation company. 'Collins supplies the UK government, it supplies other government's around the world,' he told Sky News. 'There will be deep concerns that their systems have been tampered with in such a way. We don't know the exact cause of the cyber attack but it's deeply worrying.' A passenger said she 'broke down in tears' after being shouted at by staff at Heathrow Airport amid long queues. Helen Steel, 49, who was trying to fly home with KLM to Oslo via Amsterdam with a cat named Thomas, said her experience at the airport had been an 'absolute nightmare'. Speaking at a crowded Terminal four, Ms Steel said: 'I started travelling this morning at 3am from Dorset, and they knew about the cyber attack yesterday and didn't tell us. 'If they just told us that there was a cyber attack, I wouldn't have travelled up here. I've got an animal here, so I'm very concerned about his welfare. BRUSSELS: Huge queues at Brussels airport this morning after a cyber attack disrupted check-in and boarding systems for several major European airports 'I've been shouted at twice and I broke down in tears because I was worried about him. None of us have had any information whatsoever. Whenever we ask ground staff, they shout at us. 'They tell us to call customer service - I've spent about two hours in a queue on the telephone. I then finally got through to somebody and they put the phone down on me. 'It's another three hours to get back home and then come back up again if they find a new flight, so now I must go look for a hotel, but I'm still stuck in this queue.' Disgruntled passengers have vented their frustration over the issue, with one person writing on X: 'Delays at LHR T4, so annoying. Charging 6 drop off, maybe they should improve their services. You just can't travel smoothly in the UK.' Another woman who arrived at Heathrow Airport this morning for a flight to Thailand was forced to wait three hours to drop her luggage off. 'The queues are terrible. It was an absolute skeleton staff. Out of six of the desks there were probably two people,' she told Sky News. 'We were queuing for three hours and literally snaking and shuffling with this skeleton staff on the desk, and nobody was telling us then (what was happening).' A third person told the Daily Mail they had been stuck in Brussels 'for hours' after leaving Africa at 4pm on Friday. 'We are on our 7th gate change, no announcements, no drinks offered. Terrible,' they added. HEATHROW: Passengers at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 queue to check in amid flight delays and cancellations caused by a cyber attack on Collins Aerospace HEATHROW: Travellers wait near a check-in area at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, amid flight delays and cancellations following a cyber attack BRUSSELS: Travellers wait in queues at Brussels airport, after a cyber attack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations Tereza Pultarova, a freelance journalist from London, arrived at Heathrow Airport in the early hours of the morning to catch a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight to Amsterdam, where she was to hop on a connection flight to Cape Town in South Africa. 'We've been here since 4.30am we were supposed to be on a 6.30am flight to Amsterdam,' Ms Pultarova said. 'Most people on this flight have connecting flights to catch in Amsterdam from all over the world. 'We were kind of stranded here because the weird thing is, KLM wasn't able to issue us boarding passes digitally, and requested us to collect them at the check-in desk. 'And then they told us that there is some sort of global issue with the system they're using for check-in and boarding, and they have to do everything manually. 'So then they were checking in people at the rate of, like, one person per 10 minutes. I'm not exaggerating. It was just insane, the queue wasn't moving. 'So they checked-in like 20 people, maybe like the business class, and then told the people from the 6.30 flight to just go away, that they need to start checking in for the 8.40 flight.' Ms Pultarova was to visit the Square Kilometre Array telescopes in the Karoo Desert for work, and added she had been looking forward to this trip for months. She said: 'I need to be there at 7am tomorrow, otherwise the party will leave for the Karoo Desert where the telescopes are. So yeah, you know, I need to have information, but nobody's giving me any information, so I don't know what to do.' HEATHROW: Travellers wait in queues at Heathrow Airport after a cyber attack disrupted its check-in and boarding systems BRUSSELS: People stand in a line to check in after a cyber attack caused delays at Brussels International Airport A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers. 'While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight. 'Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience.' EasyJet said it does not expect the issue to impact its flight schedule for the rest of Saturday. 'We're aware of an IT system issue affecting a small number of airports. While we are currently operating as normal and do not expect this to impact our flying programme for the remainder of the day, we continue to monitor the situation closely,' a spokesperson for the London-listed airline said. Meanwhile, Brussels Airport said the cyber attack meant that 'at the moment only manual check-in and boarding is possible'. The airport has since confirmed half the departing flights scheduled for Sunday will need to be cancelled due to ongoing disruption following the cyberattack. 'Brussels Airport has asked airlines to cancel half of the scheduled departing flights on Sunday 21 September in order to avoid long queues and late cancellations,' a spokesperson for the Belgian airport said. 'The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible,' it added in a statement. Earlier today, a message on the Berlin Brandenburg Airport adds: 'Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution.' A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace on September 19 Frankfurt and Hamburg airports are not affected by the attack, a spokesperson said. An official from the operations control centre at Zurich Airport also said it had not been impacted. Collins Aerospace's parent company, RTX, said in a statement: 'We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our MUSE software in select airports. 'We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. Collins Aerospace has previously been targeted by hackers known as The Everest Group, who may have sold their access to the firm's computers onto other actors on the dark web. Just this week Everest claimed another victim, saying it had successfully hacked BMW, which operates more than 30 production sites in 15 countries worldwide. Russia itself if no stranger to airport cyber attacks since the start of the Ukraine war. Just yesterday Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest air hub, said its website had been knocked offline by a cyber attack. One day earlier Siberian regional carrier KrasAvia's online services were hit, and national carrier Aeroflot suffered delays and cancellations in July after an intrusion claimed by a pro-Ukrainian hacker group. Cars on fire at the site of a residential building damaged during a Russian drone strike on Saturday In recent days Putin has been on the offensive against Ukraine. This morning Russia launched a devastating overnight strike across nine regions in the country, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more. It came hours after Trump's condemnation of Russia's 'reckless' and 'brazen' attempt to intimidate the Baltic state, as three MiG-31 warplanes spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace on Friday. The move sparked an emergency response from Nato, which sent in F-35 fighters to intercept the Russian aggression. In further provocation by Putin, two Russian jets also made a show of force over a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea, breaching its safety zone. A former RAF commander last night called on NATO to draw a 'red line' in the sand - and hinted at shooting down future Russian jets. When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, Trump said: 'I don't love it. I don't like it when that happens. It could be big trouble.' The US President went on to add that he would soon be briefed on reports, and made it clear he was not pleased with the situation. Donald Trump has imposed a $100,000-a-year fee to visas for skilled workers in a controversial move that is bound to infuriate Elon Musk. The executive order, set to come into force on September 21, could see entry into the country restricted for those unable to make the hefty payment. H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelor's degree to obtain, are designed for high-skilled jobs which companies are struggling to fill. While critics have argued that the visa is damaging to the American workforce, its supporters, including Elon Musk, have claimed that it is vital for attracting high-skilled global talent. Trump's new order, signed on Friday, will only be applicable for new visa requests, with the annual payment for each applicant required by companies for up to six years. A separate order signed by the US President saw the introduction of a new 'gold card' designed to help fast-track certain visas for those willing to 'make a significant financial gift' from 1million. Up to 80,000 'highly valuable' gold cards are set to be readily available, with the program currently in its 'implementation phase', according to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick said Friday that the fee would be an annual cost, before the White House said Saturday that it was a one-time fee. Speaking at the Oval Office, Mr Lutnick said: 'The company needs to decide... is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or they should head home, and they should go hire an American. Donald Trump has imposed a $100,000-a-year fee to H-1B visas for skilled workers in a controversial move that is bound to infuriate Elon Musk. A separate order signed by the US President saw the introduction of a new 'gold card' designed to help fast-track certain visas 'This will ensure that the people they're bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that they're not replaceable by American workers. 'Stop the nonsense of just letting people come into this country on these visas that were giving away for free. The President is crystal clear: valuable people only for America.' At present, H-1B visas come with a number of administrative fees that come to an estimated total of $1,500. Mr Lutnick insisted that he had 'spoken' with all of the big companies and that they 'are on board' with the new mandatory payment. The new fee is the latest move by the US President in the major immigration crackdown of his second term. Explaining the new policy, Trump said: 'The main thing is, we're going to have great people coming in, and they're going to be paying.' However, Elon Musk previously vowed to go to 'war' with MAGA Republicans in defence of the H-1B visa program. Musk, a naturalised US citizen born in South Africa, was a previous recipient of the H-1B visa. His electric-car company Tesla also obtained 724 H-1B visas this year. The Tesla founder and billionaire's remarks in support of the immigration visa came after pharma entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said that American culture was to blame for its need to hire foreign workers. 'A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math Olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian [the top student in a class], will not produce the best engineers,' he said on X. The new fee is the latest move by the US President in the major immigration crackdown of his second term. It comes after Elon Musk previously vowed to go to 'war' with MAGA Republicans in defence of the H-1B visa program To that, Musk responded in a tweet that has since been deleted: 'That pretty much sums it up. This was eye-opening'. In a separate post, Musk declared: 'The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. 'Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on the issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.' In December, Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said: 'There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture... 'All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritising in Americans, not foreign workers.' Musk, who also owns social media platform X, also faced accusations of 'censorship' for allegedly removing premium features from accounts criticizing his stance on the visa program for foreign tech workers. Trump has had the H-1B program in his sights since his first term in office, however he faced several court challenges to his earlier approach, which targeted the types of jobs that qualify. During his first term as president, Trump unveiled a 'Hire American' policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants. In December, the President appeared to temporarily U-turn on his views, siding with technology bosses in support of the visa and telling the New York post he has 'always liked the visas.' 'I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program,' Trump said at the time. However, he has previously branded the visa as 'very bad' and 'unfair' for US workers. The US currently awards 85,000 H-1B visas annually on a lottery system, with India understood to account for around three-quarters of these recipients. Data obtained by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated that applications for the immigration visa for the upcoming fiscal year fell to around 359,000, the lowest figure in four years. Following Trump's order, India's leading trade body Nasscom expressed their concerns towards the hefty annual fee, insisting that technology companies would be hit hardest due to a disruption in 'business continuity for onshore projects'. In a statement, they also said that they feared the short timeline would 'create considerable ununcertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world'. Government statistics from the previous fiscal year show that Amazon was the greatest beneficiary of the programme , followed by Tata, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google. On Friday, Amazon, who employed nearly 15,000 workers under the visa in 2024, instructed any of its employees holding a H-1B visa to remain in the US. Those unable to return before the order takes effect were advised to avoid re-entering the country 'until further guidance is provided', according to an internal advisory seen by Business Insider. The grieving mother of a woman murdered by an illegal migrant has blasted Jasmine Crockett after the Texas Congresswoman referred to her daughter as a 'random dead person'. Tammy Nobles hit out at the 'nasty' remarks about her daughter Kayla Hamilton. Hamilton, 20, was raped and strangled to death in 2022 by 17-year-old suspected MS-13 gang member Walter Javier Martinez. Her brutal murder inspired the proposed Kayla Hamilton Act, legislation which would clamp down on the way the federal government deals with unaccompanied migrant children. In a debate about the legislation, Democrat Crockett argued that Republicans are using victims to push their own political agenda. 'You take a situation and then you exploit what has happened to not only that person, but you exploit those families and you make it a game,' she said. 'Stop just throwing a random dead person's name on something for your own political expediency.' The comments enraged Hamilton's mother. Nobles told Fox & Friends First: 'I was really furious, because you don't just call a victim of a crime just a random dead person. No victim should be referred as a random dead person' Tammy Nobles, whose daughter was murdered by an illegal migrant, hit out at Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett after she referred to her daughter as a 'random dead person' Kayla Hamilton was strangled to death in 2022 by a 17-year-old El Salvador native who entered the U.S illegally The house of representatives was debating a Republican-led bill named after Hamilton when Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett made her controversial remarks The house of representatives was debating a Republican-led bill named after Hamilton when the congresswoman made her controversial remarks. Nobles even went to far as to say that Crockett's 'nasty' remarks 'came across as racist.' She went on to share memories of her daughter and said Hamilton was 'a very happy and energetic child' who 'loved unconditionally.' Hamilton also loved going to church and cared for animals and homeless people, according to her mother. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler, who serves the county in which Hamilton was murdered, condemned Crockett's remarks as well. He said calling the victim 'random' was 'dismissive and insensitive.' Nobles hoped that her daughter's namesake bill will prevent similar crimes in the future. 'It's very important to protect the children,' she said. The Kayla Hamilton Act aims to address gaps in the federal government's handling of unaccompanied migrant children. The Kayla Hamilton Act aims to protect other Americans from meeting the same fate as Hamilton by requiring extra screening for migrants Hamilton's mother, Tammy Nobles (pictured) said that Crockett's remarks 'came across as racist' The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to contact the migrant's home country for any criminal history and screen them for gang affiliated tattoos. Hamilton's murderer had previous criminal activity in his home country of El Salvador, but because the government only looked at United States criminal records, he was allowed through. The Martinez was sentenced to 70 years in jail for Hamilton's murder. Police have released CCTV footage of a missing woman in Costa Coffee days after she was reported missing. Alexandra Harrod, 47, from Seaton, Cumbria, has been missing for three weeks and was last seen shopping in nearby towns Workington and Whitehaven. She was reported missing on August 30 before CCTV footage showed her in Costa Coffee on King Street, in Whitehaven, on September 2. The footage shows Alexandra walking into the coffee shop with a rucksack at around 11.20am. She is seen wearing dark tracksuit trousers and a dark padded coat. Alexandra, who also goes by the name Alex, is described by police as white with short dark hair. The force says she has links to various parts of the UK, including Devon, Durham, Dorset, Leeds and Wiltshire. Alexandra Harrod, 47, was reported missing on August 30 before CCTV footage showed her in Costa Coffee on King Street, in Whitehaven, on September 2 Alexandra, who also goes by the name Alex, is described by police as white with short dark hair 'Police are concerned for her welfare,' a statement from Cumbria Constabulary said. 'They are also appealing to any wider family members or friends, who have not yet been in touch, to contact them. 'Anyone with information on Alexandras whereabouts or has seen her should contact police on 101. 'Officers would also like to urge Alexandra to contact them if she sees this appeal.' Donald Trump announced that he had ordered a lethal strike on a vessel allegedly affiliated with a terrorist organization 'trafficking illicit narcotics'. The attack killed 'three male narcoterrorists' took place in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility, the president said. Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.' He attached a video showing the vessel speeding through a body of water before suddenly being struck and bursting into flames. 'Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking illicit narcotics, and was transiting along a known narcotrafficking passage enroute to poison Americans,' Trump added in his Friday evening post. 'The strike killed 3 male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel, which was in international waters.' The US Southern Command's area of responsibility covers 31 countries and includes the land mass of Latin America, the south of Mexico, the waters adjacent to Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea. Donald Trump announced a lethal strike on a vessel allegedly affiliated with a terrorist organization He said it happened in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility and killed three male 'narcoterrorists' Trump said that no US forces were harmed in the strike. He issued a warning: 'STOP SELLING FENTANYL, NARCOTICS, AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA, AND COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM AGAINST AMERICANS!!!' The attack was the third US strike targeting alleged drug boats - and the second one announced by Trump this week. On September 2, Trump said on his social media platform that a US strike had killed 11 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists.' The US president then posted on September 15 that a second strike had 'resulted in 3 male terrorists killed in action.' Trump said that the strike occurred while 'these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in International Waters transporting illegal narcotics' and headed to the US. He added: 'BE WARNED IF YOU ARE TRANSPORTING DRUGS THAT CAN KILL AMERICANS, WE ARE HUNTING YOU! 'The illicit activities by these cartels have wrought DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES ON AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES, killing millions of American Citizens. NO LONGER. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!' It was the third US strike targeting alleged drug boats 'On my Orders, the Secretary of War ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization,' Trump posted The US president attached a video of the strike on his Truth Social account In February, the Trump administration designated international cartels like Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and Cartel de Sinaloa as terrorist organizations. Trump's announcement of a third strike on Friday came as Venezuela accused the US of waging an 'undeclared war' in the Caribbean. Venezuelan attorney general Tarek William Saab claimed that 'the use of missiles and nuclear weapons to murder defenseless fishermen on a small boat are crimes against humanity that must be investigated by the UN.' Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro - whom the United States does not recognize as legitimate - has urged citizens to join militia training. He accused the US of hatching 'an imperial plan for regime change and to impose a US puppet government' to 'come and steal our oil'. The Trump administration has issued a $50 million bounty on Maduro, accusing him of 'violating US narcotics laws' and being a leader of Cartel de los Soles. In July, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles, alleging it was a 'Venezuela-based criminal group' headed by Maduro and associates in his government. FBI director Kash Patel has compared the Trump administration's approach to illegal drug smuggling to how terrorist organizations were treated following 9/11. Whether thats in a kill operation, a capture operation, a surrender operation, or a host nation takedown, like we did with the counterterrorism mission sets in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan and elsewhere, we are applying that to the drug traffickers in Mexico and Venezuela and Colombia, he said. Donald Trump's allies have warned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that if he refuses to abandon his plan to recognise a Palestinian state, he will be punished. Albanese landed in New York on Sunday morning AEST ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, which kicks off his 11-day trip to the US. During the meeting, he is due to formally recognise Palestinian statehood along with Western allies from the UK, France, and Canada. But, the day before his plane touched down, 25 top Republicans published an open letter criticising the policy, with US President Donald Trump cc'd in. 'This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace,' they wrote in the letter on Friday addressed to Albanese, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK PM Keir Starmer and Canadian leader Mark Carney. 'It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims. 'Accordingly, we respectfully request that you reconsider your decision, especially as Hamas continues to hold Israeli citizens hostage while still refusing to agree to a ceasefire.' The irate politicians, who included former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, threatened serious consequences if the leaders followed through on their promise. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, pictured with his fiancee Jodie Haydon after landing in New York, has been told to abandon his plan to recognise Palestinian statehood Albanese was named in a scorching letter from 25 irate US politicians who warned that nations who recognised a Palestinian state would ruin peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas 'Proceeding with recognition will put your country at odds with long-standing US policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response,' they said. 'The United States is committed to Israel's security and to fostering a just and lasting peace in the Middle East through direct negotiations. 'Unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state jeopardises this process. It risks perpetuating tensions and rewarding terrorist entities that seek Israel's destruction.' The group also claimed that, by recognising Palestinian statehood, the countries' leaders were reinforcing Hamas' 'violence and rogue behaviour'. They also referenced the increasing 'anti-Semitic activity' as another reason for opposing the proposal. 'Jews are facing unprecedented harassment and attacks against them are becoming a common occurrence,' they said. 'You have the responsibility to stand against this scourge, denounce violence, and protect Jewish communities. 'Sadly, your actions to legitimise a Palestinian terror state will only provide greater motivation to the violent anti-Semitic mobs.' Albanese, )pictured in New York) was due to make the monumental commitment alongside the UK, Canada and France during a meeting of the UN General Assembly The senators and members of Congress then copied president Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio into the correspondence. The letter comes just weeks after Albanese announced his intention to recognise the region's statehood on the condition the Palestinian Authority met certain requirements. These commitments include the terrorist group Hamas playing no role in the state's future, free elections being held and demilitarisation of the region. Albanese also called for the return of the October 7 hostages. He said he had made the move as part of a 'coordinated global effort' after speaking to leaders from the UK, France, New Zealand and Japan. The Prime Minister said he also discussed the issue with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But Albanese made the announcement before speaking to Trump, who has since criticised the decision. US Ambassador to Israel and former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee told ABC's 7.30 in August that Trump had shared his confusion with Australia's foreign policy. When Albanese announced his plan in August, Donald Trump is understood to have shared his 'disgust' at the decision and questioned Australia's foreign policy 'There's an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust,' the ambassador said. 'I don't know that the president used that word, [but] I would say that is a characterisation of a sentiment. 'I think it does express the emotional sentiment, a sense of, 'You've got to be kidding... why would they be doing this?'.' Israeli ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon also claimed at the time of Albanese's announcement that 'peace is built by ending terror, not rewarding it'. 'By recognising a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap and reject peace, Australia undermines Israel's security, derails hostage negotiations and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence,' he said. The US holds the power to veto any United Nations Security Council resolution to recognise Palestine as a state. During his visit to the US, Albanese is also expected to seek his first face-to-face meeting with Trump. The two leaders have spoken on the phone four times since Trump re-entered the White House in January but they failed to meet in person at the G7 summit in June. However, there has been no confirmation that officials from either country have organised a meeting, with Trump's focus seemingly on a sit down with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea late next month. An elderly British couple released by the Taliban after almost eight months in detention in Afghanistan have arrived back in the UK. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, landed this afternoon at London Heathrow airport from Qatar, which played a major role in negotiating their release. The couple smiled broadly as they walked through the arrivals, but did not talk to reporters. The couple were reunited with their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, at the airport in Doha yesterday before the family flew back to the UK. The family said in a statement on Friday that their release is a 'moment of intense joy'. 'We are overwhelmed with gratitude and relief to share that our parents, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, have been released after seven months and 21 days in detention by the Taliban,' the family said in a statement. Thanking Qatari officials for facilitating the negotiations, the family said their 'dedication and humanity have made an unforgettable impact on our lives', and also thanked the UK government for ensuring the couple had access to medication. 'This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy, and international cooperation. 'While the road to recovery will be long as our parents regain their health and spend time with their family, today is a day of tremendous joy and relief,' the family added. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie Reynolds , 76, landed this afternoon at London Heathrow airport from Qatar , which played a major role in negotiating their release Mr Reynolds pictured with his daughter Sarah Entwistle at Heathrow Airport Mrs Reynolds comes through arrivals at Heathrow Airport having flown in from Doha, Qata The couple, who have lived in Afghanistan for the past 18 years, were first detained by the Taliban's interior ministry on February 1. They were transferred to a maximum security prison in Kabul in March. Barbie and Peter, educators who wed in Kabul in 1970, were encouraged to flee the country when the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 but decided to stay as 'they could not leave when Afghans were in their hour of need'. Together, they run an organisation called Rebuild, which facilitates education and training programmes for civilians including mothers and children. They were arrested earlier this year as they travelled back to their home in Bamyan province, in central Afghanistan. They were held in Afghanistan for more than seven months on undisclosed charges, passing between several facilities where they faced interrogation. The Taliban released the couple as part of a wider effort to get their government recognised internationally years after taking power, an official said. The case underlined the concerns of the West over the actions of the Taliban since they overthrew the country's U.S.-backed government in a 2021 lightning offensive. Qatar, an energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that mediated talks between the U.S. and the Taliban before the American withdrawal, helped in releasing the Reynolds. Barbie Reynolds hugs her daughter Sarah Entwistle after landing at the airport in Doha on September 19, 2025 Peter Reynolds hugs his daughter Sarah Entwistle after landing at the airport in Doha on September 19, 2025 Pictures show the emotional moment the couple were reunited with their daughter Sarah Entwistle, who has tirelessly advocated for her parents' release The couple left Afghanistan on Friday, a diplomat said. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations in the case. The Reynolds' family members in the United Kingdom repeatedly called for the couple's release, saying they were being mistreated and held on undisclosed charges. While the Taliban rejected the abuse allegations, they have never explained what prompted their detention. In July, United Nations human rights experts warned the couple's physical and mental health was deteriorating rapidly and that they were at risk of irreparable harm or even death. Earlier this month, the Taliban said they had reached an agreement with U.S. envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalise relations. The meeting came after the Taliban in March released U.S. citizen George Glezmann, who was abducted while travelling through Afghanistan as a tourist. Afghanistan remains a focus of U.S. President Donald Trump. On Thursday, while visiting the U.K., Trump suggested that he is working to reestablish a U.S. presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Zakir Jalaly, an official at the Taliban's Foreign Ministry, dismissed the idea. Throughout their detention, the couple's four children repeatedly raised the fear that their parents would die in custody if they weren't released. Both had a history of health issues. Peter has had heart conditions and was said to be in urgent need of medical care in July, while his wife is anaemic and has frequently collapsed since being detained. The couple were paraded on camera before boarding a plane out of the country The couple left Afghanistan on Friday, a diplomat said Barbie and Peter, educators who wed in Kabul in 1970, were encouraged to flee the country when the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 but decided to stay as 'they could not leave when Afghans were in their hour of need' Speaking moments before boarding the plane out of Afghanistan, Barbie told Sky: 'My message is God is good, as they say in Afghanistan. 'We are looking forward to returning to Afghanistan if we can. We are Afghan citizens.' 'We are just very thankful,' her husband said. During their time held by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in Kabul, the couple were said to be sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Before that, they were detained at the notorious Pul-e-Charkhi maximum security prison in the capital, which Peter described as the 'nearest thing to hell I can imagine'. Speaking from a payphone inside the prison in April, he voiced his fears for his 76-year-old wife, who was being held in the institution's women's quarters. 'I've been joined up with rapists and murderers by handcuffs and ankle cuffs, including a man who killed his wife and three children, shouting away, a demon-possessed man,' he said in a recording shared with the Sunday Times. He added how his circumstances 'a cage rather than a cell' were 'VIP conditions' compared with those in for the women. He said he had lost weight thanks to a single meal a day, usually naan bread and chickpeas with green tea for breakfast. Peter also pleaded with his family not to pay any ransom to secure his release, saying 'it doesn't solve anything if millions of dollars are paid'. In July, UN experts who specialise on torture and punishments in Afghanistan joined the chorus of voices demanding the couple's release. 'We see no reason why this older couple should be detained at all, and have requested an immediate review of the grounds of their detention. 'It is inhumane to keep them locked up in such degrading conditions and more worrying when their health is so fragile.' The Reynolds' children, who live in the UK and the U.S., wrote privately to the Taliban leadership twice and made numerous public appeals for the release of their parents. Sarah has tirelessly campaigned for the release of her parents British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who were released from Taliban detention in Afghanistan, walk after disembarking from a plane, in Doha, Qatar, September 19, 2025 They described how Peter had been suffering with serious convulsions and had a mini-stroke in detention, while Barbie was experiencing malnutrition. The couple moved to Afghanistan after falling in love with the country when they travelled there as students at Bath University. They were arrested alongside their Chinese-American friend Faye Hall, who had rented a plane to travel with them, and a local Afghan translator from the couple's Rebuild training business. Hall was released from Taliban jail at the end of March after the Trump administration lifted bounties worth $10million from the heads of senior Taliban figures including Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior minister. Hall recently told the BBC that the couple was 'literally dying' in prison and that 'time is running out'. After taking power, the Taliban introduced a ban on women working and education for girls older than 12. The government recently removed some 140 books written by women in universities as part of a new ban that outlaws specific material that exhibits 'anti-Sharia and Taliban policies'. Universities were told they were no longer permitted to teach 18 subjects because they were 'in conflict with the principles of Sharia and the system's policy'. Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her husband Peter, 80, were released from detention after spending almost eight months in Afghanistan Qatari and British diplomats, left, pose with the released British couple, Barbie and Peter Reynolds, aboard a plane before departing to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan After he was detained, Peter said he was told by a Taliban official that they confiscated 59 books from the couple's home that were 'against Islam'. Once they were taken by authorities, the couple were originally told that they would soon be released, but instead their phones were confiscated and they were transported to the interior ministry in the capital. One of the couple's daughters, Susie Romer, said her parents were being held in 'absolutely horrific' conditions, that they were receiving one meal per day and there were mice and cockroaches 'running around'. In an interview with Channel 5, she described how hearing her parents 'weep' on the phone was 'excruciating' for her. 'My dad was chained to murderers and criminals,' their son, Jonathan, told the BBC, adding that they had at one point been held in a basement for six weeks without sunlight. The UK's minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, said he was relieved to hear the news that Peter and Barbie were no longer detained in Afghanistan. 'I look forward to them being reunited with their family soon,' he said. 'The UK has worked intensively since their detention and has supported the family throughout. 'The State of Qatar played an essential role in this case, for which I am hugely grateful. Qatar continues to play a critical role in conflict mediation in the Middle East and beyond. 'The government's ability to help those in need of consular support in Afghanistan is extremely limited. Our travel advice is clear that individuals should not travel to Afghanistan.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the 'long-awaited news will come as a huge relief' to the family. Apple's highly coveted iPhone 17s have gone on sale in Moscow - despite the major US tech company banning sales in Russia following the Ukraine war. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Apple suspended sales of its products in Russia. They also removed apps for Russia's state-owned media outlets like RT News and Sputnik news from its app store outside the country. But a Russian government 'parallel imports' scheme allows various products like Apple's smartphones to be imported through third countries without the copyright holder's permission. The iPhones typically move through countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia, such as Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, India and the United Arab Emirates. As a result, 1.1million US dollars were imported to Russia in the first half of 2023, it has been reported. For years Russia has been using the dodgy loophole and flogging the phones in its stores as demand soars with each release. In 2023 Apple's new iPhone 15 was sold in Moscow 24 hours before the start of global sales, say local reports. The Russian government's purchases of iPhone 16s for 2024 were four times higher than the same period in 2023. Apple's highly coveted iPhone 17s have gone on sale in Moscow - despite the major US tech company banning sales in Russia following the Ukraine war The new device promises an updated front camera, 256GB of storage and all-day battery life Russia's biggest telecommunications provider MTS said the demand for the latest iPhone 17 is twice as high as its predecessor. MTS is offering the iPhone 17 standard version for an equivalent of around 977 in its shops, and the higher tier iPhone 17 Pro for 1,465. Before the release of the model worldwide, Andrey Gubanov, CEO of the MTS retail chain, said: 'Immediately after the official Apple presentation, we will open a pre-order. 'Last year, according to its results, the iPhone 16 model turned out to be the most popular smartphone in the line it accounted for 54% of all pre-orders. Next are the iPhone 16 Pro (28%), iPhone 16 Pro Max (11%) and iPhone 16 Plus (7%). We expect similar figures this year.' Meanwhile Britons yesterday raced to buy the new model as they waited in arduous queues outside the company's flagship London store on Regent Street from as early as 5am. The new device promises an updated front camera, 256GB of storage and all-day battery life. The latest phone is priced from 799 and comes in a range of colours including lavender and sage. A Tesla Cybertruck was spotted in central St. Petersburg earlier this week, proving that the Russian rich seem unaffected by sanctions in the country Meanwhile Britons yesterday raced to buy the new model as they waited in arduous queues outside the company's flagship London store on Regent Street from as early as 5am (pictured) It is part of a line-up of new products that went on sale on Friday including the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max - along with Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and the third-generation AirPods Pro. Among those in the queue was Michael Issott, 24, from Bournemouth, who said: 'I get the new iPhone every year, so it's became a bit of a habit.' 'Tomorrow it's my birthday so I tell myself it's a treat, it's a birthday present,' he said. Taras, 21, from Russia, said he began queueing at 5am and is buying the new device for re-sale. 'It's the only one reason why you should buy on the first day. It's only for re-sale,' he said. Campaigners have criticised the government's claim that digital identification cards will stop small boat migrants crossing the channel. Sir Keir Starmer is ploughing ahead with plans to introduce the scheme in line with efforts to overhaul the country's asylum and immigration system and reduce crossings in the Channel. The PM has been 'exploring' the idea in recent weeks, although finer details of the scheme are supposedly still being ironed out, according to the Financial Times. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden has suggested digital ID cards could help tackle the record numbers of small boat crossings and could serve as a deterrent for migrants. But critics have rubbished the claim as 'utter nonsense', and accused Starmer of 'gaslighting' the public in order to gain support for the plans, which could be announced as early as the Labour conference next week. Alan Miller, co founder of the campaign group The Together Association, said: 'Pat McFadden said It's going to stop the boats. How is that going to work?' 'What are they going to do give everyone smart phones?' he added in a video on social media. 'They are gas lighting us, it's nonsense.' Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has voiced similar doubts, saying: 'I think as a way of helping to control immigration, it is not really going to solve the problem.' Campaigners have criticised the government's claim that digital identification cards will stop small boat migrants crossing the channel. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer A mock up of a virtual ID, which could be given all people legally entitled to reside in Britain, whether citizens or those with legal immigration status Rebecca Vincent, of Big Brother Watch, said earlier this month: 'While Downing Street is scrambling to be seen as doing something about illegal immigration, we are sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare where the entire population will be forced through myriad digital checkpoints to go about our everyday lives. 'Mandatory digital ID will not stop small boat crossings, but it will create a burden on the already law-abiding population to prove our right to be here. 'It will turn Britain into a "Papers, please" society.' Meanwhile, Gracie Bradley of Liberty said a new scheme was 'likely to be even more intrusive, insecure and discriminatory' than the Labour government's failed 2006 plan to bring in ID cards. Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair's nascent card scheme was scrapped by the incoming Coalition government in 2010. Ms Bradley added that an 'expensive and unjustified ID scheme threatens our rights'. Conservative justice spokesman Robert Jenrick also criticised the proposal earlier this month. He said: 'Most employers who are employing individuals illegally are doing so knowingly. 'Asking them to check ID cards rather than the current checks that they are already obliged to do is not going to make a blind bit of difference to illegal migration.' A small boat carrying people thought to be migrants arrives to collect more people in Gravelines, France, on Friday Your browser does not support iframes. Sources told the FT that the government is considering giving digital IDs to all people legally entitled to reside in Britain, whether citizens or those with legal immigration status. The digital ID could then be used for employment verification and rental agreements, though the government may still narrow the scope or revisit the plan, they added. A government spokesperson said Britain was committed to expanding the use of technology to make it easier for people to access services, pointing to existing systems such as e-visas and the NHS app. 'We will look at any serious proposals that would help people access public services, including digital ID,' the spokesperson said in a statement. The Bayeux Tapestry has begun its secret journey to the UK after a previous attempt was foiled by French strikes. The historic artefact is set to go on display in London next year for nine months on loan from France, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing the unprecedented loan during his state visit to Britain in June. An iconic depiction of the 1066 Norman Conquest including the Battle of Hastings, it will now be temporarily swapped with the Anglo-Saxon treasures of the Sutton Hoo ship burial. It will mark the first time the tapestry has been on British soil since its conception, despite experts believing that it was almost certainly woven in Kent rather than France. Now, it has began its long-awaited journey to the UK under a top secret operation in a bid to preserve its condition and . The 230-foot long artefact is said to have been temporarily held in the Baron Gerard Museum of Art and History, a quarter of a mile from the purpose-built museum where it has been situated since 1983, The Times reported. In a secret mission lasting more than seven hours, 90 individuals were tasked with placing the delicate item it into a wooden crate, before it was later transferred into a refrigerated lorry while plain-clothed police stood guard on the street. While the artefact was initially scheduled to begin its journey to the UK last Thursday, this was halted as a result of a nationwide general strike in France. The Bayeux Tapestry (pictured) has begun its secret journey to the UK after a previous attempt was foiled by French strikes. In a secret mission lasting more than seven hours, 90 individuals were tasked with placing the delicate 230-foot long item into a wooden crate However, concerns have been raised about the detrimental impact the loan could have on the condition of the tapestry, with a Change.org petition set up by French historian Didier Rykner in opposition to the move gaining more than 73,300 signatures. The embroidery already has some 24,000 stains, 16,445 creases, nearly 10,000 holes and around 30 rips. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's PM programme last month, Mr Rykner said: 'I have spoken with the specialists who have worked on the tapestry, and they all tell the same thing. It is very fragile. 'You must know, it is 70 metres long. It is very long, on a very thin canvas... and it is not possible to move it away without putting it at risk, without tearing it, without making holes.' Mr Rykner has even stated that the loan 'would be a true heritage crime', adding that it was a 'catastrophic decision'. In the face of some experts' fears about the move across the Channel, the British Museum has insisted that its experts are very experienced in handling fragile artefacts. But Mr Rykner, the editor of art history website La Tribune de L'art, said: 'I am very disappointed in the British Museum, because they know very well they have never moved something like this. 'It is unique. It is a work of art from the 11th century. It is impossible that they know how to do this.' However, concerns have been raised about the detrimental impact the loan could have on the condition of the tapestry, with a Change.org petition (pictured in August) set up by French historian Didier Rykner in opposition to the move now gaining more than 73,300 signatures Mr Rykner's petition, which is in French, reads: 'The very same people who were tasked with examining it, establishing its condition, recommending the necessary measures for its protection during the work on the future museum, and assessing the risks of a possible trip to England. 'Their diagnosis is unequivocal: any transport, however minimal, represents a danger.' A British Museum spokesperson said in response at the time: 'The British Museum has a world leading conservation and collections management team who are experienced at handling and caring for this type of material, they are working closely with colleagues in France on the Tapestry's display.' In July, historian Dr David Musgrove said that the Bayeux Tapestry should be renamed the 'Canterbury Embroidery' because it was almost certainly made in Britain and isn't technically a tapestry as it was created using an embroidery technique. The expert added the artefact's trip to the UK presents academics with a chance to confirm that the treasure was created in the UK. When the artefact returns to Britain, Anglo-Saxon treasures from the Sutton Hoo ship burial will go in the other direction to France for a temporary period. Macron revealed during his trip to Britain this summer that King Charles helped secure a deal to return the tapestry to England. He claimed France did its best not to loan the artwork but that His Majesty helped get the deal over the line. The embroidery is thought to date to within a few years of the Battle of Hastings. Director of the British Museum, Nicholas Cullinan, said: 'The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations. 'It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. 'This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000-years-ago. 'We are also delighted to send the Lewis Chessmen, and some of our treasures from Sutton Hoo - the greatest archaeological discovery in Britain - to France in return. 'This is exactly the kind of international partnership that I want us to champion and take part in, sharing the best of our collection as widely as possible, and in return displaying global treasures never seen here before.' Nato planes were scrambled in Poland early on Saturday after Russia launched airstrikes targeting neighbouring Ukraine. 'Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness,' Poland's operational command said in a post on X. Nearly all of Ukraine was under air raid alerts early on Sunday morning following warnings of Russian missile and drone attacks. Poland scrambled the fighter jets after Moscow launched strikes near its border with Ukraine, but Polish military officials assured the operation was 'preventative and aimed at securing airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened area'. The operation was launched partly because of a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine last week, with the incident forcing Polish and other Nato fighter jets to shoot down Russian drones flying over eastern Poland. It comes after Estonia demanded urgent talks with Nato allies after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace in a 'reckless' and 'brazen' attempt to intimidate the Baltic state. Donald Trump warned of 'big trouble' after the powerful MiG-31 warplanes spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace on Friday as they conducted combat operations to test the country's defences. The move sparked an emergency response from Nato, which sent in F-35 fighters to intercept the Russian aggression. Nato planes were scrambled in Poland early on Saturday after Russia launched airstrikes targeting neighbouring UkrainE A view of the site as Ukrainian emergency workers conduct search and rescue operation and first aid for Ukrainian settlers after a Russian missile and drone attack struck the city of Dnipro and surrounding areas in Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine on September 20, 2025 A view of the site as Ukrainian emergency workers conduct search and rescue operation and first aid for Ukrainian settlers after a Russian missile and drone attack Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper posted on social media that the UK 'stands with our Estonian allies'. Despite Trump's condemnation of the move, Vladimir Putin launched a devastating overnight strike on Ukraine, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more. Russia deny violating Estonian airspace, but tensions have continued to heighten, as in further provocation by Putin, two Russian jets also made a show of force over a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea, breaching its safety zone. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask Nato to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance. 'Such a violation is completely unacceptable. Nato's response to any provocation must be united and strong,' Michal said. 'We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps'. Former RAF commander last night called on Nato to draw a 'red line' in the sand - and hinted at shooting down future Russian jets. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask Nato to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace on September 19 When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, Trump said: 'I don't love it. I don't like it when that happens. It could be big trouble.' The US President went on to add that he would soon be briefed on reports, and made it clear he was not pleased with the situation. Zelensky said that Russia launched around 580 drones and 40 missiles targeting Ukraine's infrastructure, civilian production companies, and residential areas in different regions across the country. 'Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure,' Zelensky said in a statement on the Telegram app. With air alerts lasting about 11 hours in some regions during the night, the Russian attacks were carried out in two waves, Ukrainian military analysts said. Ukrainian air defence shot down 552 drones and 31 missiles, the air force added. One person was killed in Dnipro, while two people were killed in the Chernihiv region in the north and the Khmelnytskyi region in the west of the country, regional officials said. When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said: 'I don't love it The powerful Russian MiG-31 warplanes (pictured, file photo) spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace At least 30 people were injured in the attack in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, local governor Serhii Lysak said. In the Kyiv region, local authorities said there were strikes in the areas of Bucha, Boryspil and Obukhiv, with homes and cars damaged in the strikes. Footage appears to show Ukraine has struck back with combined attacks on two Russian oil refineries. Ukraine claims it has hit the refinery in Novokuibyshevsk and another target in the Samara region of Russia. The oil refineries are known to be regular targets for Ukrainian drones and both were said to be hit in the early hours of Saturday. Zelensky said he would hold 'a meeting with the President of the United States', adding he would discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia during the talks with Trump. A US-led push for a quick end to the war has stalled and Russia effectively ruled out a meeting between Putin and Zelensky - something that Kyiv says is the only way towards peace. 'We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire,' Zelensky said in comments released by the Ukrainian presidency on Saturday. Zelensky has also urged Kyiv's allies to provide more air defence systems and hit Moscow with extra sanctions. 'Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe, but for a reliable shield, we must act together,' he said. Ukrainian residents react as they stand near a residential building damaged during a Russian missile strike Emergency services carry an injured person from a residential house damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine With air alerts lasting about 11 hours in some regions during the night, the Russian attacks were carried out in two waves, Ukrainian military analysts said Footage appears to show Ukraine has struck back with combined attacks on two Russian oil refineries Ukraine claims it has hit the refinery in Novokuibyshevsk and another target in the Samara region of Russia Air Marshal Greg Bagwell wrote on social media platform X: 'NATO needs to make some clear and public statements as to what it considers a red line.' The veteran, who served in the force for 36 years and retired as its deputy commander, continued: 'When it is crossed, the promised response is given, which should be lethal force after a clear warning. 'NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated. 'Right now we don't know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? 'And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.' Following the airstrike on Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early on Saturday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the armed forces of the NATO-member country said. 'Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness, ' the operational command said in a post on X. Polish and allied air forces have since ended the operation as airstrikes against Ukraine were ceased, the operational command said. The Polish command added that the actions were 'preventative and aimed at securing airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened area'. Your browser does not support iframes. It comes as MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore blasted the Russian president, calling him a 'liar' who wants to 'impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal'. The breach of Estonian airspace was condemned by European leaders. A Nato spokesman said: 'This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato's ability to respond.' Estonian foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russia had already entered Estonian airspace four times this year. He added: 'That is unacceptable in itself, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen. 'Russia's ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.' The prime minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal, said his government had 'decided to request Nato Article 4 consultations'. Article 4 is a call to the 32-member Nato alliance, including the US, to come to consult on collective defence in response to specific threats. The RAF's Mr Bagwell called the Russian incursion into Estonia 'a deliberate provocation to sow doubt and confusion amongst Nato nations'. MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore (above) has labelled Vladimir Putin a 'liar' who wants to 'impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal' Your browser does not support iframes. 'Today these aircraft were only armed with air-to-air missiles but tomorrow it could be something more sinister,' he warned. 'Putin could have a few objectives here: one) to provoke a response in order to support his argument that Nato is the aggressor; two) to sow discord amongst Nato nations in formulating a response; three) to push the boundaries of the 'grey zone'. Of course he could be trying all three!' The air marshal, who oversaw operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, continued: 'The grey zone has become a convenient term to hide all manner of 'ills'. 'We need to turn that zone into a clear delineation of black and white - and act accordingly when that line is crossed. It's time to stop Putin calling the shots.' Russia denied its aircraft violated Estonia's airspace with an online statement published early Saturday, stressing its fighter jets had kept to neutral Baltic Sea waters more than 3 kilometers from Estonia's Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland. It comes a week after Kremlin drones flew more than 100 miles inside Poland on a reconnaissance mission. Both incidents have exposed holes in Nato defences. Estonia became the third member state to be 'invaded' by Russia in just a month after an incursion into Romanian aerial territory last weekend. The latest incident comes after US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin had 'really let him down' over Ukraine. While the incursions into Poland and Romania were by drones, this time Russia sent manned frontline jets bristling with weapons. Estonia has requested a NATO Article 4 consultation over Russia's incursion into its airspace (Pictured: A Russian jet flying above the Baltic Sea on September 19) Your browser does not support iframes. Italian F-35s were scrambled to intercept the MiG-31s which then returned to Kremlin airspace. They had encroached five miles inside Estonia. Afterwards, Estonia summoned Russian officials in Tallinn for an explanation. The Russian charge d'affaires was summoned and given a protest note, a ministry statement said. The Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace in the area of Vaindloo Island, located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The aircraft did not have flight plans and their transponders were turned off, according to Estonian officials. Separately, Russian planes flew parallel to the Estonian border from east to west and did not head toward the country's capital Tallinn. In another intimidating move, two Russian jets yesterday conducted a low pass over the Polish-owned Petrobaltic offshore production facility in the Baltic. Polish armed forces were alerted as the platform's safety zone was violated. Other alliance countries have reported similar incursions and drone crashes on their territory. The developments have increasingly rattled European governments as US-led efforts to stop the war in Ukraine have come to nothing. Estonia, along with other Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, are seen as being among the most likely targets if Russia one day decides to risk an attack on Nato. Neighbouring Poland, though much larger, also feels vulnerable. All four countries are staunch supporters of Ukraine. Russia's latest move comes a week after Kremlin drones (remnants of which are seen above on September 10) flew more than 100 miles inside Poland on a reconnaissance mission Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the 'reckless incursion' by Russia The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called Friday's incursion 'an extremely dangerous provocation' that 'further escalates tensions in the region'. Ms Kallas, who is Estonian, said the EU will 'continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources.' She added that Putin was 'testing the West's resolve' and said 'we must not show weakness'. Lithuanian defence minister Dovile Sakaliene said Nato's border in the north east of Europe was being tested 'for a reason'. She added: 'We need to mean business.' Former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also weighed in on the row. He said: 'Russia escalates, we do nothing, Russia escalates more, we do nothing, Russia escalates even more, we do nothing... I think I am starting to see a pattern here.' Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky described the menace as 'outrageous' and insisted it was 'not an accident'. He added: 'It requires a systemic response. Strong action must be taken both collectively and individually by each nation. Yvette Cooper condemned Russian's 'reckelss incursion', saying it was time to increase economic pressure on Putin. The Kremlin has not commented on the incident. Victoria's Secret's new CEO has announced plans to return to its 'unapologetically sexy' branding as it moves away from its woke rebrand. The lingerie company is embracing its bombshell roots after years of struggling sales and a tepid response to its diverse catwalk last year. CEO Hillary Super, 53, who took on the role in September 2024, admitted her predecessors had allowed the brand to become 'watered down'. 'At the time I took over, Victoria's Secret was regarded as inappropriate and off-color and we had to correct those mistakes,' former CEO Martin Waters told the Wall Street Journal. The company toned down its provocative branding after a a 2020 New York Times article reported that many employees and models faced a slew of misogyny and harassment. At the time, the brand was under the leadership of Leslie Wexner and Ed Razek. Super, however, said many decisions were made 'out of fear' after the company moved away from their sexualized branding and more toward comfort following a wave of backlash. The brand's seductive lingerie was replaced with products with more coverage and plain designs, as well as a heavier focus on athleisure wear and comfortable pajamas. Victoria's Secret is ditching the woke rebrand to return to its bombshell roots. Pictured: Jasmine Tookes on the catwalk Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2018 Hillary Super, 53, became CEO of the company in September of last year and has said the company will shift back toward its 'sexy' branding It comes after a tepid response to the diverse runway of 2024 which featured plus sized models such as Ashley Graham While Waters' efforts to appeal to younger generations and steer into evolving social change initially boosted sales and profits, it quickly flatlined. Super's vision as she entered in the wake of Waters' exit was to find the middle ground that brought the company's brand back to its former sexy glory, but with a 'modern spin', she told the outlet. Before her arrival, sales had been falling for more than two years and battled against brands from Kim Kardashian's Skims and ThirdLove. Super launched a rebrand on the 'Very Sexy' line, featuring double push-up bras and more bling, the outlet reported. 'It's unapologetically sexy,' she said of the new line. Since Super took over, WSJ reported that the company's stock increased by nearly eight percent. Sales increased in all but one quarter since her arrival, with the latest quarter seeing a rise by three percent. As the next VS Fashion Show approaches, and is set to air on October 15, Super said there will be new updates - all of which remain under wraps. 'What is a modern Angel?' Super asked. 'Does it have to be supermodel? We are having those debates.' While the former CEO Martin Waters' (pictured) efforts to appeal to younger generations and steer into evolving social change initially boosted sales and profits, it quickly flatlined Victoria's Secret mixed things up after the controversy by hiring plus size models for their campaign, such as Paloma Elsesser The company's move into a more diverse and inclusive brand came after Victoria's Secret came under fire following accusations of the brand's problematic environment. A former public relations employee for the company, Casey Crowe Taylor, told WSJ: 'What was most alarming to me, as someone who was always raised as an independent woman, was just how ingrained this behavior was. 'This abuse was just laughed off and accepted as normal. It was almost like brainwashing. And anyone who tried to do anything about it wasnt just ignored. They were punished,' she added. Razek denied the allegations at the time and declared them 'categorically untrue' or 'taken out of context'. 'Ive been fortunate to work with countless, world-class models and gifted professionals and take great pride in the mutual respect we have for each other,' he added. A spokesperson for Wexner, who was reported to have close ties to Jeffrey Epstein, declined to provide comment to the outlet at the time. Epstein was said to have lied to many Victoria's Secret models and aspiring models and claimed that he worked for the company. Victoria's Secret faced waves of backlash under Ed Razek (right) and Leslie Wexner's (left) leadership in 2019 after reports of misogyny and harassment Laetitia Casta models lingerie February 3, 1998 during a Victoria's Secret fashion show in New York City Models Frederique van der Wal and Naomi Campbell attend the "Victoria's Secret Spring 1997 Lingerie Collection Runway Show" on February 4, 1998 Victoria's Secret also faced a wave of backlash in 2019 over poor quality and a lack of diversity among its models. That same year, the CFO of Victoria's Secret's parent company Stuart Burgdoerfer announced the annual VS Fashion Show would be canceled. The VS Fashion Show returned in 2024 with a new focus that included plus-sized models, such as Ashley Graham, as well as transgender models and different ethnicities. They hired Valentina Sampaio, their first transgender model, to star in their new VS Pink campaign after Razek left. However, the show was derided as lackluster and lacking the traditional glamor for which the brand was known. SNP ministers have quietly shelved their policy that Scotland should have full powers over immigration, The MoS can reveal. As tensions flare over the housing of asylum seekers in hotels and student halls in Scotland, documents show the Scottish Governments new position is not to seek devolution of immigration powers. It represents a significant U-turn over the SNPs long-held belief that Holyrood ministers should have separate powers to make immigration and asylum decisions north of the border. But critics last night accused the Scottish Government of failing to let voters know that its policy had changed. They pointed to First Minister John Swinney insisting that Scotland needs a separate approach to immigration earlier this month. And they highlighted how his equalities minister Kaukab Stewart had expressed her increasing frustration that asylum decisions are reserved to the UK Government as recently as September 10. In April this year, SNP MP Stephen Gethins even attempted to use a private members bill at Westminster to secure the transfer of powers. Scottish Labour Constitution spokesman Neil Bibby MSP said: This demonstrates that the SNP will say one thing publicly and another privately, without offering any credible solutions. In April, SNP MP Stephen Gethins attempted to use a private members bill at Westminster to give Holyrood powers to legislate on immigration Immigration continues to be a contentious issue with protests, such as those in Falkirk, above, taking place across Scotland in recent weeks over the use of so-called 'asylum hotels' They would prefer to play politics and grandstand than get around the table with UK Government ministers to find a way forward to address the issues facing Scotland. He added: John Swinney might also want to consider clarifying his position with his own MPs and MSPs, who seem to be unaware of this apparent U-turn from the First Minister and wedded to the SNPs open borders policy. The SNPs change of heart was outlined in internal correspondence released under freedom of information laws. A paper compiled to address the UK Governments Immigration White Paper published in May reads that while the Scottish Government is seeking a reform and redesign of the immigration system its policy position is not to seek devolution of immigration powers. It comes amid increasing pressure on the system in Scotland, with figures showing last month that Glasgow plays host to more asylum seekers than any other British city. Earlier this year, the council called for a pause in the number of asylum seekers being sent there after its bosses warned it does not have the room - or the cash - to accommodate them. In recent months, demonstrations - branded distasteful and completely unacceptable by Mr Swinney - have taken place outside migrant hotels across the country. One of the protests took place in Mr Swinneys constituency outside the former railway station hotel in Perth, where 150 demonstrators gathered to voice their anger over the building being used to house asylum seekers. Protests have been held outside the Cladhan Hotel, after asylum seeker Sadeq Nikzad, 29, raped a 15-year-old girl in the town while housed there There have been similar scenes in Aberdeenshire and Falkirk, where hundreds have protested at the Cladhan Hotel, formerly the home of Sadeq Nikzad, the 29-year-old Afghan who raped a 15-year-old girl after claiming asylum in the UK. The Mail on Sunday revealed Nikzad had travelled as a tourist in three European cities before arriving on our shores, with extraordinary images suggesting his epic tour took in Italy, Germany and France. In the last few weeks, communities have also raised concerns about the use of student residences to house asylum seekers, particularly in Aberdeen. A Scottish Government spokesman said: The Scottish Government believes that decisions around immigration should be made in Scotland. While these matters are reserved, we have put forward proposals for a more pragmatic approach to migration which recognises our distinct demographic and economic needs. To support our economy and public services, Scotland needs tailored migration routes, including a Rural Visa Pilot and a Scottish Graduate Visa and we have put forward proposals to the UK Government for this which we encourage them to engage with seriously. The UKs equalities watchdog demanded that SNP ministers implement a single-sex spaces court ruling five months ago, internal documents show. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) met with senior civil servants just 14 days after Aprils landmark Supreme Court verdict on sex and gender, to insist that the Scottish Government comply with the law. The case struck down the governments position that a trans woman was the same as a biological woman and clarified that biological sex determines a persons rights as a man or a woman. However, First Minister John Swinney has refused to update public sector guidance until a new EHRC code is published. Now, new minutes of a meeting held on April 30 show that the Scottish Government was explicitly told that duty bearers should not wait before implementing the judgment. Further internal documents reveal that, while ignoring that demand, senior civil servants have held meetings with pro gender self-ID groups, branding them lovely stakeholders. The revelations come after The Mail on Sunday last week reported that the Scottish Government was set to go back to court to defend its trans policies in prisons and schools. It is not yet known if the Scottish Government is one of 19 organisations the EHRC is taking regulatory action against in a bid to ensure their policies accurately reflect the law as it stands. Trina Budge co-founder of For Women Scotland, the campaign group that took the gender case to the Supreme Court, said it appeared the Scottish Government had plumbed new depths we just didnt think possible. She added: Months after being told by the equality regulator to get on with implementing the Supreme Court judgment they continue to defy the law. Susan Smith, left, and Marion Calder, directors of the For Women Scotland group, celebrate outside The Supreme Court after judges ruled that a woman in UK law refers to biological sex SNP ministers including First Minister John Swinney, have said they are waiting for a new EHRC code to be published Instead, they cosy up to the very same trans groups whose advice got them into this mess in the first place, indulging them with pet names and chummy meetings. For the women looking in from the outside it is infuriating and irresponsible. We clearly have no grown-ups running the government and the only way we can be heard is through the courts which is where well be if Mr Rule of Law Swinney doesnt start living up to his self-styled moniker. The successful court challenge was sparked by the Scottish Governments Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018, which aimed to get more women onto public bodies, but could include those born male. A Scottish Government spokesman said: The Scottish Government has made clear that it accepts the Supreme Court ruling and since April has been taking forward the detailed work necessary. That work is ongoing. We have updated our guidance for the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act and amended the recruitment process for appointments to public bodies subject to the 2018 Act. In addition, Police Scotland has published interim guidance on searching transgender people. For months now, I have been drawing attention to the growing menace of seagulls, after increasing reports of attacks on people around the country. This week, the subject finally got the attention it deserves albeit rather more than I expected, and not in a way that I could have anticipated. Gullgate, as one paper dubbed it, hit the front pages after I was accosted, physically intimidated and verbally abused by Jamie Hepburn, the SNP minister responsible for parliamentary business. He has now, after initially trying to stall, resigned. That was inevitable. Conduct of that sort is utterly unacceptable and John Swinney should have sacked him straight away. But I think the fracas was simply an extreme though completely inexcusable manifestation of the SNPs underlying problem with being held to account. The SNP dont care about the bread-and-butter issues that blight the lives of ordinary Scots. They deny, deflect, dither and then evade. If they are finally forced to agree to tackle them, they try to do so in a secretive manner with no accountability for their decisions. And, as in Jamie Hepburns case, they lash out furiously at any challenge to their approach. Jamie Hepburn, the SNP minister responsible for parliamentary business, has resigned Mr Ross, above, said the fracas was 'simply an extreme though completely inexcusable manifestation of the SNPs underlying problem with being held to account' The incident happened after Mr Ross raised concerns over the open-ness of a seagull summit The problem with gulls is a classic example. For months I have been demanding in parliament that SNP ministers and NatureScot, the government regulatory body involved, take action but they have just dithered as the problem got worse. The SNP government belittled the issue. Then they stalled. Jim Fairlie, the minister responsible, promised a summit that would get everyone concerned round the table. Then, disgracefully, it turned out that MSPs, the public and other interested parties wouldnt be welcome after all. It would effectively just be him, NatureScot and a few others meeting behind closed doors. Mr Hepburn lost his rag after I pointed out in the chamber that Mr Fairlies U-turn amounted to a reversal of his promise to parliament. The first instinct of many people is often to find something comic in this campaign or to make flippant references to Alfred Hitchcocks thriller The Birds. But gulls make the lives of many people across the area I represent a misery and I know this is mirrored throughout Scotland. One elderly resident in Elgin even ended up in hospital due to a gull attack. They are a genuine menace for those who live, not only in coastal communities, but in the centre of our largest towns and cities. I suspect that the majority of my colleagues at Holyrood have a large number of constituents who take the issue extremely seriously its certainly one that exercises those who have been terrorised or physically attacked by gulls. They dont see this as a piffling or frivolous concern. Judging by my mailbag and Im sure the same is true for other MSPs its high on their list of priorities. MSPs of all parties have been inundated with complaints from constituents and will have heard of people who have required medical attention, and in some cases even hospitalisation, because of attacks by birds. This is a genuine cross-party issue without any party political considerations. I know that, because as Ive worked on it, one of the most vocal and stalwart campaigners trying to do the same thing has been Fergus Ewing, the former SNP veteran who tried to get his own party to take it seriously, with little luck. As an independent, he has continued to work tirelessly on the problem, as he has on other issues, such as the dualling of the A9, which really matter to our constituents. The same, unfortunately, cant be said for SNP ministers, who have been all too ready to deny that there is much of a problem, then claim to be acting while doing absolutely nothing to address the issue. It is symptomatic of the Nationalists approach to government as a whole, actually. Their record is abysmal on the things that make an enormous difference to the everyday lives of most Scots the quality of schools and hospitals, the difficulty of getting a dentist or GP appointment, potholes and badly laid-out traffic junctions. When it comes to grandstanding on issues such as Gaza, though, or devoting hours of parliamentary time to questions entirely within the control of the UK government or, above every other consideration, plans to pull Scotland out of the United Kingdom, they are keen as mustard. People are sick and tired of the SNPs failure to deal with what has become a serious threat to public safety, as well as a blight on our villages, towns and cities. Theres no question that gulls have become ever bolder, and pose a very serious risk of injury, particularly to the elderly, the vulnerable and young children. The elderly are particularly at risk from injuries as a result of falls. The highly toxic droppings that gulls produce are a hazard for babies and infants if they land on them or in their prams or buggies. Businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, want action. Everyone is inconvenienced and intimidated by the sheer number of these creatures, which face little or no deterrent for their increasingly aggressive attacks. Some people in the worst affected areas are now anxious about stepping out in public. The problem has several causes, probably including the failure to keep on top of tasks such as refuse collection and changes to the birds natural habitat. But no one doubts that the chief reason is the reluctance of NatureScot and ministers to take active steps to control the problem with effective deterrents. Both have tried to minimise the issue and concentrate on conservation and the declining number of seabirds. NatureScot has an obvious conflict of interest. It is responsible for protecting bird numbers in Scotland, but it is also the authority responsible for approving or rejecting licences to control them. Judging by their actions, theyve come down firmly on the side of the gulls, rather than those whose lives are being made a misery by their behaviour. And ministers seem happy to parrot the lines produced by the apparatchiks at NatureScot. Everyone is in favour of protecting genuinely endangered species, but it is absurd for government to disregard an obvious danger to the public in favour of a theoretical risk to creatures clearly thriving in, and indeed dominating, populated areas that are not their natural territory. Last year, without any warning and without any explanation, NatureScot stopped issuing licences for the control of gulls altogether. In Eyemouth, Berwickshire, after a series of gull attacks, they suggested that dogs should be employed to scare birds away something my colleague Rachael Hamilton, who represents the area, rightly pointed out was bizarre and unrealistic. The intransigence of this unelected body imposes significant costs, in some instances running into six figures, on businesses. Perhaps its no wonder that Jim Fairlie decided that he didnt want his, and NatureScots, approach scrutinised more openly. But it demonstrated shocking arrogance and was a betrayal of his assurances to parliament, as well as an insult to MSPs and the Scottish public they represent. Its sadly typical of the SNPs authoritarian tendencies and contempt for transparency. Mr Hepburns reaction to lash out both physically and with foul-mouthed abuse was an even more extreme example. It was behaviour that made him unfit to serve as a minister and that is why he had to go. Steven Seagal was welcomed as a guest of honour at Serbia's largest-ever military parade which saw tanks roll through the streets and fighter jets tear through the sky. The American film star, 73, may have thought he was watching one of his own movies as the Balkan army displayed enormous rifles and drifted luxury Audi cars around the capital city of Belgrade. Best known on-screen for his performance as Casey Ryback in the 1992 box-office hit Under Siege, Seagal has drifted into politics in the last decade and has been a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin. Despite being born in Michigan, United States, the Hollywood legend was granted Russian citizenship by Putin in 2014. He has also served as envoy to the US for the Kremlin since 2018. Seagal, who also has Serbian citizenship and has made many movies in the country, was welcomed by the country's President Aleksandar Vucic last week to 'strengthen cultural and artistic co-operation' with the wider world. President Vucic then extended the invite to Seagal for today's march, where columns of troops thumped through the New Belgrade district of the city as crowds waved national flags and aircraft roared overhead. The display of military strength, which included about 10,000 troops, was trumpeted by the Serbian President as an example of his country's ability to defend its independence. It also sought to act as a deterrent against any foreign aggressor, with the Balkan country being surrounded largely by NATO-member states. Hollywood legend Steven Seagal (right) watched on as Serbian military put on their biggest-ever military parade on September 20 The Balkan army drifted through the streets leaving a wake of smoke in their trail as they pointed large rifles out of the window Aircraft roared overhead the New Belgrade district of the capital city above the huge parade The display, which Seagal was spotted watching with a stern look on his face, arrived in the wake of three Russian fighter jets entering Estonian airspace on Friday - a move condemned by NATO and US President Donald Trump. The event featured both domestically produced weapons as well as rocket launchers from Israel, drones purchased from the United Arab Emirates as well as tanks supplied by Russia and anti-aircraft systems from China. The latter is seen as a move to reflect Belgrade's close ties with Moscow and Beijing despite its publicly-sought goal of joining the European Union. Soldiers from the army's special 'Cobras' unit were seen performing drills which included hanging out of the windows of high-speed cars with huge rifles. As helicopters hovered above the New Belgrade march, Serbian servicemen clad in blue suits bore what appeared to be bayonet guns as they lined up for a guard of honour. However, what caught the attention of military experts was the display of an Israeli PULS system, a versatile rocket artillery platform capable of launching a range of munitions with varying ranges and payloads. The platform has a range of up to 300 kilometers (185 miles), meaning it can reach most of the Balkan capitals. Another surprise appearance was a couple of the French air force's Rafale fighter jets. Serbia has ordered 12 such multi-purpose aircraft that are due for delivery in the coming years. Seagal (above), who is a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin's envoy to the US, watched on as soldiers thumped through the streets Large tanks rolled past the crowds in the huge military display, seen to be a deterrent to surrounding NATO countries Some 10,000 soldiers walked through the streets of Belgrade during the large military parade Soldiers in the back seat of an Audi were spotted pointing a pistol out of the windw Seagal (left) has both Russian and Serbian citizenship and has made movies in the country A military helicopter was spotted flying above the parade in the Serbian capital - there are estimated to be around 70 aircraft involved Serbian soldiers from the special unit 'Cobra' performed military drills during the parade Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (above) watched on as he welcomed Seagal to the event Army soldiers held guns tight to their chest as they received instructions during the parade Soldiers wearing sunglasses leaned out of the window pointing rifles as they zoomed through the streets There was a guard of honour during the march which saw soldiers bear large rifles People marched towards the event in New Belgrade to show support for the military A group of protestors faced a police cordon as they were stopped from approaching the parade Critics said the parade was designed less to showcase the strength of the military than to bolster Vucic's populist rule that has been challenged by student-led protests and growing international scrutiny of his increasingly authoritarian grip on power. Opposition leaders accused the government of using the army as a political prop, while rights groups noted that some state employees were pressured to attend the parade and were transported in hundreds of buses. Hundreds of university students and other opposition supporters, who have for more than 10 months staged anti-corruption protests against Vucic and his government, were prevented by riot police from joining other spectators of the parade. Vucic has refused a student demand to call an early parliamentary election. He has instead stepped up a crackdown on the protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands of people in the past months. The anti-government protests first started in November last year after a concrete canopy collapse at a renovated train station in the northern city of Novi Sad killed 16 people. It ignited a nationwide movement seeking justice for the victims and blaming corruption-fueled negligence for the tragedy. Beware false prophets and false martyrs. Let's get real: Jimmy Kimmel is making a gourmet meal out of this 'censoring'. Truly, it's the best thing that could have happened to him. His late-night show was the next to fall after CBS informed Stephen Colbert, in July, that he was being taken off air. Reports were circulating back then that ABC had no interest in renewing Kimmel's $48million contact when it expires next year. Ratings for network late-night shows are plummeting, and grossly overpaid hosts such as Kimmel and Colbert, in full TDS, have been lecturing to their echo chamber while alienating the majority of the country a majority that voted for Donald Trump. So for Kimmel to be playing victim here is beyond cynical. It's the ultimate power play, a shrewd career move that will leave him stronger than ever at least while the liberal media plays along. Imagine Kimmel's diminished stature had his contract simply not been renewed. Colbert won an Emmy last Sunday not despite his failure, but because of it. Let's get real: Jimmy Kimmel is making a gourmet meal out of this 'censoring' Kimmel has long been lecturing to his echo chamber while alienating the majority of the country - a majority that voted for Donald Trump. So for him to be playing victim here is beyond cynical For in Hollywood and legacy media, the prevailing and false narrative is that Trump did Colbert in. Not so. Colbert did Colbert in, just as Jimmy Kimmel can no longer wear the mask of a decent man. His on-air, factually incorrect statement about Charlie Kirk's assassin claiming that the shooter was full MAGA, when all evidence, including etchings on the bullets and text messages, indicates the shooter was a gay man in a relationship with a trans-identified furry followed Kimmel's half-hearted expression of sympathy, on Twitter, for Kirk and 'all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence'. Kimmel couldn't even acknowledge that Kirk, a husband and father of two, was killed in a targeted assassination. He couldn't acknowledge the rank hypocrisy of his own side. He couldn't condemn those woke leftists who implied that Kirk had his own murder coming because of the things he said. How's that for First Amendment absolutism? Look at MSNBC's Matthew Dowd, talking head and longtime boyfriend of Maria Shriver, who said, on air, hours after Kirk's assassination: 'Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which lead to hateful actions... You can't stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place.' Dowd was fired, rightly so. Back at ABC, the on-air embarrassment known as Matt Gutman waxed rhapsodic over text messages the killer sent to his transgender partner in the immediate aftermath. 'Obviously, Charlie Kirk was murdered brutally in front of a crowd of thousands,' Gutman intoned, before embarking on one of the most ill-advised, idiotic attempts at woke pandering ever. 'I don't think I've ever experienced a press conference in which we've read text messages that are, A) so fulsome, so robust, so apparently, so allegedly self-incriminating and yet, on the other hand, so touching right? With the suspect reaching out to his roommate, who was allegedly his boyfriend, who we understand, you know, identified as male at birth, now identifies as female. And the terminology he used, he was trying to protect him. He kept calling him "my love", "my reason for doing this is to protect you", you know, but also asking him to delete the messages and not speak to law enforcement. So there's this, this heartbreaking duality that we're seeing very tragically playing out here.' Hey, Jimmy this moron still has a job at ABC, and you know why? He apologized. Really, Gutman should be fired. Not for what he said, but for being too stupid even for network news. Kimmel had an equally simple solution presented to him: Apologize (just as he once did for wearing blackface), make a donation to Kirk's Turning Point USA and boom get your show back. Kimmel, according to reports, has refused. Not only that a Kimmel source told the Wall Street Journal that he had planned to tell his audience, before he flounced off on Wednesday, that it was people in the MAGA movement who had 'purposefully twisted' his words. Wow. Talk about the courage of your convictions. This quote-unquote 'firing' trust me, that's how he and his lackeys in the media will spin it frees Kimmel to float away on his golden parachute, start his own podcast, and attempt to become the left's answer to Joe Rogan. Good luck with that. Again, the notion that Kimmel has been muzzled by Trump is a fallacy. It's a fairy tale. But the left is electrified by the idea that they've got a real live martyr in Jimmy Kimmel. Note that of all Kimmel's celebrity friends and defenders including Jason Bateman, David Letterman, the vanishing late-night cohort and Jon Stewart, who fled his New Jersey manse to do a special edition of The Daily Show (!) his most famous pal has remained silent. Whither Matt Damon? Where, oh where, is Jimmy's top A-lister? Nowhere. Nowhere near this vicinity. Trust me: Matt Damon's not saying a thing. He's too smart for that. This isn't a First Amendment issue. It's the marketplace speaking. The brass at Sinclair and Nexstar, owners of over 60 ABC affiliates, decided to 'indefinitely' yank Kimmel's show after hearing from outraged audiences and advertisers. Is current FCC chair Brendan Carr also outraged? Yes. Is there a $6.2billion merger on the table that Kimmel has potentially jeopardized? Yes. But that's on Jimmy Kimmel. The Constitution does not guarantee any of us, least of all the unfunny Kimmel, a late-night talk show in perpetuity. The media landscape is undergoing tectonic, irreversible shifts, and liberal shills like Kimmel who has successfully buried his vile, misogynistic past, not to mention that infamous blackface skit have only themselves to blame. The bulk of Americans are tuning out of linear television and an infotainment complex that, under the banner of free speech, insisted, for years, that these baldfaced lies were true: * The Hunter Biden laptop wasn't real. * Covid lockdowns were necessary. * Donald Trump is Hitler. * Joe Biden was in top mental and physical condition to run for a second term. That last whopper was the death knell for liberal corporate media, embodied best (or worst, really) by CNN's Jake Tapper, who insisted on-air that Biden's poor debate performance was caused by a childhood stutter, then turned around and co-authored a book about the years-long cover-up of Biden's cognitive decline. Tapper was back at it again with the equally odious, smarmy Brian Stelter on Wednesday night. Stelter: 'Kimmel was expressing what we've heard some other liberals say in recent days, that the motives are unclear' they most definitely are not 'and that maybe the suspect in this case was a Republican or was some sort of far-right fringe figure.' He is not. Tapper: 'What [Kimmel] said specifically was, "The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it." That can be read in several ways'. No, it cannot. America is done. The New York Times didn't publish a single op-ed about Kirk's killing in their physical paper the day after he was assassinated. The Wall Street Journal gave it short shrift, framing his murder in the next day's edition as a 'talking point' that MAGA would use to its advantage. But when Kimmel gets yanked? The New York Times had five stories blaring from the top of its homepage, with an op-ed right beside them. The Journal, too, led with Kimmel. It's beyond sick. They seem more upset over Kimmel giving up his talk show than Charlie Kirk losing his life. So, finally, the likes of ABC overlords Bob Iger and Dana Walden are waking up. Jimmy Kimmel had it coming. If the left could cancel, or try to cancel, the likes of Roseanne Barr, Tucker Carlson, Glenn Beck, JK Rowling (to name but a few) well, turnabout is fair play. Now they know what it feels like. Good. The latest reports have the ladies (imbeciles) at The View worried that they may be next. In the interest of intelligent, fair and reasoned civil discourse, let's hope so. Labour ministers, a former Prime Minister's wife, a beloved TV presenter - and a very dashing royal aide - were among the eclectic guest list invited to the wedding of Tony Benn's granddaughter. Emily Benn beamed with delight as she tied the knot with her beau, Group RAF Captain James Niall Doyle, at St Margaret's Church in London, on Saturday. The couple's stylish guests included newly-married Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson, alongside his glamourous wife, Olivia. Thompson, who now serves as King Charles' aide, first entered the limelight in 2022 for his role in royal public events following the late Queen's death - and gained the nickname of the 'hot equerry' after videos of him went viral online. Cherie Blair, wife of former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, Liz Kendall, the recently-appointed Science Secretary, and Health Minister Wes Streeting were also invited to the picturesque 12th century church, which is located within the grounds of Westminster Abbey. Academic and broadcaster Mary Beard, sporting distinctive scarlet footwear, smiled as she made her way with fellow guests into the church. They had all eagerly gathered to witness the marriage of Ms Benn, 35, who has more than followed in her family's political footsteps. The granddaughter of the late Labour firebrand Tony Benn was elected as a councillor in the City of London in 2022. Emily Benn beamed as she arrived at the church with her father, Stephen, Viscount Stansgate Newly-married Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson, known as the 'hot equerry', and his glamourous wife, Olivia, were among the guests at Emily Benn's wedding on Saturday Cherie Blair, wife of former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, and TV presenter Mary Beard - wearing very distinctive red footwear - smiled as they made their way into the church Ms Benn, standing as an independent, has represented her Bread Street ward since then, having previously been elected as a Croydon councillor, under the Labour party, in 2014. Her interest in politics has continued a dynasty dating back more than 100 years - and made her the fifth generation of her family to serve the nation. Ms Benn's uncle, Hilary, is the current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government. Grandfather Tony Benn, who died in 2014 aged 88, was first elected as an MP in 1950 and stood down in 2001. Health Minister Wes Streeting was also invited to the picturesque 12th century church Ms Benn's uncle, Hilary, who is the current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government Emily Benn with her beau, Group RAF Captain James Niall Doyle, at St Margaret's Church Over his career, he had served in Harold Wilsons Cabinet and stood unsuccessfully to become Labours deputy leader in 1981. Great-grandfather William Wedgwood Benn was elected as a Liberal MP in 1906, serving in the Asquith government, before he quit in 1927 to join the Labour party, later sitting in the Cabinet of Ramsay Macdonald. Her great-great-grandfather, Sir John Williams Benn, was a Liberal MP from 1892 to 1895 and again from 1904 to 1910. Another great-great-grandfather, Daniel Homes, was a Labour MP from 1911 to 1918. Donald Trump insists he fired a US attorney who reportedly quit his job amid pressure to bring criminal charges against his longstanding foe Letitia James. The president hit back at reports Erik Siebert resigned and revealed that he gave him the boot. The US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was ousted shortly after indicated he had been unable to find sufficient evidence to charge James with mortgage fraud. He didnt quit, I fired him! Trump said of Siebert in the post, which made no mention of James. Today I withdrew the Nomination of Erik Siebert as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, when I was informed that he received the UNUSUALLY STRONG support of the two absolutely terrible, sleazebag Democrat Senators, from the Great State of Virginia,' the president said. Siebert had previously been recommended for his position by Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Democrats, in April. He had been nominated in May. Next time let him go in as a Democrat, not a Republican, Trump added. In a joint statement, Warner and Kaine accused the US president of pushing Siebert out because he, refused to bring criminal charges against Trumps perceived enemies when the facts wouldnt support it. Donald Trump insists he fired a US attorney who reportedly quit his job amid pressure to bring criminal charges against his longstanding foe Letitia James Siebert had reportedly resigned from his role after not finding enough to charge New York Attorney General Letitia James with a crime Trump has previously called James 'a totally corrupt politician' and directed his administration to examine whether she committed mortgage fraud When asked on Friday if he was disappointed that James was not being prosecuted by Siebert, Trump said: It looks to me like shes very guilty of something but I really dont know. The US president added Siebert had been approved by two gentlemen that are bad news' and said, 'I want him out.' The Trump administration has referred James, the New York attorney general, for prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud. The director of the Federal House Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, wrote in a criminal referral to the Department of Justice that James appeared, to have falsified records in order to meet certain lending requirements and receive favorable loan terms. James is accused of falsely claiming that her Norfolk, Virginia, property was her primary residence in August 2023 Trump said on Friday: It looks to me like shes very guilty of something but I really dont know James is accused of falsely claiming that her Norfolk, Virginia, property was her primary residence in August 2023. As a statewide elected official, James is legally required to live in New York state. The New York attorney generals office previously sued the Trump Organization for fraud and won. The company was found liable for deceiving banks by overvaluing its assets and network to secure generous loans and deals. Judge Arthur Engoron ordered the Trump Organization to pay a $354million fine - which reached nearly $500million with interest - but a New York appeals court overturned that in August. In April, Trump posted on Truth Social: Letitia James, a totally corrupt politician, should resign from her position as New York State Attorney General, IMMEDIATELY. Everyone is trying to MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN, and it can never be done with this wacky crook in office. Two people have been rushed to hospital after a suspected 'gas leak' at a Nando's restaurant sparked an emergency response. The London Fire Brigade descended on the branch of the chain chicken eatery in the O2 Centre in the Hampstead area of north-west London at 10.45am today. The capital's fire service had received reports of a leak at the food outlet on the ground floor of the indoor mall, which sits on the busy Finchley Road high street. Such leaks can be highly dangerous or even fatal, by causing fires or gas poisoning. Thankfully, when firefighters carried out a sweep of the popular peri-peri chicken spot, they did not pick up any elevated gas levels in their readings. But a man and a woman had to be taken to hospital after they were assessed by two ambulance crews at the scene. A third was checked over but not hospitalised. The London Ambulance Service also sent its Hazardous Area Response team - specialist staff trained to provide care in high-risk environments. Firefighters isolated the restaurant's gas supply as a precaution - and the branch will remain closed until further notice. All other outlets in the centre are open as usual. The London Fire Brigade descended on the branch of the chain chicken eatery (pictured, file photo) in the O2 Centre in the Hampstead area of north-west London at 10.45am today The capital's fire service had received reports of a leak at the food outlet on the ground floor of the indoor mall (pictured, file photo), which sits on the busy Finchley Road high street They worked at the scene for nearly two hours, until around 12.30pm, when they handed over to the relevant gas company. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: 'Firefighters responded to reports of a possible gas leak at a restaurant in a shopping centre on Finchley Road. 'Crews carried out a systematic sweep of the property and detected no elevated readings. 'A man and woman were assessed on scene by paramedics, before being removed to hospital. 'Firefighters isolated the property's gas supply as a precaution. 'The brigade was first called about the incident at 10.45am, and the incident was over for firefighters by 12.28pm, when responsibility was left with the gas authority.' A spokesperson for the O2 Centre has previously said: 'The current situation is that the issue is being investigated. The restaurant will remain closed until further notice.' A London Ambulance Service spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We were called at 10.38am yesterday (September 20) to reports of a gas leak in the O2 Centre, Finchley Road, NW3. 'We sent two ambulance crews and our Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. 'We treated two patients and took them to hospital. We also checked over a third person but did not take them to hospital.' The London Fire Brigade, Nando's, the O2 Centre and the London Ambulance Service have been approached for comment. Last month, a senior Hamas official described the decision by Britain and other credulous Western nations to recognise a Palestinian state as 'one of the fruits of October 7'. In an interview with news channel Al Jazeera, Ghazi Hamad, a member of the terrorist organisation's political bureau, added: 'We proved that victory over Israel is not impossible, and our weapons are a symbol of Palestinian dignity.' The annals of British statecraft are littered with decisions that have been naive, foolish and downright shameful. But none to my mind reeks of the moral degeneracy of recognising a Palestinian state as this government is expected to do today while 48 hostages remain in the hands of Hamas. This is to say nothing of the horror of October 7, the worst atrocity committed on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, which has now been rewarded by the British state. 'One of the fruits', as Hamas says, of their sickening barbarism. But don't get me wrong I am a strong supporter of the so-called 'two-state solution'. I am a proud British Jew who was born here, has lived and worked here all my life and will die here. Last month, a senior Hamas official described the decision by Britain and other credulous Western nations to recognise a Palestinian state as 'one of the fruits of October 7'. Pictured: A Palestinian boy next to a burning Israeli vehicle Palestinian gunmen brought to Gaza after infiltrating Israel on October 7, 2023 The annals of British statecraft are littered with decisions that have been naive, foolish and downright shameful. But none to my mind reeks of the moral degeneracy of recognising a Palestinian state. Pictured: Israelis take cover from rocket fire on October 11, 2023 But as a Jew, I also have a strong emotional attachment to Israel and see its safety and security as vital not just to the future of the Jewish people but to the West itself. And for this to work, Israel and a Palestinian state have to find a way of existing side by side. More often than not, that prospect seems vanishingly unrealistic. There have been many false dawns, but even when it seemed that an agreement was on the cusp, such as at the Camp David summit in 2000 during the tail end of Bill Clinton's presidency, the Palestinians rejected the terms. As former Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban once put it, the Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Whatever your opinion of Israel's conduct of the Gaza war and it is perfectly possible for good and well-intentioned people to have different views on this peace looks as far from achievable as it ever has been. But at some point, the war will end and attention will turn to what comes next. How will Gaza be governed and rebuilt? What about the West Bank? How can we move towards giving the Palestinians a state that will exist peacefully alongside Israel? Each of these questions may seem insuperable which is why the only sensible and serious approach to tackling them is step by step. Slowly, carefully and considered. Peacebuilding is a dirty endeavour that requires making queasy moral choices, stomaching compromises and looking beyond each other's crimes, as we saw in Northern Ireland. At some point, the war will end and attention will turn to what comes next. How will Gaza be governed and rebuilt?. Pictured: Destroyed buildings after Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 In releasing from prison terrorists who had committed acts of unspeakable evil, the Good Friday Agreement effectively wrote off the debt in blood each side owed. But that point was only reached because just enough trust had been built between Republicans and Nationalists in the years and months prior, principally through the laying down of arms. Self-evidently there is no prospect of trust between Israel and Hamas and the progress that would bring. So it is disastrous for Keir Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state now without any peace agreement, any acceptance that terror and violence must stop, or any concern with the fate of the remaining hostages in Gaza. It will not stop the war and it will make future terror more likely by bolstering Hamas's repute among Palestinians at the very time it is being destroyed militarily by Israel. Think of the context. For decades, large-scale peace negotiations have been thwarted, for any number of reasons. None of the historical attempts be it at Camp David (1978), Oslo (1993) or the Annapolis process in 2007 prompted the UK to change its stance on recognition. Then, on October 7, 2023, Hamas committed a massacre of 1,200 Jews. And what is now happening? The UK (along with a number of other countries such as France and Canada) is about to serve a propaganda coup to Hamas, so it can tell the Palestinians: 'Where the work of past politicians has failed before, we have delivered. Our tactics to terrorise and massacre our enemy work.' Peacebuilding is a dirty endeavour that requires making queasy moral choices, stomaching compromises and looking beyond each other's crimes. Pictured: Rockets fly over destroyed buildings after Israeli air strikes on Gaza City on October 19, 2023 It is a repugnant act of diplomacy but one that shouldn't surprise those who have become aghast at Labour's determination to drive Britain's reputation on the world stage into the ground. Starmer's capitulation to the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands is shameful enough. But he took national gutlessness to another level in July when he first announced plans to recognise Palestine. Instead of placing conditions on a terrorist organisation to disarm and free its hostages, Starmer said recognition would go ahead 'unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution'. The Prime Minister has ripped up decades of understanding that any negotiations are founded on the principle of 'land for peace'. This means that only when there is a state of peace between both sides can the issue of Israeli withdrawal from land the Palestinians claim be discussed. Of course, the reason why Starmer has jettisoned this formula is his government's craven fear of the sectarian Muslim vote that was such a striking feature of last year's General Election. Some 37 constituencies have a Muslim population of more than 20 per cent and, in 73 more seats, the Muslim population is between ten and 20 per cent. On October 7, 2023, Hamas committed a massacre of 1,200 Jews. And what is now happening?The UK is about to serve a propaganda coup to Hamas. Pictured: Abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the attacks In those constituencies where the Muslim population is above 15 per cent, Labour's vote fell by more than 14 per cent between the 2019 and 2024 elections. The party is terrified of losing further support from these voters, and sees recognition of Palestine without the need for any peace agreement as a way of damming the deluge. This is moral and political cowardice of the worst kind. But as we have come to see since Labour took office, it is par for the course. I sorely want the war in Gaza to end and for all sides to think soberly about how a two-state solution can work. But none of that has been hastened by a Labour government cynically playing to its electoral gallery. Escorted back to HMP Bronzefield on Monday evening, Constance Marten was greeted by the noise of her fellow inmates banging on their cell doors. The taunting reception came after news had filtered through to the jail that she had been handed a 14-year sentence earlier that day for killing her baby. Behind bars, as in wider society, those who commit such crimes are particularly despised. As such, sources at the prison say she will be placed under close surveillance to ensure her safety. Yet so far she has chosen to keep herself isolated. Although she shares the unit with other high-profile child killers including Lucy Letby and Beinash Batool, who is serving a 33-year sentence for the murder of her ten-year-old stepdaughter Sara Sharif, Marten has refused to socialise with them. She rarely takes part in educational activities or workshops, preferring to spend lengthy periods in her cell. She complains as much as any other inmate Ive seen in my career, a prison source previously told this newspaper. She seems to think she is above the jail and everyone in it. One would think Marten would welcome support from anywhere she could get it. And yet in court, just hours before, she had shunned the one person willing to publicly give it her mother. Constance Marten's (pictured) mother said in court that she saw her daughter 'grow from a spirited, adventurous girl to a determined young woman always ready for an adventure' Not only did Virginie de Selliers attend the sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey, sitting in the well of the court, she also pleaded for mercy on behalf of her daughter. As her mother I saw her grow from a spirited, adventurous girl to a determined young woman always ready for an adventure, she wrote in a character reference read out in court. She had a feisty spirit and a shy way of standing up for what she believed in. It is my sincere hope when considering her future that her courage, loyalty and deep sense of fairness are not overlooked. She added that she was horrified by the way the court and the newspapers had portrayed her 38-year-old daughter, saying the cruelty of the labels used did not reflect the person she remembered. Brave words, given the circumstances. After all, Marten had gone on the run with her newborn daughter Victoria in freezing temperatures, with the judge ruling that the tiny baby died as a result of neglect of the gravest type. As ever, the only loyalty on show from Marten was firmly directed towards her partner and partner-in-crime 51-year-old Mark Gordon. Throughout the hearing she repeatedly tried to communicate with him in the dock, whispering and passing notes, much to the annoyance of security guards and the judge. But there was not even a glance for her mother. Virginie de Selliers with her son, Tobias Marten, arriving at the Old Bailey for her daughters trial. According to someone who has kept in touch with Constance, her [mothers] presence has caused her enormous distress and even fury She cut her dead, resolutely refusing to return the looks the 66-year-old directed at her, much as she had done throughout her first trial, which Mrs de Selliers also attended. Sources said that at one point during this weeks hearing Marten requested her mother leave the court. Having attended Mondays morning session, Mrs de Selliers was noticeably absent after lunch when the judge handed down his sentence. One family friend said: According to someone who has kept in touch with Constance, her [mothers] presence has caused her enormous distress and even fury. Martens father, Napier, who separated from Mrs de Selliers when his daughter was nine, is similarly estranged from Marten. But, as would appear to be the case with his ex-wife, he too holds out hopes of reconciling. I would really, really like to see my daughter again, he said last week, breaking a long-held silence on the case. I had wanted to visit her on remand and I am more than happy to do so now. It is understood that Mr Marten had previously undertaken the complicated process of applying to visit Marten in Bronzefield only for her to change her mind about seeing him at the very last minute. Her parents hope that, now she is separated from Gordon, her feelings towards them may change. Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed that she had been banned from calling her partner or sending letters to him at HMP Belmarsh. Mrs de Selliers with Constance as a toddler. When she was 18, her mother took her to Nigeria to spend time at the Synagogue Church of all Nations. What happened to her there is unclear With luck and good conduct she will be out in about seven-and-a-half years, said the friend, adding that such a thumping sentence had been anticipated given Martens lack of remorse and the way she had behaved in court. Hopefully she will then move on with her life and not waste it on Gordon. The prospect of them ever getting back together in the future and having another baby is a chilling one, they added. God forbid she decides she then wants to try for another child, the friend said. Nature should have taken its course by then and on release, aged 46, the odds would be against her conceiving naturally. Against her, but not impossible. Let us not forget that this is a woman who went ahead with having Victoria despite her actions leading to her other four children being taken into care for their own safety and well-being. Such was her determination to keep this child that she and Gordon, a convicted rapist, went on the run after her birth. Marten claimed Victoria was smothered after she fell asleep with the baby inside her jacket after breastfeeding. But Judge Mark Lucraft ruled that the child died from hypothermia three days after the family moved into a flimsy tent on the South Downs in East Sussex in January 2023. The babys corpse was found dumped in a shed in a Lidl bag-for- life, under a carton containing a half-eaten cheese sandwich and other rubbish. Marten and Gordon were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter in a retrial after previously being found guilty of child cruelty, concealing Victorias birth and perverting the course of justice. Martens parents hope that, now she is separated from Mark Gordon, her feelings towards him may change. Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed that she had been banned from calling her partner or sending letters to him at HMP Belmarsh Her sentencing this week marked the end of an extraordinary fall from grace for Marten one that had its roots in the Georgian splendour of Crichel House, the imposing stately home in Dorset that had been in the family for generations. There were Royal links, too. Her grandfather was equerry to George VI and her father Napier was a page to Queen Elizabeth II. In 1986, Napier Marten married Belgian-born Virginie Camu and the following year Constance, the first of four children, was born. But in 1996, the couple split after Mr Marten left his family to find himself in Australia, signalling the start of a bitter matrimonial break-up. Marten and her brothers were largely raised by Virginie and her second husband, Guy de Selliers, a wealthy investment banker. Pictures from the time show Marten enjoying an idyllic childhood. But that was then. The woman who last week coldly blanked her mother from the dock is a very different person from the former Tatler Babe of the Month and one who bears little resemblance to the description given in Mrs de Selliers surprisingly complimentary character reference. Her stepfather also submitted a statement, describing her as a fascinating woman who is fundamentally a very kind person. Contrast their supportive words with what Marten said in court during her evidence. She used the opportunity to bad-mouth her parents branding them bigots and accusing them of wanting to erase her children from their bloodline. So why did Mrs de Selliers offer her support and what is at the heart of Constances apparent hatred of her mother? As a source close to her side of the family previously told the Daily Mail, Mrs de Selliers was never just going to give up on her only daughter. A mother who turns up to the trial every single day to hear what she has heard is not a mother who has abandoned her daughter, he said. Ever since the day in 2016 that Marten met Gordon who was convicted of rape aged just 14 and who served 20 years in a US jail the family believed that if only his influence over her could be broken then she might see sense. Gordon is the most vile, vile individual, the family friend said, describing him as both a controlling predator and an odious creep who got his claws into Marten. Within months Marten made it very clear that everything in her life had changed. Completely out of the blue, everyone in Constances life, friends, family, everyone, suddenly got a text from her saying she had chosen to live her life in a different way, the family friend said. She said that... she did not want anyone to try to contact her gain, not to try to meet up with her, and she wanted everyone to respect that. Gordon and Marten had gone on the run with their newborn daughter Victoria (pictured) in freezing temperatures, with the judge ruling that the tiny baby died as a result of neglect of the gravest type Family concerns for her well-being grew when they learned of Gordons criminal record. But it is also the case that at least some of Martens issues with her mother pre-date her meeting with Gordon. The year before, a previous boyfriend noted that, while friendly with her father, Marten seemed more distant with her mother. Apart from her dad, she didnt talk about her family with any sparkle in her eye, Francis Abolo told the MoS of their time together in 2015. When he dug deeper, she hinted that those problems related to a time when, aged 18, her mother took her to Nigeria to spend time at the Synagogue Church of all Nations, known as SCOAN. She was crying a lot, he said. It wasnt an easy conversation. She got so upset that I didnt want to start pressing her on the details but I figured that was the reason why she wasnt really talking to her mum. The family friend went further: She might be angry with her father but she absolutely loathed her mother for what she did to her in the name of religion. Constance was very, very badly traumatised by the whole thing. Marten holding Victoria, who disappeared in order to prevent baby Victoria being taken into care as their four older children had been Everyone talks about two Constances the person she was before she went to Nigeria and the person who returned home. She was profoundly and fundamentally changed. SCOAN was then ruled by a millionaire TV pastor called Temitope Balogun TB Joshua. Along with accusations of faking miracles, psychological torture and physical abuse, a number of former female disciples claimed Joshua, who died in 2021, repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them. While Mrs de Selliers, a devout Christian, returned home at the end of their visit to SCOAN, Constance stayed on for three months. Precisely what happened while the 19-year-old was there is unclear. But theres no doubt it affected her deeply. Indeed, she would later say the experience left her character completely broken apart. A spokesman for SCOAN said that the allegations against the church and TB Joshua were inherently false and deeply troubling and that it was unaware of any association with Marten. Mrs de Selliers has previously declined to comment on her or her daughters involvement with SCOAN. But those who know her say she had become concerned about her daughter during her time there and was involved in ensuring she came home. As for what the future now holds for Marten, she has applied for permission to appeal her conviction for manslaughter. As a source at Bronzefield added: She acts like its a mistake shes in there and sooner or later someone will realise and shell be back out. Given the events of the last week, however, that is something that is not going to happen any time soon. A female teacher's aide had sex with a student at least three times during the school's lunch period, investigators said. Ocean Valentine, 22, allegedly bombarded a 17-year-old student with explicit text messages before beginning a physical relationship. The two had sex at the student's parents' home during school hours, according to a report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC Schools District obtained by the New York Post. Valentine has been suspended without pay from her role at Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine in New York City. The school is also investigating a second sexual relationship between a male employee and female student. Valentine first approached the 17-year-old student in May 2022 by telling him she was on Instagram where he then reach out to her, according to the report. They began exchanging messages and eventually phone numbers. Their text messages turned explicit in late May and early June 2022. The student told investigators that he and Valentine had sex at his parents' apartment during lunch hour multiple times. Teacher's aide Ocean Valentine approached the male student telling him that she was active on Instagram Valentine was a 'community associate' at Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine He had skipped out of school to meet up with her. The SCI report read: 'He and Valentine left during lunch while school was still in session to engage in sexual intercourse. 'They walked across the street from the school to [the students] apartment. After this initial encounter, [the student] recalled that twice more, they left during lunch period to have intercourse.' The investigation began after a female classmate that caught a glimpse of text messages on the boy's phone. Investigators say she also saw a photo of a hotel receipt. A school official over heard the girl say something along the lines of: 'Staff members having sex with students.' Another alleged sexual encounter occurred in a private room at Shark's, a nearby pool club, in celebration of the student's 18th birthday. The police probe began in early 2023 and Valentine allegedly continued to try and contact the student throughout. As police took photos of their messages, she texted: 'What's going on?' They also allegedly had a sexual encounter in Shark's pool club in celebration of the student's 18th birthday Valentine tried to contact the student multiple times during the investigation, according to the report A few days later she tried to call him twice. A police search revealed a total of 34 contacts. Valentine was suspended without pay. Her salary was $34,415 in 2023, but she only took home $15,250 before her dismissal. A second Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine in Manhattan staff member is also being probed over a potentially inappropriate relationship. A female student claimed she had sexual contact with a male aide who stole $5,000 from her. The New York Post reported that more than 100 New York City educators have been accused of having inappropriate relationships with their students between 2018 and 2024. Daily Mail reached out to Valentine, New York SCI officials, the NYPD and Urban Assembly Early College High School of Emergency Medicine for comment. News / Health by Stuff Reporter Prominent Glendale traditional healer Sekuru Nyangatayani born Peter Chinguzi is set to attend Hong Kong International Chinese Medicine and Traditional Medicine Conference 2025 next week.Sekuru Nyangatayani will be at the traditional Medicine Expo for a week, exhibiting his herbs there.Speaking to this publication Nyangatayani said he will leave Zimbabwe on Monday and will be there for a week."I am excited to let you know that on Monday, I will be going to Hong Kong, China for a traditional Medicine Conference to exhibit our herbs there so we are going international," said the elated Sekuru Nyangatayani.He further claimed that his works are being recognised internationally and he will raise the countrys flag high in China."Our work is being recognised internationally, so l am going to raise our nation's flag high in China on this expo," he added.Meanwhile, the Expo is organised by Bauhinia magazine and is being hosted by Bauhinia Cultural group.Various universities in China are also expected to be part of the Expo. A far-right protest in The Netherlands erupted into violence as protestors clashed with police after they threw bottles at officers and torched a police car. In the chaos that descended, police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse some of the protestors as the demonstration threatened to become a riot. The anti-migration protestors set fire to a police car and vandalized a political party's office in The Hague, just weeks before a general election is due to take place in the country. It is not yet known if there has been any injuries or arrests. Dutch media showed rioters also attacking an office of the centrist political party, D66. 'Scum. You keep your hands off political parties,' the party's leader Rob Jetten said in a message on X. 'If you think you can intimidate us, tough luck. We will never let extremist rioters take our beautiful country away.' A smaller group of rioters headed for the Dutch parliament complex, which is currently fenced off as it undergoes a years-long renovation. The violence erupted at a demonstration attended by hundreds of people, many of them wearing black and waving flags, that called for tougher asylum policies. Anti-riot police officers move in to clear the city center of far-right protesters A police car burns after being torched by the far right protestors in The Hague far-right protester waves a Dutch flag in front of police vehicles in the city centre A far-right protester burns cardboard outside the D66 (centrist liberal) party office, where protesters had earlier smashed windows The demonstration was organised by a woman known as Els Rechts, a prominent right-wing activist in The Netherlands. She took to social media to condemn the violence which erupted following the demonstration. She wrote: 'How terrible I find this. I condemn every form of violence. What happened here is incomprehensible. Police officers were cornered, and things were destroyed and set on fire. 'I assumed that people came to demonstrate peacefully, but unfortunately, for whatever reason, it turned out very differently. I regret that it happened this way. If I had known this in advance, I would never have organized it. 'Due to the people who behaved so badly, the purpose of the demonstration has completely missed its mark. To the people who did behave well: thank you. Thank you for your attendance.' Speakers at the demonstration included a member of the right-wing populist party BVNL, who had previously said the country had become a 'mulitcultural nightmare'. The unrest comes weeks before the Dutch hold their general election on October 29. The election was called after anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling coalition in a dispute over moves to rein in migration. In a statement, Wilders condemned the rioters for blocking a highway and attacking police, calling them 'idiots' and 'scum.' The first time Peter Mandelson resigned, I was Treasurer of a beleaguered Conservative Party that needed all the cheering up it could get. It was December 1998 and Tony Blair's government, elected with a huge majority the previous year, had lost a key figure. The Tories congratulated themselves on achieving a 'scalp' (in reality, it had little or nothing to do with their indignant demands to know who knew what and when about the bizarre circumstances of Mandy's whopping secret loan from a fellow minister) and eagerly looked forward to the collapse of the New Labour project. This duly followed a mere decade later. Mandelson's third departure this month came days after that of Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and was swiftly followed by the defenestration of a senior No 10 aide. All this after the homelessness minister resigned after evicting her tenants and hiking the rent, an anti-corruption minister went over a corruption row, and the Transport Secretary left when it was revealed she had a conviction for fraud. This is the world of politics that dominates the front pages and broadcast bulletins. It's the world where ministers are caught out and rivals plot to topple their boss. It's the world of dodgy lobbying, warring factions, unwanted advances, wallpaper, affairs, expenses, Downing Street parties and contracts for cronies. It's the kind of politics that alienates. Then there is real politics the kind that has a bearing on people and their lives. This is the world where people worry about crime, illegal migration, what they can afford to put in their shopping basket, whether they or their children will ever own a house, how long they will have to wait for an operation, higher taxes, and whether saying what they think is going to get them in trouble with the law. The first time Peter Mandelson resigned, I was Treasurer of a beleaguered Conservative Party that needed all the cheering up it could get, writes Lord Ashcroft (pictured) The Tories congratulated themselves on achieving a 'scalp' and eagerly looked forward to the collapse of the New Labour project. Pictured: Peter Mandelson in 2019 And this rather than any scandal in high office is the real source of Keir Starmer's woes. My survey asked those who voted Labour in 2024 but say they won't do so next time why this was the case. The biggest single reason chosen by more than seven in ten of this group was that 'they haven't got to grips with the country's problems'. Nor do they believe the Government has a plan to do so. Hence the second biggest reason: 'Keir Starmer is not a good Prime Minister.' For voters with better things to do, the Westminster game of who's up and who's down barely registers, except as the dull background burble of a tedious and unending soap opera. That's not to say it doesn't matter ministers should be accountable and behave themselves. Nor is it without consequence the Tories' obsession with their own machinations was one reason people could hardly wait to be rid of them (and one reason the party is finding it so hard to regain their attention). But showing that he understood the difference between the two worlds is how Donald Trump managed to upend the American political establishment. His opponents missed the point and focused on the man and his character, which is why they lost to him not once but twice. Mandelson's resignation came days after that of Angela Rayner (pictured at the Labour Party conference last year) as Deputy Prime Minister and was swiftly followed by the defenestration of a senior No 10 aide Think of it as a political version of the doctrine of original sin. As far as the voters are concerned, no bunch of politicians is any more virtuous than any other. Their eternal salvation is a matter for a higher authority, but they can earn their earthly redemption through works. When times are hard, voters care less about process than they do about outcomes. As my poll found, people tend to think it's more important to get things done than to stick to the rules and conventions of politics. This is especially true when the country faces seemingly intractable problems which successive governments couldn't or wouldn't or at any rate didn't deal with. Like Trump, Nigel Farage benefits from this impatience. I found a majority of all voters saying they liked Reform's new plans to deport 600,000 illegal migrants, build secure removal centres and make unauthorised entrants ineligible for asylum. However, only just over one in five thought the ideas could be delivered in practice. From my focus groups, it was clear what people thought the obstacle was. This is the world of politics that dominates the front pages. It's the kind of politics that alienates. Then there is real politics the kind that has a bearing on people and their lives. This rather than any scandal in high office is the real source of Keir Starmer's woes As one of our participants put it: 'It's a brilliant policy, but how long will it be before human rights lawyers get involved, or Nato or the UN or whoever, and say 'you can't do that, it contravenes human rights'?' Tellingly, in my poll, most of those who said they liked the policies but doubted they could be delivered in practice said we should try them anyway, since any progress would be good. As things stand, this could apply across a whole range of policy issues, from borders to welfare and from energy to crime. If the plans look a bit rough around the edges, enough voters might think, what is there to lose? On the face of it, this makes life more difficult for the Conservatives. Not being in a position to lecture anyone on fiscal responsibility or competent government, it is hard for them convincingly to warn against potentially reckless change with Reform. But as she seeks a theme for her party's conference next month, could this offer Kemi Badenoch a glimmer of opportunity? The last government didn't do enough to solve Britain's problems, she must acknowledge, and it made some of them a good deal worse. But just as there are no easy answers, neither is there anything inevitable about Britain's decline. We can do more than rage against the way things are. In other words: Don't break the rules, change them. Rage is easy and change is hard, especially for a country that has forgotten how to live within its means and where too many expect the Government to do more than it can or should. It's a tough message, but someone has to deliver it. Lord Ashcroft is a businessman, philanthropist, pollster and author. Find his research at LordAshcroftPolls.com. The mother of missing British sailor Sarm Heslop has begged for Donald Trump to step in and quiz her daughter's American boyfriend over her mystery disappearance. Four years ago, Ms Heslop, 41, vanished from her partner, Ryan Bane's 500,000 catamaran Siren Song in the US Virgin Islands. Mr Bane was the last person to see the former flight attendant on March 8, 2021, who left her passport, phone and money behind on the yacht. He said he noticed his girlfriend was no longer onboard after they spent an evening together until he was awoken by the anchor alarm sounding at 2am that day. Half an hour later, he reported her missing to the police. No suspects are wanted in connection with her disappearance while the last person to have seen her, Mr Bane, has refused to co-operate with police, pleading his fourth and fifth US amendment rights. And while the case remains open, the police investigation into the matter is now categorised as a 'cold case' Half a decade later, her mother Brenda Street, still desperate for answers, has called on the help of the US president to 'push' for an investigation to be 'properly' carried out. She told The Mirror: 'I think Trump is likely to do more than anyone else so far. I'd like him to push for the investigation to be done properly to appeal for Bane to come forward and to order a forensic search of his yacht. British sailor Sarm Heslop went missing on March 8, 2021, in the US Virgin Islands of St John and was last seen by her boyfriend Ryan Barne Her mother, Brenda Street (pictured), still desperate for answers, has called on Donald Trump to get her daughter's boyfriend to co-operate with authorities 'It makes me very angry and disappointed that Bane has not been brought in for formal questioning. 'He is wandering around doing his own thing while we've put our lives on hold. If [Trump] could put out an appeal that'd be amazing.' Lawyers representing Mr Barne have said there is no evidence suggesting he did anything awry to Sarm. In March 2021, while Mr Bane had reported Sarm missing from their yacht off the US Virgin Island of St John where the couple lived. He failed to contact the US Coast Guard for nine hours despite being advised to do so immediately. Later, it was claimed he obstructed Coast Guard agents from boarding the yacht, and also later blocked Sarm's mother's phone number. Ms Street has alleged that if her daughter's partner had nothing to hide, he would co-operate with the authorities. She added that if his 'conscience is clear', he would provide a 'minute-by-minute account' to police, adding: 'He's the only person of interest because there was nobody else around.' Sarm, who was described as a strong swimmer, had left her home in Southampton in 2019 to sail across the Atlantic and live her dream life in the US Virgin Islands. In 2020, the British sailor met Mr Barne, then 49, on Tinder before eventually returning to the US Virgin Islands to become a cook for guests on board the Siren Song. American Ryan Bane, pictured walking his dog on the US Virgin Islands in 2021. He has never been formally questioned by police after pleading his US Constitutional rights But things took a dark turn after the couple completed their first charter together with it later emerging, following her disappearance, that Mr Bane's had previously been convicted for assaulting his ex-wife. In light of the information, Sarm's mother is also calling for criminal record checks across all dating platforms, insisting her daughter would 'have upped and left' had she known of Barne's criminal past. Despite, her daughter being missing for four years, Sarm's friends and family haven't given up hope, and continued to raise awareness on her missing persons case on BBC Breakfast last Saturday. 'What am I going to do without her?' Brenda shared. 'I am stronger now, I know I'm crying now but I am stronger now and I am going to do everything I can, I will never give up. I'll never give up.' Commissioner Mario Brooks of the US Virgin Islands' police department also appeared on the show's segment and urged Ryan to cooperate with detectives. 'You were the last person to have contact with her,' he told the programme. 'What is so secretive that you can't tell us? What? You loved her, that's your girlfriend, you lived with her on the vessel. 'She goes missing and all of a sudden, you get silent. You sell the boat, basically come off radar.' In response to the Commissioner's comments, Ryan's lawyer said that his client has not been charged or had a warrant issued and that if his presence is required in the US Virgin Islands, he will return voluntarily. Sarm's close friends also said they want to keep searching for answers so they can 'lay her to rest'. The last recorded CCTV sighting of Sarm Heslop from her boyfriend's 500,000 catamaran yacht on March 7, 2021 Police have now released previously unseen CCTV footage of Sarm's last movements on land, years after her friends and family put pressure on the force to circulate it in the hopes it would bring new information on the case. In the new BBC2 documentary, Missing in Paradise: Searching for Sarm, Stephen Philip, Chief of Police for the US Virgin Islands, showed the missing Brit's last recorded moments on land, in the lively Caribbean town of Cruz Bay. The CCTV video showed Sarm and Ryan walking on a path near the town's dinghy dock, with his arm on her lower back as the pair stroll along the pier. The couple had spent the evening at a bar named '420 to Center', just a two-minute walk away. Sarm can be seen wearing what appears to be a monochrome patterned dress or a top with a matching skirt or shorts, whereas Ryan appeared to sport a short-sleeved patterned white shirt with shorts and flip flops. Praising the footage's 'huge' importance, her friend Zan, added: 'If she had been gone missing here, the CCTV would've been released immediately as part of the search for her. 'Lots of people would've seen [them], maybe noticed [something], maybe someone will remember something.' Her friend Kate Vernalls also shed some light on the difficulties they've faced on securing Sarm's last recorded sighting. 'At the beginning we were told there was no CCTV, right back in the early days, and then through the grapevine, which a lot of this has been, we hear there was CCTV footage,' she explained. 'As Zan said, we were asked for years for the CCTV footage to be released because we've been brought up in this country where that gets shown, you want it out there so people might recognise something.' When asked in the documentary why the islands' police department had finally decided to release the video publicly, Chief of Police Philip remarked: 'We are at a dead end, if anybody could look at this video and see something and say something, it could help. We are at a dead end road and we need help.' Elsewhere Sarm's mother has also told The People that she believes her daughter was murdered. Speaking to the outlet last year, she shared: 'I don't believe Sarm just went missing. I believe she was murdered. I want justice for her.' After years without answers, the parent added she felt 'let down' by police on the Caribbean tourist hotspot and 'hatred' for Mr Bane, whom she accuses of not doing enough to help find her daughter. She has called on Mr Bane to provide the police with everything he knows about her daughter's disappearance. His lawyer, David Cattie, said previously said in a statement to The People: 'Mr Bane is heartbroken over Sarm's disappearance. 'We certainly understand and empathize with her mother's pain and frustration.' A bombshell email obtained by The Mail on Sunday has revealed how the Duchess of York cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Just weeks after publicly disowning the vile billionaire, Sarah Ferguson wrote him a gushing private message calling him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend' and admitting she only distanced herself from him to save her own reputation. The Duchess 'humbly apologised' to the convicted sex offender for letting him down, and said she had been told to speak out if she wanted to save her career as a children's author. She sent the grovelling message 'from the truth of my heart', less than two months after telling journalists: 'I will never have anything to do with [Epstein] again.' Those comments came on March 7, 2011, amid mounting pressure over the links she and ex-husband Prince Andrew had to the paedophile and the 15,000 bailout he gave her. In an interview in the London Evening Standard with its then Editor, Geordie Greig, she said that accepting Epsteins money was a gigantic error of judgment... I am just so contrite I cannot say. Another email obtained by this newspaper, which the Duchess sent on January 22, 2011 is addressed to 'my dear, dear friend Jeffrey' and appears to thank him for his recent help with the huge debts she had racked up after years of lavish spending. She wrote: 'How can I thank you enough? You are a friend indeed and I will one day give it to you back. But I can not have the words to thank you now. A bombshell email obtained by The Mail on Sunday has revealed how the Duchess of York cynically lied when she pledged to cut ties with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein Just weeks after publicly disowning the vile billionaire, Sarah Ferguson wrote him a gushing private message calling him a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend' and admitting she only distanced herself from him to save her own reputation 'Sometimes the heart speaks better than the words. You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey.' The Duchess adopted a similarly appreciative tone in her email of April 26, 2011, apologising for disowning him while also trying to reassure him that she had never described him as a paedophile. She told him she had been instructed to give the interview to protect 'my career as a children's book author and children's philanthropist' adding that she was 'broken' because 'I saw all my children's work disappearing'. Pleading with the child abuser, she added: 'I know you feel hellaciously let down by me from what you were either told or read and I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that.' The extraordinary email will send shock waves through the Royal Family and will fuel calls for King Charles and Prince William to completely ostracise the disgraced Yorks. It comes just days after the Duke and Duchess launched an ill-judged return to the public limelight with a prominent, and widely criticised, appearance at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent. Royal author Andrew Lownie said last night: 'The language of this extraordinary email is completely two-faced. 'It is hugely damaging to her credibility as a patron of children's charities and children's author. The bombshell emails sent by Fergie to Jeffrey Epstein - despite vowing just weeks before to never contact him again during a newspaper interview Epstein pictured in New York in 2011 around the time Fergie sent the damning emails to him 'I have learnt to question everything the Duchess of York says in interviews. I think the wider Royal Family will be appalled by this it's yet more reputational damage.' Last night a spokesman for the Duchess said that Epstein had threatened to sue her for defamation after her Evening Standard interview and she had been advised to try and 'assuage' him. She stands by her public condemnation of the paedophile, the spokesman added. Today's astonishing revelations come after Lord Mandelson was fired as British Ambassador to Washington after a string of embarrassing emails between himself and Epstein who was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019 were released. The emails between the billionaire and the Duchess were exchanged after he was released from a Florida jail in July 2009, having served 13 months of an 18 month sentence for soliciting prostitution from girls as young as 14. Just under 18 months later, in December 2010, Epstein agreed to pay 15,000 owed in unpaid wages and other bills to Sarah's former personal assistant, Johnny O'Sullivan. The deal, orchestrated by Prince Andrew, allowed a wider restructuring of the Duchess's debts, which were approaching 5million. Details of Epsteins generous assistance were uncovered by the media in March 2011, causing embarrassment to the Royal Family. The beleagured couple attended the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, earlier this month On March 7, 2011, in the interview with Mr Greig splashed on the front page of the Evening Standard, the duchess made a heartfelt apology for accepting Epsteins cash. In comments that made headlines around the world, she said: 'I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me. 'I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say. 'Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.' Castigating her former friend, she added: 'What he did was wrong and for which he was rightly jailed.' And, in apparent exasperation, she pledged to cut off all contact with him. 'I will never have anything to do with him again. I deeply regret it. How many more times do you want me to underline that?' But weeks later Sarah was privately disavowing her comments in the desperate email to Epstein revealed today. Writing to her benefactor on April 26, she said: 'You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. On March 7, 2011, in an interview splashed on the front page of the Evening Standard, the Duchess made a 'heartfelt apology' for accepting Epstein's cash 'As you know, I did not, absolutely not, say the "P word" [paedophile] about you but understand it was reported that I did. 'However, I am apologising to you today for not replying to your email or reaching out to you when the tabloids were so horrendous.' She angrily condemned the media, who she said 'used me to hurt you beyond realms', and complained that the controversy over her links to him 'was the worst nightmare for me'. Despite emphatically telling the Evening Standard that she would never have anything to do with Epstein again, she apologised for not contacting him sooner, saying: 'It is unlike me'. Justifying her lack of contact, she said: 'I was advised, in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you and if I did I would cause more problems to you, the Duke and myself. 'I was broken and lost. I shut down and ran away. So please understand, as I do about you, that I was broken and not the strong person you know and I got completely obliterated and I saw all my children's work disappearing. 'I didn't want to hurt Andrew one more time.' She told Epstein 'we are, and have both been, in the firing line' adding that they had 'both [been] blamed for stuff we have not done.' The notorious 2001 photograph of Prince Andrew with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who accused the billionaire of trafficking her And, in perhaps the most jaw-dropping passage, she suggested that she had been told to give the interview as part of a strategy to protect her writing career and charity work. 'I was instructed to act with the utmost speed if I would have any chance of holding on to my career as a children's book author and a children's philanthropist.' She said she should have taken his advice before giving the interview 'and taken a day or two to think of the ramifications of my actions but I was in overriding fear.' In an emotional sign-off, she wrote: 'In the meantime, I write this from the truth of my heart.' Last night, a spokesman for the Duchess said: 'The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. Fergie has been my friend, but her lies are unforgiveable Daphne Barak (left) with Sarah Ferguson I first met Sarah Ferguson back in 1992 as her marriage to Prince Andrew was breaking down. Sarah had agreed to sit down with me for her first television interview after notorious pictures caught her sucking the toes - or appearing to - of Texan financial adviser John Bryan. The media coverage at the time was overwhelming and tough for anyone to deal with. But I liked Sarah, who was warm, bubbly and, it seemed to me, a force of nature. We bumped into each other from time to time after that but it was only in the past few years that we reconnected. By then, her former husband, Prince, Andrew, had been disgraced thanks to his own association with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein - and stripped of his royal titles. Sarah found herself in a lonely place, trying to protect the father of her children and his damaged reputation. There was something else, too: Sarah had breast cancer and we spent hours on the phone talking about it every day - months before she revealed the news to the public. I can thank Sarah for pushing me to get my own mammogram, a decision which brought an early diagnosis and might well have saved my life. Today, I am cancer-free. So, when, in the past few days, I established that Sarah has been untruthful about her contacts with Epstein, it came as a great personal shock. And it left me asking why. I believe things started to unravel following her formal divorce from Andrew in 1996 which, although generous by normal standards, left Sarah struggling to maintain her lifestyle. She developed the habit of befriending wealthy - but sometimes questionable - individuals and that habit has persisted. I know Sarah has a bumpy ride. The cancer diagnosis and much else besides have been devastating. But someone aspiring to have - and to maintain - Royal status must live by higher standards. Sarah has let herself down. Who can believe her now? Where can she go from this? It hard not to believe the consequences will be serious. Daphne Barak, interviewer and documentary maker Advertisement 'Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. 'As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. 'She does not resile from anything she said then. 'This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.' Biographer Andrew Lownie however, said the revelation could lead to publishers and charities severing their ties with the Duchess. Best known for her Budgie the Helicopter, Little Red and Helping Hand series, Sarah Ferguson has published more than 50 children and young adult books. In November, she is due to publish Kindness Along The Way, the second book in her new series of Flora & Fen picture books. She announced the first book of the series last year with a post on Instagram in which she appeared to be standing on the balcony of a luxury Alpine chalet or hotel. Meanwhile 14 years after her grovelling email to Epstein the Duchess also remains heavily involved in children's charity work. She chairs Sarah's Trust, which brings all her charitable causes together, and which says it has supported 1.4 million children around the world. Last year she launched the Youth Impact Council, which she said would 'bring together future leaders' and 'amplify the voices' of Gen Z people in the workplace. Along with her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Duchess is also an honorary patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The bombshell email comes just days after the Duke and Duchess of York were accused of making an ill-judged appearance at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral. The scandal-hit pair, both 65, were seen chuckling together and awkwardly attempting to engage other Royals, including the King and Prince William, in conversation. William was later said to be furious at his uncle's 'ambush'. Andrew has long been tarnished by his associations with Epstein, especially the notorious 2001 photograph of him with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who accused the billionaire of trafficking her. Sarah Ferguson is believed to have first met Epstein in the 1990s having been introduced by American British businesswoman Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the widow of banking tycoon Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, once one of Britain's richest men. In a testimony published last month, Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking, described the Duchess as a 'frenemy' who lusted after Epstein. 'She [the Duchess of York] had a thing for him... and I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey,' she said. Daphne Barak is a renowned interviewer and documentary film maker, whose subjects have included Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton, Johnny Depp and Michael Jackson among many others. Daphne is also a cancer survivor. She has a fast-growing charity with the University of California, San Diego. www.gamechangerevents.org A frantic search for a Florida woman is underway after she sent an eerie last message to her mom before vanishing on a road trip in California. Ganna Kovrizhnykh, 38, lost contact with her family on July 5 while on a cross-country road trip near Potrero, near the border with Mexico. Kovrizhnykh, who also goes by the name Angel Volnaya, was reported missing on July 12 by a friend, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Office. The Florida native left her mother an eerie final message including a photograph of a letter and GPS coordinates from Potrero. The letter told her mother to take possession of her personal assets, according to a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System post. One week later, Kovrizhnykh's Jeep Grand Cherokee and camper trailer were found abandoned in Potrero. 'We believe she was just kind of touring the country and she left her vehicle in Potrero and never came back to her vehicle,' Sergeant Jacob Klepach told KNSD. 'We dont really have any belief one way or another at this point if there is foul play involved or if she just strictly voluntarily left.' Ganna Kovrizhnykh, 38, lost contact with her family on July 5 earlier this year while on a cross-country road trip near Potrero, near the border with Mexico The Florida native left her mother an eerie final message including a photograph of a letter instructing her mother to take control of her assets and GPS coordinates from Potrero One day before the eerie message to her mother, Kovrizhnykh posted a video to a Facebook page under her alias, Angel Volnaya. The video featured her reading from the Bible, with the caption, 'Two commandments. No one escape. Who kill will die forever.' 'There is no way to escape. The punishment is coming. The rapture is coming. It is already on the earth. There is only a few years left... I'm a prophet,' she said. In another video posted on the same day, she posted from a church and showed a bag of 'supplies' including water, oil, a solar panel, batteries, a walkie talkie, and a gas mask. 'I just left everything that I have,' she said. 'Time is very close. Prepare all the churches, they should be ready.' 'We are already at the last moment... this is only like three years and the anti-Christ will sit on his throne.' Kovrizhnykh is five-foot-five, 100lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She may be wearing a wig and has several arm tattoos, according to the sheriff. Kovrizhnykh is five-foot-five, 100lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes and distinctive tattoos Kovrizhnykh may be wearing a wig and has several arm tattoos Detectives believe she may have crossed into Mexico, possibly near Tecate. As of Tuesday, her whereabouts and status remained unknown, according to the sheriff's office. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information on Kovrizhnykh's whereabouts to contact NamUS, the sheriff's office or phone local authorities. Daily Mail has reached out to the San Diego Sheriff's Office for comment. Thousands of tattoo lovers have showed off their detailed and colourful inkings today as they bared all at one of Britain's largest conventions. The three-day event held at London's biggest indoor event space, The Excel, has seen body art enthusiasts from across the country descend for new pieces. Now in its fourth year, the Big London Tattoo Show has welcomed seasoned artists from the UK, Ireland and further afield, with their tattoo guns at the ready. The event has been described by organisers as a 'showcase [of] the incredible skills of 450 of the very best international tattoo artists'. Many of today's visitors were covered head-to-toe in tattoos, flashing the flesh to show off the intricate designs scrawled all over their bodies. While others opted for even more tattoos, filling in any blank spaces available on their skin. A man appears to get another tattoo behind his year at this year's Big London Tattoo Show A woman poses at the three-day event at The Excel, showing off her intricate tattoos Another visitor, with legs covered in art, lies down to receive another design on her skin One woman bares all, flashing the flesh to show off the artwork covering the entirety of her torso Another man, covered in tattoos, has another piece added to his back by an artist A bald man has cling film covering his bloody head after having a tattoo drawn onto it A tattoo artist carefully looks at a reference picture as she draws out a design on a customer's leg A visitor with a ouija board tattood across his chest poses for a picture at the three-day event A man with sinner scrawled across his thigh gets another tattoo on his other leg Elsewhere, a visitor is getting a new tattoo from an artist at a booth in the Excel venue Major concerns have been raised about the SNPs vetting procedures after The Mail unearthed an online swingers profile linked to a Holyrood hopeful. Founder of campaign group English Scots for YES, Math Campbell-Sturgess, 42, sensationally withdrew his candidacy for the 2026 Holyrood election on Saturday after this newspaper put our findings to him. Our probe discovered an account on the website Fabswingers.com looking for threesome partners for a man and a woman who go by the pseudonym Scotsbicouple. The profile on the website, used to organise sex meetups, displays highly explicit images showing a woman posing in her underwear and performing a sex act. There are no pictures of the man, who goes by the name of M (42), and the profile explains images are limited due to work sensitivities. Nicola Sturgeon-ally and Nationalist rising star Mr Campbell-Sturgess was selected as the SNP MSP candidate to contest Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillies Dumbarton seat earlier this year. When confronted by The Mail about the online account on Thursday, he denied it was his profile and then suggested it might have been an impersonator account. Nicola Sturgeon ally Mr Campbell-Sturgess was running as the SNP's candidate for Dumbarton Mr Campbell-Sturgess, who remains a councillor, founded group English Scots for YES But after being presented with more evidence linking him to it, on Saturday he said that everyone is entitled to a private life and insisted he had done nothing wrong. He said: This experience has placed huge stress on myself and my family, and I have therefore chosen to step back from candidacy at this time. Mr Campbell-Sturgess and the SNP would not respond to questions over whether he would remain as an SNP councillor. The revelations sparked serious concerns about the Nationalists candidate vetting procedures. Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Rachael Hamilton MSP, said: While no laws appear to have been broken, this episode raises serious concerns about the SNPs judgement and vetting procedures. The public rightly expect their elected representatives to behave in a way that upholds the dignity of public office and many will be deeply shocked by these revelations. Fabswingers.com is a website that allows people to reach out to like-minded individuals The politician said 'everyone is entitled to a private life and said he had done nothing wrong The SNP must urgently explain how this was allowed to happen. It is the latest sex and relationship scandal to plague the Nationalists, after furores over former finance minister Derek Mackay, former Glasgow North MP Patrick Grady and Jordan Linden, a former SNP North Lanarkshire council leader. Now, the SNP is at the centre of fresh questions over its vetting processes. The account Scotsbicouple on website Fabswingers.com has been in use for a number of years and had been accessed as recently as Wednesday. The profile lists the users interests as adult parties, group sex, making videos, role play, swingers clubs, taking photos, threesomes and voyeurism. The Mail has chosen not to print some of the more obscene activities for reasons of taste and decency. A previous SNP sex and relationship scandal was over former Finance Minister Derek Mackay Former Glasgow North MP Patrick Grady was also embroiled in controversy The profile reads: Weve had a few meets and parties now, have some experience under our belt. It goes on to praise the womans capabilities in the bedroom. It later states: Were not really able to accom [sic] but can travel with notice. The profile says that M uses the Scotsbicouple account and the woman tends to use her own, called PictiiWitch. However, it states: We wont usually meet serpately [sic] until we get to know you. The pair have received good reviews from other swingers, with one fan writing: What a meet, would love to see what we could all do in warm surroundings. Last week, one admirer who claimed to have met them years ago, said: Massive b***s, but theres much more to these two! Hopefully we will meet again soon! England-born Mr Campbell-Sturgess is a huge proponent of Scottish independence On Thursday, our reporter approached Mr Campbell-Sturgess in Helensburgh, to check the validity of the account. Asked: Is this your profile? he said: No. Asked again if he firmly denied it was his profile, he responded: Its not my profile. But, just hours later, both the Scotsbicouple and PictiiWitch profiles had been deleted. Presented with this fact, Mr Campbell-Sturgess then admitted the account was the womans and that she had deleted it after our visit. He said explicit images did not portray him. The Mail notified the councillor of its intention to run an article on Saturday morning, to which Mr Campbell-Sturgess said: As your readers will appreciate, everyone is entitled to a private life. I have done nothing wrong and reject any suggestion otherwise. However, this experience has placed huge stress on myself and my family, and I have therefore chosen to step back from candidacy at this time. He would not say whether he intended to stay on as an SNP councillor. Born in England, Mr Campbell-Sturgess describes himself as a 42-year-old jewellery designer, parliamentary assistant, and formerly a graphic designer. He had been tipped as a rising star among the Nationalist ranks, and, as founder of the English Scots for YES campaign group, has regularly been pictured with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Having served as an SNP councillor in Greenock from 2012 to 2017, he moved to become a Nationalist councillor for Helensburgh & Lomond South from 2022. He stood against Brendan OHara in 2023 for a seat at Westminster. His website claims he is the SNP-run Argyll and Bute councils policy lead for Business Development. In his spare time, Mr Campbell-Sturgess makes jewellery and leather goods, specialising in celtic and norse themed silver and gold rings, pendants & broaches, and leather belts, bracelets and similar. A spokesman for the SNP said: We have been informed of his decision to step down as a candidate. Downing Street was last night facing the threat of a police investigation over claims that the Prime Minister's chief of staff hid more than 700,000 of donations to boost Keir Starmer's political career. The Tories say they have obtained private legal advice to Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's most powerful aide, which points to a deliberate attempt to mislead the Electoral Commission over money given to Labour Together the think-tank which played a key role in bringing down Jeremy Corbyn and putting Starmer into power. The Electoral Commission found more than 20 breaches by the group, and levied a fine of 14,250 in September 2021, after explicitly telling Mr McSweeney in 2017 it must declare donations within a 30-day limit. However, dozens of donations made to Labour Together between 2018 and July 2020 were not declared until after Mr McSweeney left the organisation that year. Now the Conservatives say private legal advice given to Mr McSweeney contradicts Labour Together's public claim the mistakes were due to 'human error and administrative oversight' and it had been as 'open and transparent' as possible. Mr McSweeney initially did declare donations to the group when he took over as director of Labour Together in 2017. However, early in 2018 he stopped reporting donations apart from one disclosure of 12,500 from Trevor Chinn, a Jewish businessman and friend of Tony Blair. It was only after Mr McSweeney left to work for Sir Keir as new Labour leader that his replacement, Hannah O'Rourke, found almost three years of donations worth 739,000 had not been declared and filed a series of 'late' declarations to the Commission. Downing Street was last night facing the threat of a police investigation over claims that the Prime Minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney (pictured) hid more than 700,000 of donations to boost Keir Starmer's political career The Tories say they have obtained private legal advice to Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's most powerful aide (pictured together), which points to a deliberate attempt to mislead the Electoral Commission over money given to Labour Together Now, in a letter to the Electoral Commission, Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said the party has new information to justify the commission 'initiating a formal inquiry and then to refer the incident to the police' relating to 'the breach of political finance laws'. Mr Hollinrake said advice from lawyer Gerald Shamash written in 2021, which appeared to have been 'passed from within the Labour Party to outside sources', revealed discussion about how to handle the Commission and admitted it would not be easy to explain Labour Together's position. Mr Hollinrake said Mr McSweeney was advised that Labour Together should blame the non-reporting of donations on an administration error. But the Tory chairman believed the donations weren't declared to protect the donors' identities. The row comes ahead of the publication next month of The Fraud, by journalist Paul Holden, which will include a detailed account of Mr McSweeney's role in Labour Together. The think-tank was a key plank of the drive by Mr McSweeney and his allies including Lord Mandelson, who was sacked as US ambassador this month over links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to topple Mr Corbyn from the party leadership. Advance details from The Fraud have already prompted the resignation of Paul Ovenden, the prime minister's director of political strategy, over sexual remarks made about Mr Corbyn's former girlfriend Diane Abbott. Asked for Mr McSweeney's comment on the claims last night, No 10 referred The Mail on Sunday to Labour Together. The row comes ahead of the publication next month of The Fraud, by journalist Paul Holden, which will include a detailed account of Mr McSweeney's role in Labour Together. Advance details from it have already prompted the resignation of Paul Ovenden (pictured), the prime minister's director of political strategy A spokesman for the organisation said: 'Labour Together proactively raised concerns about its own reporting of donations to the Electoral Commission in 2020. '[Their] investigation, with which Labour Together fully cooperated, was completed in 2021. The outcome was made public.' A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said it had 'thoroughly investigated' the late reporting of donations by Labour Together in 2021. He added: 'We were satisfied that the evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that failures by the association occurred without reasonable excuse. 'Offences were determined and they were sanctioned accordingly.' Keir Starmer's controversial decision to recognise a state of Palestine could lead to demands for the UK to pay more than 2 trillion in reparations to the country, legal experts have said. Sir Keir has said the UK will press ahead with the move, which is expected to be announced ahead of his visit to the UN this week, unless Israel meets certain conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution. It has been condemned by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch for 'rewarding terrorism', while the US Government says that it will have 'disastrous consequences'. Now legal experts have warned that it could also be a costly decision because the new country would ask for eye-watering damages in compensation for land 'taken from the Palestinian people' when Britain relinquished control of the region after the Second World War. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has a long history of threatening to sue Britain, is demanding 'reparations in accordance with international law' based on the value of the land which was under British rule between 1917 and 1948. Some international law experts have described 2 trillion, roughly the size of Britain's total economy, as a 'good place to start'. Families of the hostages abducted by Hamas in the October 7 attacks have written to the Prime Minister to condemn the decision, which they claim has 'dramatically complicated' efforts to be reunited with their relatives. In an open letter to Sir Keir, they said: 'Your regrettable announcement of the UK's intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly has dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones. 'Hamas has already celebrated the UK's decision as a victory and reneged on a ceasefire deal. We write to you with a simple plea - do not take this step until our loved ones are home and in our arms.' Keir Starmer 's controversial decision to recognise a state of Palestine could lead to demands for the UK to pay more than 2 trillion in reparations to the country, legal experts have said. Pictured: A view of the Gaza Strip from a position at Israel's border on Friday Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, who was seen emaciated in a Hamas video last month, said: 'Giving this recognition is like saying to Hamas: 'It is OK, you can keep starving the hostages, you can keep using them as human shields.' 'This kind of recognition gives Hamas power to be stubborn in negotiations. That is the last thing we need right now.' Criticism also came from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said: 'Hamas and a Palestinian state are inseparable for now. This is typical of Starmer, he can't really decide where he stands. 'Whatever the caveats in his statement, this announcement is a surrender to terrorism and a betrayal of Israel.' It is expected the government will look to impose sanctions on Hamas, after Sir Keir said during a joint conference with Donald Trump last week that the terror group could have no part in running an independent Palestine. But this move has been branded as a a 'feeble last-minute attempt' to placate the US President by former Home Secretary Priti Patel. Dame Priti told The Telegraph: 'With the terrorist organisation Hamas still holding hostages in barbaric conditions and glorifying acts of terror, Starmer is sending a dangerous message, where violence and extremism are tolerated and rewarded. 'Peace in the Middle East will never be secured by rewarding terrorists. His feeble last-minute attempts to appease the United States are shallow and will never justify his reckless decision on recognition.' Congressional Republican leaders, including chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Senator Rick Scott, have sent a letter to the UK, France, Canada, Australia and other key allies about recognition. 'This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace,' wrote Ms Stefanik and Mr Scott. 'It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims.' Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick called the move to seek possible reparations 'a load of ahistorical nonsense' Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick says reparations for Palestine would amount to 'Chagos 2.0', in reference to Sir Keir's surrender of the islands to Mauritius which leaked government documents reveal will cost UK taxpayers more than 35 billion to rent back from them. Britain handed over the territory in the Indian Ocean in response to pressure from international courts, which pro-Israeli lawyers warn could act as a precedent. The campaign group called Britain Owes Palestine has demanded an apology from Britain for 'war crimes' in the region. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy once supported calls for reparations for slavery, saying: 'As a Caribbean people, we are not going to forget our history. We don't want to just hear an apology, we want reparations,' while the Government's lawyer-in-chief, Lord Hermer, gave legal assistance to nations seeking reparations for slavery before he entered government. Lord Hermer's advice resulted in a 'ten-point plan for reparations', as former colonies seek to seize up to 18trillion in compensation from the UK. Mr Jenrick said: 'Not a penny of taxpayer money should be spent on so-called reparations. 'This is a load of ahistorical nonsense. Britain was, and remains, a force for good in the world these ridiculous demands should be brushed aside. 'Lord Hermer spent his career working against British interests. 'Now Starmer's appointed him to work at the heart of government and he's undermining Britain from within whether the Chagos surrender or the betrayal of veterans who served in Northern Ireland. 'He simply cannot be trusted and should be sacked.' A spokesman for the Attorney General said: 'Over a 30-year career, Richard Hermer has represented many clients prior to his time in government. 'The details of these cases have been public record for many years and transparent prior to his appointment. 'These also include representation of a British soldier killed by IRA terrorists, other British military personnel such as servicemen injured in the Iraq War, Porton Down veterans, victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and others who have faced exploitation and abuse. 'In this country, everyone is entitled to legal representation. Lord Hermer has represented people whose views he wholeheartedly and vehemently disagrees with. That is the way our legal system works.' Israel's military has continued its offensive into Gaza City and the Gaza Strip as 10 countries look set to recognise a Palestinian state. IDF tanks rolled through the city's streets as Israeli troops dismantled underground shafts and destroyed booby-trapped buildings which they believe to have been organised by Hamas. At least 60 Palestinians died as a result of the operation, according to Gazan health authorities, while the IDF said one of its soldiers was injured by a sniper shot on the outskirts of the city. The Israeli military say many Hamas field commanders were killed during the mission. It is believed more than 300,000 people have fled Gaza City as a result of the military's expansion, with images this week showing displaced Palestinians - including children - looking for safe refuge. Israeli forces have targeted the Sheikh Radwan and Tel Al-Hawa areas, with the military estimating that it has demolished up to 20 tower blocks over the past fortnight. From where they are striking, the IDF would be positioned to advance on central and western parts of the city - where most of Gaza City's remaining population is believed to be sheltering. It comes as Britain and nine other countries are scheduled to formally recognise an independent Palestinian state ahead of the annual leaders' gathering at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly tomorrow. An Israeli tank bearing the country's flag is seen at the border with the Gaza Strip on September 19 Smoke is seen billowing from the Gaza Strip amid Israel's latest offensive on September 19 A Palestinian boy is seen carrying a tent on his head as he seeks safe refuge on September 20 The UN meet in New York will take place just days after the global governmental body said Israel was committing a genocide. They said it is 'clear there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza'. Sir Keir Starmer was pressed on his decision to recognise the Palestinian state at a press conference alongside Donald Trump at his country residence, Chequers, earlier this week. The Prime Minister said the move was part of a 'process' that could eventually lead to a two-state solution and that it was not a reward for Hamas, who he says could have no role in running an independent state. The US President openly disagreed with Sir Keir's comments, saying: 'I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually.' Hamas' military wing released a montage-type image of Israeli hostages on the messaging site Telegram, warning that their lives were at risk due to Israel's continued military offensive. Hamas estimates that since August 11, Israel's military has destroyed or damaged more than 1,800 residential buildings in Gaza City, and destroyed more than 13,000 tents housing displaced families. The group claims around around 900,000 people remain in Gaza, including Israeli hostages - of which 20 are thought to be alive. In almost two years of fighting, Israel's offensive has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians and caused widespread famine, say Gazan health authorities. A Palestinian woman is seen carrying her belongings in a refugee camp in central Gaza on September 20 A row of IDF tanks are seen on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip on September 19 Dozens of Palestinians are seen carrying their belongings on vehicles near a refugee camp in Gaza on September 19 Buildings are seen flattened and in rubble on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip on September 19 Displaced Palestinians are seen fleeing assault in the middle of the night on September 20 Small children are among those seen camping in a refugee camp on the Gaza Strip on September 20 Much of Gaza is seen completely destroyed on September 20 as the IDF continues to move in However, Israel says the hunger crisis in Gaza has been exaggerated and that much of the blame lies with Hamas. COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows into the enclave, said earlier that Hamas fired at U.N. teams on Saturday and prevented the opening of a new humanitarian route in the southern Gaza Strip. The war began after Hamas led attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper branded Israel's offensive 'utterly reckless and appalling' earlier this week, saying it would 'only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages'. Britain is providing medical treatment to badly wounded Palestinian children, with between 30 and 50 understood to have been admitted to hospitals after being airlifted to the UK. Elsewhere, the US continues to support Israel. The presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem when the offensive began has been interpreted as the White House giving its backing. Boasting about the Israeli military's achievements on social media, defence minister Israel Katz said: 'Gaza is burning. We will not relent or turn back until the mission is complete.' With Reform UK having more than its fair share of unusually fractious, cranky and argumentative conspiracists, the defection of the sober, God-fearing Tory MP Danny Kruger could not be more opportune for Nigel Farage. While Farage revels in his reputation as one of the most colourful and controversial figures in politics, Kruger is the opposite. He is a serious, cerebral thinker and an evangelical Christian, allergic to scandal. As one of his former Tory colleagues said to me last week: 'I won't miss any more of Kruger's moralising, finger-wagging sermons, thank you very much.' Married with three children and a champion of the traditional family, Kruger would have voted against same sex marriage legislation in 2013 if he had been an MP at the time. His children, aged 15, 13 and 12, rarely watch TV with their Eton- and Oxford-educated father, who is a self-confessed bookworm. Indeed, sitting in the front room of his double-fronted, three-storey house in Ravenscourt Park in West London the likes of which sell for upwards of 2.5million the hallmarks of family life are apparent in the children's school books, but a telly is conspicuous by its absence. 'I don't really watch it,' Kruger says, which feels remiss given that his mother, Dame Prue Leith, is the star of The Great British Bake Off. Not that he ever watches the show. 'I'd rather read a book,' he says, in this, his first newspaper interview as a newly minted Reform MP. But he adds proudly: 'I've taken the children to see ten Shakespeare plays in the last year. They really enjoy it.' With Reform UK having more than its fair share of unusually fractious, cranky and argumentative conspiracists, the defection of the sober, God-fearing Tory MP Danny Kruger (pictured with his dog Pebble) could not be more opportune for Nigel Farage Sitting in the front room of his double-fronted, three-storey house in Ravenscourt Park in West London, a telly is conspicuous by its absence. 'I don't really watch it,' Kruger says, which feels remiss given his mother, Dame Prue Leith, is the star of The Great British Bake Off. Pictured: Dame Prue receives her OBE with her son (right) and her adopted daughter Li-Da Kruger Also present is Pebble, his yapping Jack Russell, who nips my finger to show who's boss. This is the same Pebble who landed his owner in hot water with Westminster magistrates in 2021. As a puppy, he caused a stampede by chasing a herd of 200 deer in London's Richmond Park, earning Kruger a 700 fine for having his dog off the lead. 'I was distracted with the children,' he says now in mitigation, 'and the dog ran off. He does like a lot of attention.' While Kruger speaks regularly to his mother, who adopted his Cambodian sister Li-Da when she was 16 months old, they were on opposite sides of the assisted dying debate. Kruger, with his strong Christian faith (he converted when he met his wife Emma in 2002), was an outspoken opponent of the Bill, which is currently being fought over in the House of Lords. Dame Prue, however, sees the issue through the prism of her brother David's death. Riddled with bone cancer in his 60s, he was in 'screaming agony' she revealed in an interview last year. She said her son 'would have a different attitude' had he seen 'his uncle die or his father die'. Nonetheless, she insisted, their 'long discussions' are 'never bad tempered, I must say... because we are very fond of each other'. Kruger who, despite his shock of grey hair, looks younger than his 50 years confided in her before his defection to Reform. 'My mother stays out of party politics,' he says. 'But she is very supportive.' As have been his friends, family and 'even those who don't vote Conservative let alone Reform'. His defection was a seismic moment for the light blue arrivistes. Far from being a former Tory nursing a grudge and a P45 the likes of whom seem to be drawn to Reform Kruger is a sitting MP and the first to switch over in this Parliament. As one of the Conservatives' most celebrated thinkers, his exit is a serious blow to party leader Kemi Badenoch, who gave him the shadow work and pensions brief, but not a Shadow Cabinet position perhaps something she now regrets. While Kruger speaks regularly to his mother, who adopted his Cambodian sister Li-Da when she was 16 months old, they were on opposite sides of the assisted dying debate. Pictured: Dame Prue receiving her CBE in 2010 with her daughter, son and daughter-in-law Emma Kruger He is disarmingly frank about his new party's image problem (a sign that the whips have yet to get their claws into him). 'Many people don't trust us,' he says. 'They see this charismatic but Marmite figure of Nigel Farage who has never held ministerial office. They think Reform is just a protest vehicle. 'Nigel is seriously thinking he could be Prime Minister and is conscious of the legitimate concerns some have about a new party comprised of a bunch of untested people who have never been ministers and may not be up to the job. 'We have to work hard as a new party to show we have the capability.' Since the election, the party has swelled its ranks by 13 former Tory MPs. He sees a danger there. 'Reform must not become a life raft for people who have fallen out with the Tory Party. But Reform is a party of the Right, let's not pretend otherwise. It also has appeal to the Left, because there is a strong patriotic tradition there, which Labour have deserted.' The defection had been brewing over the summer, he says: 'Nigel came to the house in August when we agreed.' Astonishingly the plan never leaked but Kruger plays with a straight bat. The announcement of his switch could have been timed for the eve of the Conservative Party conference to cause maximum political disruption. But, he says, 'I was clear I was not willing to play games to disrupt their conference'. He won his East Wiltshire constituency in last year's General Election with a 5,000 majority. And Reform came a distant fourth in the Tory stronghold, so being re-elected next time is not a foregone conclusion. Kruger's defection to Reform was a seismic moment for the light blue arrivistes. Pictured: Kruger shakes hands with Farage at a press conference on September 15, 2025, after his defection Encouragingly for Kruger, the local Tory association membership has slumped by a third since 2019, while the Reform branch has more than 1,000 members. 'My biggest personal regret is the pain that the good people who worked for me in the constituency are now feeling,' he says. The significance of his move can't be understated for the Tories, who are currently sputtering in national approval polls at a mere 17 per cent. Kruger has been one of their own since Gordon Brown was Prime Minister. As speechwriter for David Cameron when he was Leader of the Opposition, Kruger wrote the much derided 'hug a hoodie' address. He also worked for the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank and was political secretary to Boris Johnson for six months. 'He should not have been brought down by Partygate,' he says. 'The public should have opined on it.' 'Opined' is typical of a man not blessed with the common touch, but Farage didn't bring him over to connect with Red Wall voters. Last summer, Kruger ran the leadership campaign of Robert Jenrick, who was runner-up to Badenoch. Would he still be a Tory if Jenrick was leader? 'I hoped Rob would hit the ground running if he won by re-organising the party and adopting interesting policy positions,' he says. 'It was the right plan. I respect Kemi's strategy to go quiet until the public are ready to listen and to do some serious thinking. But the Tory Party has disappeared over the last year.' Last summer, Kruger (pictured) ran the leadership campaign of Robert Jenrick, who was runner-up to Badenoch. Would he still be a Tory if Jenrick was leader? Does his departure mean the next election will be terminal for the Tories? 'The Conservative Party is over,' he told me. 'Conservatism is not.' As he starts work this week on Reform's policy programme, Kruger's philosophy is clear: Tax incentives for families, a safety net that prioritises responsibility over dependency, scrapping inheritance tax for family farms, prioritising British values in schools and huge cuts in immigration. On the latter brought into sharp focus by Labour's humiliating failure to 'smash the gangs' and stop the small boats he says: 'We have a plan. 'Every illegal migrant will be put in detention centres and deported within days. I have to start planning where the detention centres will happen.' Pressed on whether he had identified some sites, he hesitates before saying firmly: 'No. I definitely don't have any places in mind. Yet.' Bemoaning the lack of leadership in the past two decades, he says: 'We haven't had a Prime Minister arriving in office with the intention of transforming the country since Tony Blair. And he certainly did that with his Human Rights Act.' The 1998 legislation incorporated the European Convention on Human rights (ECHR) into domestic law for the first time. 'We will overturn it,' Kruger insists. While the Tories are expected to announce a partial withdrawal from the ECHR at their party conference next month, Reform will withdraw in its entirety. The 1951 Refugee Convention, which prohibits countries from returning a refugee to a territory where their life or freedom could be threatened, could go the same way. 'The party has a 70-page policy document on illegal migration. They have already put in the hard work,' he says. On law and order, he wants the police on the streets, not on computer screens. Whether the police should be routinely armed with guns or Tasers will be part of his policy review, but Kruger, who with wife Emma co-founded the charity Only Connect, which aims to stop offending, is firm on the need for new jails: 'We need to build new prisons and expand the capacity of existing prisons.' As he starts work this week on Reform's policy programme, Kruger's philosophy is clear Before his children were born, he had former convicts living in his home, including sex offenders and men convicted of violent offences. 'Rehabilitation is a key to cutting reoffending,' he says. His wife still runs the charity. The BBC is also in his sights. Will the BBC Charter be renewed? 'I don't know.' What of the 174.50 annual licence fee? 'There are big questions about whether it is justifiable,' he says. He also has strong views on social media: 'We have a major problem on our hands. We are conducting a mass experiment in real time on the brains of the nation's children. 'We have to balance the right to free speech with protection for young people. Reform are not libertarian cowboys.' In his own home, he admits that smart phones have been an issue. While the older two children have them, 'my 12-year-old doesn't and won't. It is to be decided when he does'. Unashamedly ambitious, Kruger insists he's not been offered a ministerial job by Farage nor asked for one. What about No 10? 'If as an MP you don't think you can possibly do the job of Prime Minister you shouldn't be an MP,' he says, which will wrinkle the nose of his new boss. 'Most of us have the capacity. But you have to earn the right to do it. The public expect their MPs to earn respect, which is why Nigel is head and shoulders above other leaders because of his consistent and resilient pursuit of his vision.' Asked to name his favourite Tory leader, he plucks a surprising name from the air. 'In modern times I think Iain Duncan Smith was the best Prime Minister we never had.' The 'quiet man of politics', ousted as leader in 2003, became a man after Kruger's work-and-pensions heart as the architect of Universal Credit. As I prepare to leave I ask again about Prue Leith. 'She's been famous ever since I can remember,' he says. Dame Prue founded Leiths School of Food and Wine in 1975 not that her kitchen prowess has rubbed off on her son. 'I'm not a good cook,' he admits. 'I can stick something in the oven. I did do scrambled eggs this morning for the children. Does that count? 'Mum tried to teach me, so I can at least chop onions extremely well. I think she rather gave up on me.' Still, official functions at No 10 are privately catered. Vladimir Putin's warplanes ignored signals from NATO stealth jets when they violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, a senior military official from the country has said. Donald Trump warned of 'big trouble' after the powerful MiG-31 warplanes spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace on Friday as they conducted combat operations to test the country's defences. The move sparked an emergency response from NATO, which sent in F-35 fighters to intercept the Russian aggression. Estonia has since demanded urgent talks with allies from the diplomatic bloc after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace in a 'reckless' and 'brazen' attempt to intimidate the Baltic state. Russia deny violating Estonian airspace, but tensions have continued to heighten, as in further provocation by Putin, three Russian jets also made a show of force over a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea, breaching its safety zone. Estonian officials have firmly dismissed the Kremlin's denial, with a ministry statement about the violation, which transpired between 9.58am and 10.10am local time in the area of Vaindloo, saying it was the fourth breach by the Kremlin this year alone. Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the commander of Estonia's Military Intelligence Centre, said Russia acknowledged communication from Italian pilots flying F-35 fighter jets, but they apparently ignored it and 'didn't actually follow the signs'. He added this is party why they were in Estonian airspace for such a length of time. 'Why they didn't do it, that's a question for the Russian pilots,' Col Kiviselg said. Nato planes were scrambled in Poland early on Saturday after Russia launched airstrikes targeting neighbouring Ukraine A view of the site as Ukrainian emergency workers conduct search and rescue operation and first aid for Ukrainian settlers after a Russian missile and drone attack struck the city of Dnipro and surrounding areas in Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine on September 20, 2025 A view of the site as Ukrainian emergency workers conduct search and rescue operation and first aid for Ukrainian settlers after a Russian missile and drone attack While he noted it remains uncomfirmed if the border violation was deliberate or not, he said Russian pilots did not pose a 'military threat'. Regardless, Colonel Kiviselg said, the Russian jets 'must have known that they are in [Estonian] airspace'. The Russian jets came from an airfield near the city of Petrozavodsk, in north-western Russia, and were heading to Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland. They were tracked by two Finnish fighter jets before being escorted by the two Italian jets, which took off from Estonia's Amari Air Base and followed them into international skies, Col Kiviselg said. And despite Trump's condemnation of the move, Vladimir Putin launched a devastating overnight strike on Ukraine, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask NATO to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance. 'Such a violation is completely unacceptable. Nato's response to any provocation must be united and strong,' Michal said. 'We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps'. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask Nato to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, which formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance A Russian MIG-31 fighter is seen flying above the Baltic Sea after violating Estonian airspace on September 19 When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, Trump said: 'I don't love it. I don't like it when that happens. It could be big trouble.' The US President went on to add that he would soon be briefed on reports, and made it clear he was not pleased with the situation. Margus Tsahkna, Estonia's foreign minister, described the incident as 'a very serious violation of NATO airspace'. The last time Estonian airspace was violated for such a length of time was in 2003, he said, 'just before Estonia joined NATO'. Estonia's government responded by saying it would request consultations under Article 4 of Nato's treaty which allows a member to formally consult with allies whenever their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. Elsewhere, NATO planes scrambled to Poland on Saturday after Russia launched airstrikes targeting neighbouring Ukraine. 'Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness,' Poland's operational command said in a post on X. Nearly all of Ukraine was under air raid alerts early on Sunday morning following warnings of Russian missile and drone attacks. Poland fighter jets responded after Moscow launched strikes near its border with Ukraine, but Polish military officials assured the operation was 'preventative and aimed at securing airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened area'. When asked if there was a 'threat to Nato' during an executive order signing in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said: 'I don't love it The operation was launched partly because of a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine last week, with the incident forcing Polish and other NATO fighter jets to shoot down Russian drones flying over eastern Poland. During Friday's incident, Estonia and its allies observed the Russian jets' route, communication and reaction from their pilots as well as their weapons systems and were 'very confident that there is no need to shoot them down', Mr Pevkur said. Czech President Petr Pavel said on Saturday that NATO must respond adequately to Russian violations, including potentially by shooting down Russian jets, the Czech News Agency reported. 'Russia will realise very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option,' Mr Pavel said. Earlier, Zelensky said that Russia launched around 580 drones and 40 missiles targeting Ukraine's infrastructure, civilian production companies, and residential areas in different regions across the country. 'Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure,' Zelensky said in a statement on the Telegram app. With air alerts lasting about 11 hours in some regions during the night, the Russian attacks were carried out in two waves, Ukrainian military analysts said. Ukrainian air defence shot down 552 drones and 31 missiles, the air force added. One person was killed in Dnipro, while two people were killed in the Chernihiv region in the north and the Khmelnytskyi region in the west of the country, regional officials said. The powerful Russian MiG-31 warplanes (pictured:a residential building damaged during a Russian drone strike in Ukraine) spent 12 minutes violating Estonian airspace Ukrainian residents react as they stand near a residential building damaged during a Russian missile strike At least 30 people were injured in the attack in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, local governor Serhii Lysak said. In the Kyiv region, local authorities said there were strikes in the areas of Bucha, Boryspil and Obukhiv, with homes and cars damaged in the strikes. Footage appears to show Ukraine has struck back with combined attacks on two Russian oil refineries. Ukraine claims it has hit the refinery in Novokuibyshevsk and another target in the Samara region of Russia. The oil refineries are known to be regular targets for Ukrainian drones and both were said to be hit in the early hours of Saturday. Zelensky said he would hold 'a meeting with the President of the United States', adding he would discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia during the talks with Trump. A US-led push for a quick end to the war has stalled and Russia effectively ruled out a meeting between Putin and Zelensky - something that Kyiv says is the only way towards peace. 'We expect sanctions if there is no meeting between the leaders or, for example, no ceasefire,' Zelensky said in comments released by the Ukrainian presidency on Saturday. Zelensky has also urged Kyiv's allies to provide more air defence systems and hit Moscow with extra sanctions. 'Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe, but for a reliable shield, we must act together,' he said. Emergency services carry an injured person from a residential house damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine With air alerts lasting about 11 hours in some regions during the night, the Russian attacks were carried out in two waves, Ukrainian military analysts said Air Marshal Greg Bagwell wrote on social media platform X: 'NATO needs to make some clear and public statements as to what it considers a red line.' The veteran, who served in the force for 36 years and retired as its deputy commander, continued: 'When it is crossed, the promised response is given, which should be lethal force after a clear warning. 'NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated. 'Right now we don't know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? 'And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.' Following the airstrike on Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early on Saturday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the armed forces of the NATO-member country said. 'Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness, ' the operational command said in a post on X. Polish and allied air forces have since ended the operation as airstrikes against Ukraine were ceased, the operational command said. The Polish command added that the actions were 'preventative and aimed at securing airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened area'. Earlier today former British intelligence officer, Colonel Philip Ingram, 60, said while it is too early to speculate who may be behind the hacking due to a lack of available information, it could be linked to the Kremlin. He told The Daily Mail: 'It does have all the hallmarks of being something where the Russians would be behind it. 'We've just had them fly their aircraft through Eastern European airspace, and causing another NATO Article 4 to be called the second one in 10 days. 'Putin is quite clearly probing different NATO countries, both for their military reaction and their political reaction. 'For Russian linked cyber actors to probe into elements of of critical national infrastructure of which airports are a key part of critical national infrastructure, would fit perfectly with other activities that are going on.' Ukraine claims it has hit the refinery in Novokuibyshevsk and another target in the Samara region of Russia Footage appears to show Ukraine has struck back with combined attacks on two Russian oil refineries It comes as MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore blasted the Russian president, calling him a 'liar' who wants to 'impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal'. The breach of Estonian airspace was condemned by European leaders. A Nato spokesman said: 'This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato's ability to respond.' Estonian foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russia had already entered Estonian airspace four times this year. He added: 'That is unacceptable in itself, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen. 'Russia's ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.' The prime minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal, said his government had 'decided to request Nato Article 4 consultations'. Article 4 is a call to the 32-member Nato alliance, including the US, to come to consult on collective defence in response to specific threats. The RAF's Mr Bagwell called the Russian incursion into Estonia 'a deliberate provocation to sow doubt and confusion amongst Nato nations'. 'Today these aircraft were only armed with air-to-air missiles but tomorrow it could be something more sinister,' he warned. 'Putin could have a few objectives here: one) to provoke a response in order to support his argument that Nato is the aggressor; two) to sow discord amongst Nato nations in formulating a response; three) to push the boundaries of the 'grey zone'. Of course he could be trying all three!' The air marshal, who oversaw operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, continued: 'The grey zone has become a convenient term to hide all manner of 'ills'. Your browser does not support iframes. 'We need to turn that zone into a clear delineation of black and white - and act accordingly when that line is crossed. It's time to stop Putin calling the shots.' Russia denied its aircraft violated Estonia's airspace with an online statement published early Saturday, stressing its fighter jets had kept to neutral Baltic Sea waters more than 3 kilometers from Estonia's Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland. But, the Estonian defence minister dismissed the statement, saying Estonia and its Nato allies have 'multiple' radars and visual identification which confirm the Russian jets entered the country's airspace. He suggested the 'root cause' for the air violations, hybrid war and cyber attacks was to distract Western attention from Ukraine. Mr Pevkur said Moscow may be trying to provoke Nato nations into sending additional air defence assets to Estonia in the hope that Kyiv's allies do more 'about our own defence' and less to support Kiyv. Posting on X, Lithuania's defence minister Dovile Sakaliene suggested Nato member Turkey 'set an example' of how to respond to such incidents in 2015 when it shot down a Russian fighter jet which violated its airspace for around 17 seconds. However, Estonia's defence minister Hanno Pevkur described the incident as 'totally different' saying the Russians had killed Turkish people, when Moscow used fighter jets to target what they said were militant groups near the Syrian border with Turkey. Estonia as well as its allies observed the Russian jets' route, communication and reaction from the pilots as well as the weapons systems they were carrying and were 'very confident that there is no need to shoot them down', Mr Pevkur said. Czech President Petr Pavel said Nato must respond adequately to Russian violations, including potentially by shooting down Russian jets, the Czech News Agency reported. 'Russia will realise very quickly that they have made a mistake and crossed the acceptable boundaries. Unfortunately, this is teetering on the edge of conflict, but giving in to evil is simply not an option,' Mr Pavel said. Estonian officials maintained there was no need to trigger Article 5, Nato's collective defence clause, despite the repeated violations by Russian jets and drones. MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore (above) has labelled Vladimir Putin a 'liar' who wants to 'impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal' Your browser does not support iframes. It comes a week after Kremlin drones flew more than 100 miles inside Poland on a reconnaissance mission. Both incidents have exposed holes in Nato defences. Estonia became the third member state to be 'invaded' by Russia in just a month after an incursion into Romanian aerial territory last weekend. The latest incident comes after US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin had 'really let him down' over Ukraine. Estonia, along with other Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, are seen as being among the most likely targets if Russia one day decides to risk an attack on Nato. Neighbouring Poland, though much larger, also feels vulnerable. All four countries are staunch supporters of Ukraine. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called Friday's incursion 'an extremely dangerous provocation' that 'further escalates tensions in the region'. Ms Kallas, who is Estonian, said the EU will 'continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources.' She added that Putin was 'testing the West's resolve' and said 'we must not show weakness'. Lithuanian defence minister Dovile Sakaliene said Nato's border in the north east of Europe was being tested 'for a reason'. She added: 'We need to mean business.' Former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also weighed in on the row. He said: 'Russia escalates, we do nothing, Russia escalates more, we do nothing, Russia escalates even more, we do nothing... I think I am starting to see a pattern here.' Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky described the menace as 'outrageous' and insisted it was 'not an accident'. He added: 'It requires a systemic response. Strong action must be taken both collectively and individually by each nation. Yvette Cooper condemned Russian's 'reckelss incursion', saying it was time to increase economic pressure on Putin. British warplanes will 'take out' Russian drones if they continue to make 'reckless' incursions into Nato airspace. Defence Secretary John Healey issued a blunt 'message to Moscow' after two RAF fighters were this weekend deployed to the skies over Poland. He said:'Our Typhoons are fully equipped to take out Russian drones that enter Nato airspace. 'And we will not hesitate to act...' Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Mr Healey declared: 'Britain will not be cowed.' The defiant stance was Britain's answer to Russian drones flying more than 100 miles inside Poland on Nato's eastern border earlier this month. However, on Friday, Moscow appeared to escalate its dangerous provocation by sending three powerful MiG-31 warplanes into Estonia airspace. Italian F-35s were scrambled to intercept the Russian jets which then returned to Kremlin airspace. Moscow denied its warplanes had entered Estonian airspace but Mr Healey insisted Moscow had 'violated Nato airspace' with both fighter jets and drones in 'reckless, dangerous and unprecedented' actions. And speaking on Friday evening, US President Donald Trump reacted to the incursion by warning of 'big trouble' ahead. He said: 'I don't love it I don't like when that happens.' Estonia responded to the violation of its airspace by invoking Nato's Article 4 provision for a consultation among the 32-member alliance, which includes the US, on collective defence against specific threats. Poland issued the same Article 4 request on September 10 after Russian drones entered its territory. Pictured: Cars on fire at the site of a residential building damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the outskirts of Kyiv Russia/Nato border tensions mounted as Moscow continued its attacks on Ukraine with a large-scale missile and drone assaults across the country, including in Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials said at least three people were killed, with dozens more wounded. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is expected to meet Mr Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week, accused Moscow of a 'deliberate strategy to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure'. Last night, the Ministry of Defence said the two RAF Typhoons, which left RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday, had returned safely yesterday morning. The Typhoon deployment, their first sortie as part of Nato's Eastern Sentry operation, comes as the UK marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in which Polish pilots formed one of the largest and most successful contingents in the RAF. Mr Healey said: 'This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security making us secure at home and strong abroad.' The pilot spoke in a matter-of-fact, folksy tone as if alerting holidaymakers to a noteworthy landmark out of the window. 'Chaos 1 just pulling up on the left wing now,' he said. It was the early hours of yesterday morning and our RAF Voyager tanker and transport plane was 25,000ft over Poland, not far from the Russian border, the same 'danger zone' which saw Kremlin drones on a reckless incursion shot down last week. Peering out of the window we saw strange flashing lights and a formless shape just beyond the Voyager's 200ft wing that briefly suggested, to my mind, a close encounter. But then its dark outline loomed into view revealing a Top Gun pilot silhouetted in a RAF Typhoon fighter jet. Another Typhoon, Chaos 2, appeared seconds later. They had joined us for 'a drink' RAF parlance for refuelling and were less than 40ft away. It was an extraordinary spectacle, the stuff of Star Wars. And it was instantly reassuring to have these super-agile combat aircraft armed with infrared-guided air-to-air missiles flanked either side of us, if only for ten minutes or so, as we cruised the night skies. For if the world was already in a dark place before last week began, the shadows have only grown longer since. An Typhoon flies alongside an RAF Voyager tanker and transport plane to refuel at 25,000ft View from inside an RAF Voyager air-refuelling tanker, which are helping Typhoons in their mission to shoot down unmanned Russian drones and dispel rogue fighter jets Indeed, as we took off from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at 8.30pm on Friday, we learned that Russian president Vladimir Putin had raised the stakes even higher on Nato's eastern flank, adding an extra frisson to our mission to bolster air defences in the region. Three Russian warplanes had flown into neighbouring Estonia only to be chased away by F-35 fighters. Next on Putin's hit list came Finland, which was threatened in similar vein to Ukraine prior to the 2022 invasion. All this, said one minister, left Britain and her allies 'closer to conflict than at any time since World War Two'. And so we set off with some trepidation. The Typhoons, from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, had orders to shoot down unmanned Russian drones and dispel rogue fighter jets, and it was Voyager's job to help them do it 'to keep them in the fight'. Defence officials stressed, though, that the RAF wasn't looking for trouble. Rather, the mission was about acting as 'the bouncers on the doors' of Nato's eastern flank. The Voyager's cockpit was a model of calm. Manned with two pilots and a Mission Systems Officer (MSO), all three only learned of the sortie the previous day when they were on a training exercise. Short interactions with the Top Guns were punctuated with library-like silence. Listening on a headset, you could hear your own pulse in your ear. An RAF mission system operator commands Typhoons from the cockpit of a Voyager 'Clear contact,' came one instruction to the Typhoon pilots, signalling they were free to approach and line up with the 88m (288ft) fuel hose being dragged behind the wing of the Voyager. All this was done with routine insouciance not to mention dextrous skill. And it was easy to forget that it was happening at 439mph. Below us, Polish towns glittered like upturned jewellery boxes. Twice the size of a Lancaster bomber, the Voyager is the largest aircraft in RAF history and can refuel at a rate of 5,000 litres per minute. Garage pumps, in contrast, deliver fuel at only 40 litres per minute. The Voyager, a converted Airbus A330-200 airliner, can carry 291 troops for more than 6,000 miles (9,600km). Yesterday there was just 15 of us on board, a small group of journalists and crew and it felt like a ghost plane. When the refuelling process was over, the Typhoons turned 180 degrees and peeled away into the murk. Wishing them well, one of the Voyager pilots said: 'Happy hunting!' The refuelling was overseen by the MSO, a man of rare composure, who sat with his back to the pilots, his face illuminated in the semi-darkness by the glare from a bank of screens. He controls the formation of the Typhoons, instructs them when to engage and controls the release of fuel. In all yesterday, he dispensed 27.4 tonnes though it is possible for the Voyager to feed another aircraft in the air with 100,000 litres of fuel more than the amount contained by two large petrol tankers. Afterwards the MSO stood in the galley doorway, coffee in hand, calmly answering questions like a brain surgeon speaking to relatives post op. Over Poland, the Voyager followed a racetrack-shape flight pattern while the fighter planes policed the country's borders. They came back several times to refuel and each coupling in the clouds was executed without the slightest hitch. In another intimidating move on Friday, two Russian jets conducted a low pass over the Polish-owned Petrobaltic offshore production facility in the Baltic. Polish forces were alerted as the platform's safety zone was violated. A Russian MIG-31 fighter jet was seen flying above the Baltic sea after violating Estonian air space on Friday The developments have increasingly rattled European governments as US-led efforts to stop the war in Ukraine have come to nothing. Estonia, along with other Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, are seen as being among the most likely targets if Russia one day decides to risk an attack on Nato. Neighbouring Poland, though much larger, also feels vulnerable. All four countries are staunch supporters of Ukraine. The Typhoons reported that they found nothing significant during our eight-hour sortie. However, both the fighter jets and the Voyager expect to play a key role in defending the eastern flank in the coming weeks and months. 'All will do so with a great sense of pride,' said a defence official as we touched down back at Brize Norton. 'When your beau is back in town,' read a story on Meghan Markle's As Ever Instagram page this week, along with two glasses of her own brand of wine. Meghan celebrated the return of her 'beau', Prince Harry, to whom she celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary in May, after his recent trip to Ukraine and the UK. Their 'fairytale' nuptials in 2018, watched by nearly two billion people worldwide, featured several departures from royal tradition. Guests even suggested it was the most diverse major event in the Queen's then 66-year reign. At the time, the Daily Mail reported that Meghan had launched her own 'mini-revolution' as she married Harry in a multi-cultural and US-influenced wedding the likes of which Britain's royals and the millions watching had never seen before. The invitations subtly acknowledged Meghan's previous marriage by referring to her as 'Ms. Meghan Markle', rather than the traditional 'Miss'. Meghan was married to producer Trevor Engelson for two years before filing for divorce in 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. Few photographs of the former couple still exist but a handful of snaps from glossy showbiz parties give us a fascinating glimpse into their romance, according to body language expert Judi James. She told the Daily Mail: 'When a marriage fails, its not uncommon for both partners to approach a second marriage with a desire for a total emotional re-think and body language reset.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'fairytale' nuptials in May 2018, watched by nearly two billion people worldwide, featured several departures from royal tradition Meghan was married to producer Trevor Engelson for two years before filing for divorce in 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. They are pictured in 2011 at an awards dinner The Duchess of Sussex commemorated the Duke's return to Montecito with a post on the As Ever social media page, calling him her 'beau' Judi continued: 'Mistakes that were made concerning choices, behaviours or compatibility options can often be used as a guide to making a marriage that will work. 'Meghans "before and after" body language signals as a wife suggest she came out of her marriage to Trevor with a strong plan in terms of how to make a second marriage work. 'Her whole presentation and "brand" as a wife seems to have changed.' Commenting on Meghan's body language in photos with Trevor, Judi said her poses suggest she saw herself as a 'passive trophy wife'. 'Trevor appears to be the main man and most important character in terms of group poses,' she said. But with Harry, there are signals of new confidence and equal status which have 'tilted with time into Meghans favour', said the body language expert. 'If she was once the trophy wife, she now seems to display Harry and boast about him like the trophy husband. 'He is her "beau" and her "fox", with emphasis on his looks rather than hers. Commenting on the above photo from July 2024, Judi wrote: 'If she was once the trophy wife, she now seems to display Harry and boast about him like the trophy husband' In photos with Harry, Judi commented that Meghan makes herself very integral to the poses thought, nestling in close and flattering Harry. Pictured: Meghan, Harry and Serena Williams at a Hollywood red carpet event in 2024 'She tends to appear much more in charge of the poses and the body language and her relationship bonding rituals with Harry look a lot more decisive and emphatic, suggesting she has always felt more confident about seeing her marriage to him as one for life.' In photos with Harry, Judi commented that Meghan makes herself very integral to the poses thought, nestling in close and flattering Harry. 'Meghans attachment rituals with Harry are industrial-strength, suggesting she is now a keeper and that she has formed a confident, life-long partnership,' she said. With Trevor on the other hand, Judi claims that Meghans poses 'seem to come straight from the Deal or No Deal playbook'. Referring to a picture of Meghan and Trevor at a Beverly Hills awards dinner in 2011, Judi said: 'Trevor seems as into the red-carpet rictus as she is here, perhaps more. 'His smile involves a pulling up of the top lip to reveal his upper teeth, which suggests effort rather than authentic joy or happiness. 'His mouth "smile" sees his lips curling up at one corner and drooping down at the other, suggesting complex emotions. 'His chest is puffed to suggest alpha power and his feet are splayed to signal confidence. Referring to the above picture of Meghan and Trevor at a Beverly Hills awards dinner in 2011, Judi said: 'Trevor's smile involves a pulling up of the top lip to reveal his upper teeth, which suggests effort rather than authentic joy or happiness' Meghan and Trevor are pictured in 2006. Meghan's complimentary pose is 'classic beauty pageant,' according to Judi James 'One hand is thrust into his pocket in what looks like a bid to make himself the focus of attention here.' Meghan's complimentary pose is 'classic beauty pageant,' according to Judi. 'Her perfect smile is pure beauty queen, suggesting shes suppressing her authentic personality here. 'Theres very little synchronicity here to suggest like-minded thinking or objectives. 'In another pose, their bodies form a V shape, apart at the head and shoulders but coming together at the hips to hint at physical attraction rather than emotional and intellectual. 'When Meghan and Trevor pose in group pics, the woman we now know as passionate about being at the centre of every group and the body language "leader" who bonds people together seems to be sidelined. 'Its Trevor in the middle of the action, wearing a very triumphant, self-satisfied social smile, while Meghan has to lean into the shot from the outer edge to pose with a female friend rather than joining her husband-to-be. 'She doesnt signal that she is essential to Trevors life here. Her look of head-tilted excitement hints that she is accepting of his more extroverted social role and happy to rock and roll with that. Referencing the above picture from 2011, Judi said: 'Its Trevor in the middle of the action, wearing a very triumphant, self-satisfied social smile, while Meghan has to lean into the shot from the outer edge to pose with a female friend rather than joining her husband-to-be' 'Sitting in seats in the audience, we can see Meghan sitting to the front of the photo with her hand on Harrys thigh in a gesture of ownership,' the body language expert told Daily Mail In the above photo from the opening ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games, Judi points out that Meghan is not only kissing Harry on the lips in the middle of a large audience but she also holds his face to direct the kiss 'Even when the couple are photographed with just two friends, its Trevor joining their group to show bonding for the photo while Meghan appears detached as though not easily or keenly socialising with his friends, which could account for the way that Harry and Meghans friends as a couple appear to tend to be her friends primarily.' With Harry, Judi wrote: 'Her body language looks more authentic and she appears to be aware of her intellectual worth now as well as her beauty, forging a like-minded coupling. 'The pageant posing has gone and her more spontaneous and relaxed signals suggest stronger levels of confidence and a desire to look like an equal rather than an attachment or trophy. 'She uses two hands to attach to Harrys arm and hand, showing she will not be appearing on the peripherals of any group pics anytime soon. 'Meghans signals of confidence and dominance have grown and evolved with time and they seem to form a very compatible fit for Harry. 'Sitting in seats in the audience, we can see Meghan sitting to the front of the photo with her hand on Harrys thigh in a gesture of ownership. 'She is determined to use display signals to show off not just their love for each other but also to show herself as being in charge in terms of those displays.' In one photo, Judi points out that Meghan is not just kissing Harry on the lips in the middle of a large audience, but she also has her hands holding his face to direct the kiss. Judi said: 'Meghans power signals are now often showing her in the role of star and leader.' The Sussexes are pictured in 2024 in Colombia Judi said: 'At the Times 100 event, Meghan is no longer weakly attached to an alpha-posing husband as she was with Trevor The body language expert wrote: 'Now she appears as a woman totally confident in her own power role, even walking ahead at this event while Harry ran around the car to offer help, more like a member of security' 'She looks like a woman aware that the balance, power, love and keenness signals were off-key the first time around but that this time she will get them emphatically right. 'Meghans power signals are now often showing her in the role of star and leader. 'At the Times 100 event, she is no longer weakly attached to an alpha-posing husband as she was with Trevor, with her "power language" being mainly about her looks. 'Now she appears as a woman totally confident in her own power role, even walking ahead at this event while Harry ran around the car to offer help, more like a member of security. 'Her marriage to Harry seems to have allowed Meghan to achieve her full personal potential while being the one confident enough to emphasise the strength of their bonding. 'On the other hand, her marriage to Trevor threw up body language to suggest that this potential might never have been realised if he remained the star and central focus of their social groups.' The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a historic moment watched by an estimated 1billion people around the world. London was a blanket of red, white and blue as a million well-wishers came together to catch a glimpse of the new bride and groom. As Kate made her way into Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, many were reminded of another young bride who made a very similar journey 30 years prior. Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles also gripped the nation and similarities were seen in everything, from the red carpets the brides walked down to the way the couple waved to their supporters from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Echoes of Diana could be felt throughout the day, including the words William uttered to his bride-to-be. At the altar, Charles reportedly said to his bride-to-be: You look beautiful'. In a moment of history repeating itself, royal author Tina Brown wrote in her book, The Palace Papers: 'Waiting for her at the altar, William bit his lip in a manner reminiscent of his mother. '"You look beautiful babe," he told her when he beheld her dear, familiar face.' The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was a historic moment watched by an estimated 1billion people around the world Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles also gripped the nation and similarities were seen in everything from the red carpets the brides walked down to the way the couple waved to their supporters from the balcony In a moment of history repeating itself, royal author Tina Brown wrote in her book, The Palace Papers: 'Waiting for her at the altar, William bit his lip in a manner reminiscent of his mother' Brown continued: 'The ring that would seal William and Kate's marriage vows was safely waiting in a hiding place in Harry's jacket. 'His military uniform of the Blues and Royals was so tight-fitting that his tailor came up with the idea of a special gold embroidered cuff with a secret compartment for the precious Welsh gold ring he would pass on to his brother. 'For the Queen, the wedding day brought a special satisfaction. This new, 29-year-old granddaughter-in-law, the future Queen Consort, was unlike the child bride Diana, road-tested in resilience as well as royal life.' To show their respect to the reigning monarch, Kate and Diana curtsied deeply to Queen Elizabeth II, who was sitting in the front row at their respective ceremonies. 'That was really excellent, wasn't it?' the Queen reportedly said to Prince Philip after her grandson's ceremony. Brown wrote that a tear gathered in the eye of Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, when she saw the transcendent vision of her daughter at the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey on her proud father's arm. Like Diana and Charles, William and Kate rode through the streets of London in the 1902 State Landau, which is the largest and most splendid horse-drawn carriage used by the sovereign. William later turned to his new wife and told her, 'You look happy'. She smiled and replied, 'Yes! Are you happy?' to which he said, 'Yes. Very!' It was in the luxurious carriage that lip readers caught a buzzing William saying: 'I hope I remember It's mad, it's mad! Oh my goodness, it's really loud here - these people are clapping.' By the time the couple reached Buckingham Palace and the glass doors of its famous balcony swung open, the playful crowds below were already chanting: 'Kiss, kiss, kiss.' The onlookers may have had to wait a few minutes, but when the time came, they were doubly rewarded. 'Wow, that's amazing,' exclaimed Kate, confronted by the spectacle below: a forest of up-raised flags, periscopes and mobile phones stretching from the gates of the Palace all the way along The Mall to Admiralty Arch in the distance. And then William, half-turning to his bride, said: 'Go on, a little kiss, go on.' A little kiss was exactly what he got. In fact, it was scarcely more than a peck and brought to mind Charles's rather stilted kiss with Diana on the same spot 30 years earlier. The day was declared a public holiday and was celebrated with street parties, picnics and community events across the country. Prime Minister David Cameron encouraged street parties and councils reported more than 5,000 requests for road closures to facilitate them. Like Diana and Charles, William and Kate rode through the streets of London in the 1902 State Landau, which is the largest and most splendid horse-drawn carriage used by the sovereign At the time, Westminster City Council said the Royal Wedding was the capital's largest ever event. Paul Reid, head of operations, said he estimated nearly a million people were on the streets of London At the time, Westminster City Council said the Royal Wedding was the capital's largest ever event. Paul Reid, head of operations, said he estimated nearly a million people were on the streets of London. After greeting wedding guests and dignitaries at Buckingham Palace, Kate was so eager to relive the fairytale wedding that she changed into a fluffy robe and rewatched the ceremony on the bed with William. Harry also joined the watch party, according to royal author Katie Nicholl. 'The three of them sat watching together,' the royal author penned. 'Kate was still wearing the Queen's priceless tiara.' In April, the Waleses celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary - marked by ivory - on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. To mark the occasion, they shared a romantic picture on their official Kensington Royal social media showing them lovingly holding each other as they enjoyed a quiet moment at dusk in Tobermory. Kate and William previously stayed on the island in the Inner Hebrides in 2005 following their final exams at St Andrew's University, where they first met and fell in love. 'Wonderful to be back on the Isle of Mull,' the caption read. 'Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome. High-level talks are under way to gradually bring King Charles and Prince Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years. In the strongest indication yet that the Duke of Sussex is making positive steps towards a reconciliation with senior royals, it is understood that courtiers in both households are tentatively discussing how to get father and son together more frequently over the next year, with a view to them finally appearing jointly at a public event. The news comes as Meghan and Harry made a surprise joint appearance at Kevin Costner 's starry charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday. The last time Harry and his father appeared on their own and happy together at an official engagement was in April 2019 at the 'Our Planet' global premiere in the Natural History Museum in London. Since Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020, they have only been pictured with other family members at the state funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth. The extraordinary development comes after Harry spent 50 minutes with King Charles at Clarence House earlier this month, their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months as the monarch continues to be treated for cancer. An appearance together of the King and Harry would be interpreted as thawing of their relationship and the acceptance of the Duke and Meghan and their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four back into the royal fold after several years of bitter recrimination between Harry and his family. The move comes as relations allegedly sour between the King and the Prince of Wales amid claims Charles is 'unhappy' that William's workload is less than his own. In turn, his heir is said to be angry about the meeting with Harry. Meghan Markle, 44, and Prince Harry, 41, made a surprise joint appearance at Kevin Costner's starry charity event in Santa Barbara on Saturday The couple - who tied the knot in 2018 - took time to talk with first responders and law enforcement who were also at the event over the weekend Meghan and Harry were seen arriving to the venue and began to mingle with other guests at the charity concert High-level talks are under way to gradually bring King Charles and Prince Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years. Pictured: The last time the pair appeared on their own together at an official engagement in April 2019, at the 'Our Planet' global premiere in the Natural History Museum in London Sources say that as part of the cautious plans being drawn up to resolve the crisis: Harry agreed to keep a low profile during Donald Trump's visit as a goodwill gesture to his father. The Duke might take part in more UK public events, though not officially as a working member of the Royal Family. Harry is said to be 'hopeful' of re-establishing a relationship with William despite the froideur between them since Megxit. Despite the cautious positive steps, Harry is said to be 'realistic' that some reputational damage from the last few years is irreversible. But after last week, many royal commentators agreed that Harry was back in his element, meeting the public and larking around for the cameras with children. The warm public reaction to him did not go unnoticed at the Palace, sources insist, where working members of the Royal Family particularly those keen to do the bread-and-butter public engagements are in short supply. A source said: 'Harry's visit to the UK was not about trying to show up or compete with his brother in fact, the opposite. 'It was to remind William that Harry can be there to take some of the load off, given some of the criticism William has received for carrying out a lower number of engagements than his father. 'That doesn't need to be as part of the "working" Royal Family. It can just be doing what he loves to do and does best supporting causes close to them both, such as the Diana Award and conservation. 'More than anything, though, he wants to see his father more. He wants to make him proud and be there to support him through his treatment.' On his later trip to Kyiv, when asked about meeting the King, all Harry would say was that in the coming year 'the focus really has to be on my dad'. As part of rebuilding trust between the pair, Harry agreed, at the King's request, to avoid any publicity which would distract from President Trump's visit. The Sussex royal household were given two days off to coincide with the trip and Harry ensured he did not carry out any engagements at home or abroad, and was not photographed at his home in Montecito, California. In a BBC interview this year Harry said he knew that some members of his family will 'never forgive him' for the accusations he made alongside Meghan in their TV chat with Oprah in 2021, and in his excoriating memoir Spare. Meghan donned a sleeveless, dark navy dress as well as a pair of stylish pumps for the outdoor event - which helps raise funds for local fire, police and sheriff departments For the moment William remains firmly in that camp. Last week, a source said relations between the brothers are now so bruised that William can't even stand the mention of Harry's name. But Harry, who plans to come to the UK 'four or five times' a year from now on, is said to be hopeful that he can at least find a working relationship with William. 'Whatever he can do to continue rebuilding those relationships and that trust, he will do,' a source said. Royal biographer Tina Brown suggested that the King, who made 372 appearances last year, was 'less irritated' by Harry than he was by William. She said that tensions are brewing between the King and heir over William's workload, which pales in comparison to his cancer-stricken father and has been punctuated by numerous holidays. Ms Brown added the King feels William's carefully cultivated image as a doting father, while genuine, is a tacit criticism of his past shortcomings as a parent. She said Harry's return to the UK had been a great success for him, which is 'bad news for the Prince of Wales'. 'The King is, I am told, less irritated with the prodigal Harry than he is with his elder son and heir. 'Somehow, William's parenting dedication always seems couched as a tacit criticism of the King's own paternal deficiencies.' If the King does play a significant role in rehabilitating Harry, it will not be the first time he has done this for someone close. He faced an uphill battle to have Camilla accepted publicly and worked closely with his mother on a message she issued during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Royal sources now believe the same could happen for Harry. Last night Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment. The extraordinary development comes after Harry spent 50 minutes with King Charles at Clarence House earlier this month, their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months. Pictured: Harry leaving the meeting The Metropolitan Police voluntarily provided personal security to Prince Harry for his visit to London earlier this month, sources have told The Mail on Sunday. Although the Duke lost a bitter legal battle against the Home Office in May over whether he was still entitled to taxpayer-funded police protection after stepping down as a working royal, it is understood that senior Met officers 'acted on their own initiative' to offer him protection while he was in the capital for the WellChild Awards. The Duke is a patron of the charity, which supports seriously ill children and their carers. Sources say officers contacted Harry's representatives ahead of his arrival for the high-profile ceremony on September 8 to offer him protection for that day. It is understood that the Met's decision was made without the involvement of either the Home Office or the Royal Family and was instead based on the highly-publicised nature of the event and the fact that many children would be present. But the Duke, 41, who made the trip from his home in Montecito, California, where he lives with his wife Meghan and children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, was only given protection for the day of the event and was said to have felt 'abandoned' after having to fund his own security for the remainder of his visit. A source said: 'The police took it upon themselves to arrange security for him on the first day of his visit to the UK. 'That included scoping the place out, checking the building, having police protection outside and crowd control. The Metropolitan Police voluntarily provided personal security to Prince Harry for his visit to London earlier this month (pictured), sources have told The Mail on Sunday It is understood that senior Met officers 'acted on their own initiative' to offer him protection while he was in the capital for the WellChild Awards (pictured: Harry having a balloon sword fight with nine-year-old Gwen Foster, recipient of Inspirational Child 7-11 award, at the annual WellChild Awards 2025) 'But the real reason he was given that protection is because there were children there, and the event had been trailed for a really long time, so the security risk was much higher. 'What Harry needs is proper protection and blue lights when he's in town. After that night he was left to fend for himself. He had to provide his own security. 'If people knew the kind of threats he's been getting they'd be horrified that he's left alone in the UK.' Harry, who stepped down as a working royal in 2020, was engaged in a long-running legal challenge against a Home Office decision to downgrade the level of security he and his family would be entitled to when in the UK. He argued that concerns about safety had prevented him from coming back to Britain and bringing his children, and that his change in status in the Royal Family did not change the risk he faced. But he lost his appeal in May. A committee called Ravec, which authorises security for senior royals on behalf of the Home Office, will continue to assess his security needs as an infrequent visitor to the UK on a 'case-by-case' basis. A source supportive of the prince said that the protection for the awards, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, did not go far enough. The Duke arrived in the UK on Monday September 8 to attend the awards, before other engagements in London and Nottingham. Harry also spent around 50 minutes having tea with King Charles at Clarence House on the Wednesday their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months. Pictured: The Prince leaving the meeting He also spent around 50 minutes having tea with King Charles at Clarence House on the Wednesday their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months which has raised hopes of a resolution to the deep rift at the heart of the family. The MoS previously revealed that the King and other senior royals have been invited to Harry's Invictus Games when it is held in Birmingham in 2027. The source added: 'Harry really hopes that he and his dad will be standing on stage with his wife and kids at Invictus, but he is still stuck on the security issue they are still at a stalemate over that. 'He's really hoping the boss of Ravec will review his security.' While the security for Harry's most recent visit may have been a temporary compromise, the source said: 'There's still zero movement. 'The fact Harry met with his father sadly changed nothing.' The Met said it did not comment on security matters. Prince Harry was approached for comment. It's got to be one of the most frustrating experiences on an airplane. You've just got yourself nice and comfy, your film has started playing, and you're nibbling on a packet of peanuts. But all of a sudden, the chair in front of you moves back, crushing your legs in the process. For decades, moving your seat back has been a social faux pas and a trigger for some seriously fierce in-plane confrontations. And as leg room on planes gets smaller and smaller, it's increasingly becoming a bone of contention. Of course, the 'recline or upright' debate may seem like a trivial one compared with getting to your destination safely. But how you sit may have long-lasting implications for your physical wellbeing. Now, scientists reveal the best way to sleep in the sky and why you should never snooze on the tray table. Should you recline your airplane seat or keep upright? Scientists reveal the best way to sleep in the sky (file photo) Dr Chris Seenan, senior lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Stirling, said most evidence around health risks from flying are to do with circulation. As most flyers will know, taking regular walks around the aircraft cabin helps get the blood flowing to the extremities, helping reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots. When it comes to posture and musculoskeletal health, 'the evidence base is much smaller', according to the academic. However, reclining your seat is very much a necessity, however much of a fuss the person behind you makes. According to Dr Seenan, the best approach is to alternate between recline and upright regularly, especially if you're on a long-haul flight. 'Reclining the seat slightly can reduce loading on the spine and neck, but it may increase shoulder pressure,' he told the Daily Mail. 'So the most effective strategy is to change posture regularly. 'Alternate between reclining slightly with lumbar or neck support, sitting upright, or leaning forward for short periods if you need to rest.' Leaning forward on the tray table in front of you may be tempting when your dog tired, but it could lead to neck pain (file photo) Tips for in-cabin posture Alternate between the positions (upright and recline) as often as you can The best posture 'is the next posture' - in other words, keep constantly moving (short naps may be best to achieve this) Don't put your head down on the tray table in front of you as it can strain the neck Take walks around the cabin to stretch your legs and increase blood circulation Advertisement Often on flights, we're so tired that it's tempting to just slump forward with our head on our tray table to get some decent sleep. However, this requires 'neck flexion' bending the head forward towards the chest which can cause strain. 'Leaning forward onto a tray table can give temporary relief but increases neck flexion, which over time is associated with stiffness,' Dr Seenan said. Professor Suzanne Snodgrass, physiotherapist at the University of Newcastle, agrees alternating between 'recline or upright is best. On a flight, the trick is to change your posture regularly, because staying in one position for too long can trigger short-term or long-term pain. But 'hunching over with your head on the tray table would not be good for back or neck posture', she added. Professor Kieran O'Sullivan, a physiotherapist at the University of Limerick, says 'there is no one ideal posture' on planes, as each has some pros and cons. 'There is a reasonable argument to be made that the best posture is the next posture,' Professor O'Sullivan told the Daily Mail. As most flyers will know, taking regular walks around the aircraft cabin helps get the blood flowing to the extremities, helping reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots . When it comes to posture and musculoskeletal health, keeping active is also the key (file photo) 'That means no posture is particularly good or bad, but changing position and posture frequently might be the way to go when possible.' If you're really struggling to slip into a blissful slumber on a plane, the recline option is recommended even if the person behind kicks off. Elizabeth Broadbent, professor of health psychology at the University of Auckland, suggested lying back is indeed the best option for falling asleep. 'In general, lying down or reclining makes us feel more sleepy, and sitting up makes us feel more alert,' she told the Daily Mail. Some consider reclining inconsiderate and potentially harmful to the person behind triggering some nasty in-cabin confrontations. Earlier this year, footage emerged of a furious shouting match between two passengers over the issue on a four-hour flight from Singapore to Hong Kong. Another plane passenger chose to hold his hands against the seat in front to stop it from going back on an eight-hour overnight flight. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, airlines have been driving their revenue by squeezing more seats into each plane, which may increase the desire to recline. The federal government lets airlines cram any number of seats into a cabin of any size, as long as passengers can evacuate in an emergency within 90 seconds. From its breathtaking moors to its worldfamous puddings, Yorkshire already boasts a number of claims to fame. Now, the county has a new accolade to add to its list. Scientists have found proof that a huge asteroid smashed into the sea off the coast of Yorkshire 43 million years ago. The Silverpit Crater around 80 miles off the coast of Yorkshire was first discovered in 2002. Its origin remained a mystery, with scientists unable to agree on whether it was created by an asteroid impact, or volcanic activity. Now, the debate has been settled once and for all, as researchers from HeriotWatt University have confirmed the impact crater hypothesis. 'Our evidence shows that a 160metrewide asteroid hit the seabed at a low angle from the west,' xplained Dr Uisedan Nicholson, lead author of the study. 'Within minutes, it created a 1.5kilometre high curtain of rock and water that then collapsed into the sea, creating a tsunami over 100 metres high.' Scientists have found proof that a huge asteroid smashed into the sea off the coast of Yorkshire 43 million years ago (AIgenerated image) The Silverpit Crater around 80 miles off the coast of Yorkshire was first discovered in 2002. However, its origin remained a mystery, with scientists unable to agree on whether it was created by an asteroid impact, or volcanic activity Since its discovery more than two decades ago, the Silverpit Crater has been at the centre of a heated debate among geologists. Initial studies suggested the 1.8milewide crater was the result of an asteroid or comet impact. However, some scientists were unconvinced, and instead suggested it may have been created by salt moving deep below the crater floor, or the collapse of the seabed because of volcanic activity. To get to the bottom of it, the HeriotWatt team used seismic imaging data alongside evidence from below the seabed. 'New seismic imaging has given us an unprecedented look at the crater,' Dr Nicholson explained. 'Samples from an oil well in the area also revealed rare "shocked" quartz and feldspar crystals at the same depth as the crater floor. 'We were exceptionally lucky to find these a real "needleinahaystack" effort. 'These prove the impact crater hypothesis beyond doubt, because they have a fabric that can only be created by extreme shock pressures.' Samples from an oil well in the area revealed rare 'shocked' quartz and feldspar crystals at the same depth as the crater floor The confirmation of its status as an impact crater puts Silverpit in the same category as Mexico's Chicxulub Crater the site where the dinosaurkilling asteroid famously struck 66 million years ago. 'Silverpit is a rare and exceptionally preserved hypervelocity impact crater,' Dr Nicholson added. 'These are rare because the Earth is such a dynamic planet plate tectonics and erosion destroy almost all traces of most of these events. 'Around 200 confirmed impact craters exist on land, and only about 33 have been identified beneath the ocean. 'We can use these findings to understand how asteroid impacts shaped our planet throughout history, as well as predict what could happen should we have an asteroid collision in future.' The mother of alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson faces the shattering prospect of seeing her son executed by firing squad if he is found guilty of killing the right-wing activist. It's a grim development unthinkable in the days before September 11, 2025, when the world first saw grainy images of the suspected killer, a man in a black shirt, his face shrouded by a hat and sunglasses. But for suburban mom of three Amber Jones Robinson, a stalwart Republican, no disguise could obscure the truth: her son was suspected of committing an atrocious act of political violence that stunned the world. Painful realization: Tyler Robinson - the suspected killer of Charlie Kirk - and his mom Amber Jones Robinson Manhunt: Amber recognized her son as the suspected shooter in these images shared by the FBI during When the images were released that evening, more than 24 hours had passed since the shooting at Utah Valley University and the FBI appeared to be no closer to catching the killer. In the end, it was a mother's gut-wrenching realization that the suspect was her own son - and the familys agonizing efforts to get him to turn himself in to police - that finally brought the 33-hour manhunt to an end. Now, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is facing the death penalty - and possibly the firing squad - if convicted of charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstructing justice and witness tampering over the killing of Kirk. For his mom Amber - a longstanding Republican who brought her three sons up in a politically conservative, Mormon household with family visits to the gun range - the campus shooting, and now Robinsons potential fate, is an unfathomable end to the recent shift she had noticed in her son. Over the last year or so, Amber had noticed a change in her eldest child. The 22-year-old had become more political and more left-leaning, becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented,' she told police, according to a charging document. Amber also told police her son had begun dating his transgender roommate, who was transitioning from a man to a woman. While there was a notable political and ideological shift in Robinson in the lead-up to Kirks shooting, Amber and Robinsons other family members and friends have been left trying to understand his alarming fall from grace. How did the once promising student whose educational achievements filled his moms social media pages become a college dropout? How did the conservative, Trump-supporting teen become a political extremist and alleged assassin of a prominent right-wing figure? And how did a boy from a seemingly tight-knit family end up allegedly gloating about his crimes to his online gaming group? Ambers now-deleted Facebook profile shows a proud mother who often posted about her three sons achievements and shared happy family photos from vacations, holidays and days out. A Christmas photo shows the family of five beaming at the camera while donning matching pajamas - reading the Jolliest bunch of a**holes. Shot dead: Charlie Kirk, a conservative influencer, was killed during an event at Utah Valley University Others show professional family portraits, jetting off on vacations, family meals and outdoor adventures. Amber and her husband Matt Robinson raised their three sons in a $600,000 six-bedroom home in Washington, Utah - about 260 miles from the UVU campus in Orem. A trained social worker, she works for Intermountain Support Coordination Services, a company that helps people with disabilities get access to necessary care, while Matt works for a family-owned construction company. Theirs was a staunchly Republican, Donald Trump-supporting household, Robinsons paternal grandmother Debbie Robinson said. 'My son, his dad, is a Republican for Trump,' she told the Daily Mail. 'Most of my family members are Republican. I don't know any single one whos a Democrat. Growing up in a conservative household, Robinson seemed to align with his parents views for some time. In a photo shared on Ambers Facebook, a 14-year-old Robinson was seen dressing up in a costume piggybacking Trump for Halloween 2017. A former classmate told CNN that both Robinson and his family were diehard Trump fans when he was in high school and the teen supported Trump in the 2020 election. When I knew him and his family, they were like diehard Trump, the unnamed classmate said. When this happened, I was like I dont know what changed. Close-knit: Amber and Matt Robinson with their three sons who they raised in a Mormon, conservative stronghold in Washington, Utah MAGA fans: Robinson's family's support for President Trump was visible in 2017 photos on his mother's social media, showing him dressed as the president for Halloween At some point, Robinsons politics and beliefs broke away from his parents. While Amber and Matt are both registered members of the Republican party, Robinson is currently unaffiliated with any party and did not vote in the last two elections, records show. In the quiet suburb of St George - a conservative, Mormon stronghold in Utah - the Robinson household and Robinsons upbringing appears to have been ordinary and unremarkable. Neighbors told the New York Times Amber and Matt were friendly and helpful figures in the community. The family was also active in the local Latter-day Saints community, with Robinson spending his childhood attending services with his parents and younger brothers. Visiting shooting ranges also appears to have been a regular family activity, with Amber proudly posting photos of her three sons posing with huge machine guns and rifles from a young age. Both Amber and Matt hold hunting licenses and gifted one of their sons a 'build it yourself' rifle kit for Christmas 2017. The murder weapon allegedly used to kill Kirk appears to be a rifle given to Robinson as a gift by his family, according to charging documents. Texts, sent by Robinson to his roommate and shared in the documents, allege Robinson referred to the apparent murder weapon as grandpas gun. Good grades: Based on Ambers social media, Robinson's parents had long held great pride in their eldest son, particularly for his academic achievements Hitting the books: Robinson enrolled at Utah State University in 2021, with a photo showing the student smiling in his dorm room Based on Ambers social media, Robinson's parents had long held great pride in their eldest son, particularly for his academic achievements. A promising, bright high school student with a 4.0 GPA, Robinson was awarded a presidential scholarship to the sum of $32,000 to attend Utah State University. Amber filmed her son reading out the scholarship letter as she cheered him on in the background. She then proudly posted the video on her Facebook for her followers to see. His options are endless, Amber gushed of her eldest son in another post. For reasons only he knows, Robinson allegedly picked an option his mother likely never imagined: away from academia toward violence and notoriety. Amber had hoped her son would pick a Utah college and stay close to mamma, she wrote at the time. Her hopes for her son initially appeared to come true. Robinson enrolled at Utah State in 2021, with a photo showing the student smiling in his dorm room after being dropped off to begin his new life. But, it was around this time that something else appears to have changed. Robinson lasted only one semester before dropping out of the school and moving back home. Weaponry: Tyler Robinson was often seen posing with guns in photos on his mom's social media Firearms :The alleged assassin's parents gifted their children a 'build your own rifle' kit one Christmas Not long after, he embarked on an electrical apprenticeship at Dixie Technical College. At some point, Robinson also appears to have become increasingly entrenched in the world of online gaming and memes, with family and friends telling investigators he spent large amounts of time scrolling the 'dark corners of the Internet.' Not long before Kirks shooting, the family noticed a shift. There was a change in political affiliation to become more left-leaning and in support of LGBT rights. And there was the relationship with his transgender roommate, Lance Twiggs. It's a change that no doubt collided with his parents' conservatism. The relationship prompted what Amber described to police as several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views, the charging documents show. It is unclear if these opposing views sparked a rift or divide between Robinson and his family. But, during one recent family dinner, some of Robinsons comments did raise a red flag among his loved ones. The 22-year-old had mentioned that Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, something Robinson said was a stupid venue for the event, charging documents show. Triggered: Amber seen with a machine gun. The family appeared to go on trips to the shooting range together Agonizing truth: Matt (pictured with Tyler) agreed with his wife that the shooter looked like their eldest son Robinson also accused Kirk of spreading hate, the documents allege. The conversation might not have set alarm bells off at the time - but her son's comments were enough to come flooding back to Amber in the aftermath of the shooting. When the photos of the suspect were released by the FBI, Amber instantly thought the shooter looked like her son, according to the documents. The heartbreaking moment kicked off a series of phone calls and conversations between the family. Amber called her son and asked him where he was. Initially, he claimed he had been at home sick on the day of the shooting. But Amber wasn't convinced. She shared the images with her husband who agreed the photos looked like their son. Matt also believed the murder weapon matched a gun his son had been given as a gift, the documents show. The bolt-action rifle had been found in woods close to the UVU campus. Changing tack: Robinson and his family. The suspected shooter appeared to break away from his parents' politics Evidence: The bolt-action rifle used to kill Charlie Kirk appears to be a gun gifted to Tyler Robinson by his grandfather It contained bullet casings engraved with anti-fascist messages and online memes including: 'Hey Fascist! Catch!', 'If you read this you are Gay, LMAO' and 'Oh Bella ciao' - referencing the anti-fascist song that has recently gone through a revival online. Both text messages sent by Robinson to Twiggs and his fathers statements to police reveal Matt had contacted his son asking him to show him photos of the rifle. Matt then called his son who told him he wanted to take his own life, the charging documents show. Ultimately, Robinsons parents convinced him to meet them and he allegedly confessed to the shooting. When asked why he did it, Robinson explained there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate, the charging documents state. With the help of a family friend who is a retired deputy sheriff, Amber and Matt managed to convince their son to surrender to authorities. Before turning himself in, Robinson had also allegedly sent texts to Twiggs where he revealed clues as to his motive and that he had planned the shooting for a little over a week, according to the charging document. Mother's instinct: Amber Robinson noticed a shift in her oldest child before the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk In the messages, shared in the charging documents, he wrote: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate cant be negotiated out. The 22-year-old who once dressed up as Trump in a smiling family photo also mentioned how his father had become pretty die-hard MAGA since Trumps second term. Robinson also turned to the online world that he was so immersed in, reportedly confessing on Discord that he was the assailant at the center of the nationwide manhunt. Following his arrest, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson had been radicalized 'in a fairly short amount of time.' How, when, why and by what are questions yet to be answered. Ones that Robinsons mother - more than anyone - is likely trying to answer about the son she had once been so proud of who, if convicted, could be staring down the prospect of the firing squad. Down on the apron (or ramp) at Heathrow Terminal 5, I'm standing beside an Airbus A320 about to fly hundreds of passengers to Glasgow. It's the hottest day of the year so far, and the sun is a relentless drum pulsing heat through the air. I'm wearing a rather natty British Airways uniform of navy blue trousers, waistcoat, blazer, white shirt, clip-on tie and - the piece de resistance - a scarlet peaked cap. And my job - for the day - is to try to ensure BA's planes leave on time. I've taken on the role of 'airport dispatch manager' (ADM) for a behind-the-scenes look at BA's operations at Heathrow, including its shiny new Air Operations Control Centre (AOCC), part of a wider 7 billion scheme that began in 2024 to buck up the national carrier's performance at the airport. It follows multiple delays, many caused by IT issues. This nerve centre is where every thread of the operation is tugged and teased - in calm or chaos. In reality, I'm shadowing a BA ADM Divya Mann, who's been in the job for seven years, and helping out when I can - discovering how full-on it can be to maintain schedules on the front line. You quickly find it's not easy to get 200 people on a plane in time for the take-off slot. The Mail's Deputy Head of Travel Benjamin Parker has taken on the role of 'airport dispatch manager' (ADM) for a behind-the-scenes look at BA's operations at Heathrow, including its shiny new Air Operations Control Centre (AOCC) Ben is shadowing a BA ADM Divya Mann, who's been in the job for seven years, to discover how full-on it can be to maintain schedules on the front line. Ben quickly finds it's not easy to get 200 people on a plane in time for the take-off slot After all, the turnaround between a plane arriving and departing on a domestic flight is just 55 minutes. There's a lot to get through in that time. In July, BA's Heathrow operation dealt with an average of 330 flight arrivals and 330 departures every day. Engines whirr as we enter a sweltering cabin beside the aircraft. Inside, we log into a computer and check the manifest, plus any notes from the pilot who landed the plane. All seems in order and - ten minutes gone - we check another screen, this time assessing the luggage situation. We watch in real time as boarding passes are scanned at the gate - and we can also see if there are any luggage anomalies. We do. There's a bag being loaded but no passenger at the boarding gate. My first thought? Kick them off - we've got a schedule to keep. However, Divya is calmer. We head up to the gate and discuss the matter with staff - discovering the passenger has just arrived. So it's OK after all. Ben learns that the turnaround between a plane arriving and departing on a domestic flight is just 55 minutes Back on the Tarmac, we check the catering being loaded, and confirm fuel figures with a man in charge of the refuelling truck. All the while, ahead of passengers actually boarding, cleaners have been rapidly wiping and vacuuming - another matter that needs to be monitored by an ADM. Once the plane has been boarded, we step inside to speak to the cabin crew and the pilots - no issues from their side. Final checks are made, then the jet bridge is manoeuvred away from the aircraft using a joystick that looks more suited to a retro games console than a hefty piece of machinery in 2025. And that's it. We check the time - nine minutes ahead of schedule. A job well done. My first plane off on time. Earlier in the morning I had been taken for a (rarely given) inspection of the revamped and improved operations hub. This is an aviation geek's paradise. From inside you get a birdseye view of the UK's busiest airport on a giant monitor glowing with colourful moving dots. Each of these represents a plane - landing, taking off, resting at gates or moving to a hangar - all in real time. There's the low hum of computers and the soft tapping of keyboards. Back on tarmac, Ben and Divya check the catering being loaded, and confirm fuel figures with a man in charge of the refuelling truck Ben gets his first plane off a whole nine minutes before schedule If chaos erupts - IT meltdowns, industrial action or events such as the electrical substation fire that crippled Heathrow in March - the live-action resolution comes from those working here. On my visit, all is well, despite strikes affecting air traffic in Italy. Bhaven Pancholi, head of operational delivery, says the centre is 'absolutely state of the art', allowing BA to 'quickly respond to issues that actually make a difference to customers'. That's what I'm hoping to do, as my day down by the wheels of BA planes isn't over yet. ADMs typically deal with six to eight planes during their shifts, and for us there's little time to rest. Divya and I drive off to the other side of Heathrow in an electric car, arriving at a mammoth Boeing 777. This is BA087. Destination: Vancouver, Canada. For long-haul flights, the turnaround window is longer, at around 150 minutes. We go through the same routine as earlier, but this time, there's a bit of pre-take-off turbulence to navigate. An engineer makes his way to the cockpit, so we await the thumbs-up, but it doesn't come. Another engineer arrives. Then another. For long-haul flights, the turnaround window is longer, at around 150 minutes There's an issue with the communication system between the plane and air-traffic control. An ADM's absolute priority is safety. The problem on this plane is fixable, but it can't go until it's fixed. Although we do miss the time slot, it's not by much. The plane takes off a mere 22 minutes late. After my shift, Tom Moran, BA's director of Heathrow, tells me: 'The role of ADM is critical in co-ordinating aircraft movements, liaising with ground teams and crew colleagues, and keeping the whole team informed of each flight's status. Each day and each flight is different.' Just one day down on the ramp was enough to prove that to me. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more After recently getting married, I soon jetted off to Italy for my honeymoon. But what to pack? Everyone needed to know my husband and I had just got married. How else were the hotel staff in Rome and Amalfi going to know we needed an upgrade to the honeymoon suite? So, I searched for ages for as much personalised stuff I could get my hands on to take with me. But, while I packed my suitcase full with matching Wifey & Hubby passport covers, luggage tags and jumpers, I also threw in a load of the travel essentials I always take, including a travel adaptor and small bottles for my liquids. From an Instax camera, to a custom beach tote bag, here's everything I packed for my honeymoon. Maybe it will give you some inspiration for your next romantic trip... Deputy travel editor Hayley Minn (pictured in Amalfi) reveals what she packed for her honeymoon to Italy Made Yours Personalised Embossed Weekend Holdall Bag For my bag, I got this gorgeous white (of course) holdall that fits so much more in than it seems. I love the fact I could get it personalised with my new initials in gold on the front. The two carry handles make it easy to take with me on the go, while an adjustable shoulder strap means I can customise it to my fit. Shop Made Yours Personalised Wifey And Hubby Travel Set This Mr and Mrs personalised travel set is so cute, including a coordinated passport holder and luggage tag, made with vegan leather. The Wifey and Hubby passport holders came with our initials embossed in the corner, while the luggage tags have our names printed on one side, and 'Let the adventure begin' on the other. Was 39. Shop Custom Beach Tote Bag Every beach holiday needs a tote bag - and this one is perfect for newlyweds. It can be personalised with your new name, and the year you got married. Plus, it's really strong and fits loads in. Was 34.95. Shop Personalised Wifey & Hubby Puff Sweatshirt Make sure everyone knows you're just married, with these super comfortable jumpers, perfect for the plane journey. Reading 'Hubby' and 'Wifey', the date can be personlised on both to read your wedding day. Shop Ann Summers Hold Me Tight Body No honeymoon is complete without some white lingerie, and Ann Summers' Hold Me Tight Body is flattering on everyone. Made from delicate lace that contains 50% recycled fibres, the underwired cups have a lined bottom cup for more modesty and a scalloped edge. Cinched at the waist with a high-shine elastic for stunning hourglass shaping, the back is complete with cut-out details and a Brazilian brief. Shop Stackers Ring Box One of my biggest fears on the honeymoon was losing our rings in the sea. But this little zip box from Stackers is perfect for somewhere to put your wedding bands when you go for a swim. Shop Tile Mate 2pk Throughout my life I've been told I'd 'lose my head if it weren't screwed on', and have been known to leave my suitcase on the train, my passport on the plane and my purse on the bar. I really would be lost without tile Mates, which I've attached to my keys and added one to my suitcase. The Bluetooth trackers are the ideal solution for scatterbrains, and also for safety if you're solo travelling, so friends and family can know your whereabouts. Shop Anker Nano Power Bank Power banks are a must for long journeys, as there's not always an available plug socket nearby - although most long-haul flights now do have USB ports to charge your phone. I love Anker's Nano Power Bank, as it's so small, and doesn't have a need for wires. Was 29.99. Shop Instax Mini 41 I always bring my Instax camera with me on my travels, as the instant photos are such a cute way of marking each trip. The camera always goes down a treat with friends - and is so easy to use. Shop INSFIT 17 Pack Silicone Travel Bottles Set This travel bottle set has been an absolute gamechanger for me when it comes to travelling with hand luggage only. The TSA-approved clear case comes with 17 containers, ranging in size, that you can decant all your lotions and potions in to using the included funnel. It even comes with a brush for cleaning, as well as waterproof sticker labels so you don't mix up your shampoo with your moisturiser! Shop Amazon Kindle 16GB I was always a paperback book purist until I got my Kindle. It really is a game-changer for reading, purely for the amount of space it saves in your bag, rather than having to carry around three heavy books, which often end up getting soggy and damaged. Shop Universal Travel Adaptor Worldwide A travel adapter is an absolute must if you're going abroad, and I always leave this one in my suitcase so I never forget to pack it. It fits any plug sockets around the world, and also has three USB ports, as well as a slot for USB-C cables, so you can charge five different devices at the same time. Shop MyHalos 100% Blackout Sleep Mask I bought this blackout eye mask for a long-haul flight originally, and it's so good I use it in bed every night now, and my sleep has got so much better. Designed to prevent pressure on your eyes, this 3D sleep mask is perfect for sensitive eyes or those with lash extensions. Made from premium memory foam and soft, breathable material, it offers superior comfort and light-blocking ability. Was 12.99. Shop I thought I was pretty prepared when I set off on my solo trip to Morocco. Armed with modest clothing and a decent level of Arabic, I felt ready to embark on my first visit to the African nation known for its hospitality, noteworthy food and vibrant markets. I was, however, also given fair warning of the level of harassment many female travellers experience in the country. So many travel guides, concerned family members, and friends whod already visited warned Id be bombarded in the streets, with insults hurled at me left, right and centre. Its true, that did happen. But Id still go back. While strolling through the Marrakech medina, I was indeed cornered in many shops, with keen vendors trying to haggle for cheap prices for things I wanted to buy. As an obvious tourist, I did attract a fair amount of attention. I tried a whole host of tactics to get the attention to stop - from ignoring to shouting back a few frustrated phrases in Arabic. While taking no notice of any unwanted male attention only went as far as to deter low-level street haggling, attempting to fire back abusive retorts had a far worse effect. Armed with modest clothing and a decent level of Arabic, I felt ready to embark on my first solo trip to the African nation known for its level of hospitality, delicious food and vibrant markets Visiting quieter parts of Morocco could be more enjoyable - such as the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca When I tried to ignore unwanted advances, I was mostly left alone. But when I shouted back - in Arabic - the attention ramped up even further. And perhaps not in the way you might expect. Rather than garnering intense anger or further aggression, as one might anticipate, I was mostly met with expressions of utter disbelief - and, even, marriage proposals! You speak Arabic? one shop owner in Chefchaouen - who, minutes earlier, had been nagging me to buy a scarf from his stall - questioned politely. I nodded. Ah, well then you are very welcome! he responded, a grin widening on his face. Now, instead of negotiating prices, he seemed to want to discuss me. He asked where I was from and what I did for a living. Whether I was married, or had a boyfriend. What I was doing in Morocco. And why I could speak Arabic. After several moments of this back-and-forth, he politely inquired if Id be interested in marrying him. When I tried to ignore unwanted advances, I was mostly left alone And in spite of this rather bizarre situation, I still had the best time in Morocco - and cant wait to go back I was surprised - and, naturally, made my way rapidly out of the shop. He followed me down the street, before eventually giving up when I made it clear I wasn't interested. Similar propositions occurred elsewhere during my trip - in the Marrakech medina, on a train between Tangiers and Asilah, on a beach in Taghazout even. While none of these situations turned sour, and I felt perfectly safe, it was a good reminder that - given I did not want to return home with a brand-new husband in tow - hurling back retorts (however witty they may be) might not be the best way to handle unwanted attention while travelling alone as a woman. And in spite of this rather bizarre situation, I still had the best time in Morocco - and cant wait to go back. The scenery was unparalleled. On a single bus ride, wed go from desert plains to lush green mountains. The food lived up to expectations. I seemed never to get sick of couscous or tagine, so much so that I bought a tagine dish to take home, despite it weighing 5kg and taking up an entire bag - which I had to fill to the brim with bubble wrap. As for that famous hospitality? It turned out to be true. One time, while taking a train by myself to visit a sleepy fishing village called Asilah, an elderly Moroccan woman took me under her wing, even offering me snacks en route. Morocco was full of historic monuments - for example, the Hassan Tower in Rabat Ill admit, though, speaking to her in Arabic did elicit a subtle, Do you want to see a photo of my grandson? He has a very good job and is looking for marriage There were, nonetheless, several tips and tricks I did pick up that helped me feel safe and secure as much as possible. Pick your destinations wisely Calmer cities such as Rabat, Tetouan and Taghazout have less chaotic markets for you to shop in peace. Unlike Marrakech, these places offer you the chance to explore the souks (markets) at your leisure, without fear of overzealous shop owners or street harassment. Rabat in particular has an exceptional old city with high-quality goods to browse - without constant attention. So if youre nervous about diving into Moroccos tourist hotspots, dip your toe in with these quieter options, and forgo some of the busier cities including Marrakech, Agadir and Fez. Choose your transport carefully A trip to Morocco is incomplete without sampling their mint tea, served with huge amounts of sugar Markets in cities such as Fez can be busier, with lots more people bustling around Contrary to what many might think, I found public transport in Morocco to be a great way to get around safely. Taxis are cheap, so take advantage. Make sure the driver starts the meter, though, when you get in the car - or you could end up with a hefty, exaggerated bill at the end. Of course, hiring private drivers or renting a car can be a good option if you like to travel in comfort. CTM buses and trains between big cities (Casa and Rabat, Tangiers) were usually pretty full of families, meaning they have an ambiance of safety. Theyre also often far more comfortable than youd expect. The high-speed train between Rabat and Tangier rivals most UK trains in my opinion - the seats are comfier, the cabins are cleaner and they have a modern, classy feel. To hostel, or not to hostel? Booking quiet hostels even if they seem cheap might not always be the best idea. If there is lots of availability and most of the rooms seem empty, you might end up alone in a room with a member of the opposite sex like I did, which you may want to avoid. I'd advise if you plan on staying in a relatively empty hostel as a solo female traveller, book a single-sex room. That said, some of my favourite places to stay in Morocco were vibrant youth hostels, so definitely dont feel you need to forgo them altogether. Dressing modestly in Morocco goes a long way. I found wearing longer skirts and trousers and keeping my shoulders and chest covered helped me feel safer in many places And as with most hostels around the world, its always smart to take a padlock with you to lock away any important possessions - some hostels dont provide these or could charge you for them. Dress to impress Dressing modestly in Morocco goes a long way. I found wearing longer skirts and trousers and keeping my shoulders and chest covered helped me feel safer in many places. If you want to fly a bit under the radar, dressing appropriately is one of the easiest steps you can take. This goes without saying for religious monuments and historic sights - for example the Hassan Mosque in Casablanca or Hassan Tower in Rabat. But on the streets and beaches too, it could make all the difference to the amount of attention you get. Netflix has confirmed it will axe a huge string of legendary horror movies just weeks before Halloween. The streaming platform will be gradually removing a long list of iconic titles starting from the end of September and heading into October. And although spooky season is right around the corner, some beloved cult classics will no longer be available to view. Among the first to be taken down are the first three installments of the renowned Saw franchise. The first film tracks two men as they realise they've been trapped by a killer who delights in making them complete agonising tasks in order to live. Also to be removed is The Cabin In The Woods (2012), starring Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Connolly. Netflix has confirmed it will axe a huge string of legendary horror movies just weeks before Halloween [Saw II] Among the first to be taken down are the first three installments of the renowned Saw franchise [Leigh Whannel in Saw] The first film tracks two men as they realise they've been trapped by a killer who delights in making them complete agonising tasks in order to live [Cary Elwes in Saw] Happy Death Day (2017) and its sequel will also be leaving, as well as Sinister (2012), starring Ethan Hawke, and its follow-up. Uncanny doppelganger drama Us will also be taken down, as well as Scream VI (2023) and The Unholy (2021). And it's not just the horror genre that will suffer, as some legendary comedy series and beloved children's movies will also get the chop. Among the casualties are the first series of A House of Blocks, Beyblade Burst Surge, Celebrity Gogglebox, Ray Winstone's Sicily, Supernatural Academy, RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race and Titipo Titipo. And that's not all - Shameless fans will be devastated to learn that all 11 seasons of the hit drama are being removed. Meanwhile, the original season of RuPaul's Drag Race is also leaving the platform, much to the dismay of longtime fans. But with the removals come new arrivals and even some reinstatements, as a fantasy blast from the past will be making its comeback next month, 21 years after the series first hit screens. The streaming service has confirmed that fairy based cartoon series The Winx Club will continue its legacy with a new series of spin-off, The Magic Is Back. Also to be removed is The Cabin In The Woods (2012), starring Chris Hemsworth (R) and Kristen Connolly (L) Happy Death Day (2017) and its sequel will also be leaving, as well as Sinister (2012), starring Ethan Hawke [pictured], and its follow-up Although spooky season is right around the corner, some beloved cult classics will no longer be available to view [Sinister] Launching on October 2, the CGI production will bring to life new storylines and characters, alongside the return of fan-favourite characters. The series, which debuted back in 2021, will also be set to a new song performed by Virginia Bocelli, 13, the daughter of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. This time, the show, which is also available on BBC iPlayer, will draw focus once again on Bloom, an ordinary girl who discovers she is a fairy blessed with an ancient power, The Dragon Flame. Alongside her newfound friends at the Alfea Fairy School, the action will follow the group of young fairies as they fight to defend their powers. A synopsis teases: 'After enrolling at the prestigious Alfea Fairy School, Bloom meets the fairies who will stand by her side as she faces every challenge. 'Together they form the Winx Club: a group of young fairies who are ready to defend the Magical Dimension at any cost. 'Together, the six heroines learn that true strength lies not only in their magical powers but also in their ability to face challenges with courage, empathy and determination.' Winx Club ran on Nickelodeon from 2004 to 2019, spanning eight seasons and 15 years. Pregnant Dianne Buswell flaunts the iconic glitterball trophy in new preview pictures from Strictly Come Dancing - as the BBC pros perform in daring see-through outfits and Jessie J sings her heart out. The hit dance competition is back on our screens this Saturday, and delighted fans cannot wait. Glittering new images give viewers a tantalising sneak peek at the theatrical scenes to come, and feature hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. And the dynamic duo's contrasting personalities are perfectly embodied by their outfits. Claudia is pictured in a jaw-dropping ruched black dress, with her characteristic smoky kohl liner and sharp-cut bangs. Meanwhile, Tess wows in a fuschia ensemble paired with striking silver stilettos, her blonde curls worn down. Pregnant Dianne Buswell flaunts the iconic glitterball trophy in new preview pictures from Strictly Come Dancing Glittering new images give viewers a tantalising sneak peek at the theatrical scenes to come, and feature hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman Pop idol Jessie J, sporting her signature black bob, is seen belting out a ballad which forms the score for a dramatic ballroom-esque dance unfolding on stage Also returning to our screens are beloved judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke, as well as special guest Jessie J. The pop idol, sporting her signature black bob, is seen belting out a ballad which forms the score for a dramatic ballroom-esque dance unfolding on stage. Most exciting of all are the dramatic snaps from the dazzling group number, which sees the contestants take the stage in various shades of blue for an upbeat jazzy routine. And pregnant Diane looks incredible in a bejewelled tassel dress as she is lifted into the air by a muscly dance partner. Yesterday, Claudia Winkleman lifted the lid on what it's really like to work alongside Tess Daly - and the bizarre backstage tradition hidden from cameras. Asked what she has learned from her co-host, Claudia was quick to lavish praise. 'She's the kindest and the greatest human anyone could wish to work with. I'm so lucky to do it with her,' she said. Claudia admitted that moments before the cameras roll she has two must-do traditions: 'I must eat crisps and I always squeeze Tess before we go live. I get very, very nervous.' Also returning to our screens are beloved judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke The hit dance competition is back on our screens this Saturday, and delighted fans cannot wait Most exciting of all are the dramatic snaps from the dazzling group number, which sees the contestants take the stage in various shades of blue for an upbeat jazzy routine A dramatic dance routine sweeps across the stage, in what looks like a ballroom-inspired number Despite the nerves, Claudia still feels a surge of excitement each time a new series launches. 'I get so excited. We're so lucky to work on such a show. The build-up to all of our celebrities dancing is palpable. I can't wait to see them on the dance floor.' It is this sense of anticipation, she believes, that keeps Strictly at the heart of British television. 'It's like a snow globe of a show and it signals Christmas is coming and that's always good. 'It's just so sparkly and the music is amazing and we love watching people try and learn a new skill - and of course the professional group dances are jaw-dropping.' Reflecting on a particularly emotional routine, she recalled: 'Chris and Dianne were such a fantastic pair, and when he danced to You'll Never Walk Alone everyone in the studio was tearful.' This year's line-up is already promising plenty of drama and sparkle, with names including Alex Kingston, Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Ellie Goldstein, who will all be dancing under the watchful eyes of judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas. Her co-host Tess Daly is equally excited to be back at the helm, revealing that the launch show is always her personal highlight. Pregnant Diane Buswell looks incredible in a bejewelled tassel dress as she dances alongside a muscly partner The Strictly professionals dance up a storm in a dazzling show number, wtih Dianne front and centre The group ensemble finishes with gusto and flair, as shimmering confetti streams onto the stage 'The most exciting part of the entire series for me, bar the final, has to be meeting the new cast of celebrities,' she explained. 'The highlight of the launch show is watching that first group dance - the very first time we see the celebrities step on the dance floor. 'From that moment, I've learnt to spot who has the potential to make it all the way through the competition.' Tess also echoed Claudia's reflections on their long-standing friendship. She described working with her partner-in-glitter as 'an absolute joy.' She added: 'Claude and I have worked together for so many years now that we have watched each other's children grow into young adults. 'What has she taught me? That I should never wear mascara to our script meetings because she has me laughing so much I end up crying it all off. 'This will be our 21st year of Strictly and we do not take it lightly when people tell us they cannot wait for the new series to start again. 'It is a privilege to be a part of their Saturday (and Sunday!) nights, and to be part of a show that brings families and friends together.' Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this Saturday at 6.40pm and will be available to stream on iPlayer. The Weir at Harold Pinter Theatre, London Rating: Astonishing to think that at the tender age of 70, the terrific Irish actor Brendan Gleeson is only now making his West End debut. Best known on screen as Harry Potter's Mad-Eye Moody, it probably needed a bottle of something special to mark the occasion - and in Conor McPherson's wistful Irish classic, The Weir, it's not just special, it's vintage. The setting is a remote pub on the west coast of Ireland in 1996, just before the start of the tourist season and the arrival of 'The Germans'. Here, three local men and the barman, Brendan (Owen McDonnell, Grace's wicked second husband in season two of Apple TV's Bad Sisters), tell ghost stories on a wet, windy night as they vie for the attention of a young woman who's moved from Dublin to their corner of the sticks. Chief among them, with a ghoulish tale of a 'fairy road' that passes through her new home, is Gleeson's character, Jack. And in McPherson's fine revival of the play, which previously starred Brian Cox, Gleeson is a craggy hillside of a man propping up the bar and having to settle for bottled Guinness because of a dysfunctional beer tap. Brendan Gleeson (right) marks his West End debut in style in 'The Weir', writes Patrick Marmion Kate Phillips (above) as the mysterious Dublin woman, Valerie, turns the evening on its head with an agonising tale of why she came out West in Conor McPherson's show He's a rural colossus of yore, white shirt barely encompassing his girth, inside a subsiding black suit that was once an Irish standard. Although his diction sometimes drifts into inaudibility, Gleeson is a natural for the enchanting poetry of McPherson's Blarney, which hypnotises the audience with its murky mood and lilting rhythms. Perched like a giant on a stool, Gleeson bats off the gadfly antics of small-time local businessman Finbar, who's given twitchy, cheesy charm by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. He's more on a level with Sean McGinley's Jim, a quietly spooky barside wraith who orders shots of whisky, or 'small ones', and recalls an uncomfortable graveyard yarn. All the while, McDonnell's barman is a steady presence, fielding orders and 'debating' whether he'll have a small one himself. But Kate Phillips (Jane Seymour in Wolf Hall) as the mysterious Dublin woman, Valerie, turns the evening on its head with an agonising tale of why she came out West. Almost 30 years after it premiered in 1997, it's impressive how The Weir has stood the test of time. It catches an Ireland on the cusp of change, haunted by a mythic and painful past. But the warmth of the laughter that rolls off the audience is remarkable. And what better actor to pop the cork on such intoxicating liquor than the inscrutable, bearlike Gleeson? The BBC has released a first look trailer at the Celebrity Traitors on Saturday as it officially confirmed its launch date. Claudia Winkleman appeared on screen in the intense 40-second clip just moments after signing off from the first episode of Strictly Come Dancing's new series. It saw the 53-year-old as she welcomed the famous faces to the roundtable for the very first time. Walking in circle motions, she told them: 'Welcome. But don't get comfortable. 'This game doesn't care who you are. In here, your glamorous lives count for nothing.' As the celebrities all appeared tense, Claudia added: 'Most of you will be murdered. Sorry about that.' The BBC has released a first look trailer at the Celebrity Traitors on Saturday as it officially confirmed its launch date Claudia Winkleman appeared on screen in the intense 40-second clip just moments after signing off from the first episode of Strictly Come Dancing's new series It was then revealed the Celebrity Traitors will officially kick off on Wednesday 8 October at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Bosses also confirmed fans will be treated to a bumper-long episode that is 70 minutes in duration. The series will then continue to air over two nights a week, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 9pm. The celebrities will play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning a cash prize up to 100,000 for a charity of their choice. Appearing on the star-studded debut series are Alan Carr, Cat Burns, Clare Balding, David Olusoga, Joe Marle, Celia Imrie, Charlotte Church, Joe Wilkinson, Jonathan Ross and Kate Garraway. Completing the lineup is Lucy Beaumont, Mark Bonnar, Nick Mohammed, Niko Omilana, Paloma Faith, Ruth Codd, Stephen Fry, Tameka Empson and Tom Daley. Meanwhile, the BBC has also announced the civilian series of The Traitors will return for a fifth series, with applications now open. Mark Bonnar recently revealed that the cast of Celebrity Traitors have a group WhatsApp chat together, after filming the hotly-anticipated show earlier this year. The clip, which aired on BBC One, saw Claudia welcome the famous faces to the roundtable for the very first time The Strictly host was worlds away from the ballroom as she walked in circle motions, telling them: 'Welcome. But don't get comfortable' Claudia added to the stars: 'This game doesn't care who you are. In here, your glamorous lives count for nothing' The Scottish actor, 56, was one of the 19 famous faces who arrived at Ardross Castle in April, to put their cunningness to the test. Speaking about his time filming the show, Mark admitted that he was keen to sign up as he, his wife Lucy Gaskell, and their children, Martha, 14, and Samuel, 10, were all fans of the BBC series. While he gushed over getting to mingle with his fellow stars in the castle, revealing that the cast still keep in touch on WhatsApp. He told The Sunday Times: 'We watch The Traitors as a family, so I knew Lucy and the kids would be excited if I did it. 'Its so intense you have no phone, so all you think about is the show. The line-up was pretty starry. 'Stephen Fry has been omnipresent in my life I watched Blackadder growing up and I loved chatting to Jonathan Ross about Nirvana. Its mad being in a Traitors WhatsApp group with them all.' Stephen himself gave an insight into his 'emotionally violent' stint on the series, likening the experience to 'a Chinese foot massage' as he praised the programme. The Celebrity Traitors will officially kick off on Wednesday 8 October at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer The highly anticipated series will continue to air over two nights a week, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 9pm The celebrities will play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning a cash prize up to 100,000 for a charity of their choice Speaking on The Show People podcast, the actor, 67, explained: 'It was a bit like a Chinese foot massage. You know it is absolutely agony but you sort of want to do it again. It is emotionally violent but you kind of love it. 'Obviously, I can't say a word about what is in this recently recorded celebrity version I suppose. I am certainly not telling you if I am a traitor or a faithful. I am one or the other. 'I have said no to any number of Strictlys and Get Me Out of Heres as it is just not my kind of thing. But this, I watched the first and second series and it is such a clever game.' He added: 'It's so extraordinary what it does to the ps Dianne Buswell will become the first ever Strictly Come Dancing professional to compete on the show whilst pregnant after announcing her baby news. The pro dancer, 36, and her YouTuber partner Joe Sugg, 33, took to Instagram last weekend to announce the news they are expecting a baby boy. Dianne and Joe, who met on the BBC series in 2018, announced the happy news just as the hit show returns to our screens, with viewers set to find out which celeb Dianne is partnered with on Saturday night. But whilst Dianne will be the first pregnant pro to perform, her and Joe's child is far from the first Strictly baby, with a string of dancers and celebs adding to their families after meeting on the show. The dancefloor may have ended its fair share of relationships thanks to the infamous Strictly curse, but there's plenty of families of who have the show to thank for their happily ever afters. Dianne Buswell will become the first ever Strictly Come Dancing professional to compete on the show whilst pregnant after announcing her baby news with partner Joe Sugg Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton 2018 was a bumper year for Strictly romances. As well as sparking Joe and Dianne's relationship, the series also saw TV presenter Stacey Dooley meet her future beau Kevin Clifton. Stacey and the Strictly veteran lifted the Glitterball but didn't actually embark on a romance until early 2019. At the time of the BBC competition, Stacey was in a seven-year relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott, who was a regular in the studio audience. But four months after the show ended and as Stacey and Kevin headed out on tour together, romance rumours intensified. They went onto confirm their relationship and move in together before welcoming their daughter Minnie in 2023. In March, Stacey released a book called Dear Minnie, in which she wrote a heartfelt letter to her now two-year-old. Kevin meanwhile is adamant his daughter won't follow him into the dance world, arguing 'it's too competitive.' 2018 was a bumper year for Strictly romances. As well as sparking Joe and Dianne's romance, the series also saw TV presenter Stacey Dooley meet her future beau Kevin Clifton The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Minnie in 2023 Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez Hollyoaks star Gemma met Strictly pro Gorka when she competed on the show in 2017. They weren't partnered up but fell for each other behind the scenes. Two years after the show, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Mia, six, before their son Thiago was born in 2023. Gorka has been juggling his busy career with fatherhood since, with the couple previously speaking out on the tough absences when the dancer is competing on Strictly. 'Gorka is a huge fan of Strictly and every year he's buzzing with excitement about it, we all are,' Gemma told New! magazine last year. Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson met Strictly pro Gorka Marquez when she competed on the show in 2017. They weren't partnered up on the show but fell for each other behind the scenes 'But then, each year he also realises that he has to be away from home and wherever his [celebrity] partner is based, he has to go to them.' 'Before we had children it wasn't an issue, but when you have kids, your perspective changes. Mia will ask, 'But why do you have to go, Papa? ' and I think it makes him feel guilty.' This year will be a welcome change for Gorka and his family though as the dancer will not have a celebrity partner due to his work as a judge on the Spanish version Bailando Con Las Estrellas. His three weeks of judging commitments in the middle of the Strictly series means he will instead be one of the ensemble dancers. Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev Countdown star Rachel and Strictly pro Pasha met when they were paired together on the show in 2013 Countdown star Rachel and Strictly pro Pasha met when they were paired together on the show in 2013. Rachel ended her 16-month marriage to ex-husband James Gilbert weeks after she was eliminated from the series, with the split cited as another example of the 'Strictly curse'. Rachel and Pasha went public with their romance the following year. They tied the knot in secret in Las Vegas in 2019 whilst Rachel was pregnant with their first daughter in 2019. 'So, we were never bothered about getting married, but then we just were like "shall we just get married" once were were having the baby,' Rachel previously told the Express. 'And actually, we had such a nice day. It was really lovely. But we only decided the week before.' They went on to welcome daughter Maven in December 2019 and their second daughter Noa in November 2021. Pasha quit Strictly in 2018 and now focuses much of his time on fatherhood whilst Rachel continues in her role on Countdown. They went on to welcome daughter Maven in December 2019 and their second daughter Noa in November 2021 (pictured in March 2025) Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec Janette and Aljaz are perhaps the biggest success story of Strictly having both joined the series in 2013 three years after meeting in stage show rehearsals. They went onto marry in 2017 and both continued on Strictly until Janette decided to step down as a dancer in 2021 to pursue her dream of a presenting role on the show's spin off It Takes Two. Two years later, the couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Lyra. Aljaz announced that he had quit Strictly in 2022, allowing him to take on the primary parent role as Janette's career soared. Janette returned to work for the 2023 series of It Takes Two just three months after giving birth, but the couple explained how Aljaz's decision to step away from the show allowed them to juggle family life. Janette and Aljaz are perhaps the biggest success story of Strictly having both joined the series in 2013 three years after meeting in stage show rehearsals They married in 2017 and both continued on Strictly until Janette decided to step down as a dancer in 2021. Two years later, the couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Lyra 'Both of us have always dreamed of being hands-on parents, but Ive always dreamed of being there fully, so we put the cards on the table and made the decision,' Aljaz explained to OK! Magazine at the time. 'Every parent, every relationship, every dynamic is completely different. But for us, this one was the one that made the most sense... I absolutely love being at home with Lyra, and I never feel like Im missing out on anything.' In 2024 though Aljaz was back, making a surprise return to the Strictly dancefloor. Ola and James Jordan After a 20 year love story, Strictly pros Ola and James Jordan welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 after a round of IVF. The couple, who married in 2003, announced they were expecting their first child in September 2019 after a painful three-year battle with infertility. After a 20 year love story, Strictly pros Ola and James Jordan welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 after a round of IVF (pictured in 2012 on the show) James and Polish-born beauty Ola first met at a dance competition in Blackpool in 1999 and married four years later. They were initially dance partners before their professional relationship developed into romance, James proposed two years later and the couple tied the knot in October 2003. The pair shot to fame as Strictly's power couple when they both joined in series four back in 2006. James bowed out of the show after season 11 in 2013, while Ola left at the end of series 13 in 2015. Gushing about parenthood when Ella was a baby, Ola said: 'We had a lovely life, but this is making us feel so much happier than anything else we have done. Nothing in our careers measures up to this. It feels perfect.' The couple, who married in 2003, announced they were expecting their first child in September 2019 after a painful three-year battle with infertility Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff Former Strictly star Kristina famously waltzed into retired rugby player Ben's heart after he competed on the show in 2013. Their relationship wasn't without controversy as Ben's ex-wife Abby Cohen, the mother of his twin daughters, accused Kristina of splitting them up - something she has long denied. Three years after the dramatic start to their romance, Kristina and Ben welcomed their daughter Milena, now nine. Former Strictly star Kristina Rihanoff famously waltzed into retired rugby player Ben Cohen's heart after he competed on the show in 2013. They are now parents to daughter Milena, nine Russian-born Kristina, who has been a favourite pro on the show since 2008, had stepped down from Strictly in 2015, a year before welcoming her first child. The couple got engaged on a sun-kissed beach in the Maldives in 2022 and told of their hopes of tying the knot in Tuscany or Oxfordshire. But earlier this year their shock split was revealed, with the break up said to have been the results of 'severe financial difficulties.' Former rugby star Cohen, 46, and former professional dancer Rihanoff, 47, poured everything they had into a yoga studios and fitness business and were severely impacted by Covid which led to both financial issues and problems in their relationship. Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova Another long-time Strictly couple, Darren and Lilia both joined the show for series two way back in 2004. Yorkshire-born Darren and Russian pro Lilia are the most successful male and female professionals in the history of the BBC show, having starred in six series and winning seven trophies between them. Another long-time Strictly couple, Darren and Lilia both joined the show for series two way back in 2004. They are now parents to daughter Valentina, ten and a younger girl Lucia Elizabeth, born in September 2020 (pictured in 2012) They both departed the show in 2009 amd a dancer shakeup but have gone on to work on spin-off shows across the globe, with Lilia holding the head judge role on the Turkish version and Darren judging the Lebanese show. More recently the couple have taken on the roles of creative director and choreographers on Dancing with the Stars Ireland. Romantically, the couple have been together for over 20 years, having met as dance partners in 1997. They are now parents to daughter Valentina, ten and a younger girl Lucia Elizabeth, born in September 2020. At the time of their second pregnancy, Lilia and Darren revealed it was 'a very long journey' for them to become pregnant again. Creditors (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond) Verdict: Dance stirs up trouble Rating: How delicious to get a rare squint at Charles Dance up close and personal in Richmonds boutique Orange Tree Theatre. The 78-year-old is making his first stage appearance in nearly 20 years - alongside fellow Jewel In The Crown alumnae Geraldine James (75) and Nicholas Farrell (70) - in a play by 19th-century Scandinavian master of sexual neurosis August Strindberg. His drama has been updated by playwright Howard Brenton and therefore becomes a geriatric love triangle. Dance was once the tawny lion of the screen; and more recently terrified a whole new generation of TV viewers as Game Of Thrones ruthless patriarch Tywin Lannister. Reunion: (left to right) Charles Dance, Nicholas Farrell and Geraldine James are appearing together for the first time since ITV's 1984 blockbuster miniseries The Jewel In The Crown Here, though, he looks more like a snowy owl. For reasons at first unknown, his character, the twisted trickster Gustaf, makes it his business here to gaslight a supposed friend, an artist called Adolf (Farrell), persuading him he is suffering from epilepsy because of sexual excess. But he also leads Adolf to suspect his wifes fidelity, and tells him that his paintings somehow provide evidence that hes dying. Best not to reason why, but simply to accept Dances tall, suave and freckly old-timer, toying with Farrells credulous Adolf. He is an eager victim; comically amenable to Gustafs suggestion that he may be an idiot. Schemer: Charles Dance plays twisted trickster Gustaf in August Strindberg's 1888 love triangle tale, which has been updated by playwright Howard Brenton We too must wonder, given that Adolf claims that he was able to feel his first wifes contractions in childbirth - and that he believes his new wife Tekla (James) has grown inside him like an organ, taking away his will. Yes, its an unusually peculiar piece of work, even for Strindberg; made faintly humorous by Brenton. And the big revelation late on about Gustafs real identity and motivation is more puzzling than shocking. Still, you cant help but be fascinated - and a little chilled - by Dances rheumy, blinking stare, coldly fixing his trembling quarry. Were more inclined to laugh at Farrells nervous roue, Adolf, and Jamess kittenish Tekla who creepily refers to her hubby as little brother. Tom Littlers sold out production is elegantly graced by Louie Whitemores cool design of Swedish woodwork painted white and blue, with costumes in matching neutrals. Nonetheless, casting actors in their seventies diminishes the erotic tension of a play originally imagined for actors in their thirties, and intended to make them sweat with carnal fear and desire. Creditors is on till October 11. The show is sold out but for information on returns, or on-the-day tickets, visit orangetreetheatre.co.uk A sure-fire flop? Leo Bloom (Marc Antolin, left) and Max Bialystock (Andy Nyman, right) think they've found their man in Franz Liebkind (Harry Morrison), author of Springtime For Hitler The Producers (Garrick Theatre) Verdict: If youve got it, flaunt it Rating: Shocking, outrageous and insulting. I loved every minute of it! runs the review for Funny Boy (a musical version of Hamlet) in a New York paper the day after its premiere (and instant closure) in the opening scene of The Producers. Ditto Patrick Marbers blissfully silly show but this one should run and run. Having burst the seams of the tiny Menier theatre where it began, Marbers bravura staging now has a larger cast, and more space to outrage and insult. Or maybe, on first view, I didnt clock the champagne waiter dressed as Jesus in a loincloth and crown of thorns; or the size of the living Greek statues bouncing appendage. Randy angels: Andy Nyman, as Broadway producer (and con artist) Max Bialystock, with some of the little old lady investors he plans to fleece Swedish sex bomb: The producers' assistant Ulla (Joanna Woodward) lights up the stage in a dance number with Leo Bloom (Marc Antolin) This is the story of failing Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Andy Nyman), who joins forces with stagestruck accountant Leo Bloom (Marc Antolin) to stage a sure-fire flop and pocket the unspent investment. Bialystocks band of angels are all devilishly randy old ladies, paying for one last thrill en route to the cemetery. His choice, Springtime For Hitler, written by a lederhosen-wearing pigeon-fancier with a Fuhrer fetish called Franz Liebkind (Harry Morrison), puts the camp into Mien Kampf even before Max appoints the worst director ever, Roger de Bris (Trevor Ashley, a huge talent) to keep it gay. A radiant Joanna Woodward lights up the stage as Ulla, the Swedish sex-bomb assistant who gets a standing ovation from the producers even when they are sitting down. The shows original creator, Mel Brooks, said that good comedy blows dust off your soul. I sailed out of the theatre, my soul clean as a whistle. The Producers is booking at the Garrick into 2026. GEORGINA BROWN Haywire (The Barn, Cirencester) Verdict: Better on the radio Rating: For more than two decades, Tim Stimpson has written scripts for The Archers, none better than the riveting twists and turns of the storyline about Helen and controlling Rob Titchener. More recent issues such as rewilding and sewage-dumping are less gripping. Frankly, Im still missing maddening Jennifer. But I was intrigued by the sound of Stimpsons nostalgic totter down memory lane to celebrate the birth of this British institution. A drama, not a 'soap': Haywire, at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, celebrates the birth of radio serial The Archers, a tale of everyday folk which became a national institution Haywire returns to the Birmingham radio studio in the Fifties where true story Godfrey Baisley, aka God, created a continuing drama (never say soap) to keep farmers abreast of a fast-changing world. Some 75 years on, the show goes on, propelled as ever by Arthur Woods Barwick Green, the theme music God stumbled on to conjure up a pint of ale on a warm summers evening. At least, that is where this hyperactive, convoluted, farce-within-a-play begins. Here, Jonty, in a pitch to become the next editor of The Archers, is staging Inventing Ambridge. At his own expense, he has assembled a crew of jobbing actors plus a celeb from Strictly to recreate the first episodes covering Phil and Graces short, doomed marriage and the pressures behind the scenes from BBC bigwigs back then. Those were the days when a director got away with telling an actor earning eight bob a week to sound more attractive and she smouldered obediently. Joseph OMalleys remarkable cast switch superbly in and out of their various roles, from actors in the Fifties noiselessly turning scripts to play the fictional cut-glass Brief Encounter characters of bygone days, to contemporary actors whose private passions are spilling messily into the studio creating sub-Noises Off mayhem. But at a considerable dramatic price: none of them, real or fictional, is more than a sketch of a type, hard to care less about and rendering Haywire as confused and confusing as its title suggests. What survives are the ingenious DIY sound effects: a bowl of yogurt, squelched to suggest the sound of a lamb being born. Ah! The magic of radio. Haywire runs at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester until October 11. GEORGINA BROWN After celebrating the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, President Donald Trump shifted his focus to fellow late-night comedians Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, goading NBC execs to serve them up the same fate. 'Two total losers, on Fake News NBC,' he wrote on TruthSocial, hours after the news broke on Wednesday night. 'Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!' The comedians have never shied from criticizing the President, but unlike Kimmel, 57, they are believed to be safe for now thanks to 'cash cow' producer supremo Lorne Michaels, who NBC execs will do anything to keep happy. 'Jimmy and Seth are likely safe from being cancelled thanks to the connection their shows have with Lorne,' an insider told the Daily Mail. Michaels, 80, who created NBC's big hitter Saturday Night Live, is also the executive producer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, a role he has held since they both debuted in 2014. 'He helps produce both Jimmy and Seth's shows and is obviously still with SNL which is an institution NBC would not want to lose. Bosses have a lot of respect for Lorne and as long as he is around, they aren't going to ruffle any feathers by cancelling Jimmy and Seth's late-night shows,' the insider said. After celebrating the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, President Donald Trump shifted his focus to fellow late-night comedians Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers The POTUS was goading NBC execs to serve them up the same fate ABC pulled the plug on Kimmel's eponymous chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday, 48 hours after he ranted about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. On Monday night's episode Kimmel suggested Kirk's assassin 'was MAGA' despite investigators saying he held far-left sympathies and that the Republicans were trying to 'score political points'. 'We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,' he said. It was in stark contrast to his social media posts shortly after the shooting on September 10 in which he wrote: 'Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? 'On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.' On Wednesday FCC Chair Brendan Carr urged broadcasters to stop airing his show, hinting he would open an investigation into the vicious comments. Nexstar Media Group, which owns numerous local ABC affiliates, then came out and branded Kimmel's comments 'offensive and insensitive'. By Wednesday night Disney-owned ABC announced Jimmy Kimmel Live! was 'pre-empted indefinitely', without elaborating further. But they are believed to be safe for now thanks to 'cash cow' Lorne Michaels, who NBC execs will do anything to keep happy (pictured Fallon) A source said: 'Bosses have a lot of respect for Lorne and as long as he is around, they aren't going to ruffle any feathers by cancelling Jimmy and Seth's late-night shows' (Meyers pictured) Insiders told the Daily Mail that Kimmel went 'nuclear' and was holding a crunch meeting with network executives. Kimmel's daily late-night chat show incorporates political satire, especially in the opening monologues, with the comedian taking frequent pops at Trump since its inception in 2003. When Trump claimed victory over Kamala Harris in the race for the White House last year, Kimmel bemoaned all was lost, aside from 'Putin and for polio and for lovable billionaires like Elon Musk, and the bros up in Silicon Valley, and all the wriggling brain worms who sold what was left of their souls to bow down to Donald Trump,' who he branded 'old' and 'evil'. He also condemned Trump's plans to repeal Obamacare - one of the key tenets of his first successful Presidential campaign - in an emotional monologue in 2015 in which he opened up about his son's congenital heart condition. Trump celebrated the news of Kimmel's suspension which sparked fury among Hollywood's woke elite, with stars including Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Stiller, Henry Winkler and Alison Brie defiantly leaping to his defence. Unions representing writers and actors said the move amounted to an attack on constitutionally protected free-speech rights, and that ABC should not have caved in the face of U.S. government pressure. 'Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED,' Trump wrote. 'Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible. 'That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT.' ABC pulled the plug on Kimmel's eponymous chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday, 48 hours after he ranted about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk President Trump responded to the news of Kimmel's suspension on Truth Social, stating that Kimmel has 'zero talent' But despite being two thorns in his side, our insider said culling their shows would be 'the death knell for NBC and their Peacock streaming service' (pictured Lorne Michaels) Fallon, 50, and Meyers, 51, are frequent critics of the president and his administration. Last year, Trump branded Meyers a 'dope' after NBC extended his contract through to 2028. He has also made public his distaste for Fallon who faced backlash from the MAGA crowd after a controversial 2016 interview in which he tousled Trump's hair. And on Thursday night, Fallon ruthlessly mocked Trump as he addressed Kimmel's suspension. But despite being two thorns in Trump's side, our insider said culling their shows would be 'the death knell for NBC and their Peacock streaming service.' 'If it happened, Lorne would look to leave NBC and work with other companies and produce shows with the likes of Netflix or Amazon, and NBC isn't ready to lose their cash cow,' they said. 'So as much as the President would like to see his former employer NBC make the decision to get rid of Jimmy and Seth, they are safe.' Kimmel is said to be teeing up a guest slot with CBS star Stephen Colbert, who was canned earlier this summer. His tenure will wrap next year. Kimmel, Colbert, and Fallon have long been considered the big three of late night TV, representing the three major network power players, ABC, CBS, and NBC, respectively. Last year Kimmel hinted that he may not renew his contract which is up in 2026. 'I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good,' he told the Los Angeles Times. 'That seems like enough.' The Daily Mail has contacted NBC for comment. Thomas Skinners mood has been noticeably strained this week, but its not down to nerves over the prime-time launch of Strictly Come Dancing tonight. As his new Strictly co-stars, who mostly adore him, cant help but notice, the larger than life Essex-born businessman has seemed as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. One insider on the BBC dance show tells me that he has been in and out of studios to take fraught phone calls, with one adding: It doesnt take the brain of Britain to work out why. Indeed not. For Skinner, who was catapulted to fame in 2019 after winning a place on The Apprentice and has boasted of his friendship with US Vice President JD Vance, has found himself struck down by the infamous Strictly curse. Only unlike those who have been caught out before him, Thomas Skinner is yet to set foot on the dance floor. For those unfamiliar with the scandal, which has been unravelling with dizzying speed over the last ten days, it was revealed that in 2022 Thomas had an affair with aesthetician Amy-Lucy ORourke a liaison which started just days after his wedding to wife Sinead, now mother to his three young children. Skinners extra-curricular behaviour may well have passed under the radar were it not for the fact that he signed up for this years Strictly, whereupon his life was subjected to scrutiny in a way it never been before. Last weekend, both Thomas and Amy-Lucy, a 35-year-old single mum, told their wildly contrasting stories. Thomas insisted their liaison was a fling and nothing more than that after they met in a pub and she later offered him free treatments in return for publicity. It was the one time, it was a mistake. I woke up feeling absolutely terrible about it, Thomas told The Sun on Sunday. Thomas Skinner with wife Sinead and their children this week Amy-Lucy O'Rourke told the Daily Mail that her relationship with Skinner lasted three months I felt so guilty, I told my wife. I let her down in that brief moment of madness where I wasnt thinking, where I didnt appreciate what I had. When I told my wife, I fully understood if she was to never speak to me again. No one else made me do what Ive done. But if shows something so brief could ruin your life. But while he claimed it was an isolated incident, Amy-Lucy told me in an interview with the Daily Mail on Monday that their liaison lasted for three months. He was, she told me, involved in every aspect of her life, helping her with chores and whisking her off on dates to swanky restaurants. He even told her that he loved her. Thomas told me I was the love of his life and sold me an absolute dream, she said. He told me that he was in a loveless relationship of convenience. We were originally friends but with his sweet talking and his lies, he made me believe we were in love and that we were perfect for each other. He would stand in the mirror with me and say, Look, well be Mr and Mrs Skinner. That is actually traumatising to me, you dont say that to someone when youre already happily married. More later, of loyal wife Sinead, whom sources tell me, has been very supportive in this tumultuous week and is in the audience for tonights show, which was pre-recorded earlier this month. And friends of Sineads say she intends to be there to support her husband when the live shows start next week. For I can reveal the impact Amy-Lucys revelations have had on 34-year-old Thomas, a man who has tried to create a reputation for himself as a jovial family man, known for his catchphrase Bosh, which he uses at the end of his sentences. Skinner insists that his relationship with Amy-Lucy was just a fling Amy-Lucy has been a thorn in Thomas side all week, says a friend of the father-of-three. Its the biggest week of his career yet she is in the background flinging more and more at him. She wont shut up. It has been stressful, its been tough but hes determined to keep going. Skinners desire to rebuild his image as a family man was evident in the photos of him enjoying a trip out locally with Sinead, his son and twin daughters on Thursday. Amy-Lucy, who lives close to Skinner near Brentwood, Essex, has indeed been hounding her former lover non-stop this week. Following her interview with the Daily Mail, which sources close to him say left him shell shocked, she has also been posting incendiary claims on her social media. Amy-Lucy even posted a number of WhatsApp messages between the pair which confirmed that his claims their entanglement was a one-off were false. They also contained sexually explicit content which prompted much fury within Team Skinner. In turn, they have retaliated, revealing that she was a nightmare after her romance with Thomas ended in August 2022, just three months after he married Sinead. Amy was a hassle to Thomas, said one friend of his. She was difficult after they parted ways and it was hard for Sinead to deal with. What Amy-Lucy is forgetting here is the hurt that this is all causing her. Sinead and Thomas are together so why would she do this now? She is an absolute nightmare. Skinner's wife Sinead intends to support him while he is on Strictly, starting this Saturday Yet it is clear the Strictly team see him being a hit with viewers. I know who his professional partner is but I cannot share it ahead of tonights show. Suffice to say it is a startling choice. For their casting makes clear that Strictly bosses are keen for him to go a long way in the competition. Others, aware of her identity, have spoken to me of their concern for reasons I cannot yet go into in case it identifies them. Its clear that those senior on the show think he can be in for a while, that his Strictly journey will last a long time, says one BBC source. This show of support is in contrast to the speculation that the BBC might ditch Skinner from the Strictly line up. It all began at the press launch two weeks ago when he was about to be interviewed by a table of Sunday newspaper journalists, including one from The Sun who had been having WhatsApp conversations with Amy-Lucy. The reporter placed her phone on the table in front of Thomas to record his interview but at the same time as she did, messages came up from Amy-Lucy which he spotted. It prompted him to walk out of the event, held at the Elstree Studios, where Strictly is filmed. But one BBC insider tells me: Strictlys producers love Thomas, they are very pleased with his hiring and they think that the viewers will love him. As such, they have been very supportive to Thomas and have been checking in on him this week to see if he is ok. This has angered some quarters of the Strictly family who believe that the shows chiefs should have vetted Skinner better, particularly after the scandals that have engulfed the family favourite show over the last two series. Last year Wynne Evans brought the programme into disrepute when he was seen by viewers placing his hand on his partner Katya Jones waist, and she instantly removed it. Though she wrote it off as a joke, The Mail on Sunday later revealed that Wynne made a vile sexual slur towards dancer Janette Manrara at the launch of the Strictly tour. He was later axed for the comments. And in 2023, Graziano Di Prima kicked his partner Zara McDermott during training, while Amanda Abbington made accusations about Giovanni Pernice of which the most severe were dismissed by BBC investigators. Strictly doesnt need this nonsense from Thomas, says one staffer. Its not fair, it overshadows the show. It should be about the sequins and the dancing, not sex and deceit. This opinion is most certainly not shared by the upper echelons of the BBC. Im told one reason they havent considered axing him is because they fear that if they do they will be accused of political bias. As it is, his unveiling as a contestant prompted much fury from the Left after Skinner, who has been vocal in both his criticism of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and in his support for Donald Trump, revealed that he was a friend of US Vice President JD Vance, who he said earlier this year had messaged him and asked him to meet up during his recent trip to the UK. Thomas is also being courted by Reform UK and there has even been talk of him becoming their candidate for London Mayor. He said in June he was thinking about giving it a go in politics. Tory sources also say that they cant get enough of him thanks to his posh bosh posh referring to him having had a successful career - image which they believe can help them destroy Labour. Adding to the controversy, Thomas also has a criminal record for handling stolen goods, receiving a conviction in 2011 for purchasing 4,992 tubes of Body Shop cleansing gels and 2,000 diazepam tablets from an unreliable source. He has admitted his crime, putting it down to a naive mistake when he was working on market stalls as a young man. When contacted, the BBC said it was aware of Skinners past mistakes as part of its extensive background checks, and that the conviction was spent. In response to fans calling him out, Thomas took to his X account to say that hes made mistakes and owned them. Yes I did get arrested when I was younger, in fact I got arrested several times. And been charged and paid the price for my convictions. I wrote a book about it. What remains to be seen, of course, is just how good his tango, or quickstep, will actually be. But as one show insider tells me, it simply wont matter. Theres a view that he has so much appeal with the audience it doesnt matter if he can dance or not, the viewers will love him. As Skinner himself would say: Bosh. Rylan Clark has gone Instagram official with his new boyfriend Kennedy, sharing a series of loved-up snaps from their romantic trip to Florence, Italy on Friday. The TV presenter, 36, looked happier than ever as he cosied up to Kennedy, who works as a boss at the Billy Bates & Sons funfair in Leicestershire in a string of sweet holiday photos. In one sweet snap, the couple could be seen enjoying a glass of red wine from a traditional buchette del vino (wine window), while beaming for the camera. Another black-and-white shot showed the pair holding hands as they strolled through the cobbled streets of the historic city. The duo made the most of their time in Florence, taking in the sights, enjoying fine dining and soaking up stunning sunset views. He captioned the post: 'A few days in florence with you. Popped into see Elizabeth and thank her for being part of our grand tour and had to see the Artemisia Gentileschi and thank her for being part of the bafta. A beautiful few days x.' Rylan Clark has gone Instagram official with his new boyfriend Kennedy, sharing a series of loved-up snaps from their romantic trip to Florence, Italy One sweet black-and-white shot showed the TV presenter, 36, and his new boyfriend holding hands as they strolled through the cobbled streets of the historic city The holiday snaps come several weeks after Rylan revealed that his new boyfriend is the first man he's introduced to his family since his divorce. The former X Factor star was married to Dan Neal for six years before they divorced in 2021, after Rylan admitted he had cheated. Now, four years on from the split, Rylan shared last month that he is in a new relationship with a man named Kennedy. He announced the romance during an interview with Louis Theroux on his How To Be In Love podcast, which followed his journey to find love. Rylan said he had been 'blatant' about the romance, going on multiple public dates 'nobody noticed'. The pair have even discussed the possibility of having children, with Rylan telling Louis that both he and his new partner want to start a family. Rylan said: 'At this time, I'm very happy. Recently, I have gotten into a relationship, and it's great, and it feels very different to anything I've had before, which is a good sign to me. 'It's the first person I've met in four years that I've introduced to my family. I'm happy. I've not done probably what I should-slash-did do - which is not really go to restaurants, not really do this and want to keep it on the quiet - I've done the opposite. The duo made the most of their time in Florence, taking in the sights, enjoying fine dining and soaking up stunning sunset views He captioned the post: 'A few days in florence with you' 'I've been so blatant about it no one's noticed, which I'm sort of a little bit cocky at and I'm going to own. 'But I thought I'm not going to... just because of my job and i don't want people finding out, I'm not going to miss out on this part. 'I'm loving what I've got at the minute and I want to keep it that way.' Later in the chat, Louis gave Rylan advice on a long-lasting relationship, as he revealed that you have to figure things out more when you have children. 'Is that something you've been thinking about?' Louis asked, to which Rylan replied: 'Yeah, I want kids. He wants kids.' Rylan first shared he was in a new relationship on the BBC Radio 2 show last week, after playing a clip from his podcast interview with Louis. As the clip came to an end, Lottie cheekily asked him if there was 'something else' that was mentioned, sparking a cheeky exchange where Rylan jokingly brushed off his co-host's questions, before confirming he was indeed seeing someone. He said: 'I might have said that I'm... it feels weird saying it on the radio!' before admitting he'd 'kept it a secret for so long,' but he was indeed 'seeing someone'. The holiday snaps come several weeks after Rylan revealed that his new boyfriend is the first man he's introduced to his family since his divorce The former X Factor star was married to Dan Neal for six years before they divorced in 2021, after Rylan admitted he had cheated on him (both pictured 2016) Lottie added that she and her colleagues had met Rylan's new partner and thought he was 'lovely', with the former X Factor star adding he is 'happy' and 'very content' in his new relationship. Rylan also joked that sharing the romance would bring an end to speculation that he was dating his longtime pal Robert Rinder. The This Morning star is said to have been quietly dating funfair employee Kennedy for several months, and the pair have been 'inseparable' over the summer. 'This new man has certainly put a smile back on Rylan's face, and they have enjoyed spending lots of time together,' a source said. 'Rylan's family and friends have all met him, and they've been attending lots of gigs together this summer, including Oasis. The insider told The Sun on Sunday: 'They're inseparable, they make a lovely couple.' The Daily Mail contacted Rylan's representatives for comment at the time. Coleen Rooney, Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina led the stars attending the launch of Edward Enninful's EE72 launch party in Soho House in London on Friday. The WAG, 39, cut a styish figure for the evening in a black midi dress which she wore with a matching blazer. Adding height to her frame with a pair of black heels, the I'm A Celebrity star accessorised with a matching clutchbag. Sabrina turned heads in a black sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline that highlighted her jaw-dropping figure. The model posed alongside her husband Idris who looked dapper in a black shirt with matching trousers and white trainers. Ashley Roberts put on a leggy display in a red long-sleeved mini dress with a ruffled hemline. Coleen Rooney cut a stylish figure at the launch of Edward Enninful's EE72 launch party in Soho House in London on Friday Idris Elba opted for a black shirt and trousers while his wife Sabrina turned heads in a black sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline Styling her blonde locks into an updo, the former Pussycat Dolls star also wore a pair of black heels. Jameela Jamil opted for a black strapless top which she wore with a matching skirt while she complimented her outfit with a silver necklace. Beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury donned a black dress with a plunging neckline and sheer detail along with a pair of green open toe heels. Luke Evans opted for a more casual look in a denim jacket with matching jeans and a white T-shirt. Enninful was previously editor-in-chief of British Vogue and his new magazine 72 appeared on stands this month with Julia Roberts on the cover of the first issue. The magazine is the first venture of his new media compay EE72. Last year, Coleen was named the lead female ambassador for the global nutrition brand before launching her own range in March. Following her hugely successful I'm A Celeb stint, Disney announced last month a new premium access series titled The Rooneys focusing on her and Wayne's life. Maya Jama looked incredible in a black midi dress with a low cut neckline Ashley Roberts put on a leggy display in a red long-sleeved mini dress with a ruffled hemline (pictured with Mikey Adekunle Abegunde) Leigh-Anne Pinnock opted for a burgundy top tucked into a matching ruffled skirt Exes Romeo Beckham and Mia Regan both attended the event Jameela Jamil opted for a black strapless top which she wore with a matching skirt while she complimented her outfit with a silver necklace Beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury donned a black dress with a plunging neckline and sheer detail along with a pair of green open toe heels Model Jourdan Dunn looked incredible in a black dress with a turtle neck collar (pictured with Mary Furtas) Luke Evans opted for a more casual look in a denim jacket with matching jeans and a white T-shirt Enninful (centre) was previously editor-in-chief of British Vogue and his new magazine 72 appeared on stands (pictured with Joel Edgerton and Christine Centenera) Lennon Gallagher attended the launch alongside his girlfriend Isobel Richmond Thanks to her ventures, new figures for Coleen's firm, CWR 2021, up to September 2024 show the booming business already had 580,000 banked - and that was before I'm A Celeb and her Disney deal. Meanwhile former manager of Plymouth Argyle Wayne was reportedly making 500,000, before leaving the club in December. A financial expert told The Sun: 'These earnings show that, even before Coleen signed up for I'm A Celeb, she was already bringing in more money than Wayne. 'On the back of her jungle stint, where she was incredibly popular with the viewing public, she's now likely to see her earnings soar even further - and the increased interest in Coleen after she did so well on the show is also likely to have sealed the deal on the Disney contract. 'Getting big bucks from a global streamer, plus her pay cheque from ITV, will no doubt swell the Rooneys coffers even further.' Music artist Lil' Kim, who rose to fame in the 90s, commanded attention as she stepped out for New York Fashion Week. The 51-year-old rapper was clad in a skintight blue bodysuit on Tuesday as she headed to the LaQuan Smith SS 2026 fashion show. She teamed the long-sleeved, body-hugging, high-neck number with pointy-toe black heels that added height to her 4'11" frame. Kim, known for collaborations with Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott, wore onyx sunglasses and a long, platinum blonde wig to the event. Inside the runway show, she took a seat next to Ty Dolla $ign and near Busta Rhymes and his son Trillian Wood-Smith. The New York native born Kimberly Denise Jones was fully made up with distinctive pink blush and coordinating lipstick. Music artist Lil' Kim, who rose to fame in the 90s, commanded attention as she stepped out for New York Fashion Week The 51-year-old rapper was clad in a skintight blue bodysuit on Tuesday as she headed to the LaQuan Smith SS 2026 fashion show On Thursday the star, whose nickname is Queen Bee, watched her 11-year-old daughter Royalty Reign walk the Rookie Kids runway. She was joined by Ice-T and his wife Coco Austin, who were there to support their nine-year-old daughter Chanel. To mark the milestone, Lil' Kim took to Instagram to share footage of the pre-teen participating in the event one year earlier. The video clip was captioned, 'My baby girl @royalreignjones is back on the runway for @rookiekids back to school fashion show today hosted by @ciara at nyfw!' The gushing mom added, 'I'm so proud of my royal!!! I cant wait for u guys to see her this year!!' 'I'm happy being a part of it,' she said in a red carpet interview from the 2024 show. 'This is like my big day,' she added while giggling as she wrapped an arm around her daughter. In 2019 the hitmaker spoke to Access Hollywood about parenthood, telling the outlet: 'Im still the same person, but you have to be different. When you are a mom, you have to do things differently, whether you want to admit it or not.' Inside the runway show, she took a seat next to Ty Dolla $ign (R) and near Busta Rhymes (L) and his son Trillian Wood-Smith (second from left) The New York native - born Kimberly Denise Jones - was fully made up with distinctive pink blush and coordinating lipstick On Thursday the star, whose nickname is Queen Bee, watched her 11-year-old daughter Royalty Reign walk the Rookie Kids runway She was joined by Ice-T and his wife Coco Austin, who were there to support their nine-year-old daughter Chanel And at the time, she said Royalty was beginning to understand her job as an entertainer. 'I think shes starting to really know now, so thats kind of cool for me,' she said about her little girl, whom she shares with rapper Mr. Papers. In a 2021 Instagram post celebrating the youngster's seventh birthday, she wrote, 'My baby is growing up to be so beautiful. Shes so smart and full of sass.' Lil' Kim has been touring alongside Keyshia Cole this summer, and pinned a tour poster to her Instagram profile in May. She teased in the caption, 'gametimeme + @keyshiacole = outside all summer.' Leni Klum continued to celebrate Oktoberfest as she attended a swanky Tiffany & Co event in Munich, Germany on Saturday. The model daughter of Heidi Klum, 21, looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging black corseted dress which was cinched at her tiny waist as she posed up a storm. Leni accessorised with the brand's silver jewellery and added extra height to her frame withe black heels which she teamed with frilly white socks. The stunner got into the spirit of things as she marked the national holiday by enjoying traditional Gingerbread iced in the iconic Tiffany blue. It comes after mum Heidi, 52, posing with all four of her children as well as her husband, brother-in-law and mother while at HeidiFest which she also held in Munich They were all dressed in Oktoberfest style costumes as they smiled for the camera. Leni Klum, 21, continued to celebrate Oktoberfest as she attended a swanky Tiffany & Co event in Munich, Germany on Saturday The model daughter of Heidi Klum looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging black corseted dress which was cinched at her tiny waist as she posed up a storm 'Family photo at HeidiFestMany thanks to @schabertrachten @sportalm_kb @spieth_wensky for our beautiful costumes.,' wrote the supermodel in her caption. Her children are Len Henry, 20, Johan, 18, and Lou, 15. She had her arm around her husband Tom Kaulitz of the band Tokio Hotel and also spied was his brother Bill Kaulitz. The blonde's mother Erna Klum looked cute in a pale pink dress. Henry's girlfriend Kayla Betulius was also in the group photo. The model got into the spirit of the festival in a red dress with a red floral crown and red pumps with white socks. She topped off her look by styling her hair in soft waves and opted for glamorous smoky eye makeup with red lipstick. The day before, Heidi looked in good spirits as she drank a beer stein while at brewery. The German TV personality was at HeidiFest event which kicked off on Thursday. Leni accessorised with the brand's silver jewellery and added extra height to her frame withe black heels which she teamed with frilly white socks The stunner got into the spirit of things as she marked the national holiday by enjoying traditional Gingerbread iced in the iconic Tiffany blue The model took a look at the pricey jewellery on display Leni looked incredible at the VIP only event It comes after mum Heidi, 52, posing with all four of her children as well as her husband, brother-in-law and mother while at HeidiFest at Hofbrauhaus in Munich They were all dressed in Oktoberfest style costumes as they smiled for the camera (Leni and mum Heidi pictured together) The America's Got Talent star spoke in German before holding up her beer to the camera after taking a long sip. She wrote: 'Preparations for my Heidi festival at Hofbrauhaus Munchen'. Last week, self-proclaimed 'Queen of Halloween' Heidi shared the first teaser for the next epic costume she's prepping for her annual bash in Manhattan - 58 days ahead of the spooky holiday. The TV star captioned her Instagram video: 'Halloween is just around the corner.' In it, Heidi was instructed to bite down on some sort of molding paper by her favorite special effects makeup designer, Michael Marino. 'Ready? Open,' the three-time Oscar nominee ordered Klum off-camera. 'Okay let's bite. All the way in, all the way deeper, deeper. Okay let go. Let's try one more on this side. Ready? Wait! You gotta go all the way in. You gotta go deeper.' The Emmy-winning host's clip might indicate that she'll be donning false teeth for her next transformation. Marino and his Prosthetic Renaissance team of 15 also transformed Colin Farrell in The Penguin, Sebastian Stan in A Different Man, Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America, and The Weeknd for his various projects. Kate Moss looked effortlessly chic as she joined Richard Caring and his wife Patricia at the star-studded Annabel's for the Amazon fundraising gala in London on Friday evening. The supermodel, 51, cut a glamorous figure in a black silk gown featuring an asymmetric neckline, flattering ruched detailing at the waist, and a short train. She added height to her frame with pointed black heels and accessorised her look with a stack of chunky rings and sparkling diamond drop earrings. Kate looked radiant as she posed for photos with businessman Richard, 77, and his wife Patricia ahead of the exclusive event. Patricia turned heads in a floor-length black gown, complete with a plunging neckline, off-the-shoulder draped sleeves, and a sleek silhouette. She elevated her look with elegant black gloves, a dazzling diamond necklace, matching earrings, and a sparkling bracelet. Kate Moss looked effortlessly chic as she joined Richard Caring and his wife Patricia at the star-studded Annabel's for the Amazon fundraising gala in London on Friday evening (Kate and Patricia pictured) The supermodel, 51, cut a glamorous figure in a black silk gown featuring an asymmetric neckline, flattering ruched detailing at the waist, and a short train as she joined the couple for snaps (L-R Patricia, Richard, and Kate) Richard looked dapper in a cream tuxedo jacket paired with smart black trousers and a bow tie. Also in attendance were British artist Marc Quinn, 61, who opted for a smart cream suit, and model Adot Gak, who stunned in a dramatic green ostrich feather gown. The glamorous gala, hosted by Annabel's and The Caring Family Foundation, featured a surprise performance by Ronan Keating, 48, who thrilled guests with his hits, When You Say Nothing At All and Rollercoaster. Ronan said: 'I am proud to be performing at Annabel's for this years Amazon Gala, in support of The Caring Family Foundation, who are raising vital funds to create lasting change for the Amazon rainforest, one of the most important ecosystems on our planet.' The evening was co-hosted by comedian Rory Bremner and included a high-profile charity auction led by renowned auctioneer Simon de Pury. Guests bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including an evening at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Gala, a private dinner with Kate, and unique works of art by celebrated artists such as Marc, David Hockney, and Daniel Arsham. The month-long Annabel's for the Amazon campaign sees the club host a series of immersive experiences and events in aid of the Foundation's key pillars, culminating in this glittering gala, hosted by co-founders Richard and Patricia Caring. Each year, the club raises vital funds to aid reforestation and restoration projects in the Amazon rainforest and support wider social initiatives with women and children, in both the UK and Brazil. Meanwhile, Patricia turned heads in a floor-length black gown, complete with a plunging neckline, off-the-shoulder draped sleeves, and a sleek silhouette Richard looked dapper in a cream tuxedo jacket paired with smart black trousers and a bow tie as he joined the ladies for a sweet snap Also in attendance were British artist Marc Quinn, 61, who opted for a smart cream suit, and model Adot Gak, who stunned in a dramatic green ostrich feather gown (L-R Patricia, Richard, Kate, Marc, and Adot) The glamorous gala, hosted by Annabel's and The Caring Family Foundation, featured a surprise performance by Ronan Keating, 48, who thrilled guests with his hits, When You Say Nothing At All and Rollercoaster Since its inception, Annabel's for the Amazon has raised an outstanding 5.2 million to support The Caring Family Foundation's work in the Amazon rainforest and across its wider pillars. This year's campaign has continued the commitment, with over 2 million raised so far, contributing directly to TCFF's vital initiatives. Now in its sixth year, TCFF has become the largest private donor to the Amazon, having planted over 3.4 million trees and seedlings in Brazil and supported more than 39,000 Indigenous peoples through its reforestation and community programs. The Foundation has ambitious targets for the year ahead, committed to planting 4.8 million trees by the end of 2026. TCFF is fighting to not only restore and heal the planet, but to provide vital income to Indigenous communities. Earlier this year, the Foundation launched a solar-powered Medical Bus, bringing specialist healthcare directly to remote Indigenous communities, the true guardians of the rainforest. In 2025, the Medical Bus will provide specialist care to nine Indigenous communities, reaching approximately 38,000 Indigenous peoples across over 1 million hectares of the Amazon. Legendary Scottish DJ Keith McIvor, known by his stage name JD Twitch, has tragically died aged 57 after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. The musician was one half of the duo behind Optimo Espacio, a weekly Sunday-night club in Sun Club in Glasgow, alongside music producer Jonnie Wilkes, also known as JG Wilkes. And on Saturday Jonnie took to Instagram to share the sad news of Keith's passing on Friday afternoon as he said his friend changed his life 'immeasurably'. Sharing snaps of the pair together he penned: 'Its with immense sadness that Im writing to tell you Keith passed away peacefully yesterday at 2.06pm at The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. 'In a 28 year partnership he changed my life immeasurably and together we took our work in directions and to places few people are lucky enough to explore.' He continued: 'I am forever grateful for everything he bestowed on me, both as a partner in music and as a friend. Legendary Scottish DJ JD Twitch has died aged 57 after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour back in July Back in July Keith told fans on social media he had been diagnosed with a glioblastoma after missing several gigs, his wife Marissa went on to set up a Crowdfunder 'Keiths intensity and passion for life, for music, for creativity and for positive change simply never let up. He was formidable. 'His belief in people and the idea that standing together, that our collective strength is powerful, was unwavering. I loved him for that.' Sending his love to his friends and family he added: 'My thoughts are with Keiths family and friends. Thank you to them and the extended group who have tirelessly supported Keith and each other in the last few months. 'Thank you to the staff at The Hospice who made this last while as good as it possibly could be. 'Keith left us far too soon. He will go now to travel those space-ways, but I know his energy remains in every one of us who had the privilege of knowing him. I love you forever Keith.' Back in July Keith told fans on social media he had been diagnosed with a glioblastoma after missing several gigs. His wife Marissa then went on to set up a fundraiser on Crowdfunder UK, raising a total of 147,411 in under three months. Sharing an update on the page in August,, Marissa revealed Kevin now needed 24-hour nursing care as his condition had rapidly progressed, affecting his speech, mobility, and independence. The musician was one half of the duo behind Optimo Espacio, a weekly Sunday-night club in Sun Club in Glasgow, alongside music producer Jonnie Wilkes, also known as JG Wilkes On Saturday Jonnie took to Instagram to share the sad news of Keith's passing on Friday afternoon as he said his friend changed his life 'immeasurably' Fans and fellow musicians took to the comments to share their respects Back in July Keith revealed he had been admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a brain tumour and was told his condition was untreatable Taking to the comments to share their tributes following the news of his death fellow DJ Daniel Avery penned: 'He was an all-time great. Together you gave countless people endless hours of joy, excitement and togetherness. 'Thats not to mention the generations of DJs you inspired. Sending all of the love to you, my friend. You will no doubt continue this legacy.' Meanwhile DJ Gonno added: 'I will carry the legacy I learned from Keith and keep his spirit alive forever. Rest in peace, my dear mentor I miss you so much' Others wrote: 'Wonderful person. He will be missed. Way too soon'; 'What an immeasurable loss. Sending love and energy to you, the family and everyone who loved Keith'; The band BICEP commented: 'We are both utterly heartbroken. The impact Keith and Optimo have had on us is immense, he was a titan of UK music and culture. He was such an incredibly kind, warm, genuine, caring person. 'Gone far too soon. We love you Keith. Sending all the love in the world to you Jonnie and Keiths family. Thinking about yous every day.' Back in July Keith revealed he had been admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a brain tumour and was told his condition was untreatable. An American clothing icon is getting a new parent company after a multi-million-dollar deal. On Tuesday, Dickies the Texas-born workwear brand known for its durable uniforms, khakis, and utility-inspired style was bought by Bluestar Alliance for $600million. It's a major downturn for the iconic company. Its former parent, VF Corp, purchased Dickies in 2017 for $820million. The rugged clothing brand, which started in 1922, built its name on being tough, practical, and unmistakably blue-collar. Dickies became a uniform of choice for construction workers, mechanics, and anyone who needed clothes that could take a beating. But what started as industrial workwear has since crossed into pop culture embraced by skaters in the '90s, rappers in the 2000s, and now, some A-list celebs. Sydney Sweeney modeled a Dickies outfit in a recent shoot with a Ford Mustang. Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid have been spotted wearing the company's work pants. Their $20 to $50 pants sold at dozens of retailers across the US. Workers could go to Walmart, Target, or even Tractor Supply Co to grab their next pair. Dickies has been featured in several A-list looks, including a recent photoshoot with Euphoria actor Sydney Sweeney and a Ford Mustang The company also has nine outlet stores in the US. But sales have been flagging. This year, global revenue for the work brand fell 12 percent. VF Corp which also runs North Face, Timberland, and Vans previously announced plans to 'reinvent' itself, including decisions to cut $300million in costs. The company never implied that Dickies was up for sale, but it has been cutting similar brands since 2019, when it spun out Wrangler and Lee into a different company. In 2021, it sold occupational workwear brands Kodiak, Workrite, and Terra to Redwood Capital Investments for an undisclosed sum. VF's leaner portfolio allows the company to keep more of its profits. North Face's sales have risen 1 percent this year, while Timberland has reported a 3 percent jump in revenue. Meanwhile, Bluestar Alliance seems bullish on its ability to make the iconic brand profitable. 'We have followed the brand for many years and have a deep appreciation for its history and legacy,' the new parent company's CEO, Joseph Gabbay, said. Dickies, which sells its $20 to $50 pants at Walmart, Target, and Tractor Supply Co, gives its new parent company, Bluestar Alliance, new pipelines for product collaborations The iconic Texas blue collar retailer has become a favorite brand among fashionable Gen Z and millennials in recent years (Pictured: A still from a Dickies commercial) 'We are committed to supporting the Dickies brand's growth.' Bluestar runs higher-end brands like Off-White, Scotch & Soda, Bebe, and Limited Too. The company, which started in 2006, reported making $10billion in global sales each year. The Dickies purchase could also expand Bluestar's relationship with the big box brands that don't carry their high-end products. The transaction between the two clothing corporations is expected to close by the end of 2025. The sale comes less than a year after Dickies made the shock announcement that it was moving its HQ to Orange County, California, after more than 100 years in Fort Worth.